Chapter Summaries

Summary: “Zhuang Mengdie’s Resolute Decision”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Miao Ruolan contacts Zhuang Mengdie for help after discovering Wang Changfa with another woman in a villa. Zhuang responds decisively by involving the police, apparently reporting a possible drug-related crime.
• Captain Zhang and more than ten plainclothes officers raid the villa. They find Wang Changfa naked and the woman wrapped in a towel, confirming the affair but initially finding no drugs.
• Following a message from Lin Xiaosu, Zhou Mei searches the bathroom and discovers a hidden metal tube containing red liquid. The woman claims it is ordinary aphrodisiac oil and produces an overseas purchase receipt as evidence.
• Although the police dogs find nothing suspicious, Captain Zhang takes the liquid for testing and brings both Wang Changfa and the woman in for questioning.
• Zhou Mei notices that Lin Xiaosu and Miao Ruolan had been observing from nearby, though they have already slipped away.
• The next day, Zhou Mei visits the detective agency and reveals that the liquid contained P39, a recently catalogued genetic toxin. It spreads through sexual contact, infecting women but not men.
• Lin Xiaosu explains that his client—Wang Changfa’s lawful wife—had already been infected and hired him to investigate. The investigation’s purpose was to confirm the toxin’s presence, earning the agency a 100,000-yuan fee.
• The mistress refuses to confess to using the toxin, insisting the bottle contained legitimate aphrodisiac oil. However, Miao Ruolan and Zhou Mei reason that the receipt and overseas purchasing trail were deliberately fabricated to provide an alibi.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates sharp investigative instincts, especially in recognizing that the woman’s secretive handling of the bottle indicated something more dangerous than ordinary aphrodisiac oil.
• Miao Ruolan is emotionally shaken by witnessing the affair but gradually regains her composure. During Zhou Mei’s visit, she contributes intelligent deductions, showing that she is developing into a capable detective under Lin’s guidance.
• Zhou Mei acts with authority and determination, coordinating the police operation and uncovering the hidden toxin. Her perceptiveness also allows her to suspect that Lin and Miao were observing the raid.
• Captain Zhang is initially irritated when the raid produces no obvious drugs, but he follows procedure and agrees to have the mysterious liquid tested.
• The mistress is exposed as carefully prepared and manipulative. Her hidden bottle, immediate production of a receipt, and carefully constructed purchase trail suggest deliberate planning.
• Wang Changfa is caught in the affair and faces police detention, while the larger question of his involvement in the toxin scheme remains unresolved.
• Zhuang Mengdie, though mostly absent from the events, makes a forceful decision by involving the police rather than merely confronting the betrayal privately.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus personal betrayal: Zhuang’s response transforms a marital and moral scandal into a criminal investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the toxin.
• The value of observation and inference: Small inconsistencies—the hidden bottle, the prepared receipt, and the woman’s behavior—prove more revealing than direct evidence.
• Deception and premeditation: The apparent aphrodisiac purchase was likely an elaborate cover designed to survive police scrutiny.
• Female vulnerability and targeted harm: P39’s transmission through sexual contact and selective infection of women introduces a disturbing form of gendered biological violence.
• Growth through mentorship: Miao’s successful deduction shows her increasing confidence and competence as she learns from Lin.
• Law versus appearances: What first appears to be simple adultery gradually becomes a potentially serious poisoning case.

Character Interactions

• Miao and Lin work together as covert observers, with Miao reacting more emotionally while Lin remains analytical.
• Zhou Mei and Captain Zhang collaborate during the raid, though Zhou’s discovery of the hidden compartment ultimately provides the crucial breakthrough.
• Zhou later questions Lin about his knowledge of the bottle, creating a tense but respectful exchange between law enforcement and the detective agency.
• Miao impresses Zhou by identifying the receipt as evidence of premeditation rather than proof of innocence.
• Zhou’s praise of Miao reinforces the latter’s growing status as a detective and strengthens the professional relationship among the three investigators.

Chapter Summary: “Lure the Snake from Its Hole”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The investigators realize that prosecuting the woman who used P39 will be difficult. Existing charges such as poisoning, endangering public safety, and intentional injury do not clearly apply because she placed the toxin on her own private body and the poison’s effects are indirect.
• Lin Xiaosu redirects the investigation by asking why the woman was unaffected by P39. Zhou Mei reveals that the woman’s blood contains an inhibitory substance, suggesting she took an antidote in advance rather than possessing a rare natural immunity.
• Lin Xiaosu also questions whether P39 truly affects only women. Wang Changfa’s unusually intense and frequent sexual activity suggests that the drug may cause abnormal male excitement as a side effect.
• The investigators theorize that the woman’s real target was Wang Changfa. She may have been cultivating his dependence on a unique drug, intending to control his supply and eventually gain access to his immense wealth.
• Lin Xiaosu warns that this theory may not explain the entire case, but soon shifts his attention to a larger threat.
• Zhuang Mengdie arrives at the detective agency to pay the remaining fee for the case. Lin Xiaosu leaves with Zhou Mei, deliberately separating himself from Miao Ruolan.
• Lin Xiaosu proposes using himself as bait to draw out the larger drug syndicate operating in Phoenix City and across three provinces. He believes the criminals have been monitoring them and will only attack if Miao Ruolan is absent.
• Zhou Mei returns to prepare while Lin Xiaosu walks alone along the Yishui Bund. As storm clouds gather and rain approaches, he enters a secluded alley, apparently setting the trap in motion.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates his strengths as an investigator. Rather than becoming trapped by legal technicalities, he changes direction and identifies hidden connections between the poison, Wang Changfa’s behavior, and a possible drug-trafficking network. He also shows confidence and willingness to risk himself as bait.
• Miao Ruolan continues developing her detective skills. Lin Xiaosu is pleased with her progress and recognizes that she will eventually need to operate independently rather than remain dependent on him.
• Zhou Mei grows more receptive to Lin Xiaosu’s reasoning and begins to see the case as part of a much larger criminal operation. She also faces a personal choice between accepting a monetary reward or earning greater professional recognition, though Lin Xiaosu jokingly encourages her to pursue both.
• The unnamed woman/Zhuang Mengdie’s client becomes increasingly suspicious. Her apparent immunity to P39 implies access to a specially prepared antidote, suggesting planning, resources, and possible ties to the drug trade.
• Zhuang Mengdie appears at the agency to settle the case, but her arrival and connection to the investigation add to the atmosphere of uncertainty surrounding the people involved.

Significant Themes

• Limits of the law: Modern criminal methods can evade outdated legal categories, exposing gaps between technical statutes and actual harm.
• Changing investigative perspectives: The investigators must abandon their original assumption that the poison primarily targets women and instead examine its effects on men.
• Drug dependence and manipulation: P39 may be designed to create addiction and control wealthy victims, turning their dependence into a source of financial exploitation.
• Risk and sacrifice: Lin Xiaosu knowingly places himself in danger to expose the hidden syndicate, showing the risks involved in pursuing justice.
• Trust and independence: Miao Ruolan’s growth and Lin Xiaosu’s decision to leave her behind reflect the need for partners and protégés to develop separate strength.
• Hidden enemies: The chapter emphasizes surveillance, concealed motives, and the danger of assuming the visible suspect is the true mastermind.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu guides Miao Ruolan and Zhou Mei through the case by challenging their assumptions and encouraging them to think beyond conventional legal interpretations.
• Zhou Mei and Lin Xiaosu exchange teasing, humorous banter about his earnings and behavior, revealing their familiarity while maintaining professional cooperation.
• Lin Xiaosu’s discussion with Zhou Mei about P39 leads directly to the theory that Wang Changfa was the intended victim and that the poison may function as an addictive drug.
• Zhou Mei questions whether Lin Xiaosu can safely act as bait, showing concern despite their playful exchanges.
• Lin Xiaosu deliberately excludes Miao Ruolan from his nighttime plan because her presence would deter the criminals, while also using the situation to test whether Zhou Mei can handle the operation.

Chapter Summary: “Ghost-Eyed Old Seven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu is ambushed by two highly skilled assassins, one attacking from the front and the other from behind. He easily anticipates and defeats both, killing one and severely injuring the other.
• He brutally interrogates the surviving assassin, crushing his fingers and threatening to continue until he reveals who ordered the attack. The assassin names “Ghost-Eyed Old Seven,” but admits he has never seen the person’s real face.
• Lin Xiaosu contacts the police, and Zhou Mei, Captain Zhang, and a team of officers arrive. The surviving assassin is taken into custody.
• The police had been waiting nearby because Lin Xiaosu deliberately used himself as bait to lure out members of the criminal organization targeting him.
• Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei search the surrounding area for clues. Although he pretends not to have found anything, Lin Xiaosu secretly reconstructs an earlier conversation he observed through his lip-reading ability.
• He learns that a bespectacled man assigned the assassination and strangely instructed the assassin to reveal his identity if caught. This raises questions about the organization’s true motives and whether the assassin’s confession was deliberately planned.
• Back at the Criminal Investigation Brigade, Lin Xiaosu gives a formal statement describing the ambush and his preparations. Afterward, Captain Zhang ends the official procedure and invites him to discuss the case informally over tea.
• The chapter ends with Captain Zhang revealing that the assassins confessed to some information, but implying that important mysteries remain.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates exceptional combat skill, awareness, and psychological toughness. He remains calm during the ambush and turns the attack into an opportunity to gather information.
• He also shows his investigative abilities by secretly using lip-reading and reconstructing a conversation from three days earlier, proving that he has found more clues than he admits.
• Lin’s willingness to use himself as bait highlights both his courage and his calculated, risk-taking approach to solving cases.
• Zhou Mei is shown to be deeply concerned for Lin Xiaosu and takes on a protective role during their walk back to the brigade. Her confidence in him is balanced by genuine fear of the criminal organization’s power.
• Captain Zhang displays trust in Lin Xiaosu, cooperating with his plan and recognizing his repeated contributions. His private conversation after the formal statement suggests that he regards Lin as a valuable ally rather than merely a civilian detective.
• The surviving assassin is portrayed as a hardened criminal who quickly breaks under Lin Xiaosu’s torture and intimidation.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus brutality: Lin Xiaosu invokes the concept of self-defense while using extreme violence and torture to obtain information, blurring the boundary between lawful justice and personal vengeance.
• Cunning and counter-cunning: The criminal organization is highly secretive and experienced at concealing evidence, while Lin Xiaosu relies on intelligence, deception, and unconventional investigative techniques to pursue it.
• Risk and sacrifice: Lin deliberately places himself in danger because the threat against him must be confronted directly. The chapter questions how far a civilian should go when official systems cannot fully defeat powerful criminals.
• Hidden motives and uncertainty: The assassin’s unusual instruction to implicate his superior suggests that the confession may be part of a larger scheme. Even apparent breakthroughs may contain traps.
• Trust and cooperation: Lin, Zhou Mei, and the police work together despite operating from different positions. Their cooperation becomes increasingly important as the criminal organization escalates its attacks.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu dominates the encounter with the assassins, using physical force and psychological pressure to force a confession.
• His phone call brings Zhou Mei and the police to the scene, showing his reliance on established allies after securing the immediate threat.
• Zhou Mei accompanies Lin during the investigation, acting as both colleague and bodyguard while trying to determine whether he has uncovered a lead.
• Lin conceals his true findings from Zhou Mei, suggesting that he prefers to verify clues independently before revealing them.
• Captain Zhang and Lin maintain a respectful, increasingly familiar relationship. After the formal interrogation, Zhang offers tea as a gesture of gratitude and friendship and begins a more candid discussion about the assassins’ confessions.

Chapter Summary: “Logic Closed Loop”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu reveals that the assassin he questioned named Ghost-Eyed Old Seven as the mastermind behind the attack.
• Captain Zhang explains that the police have long suspected Ghost-Eyed Old Seven of controlling Phoenix City’s hidden criminal network, though the figure has never shown his face and communicates with subordinates through concealed channels, often by text message.
• Although police regulations prohibit Lin Xiaosu from officially participating in the investigation, Captain Zhang makes an exception, believing that bending discipline may be justified if it helps dismantle the criminal organization. Lin Xiaosu agrees to remain and assist.
• While waiting for investigative results, Lin Xiaosu and Captain Zhang play Chinese chess. Their informal conversation reveals a warmer, more humorous side of Captain Zhang, and Lin Xiaosu’s respect for the police begins to grow.
• After two hours, investigators report that the two assassins repeatedly met a suspicious man: Qi Hongzhong, a well-connected business lecturer and commercial representative.
• The police discover that Qi Hongzhong left the country the previous day for the Green-Faced Kingdom, where he holds permanent residency.
• Zhou Mei presents a theory linking Qi Hongzhong to Ghost-Eyed Old Seven and to Phoenix City’s wider criminal structure.
• The chapter concludes with Lin Xiaosu identifying a dilemma: Qi may be the mastermind, but because he is beyond extradition and any premature action could alert the criminal network, the police cannot immediately move against the syndicate. Thus, “the logic has come full circle.”

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates sharp investigative instincts and strategic thinking. He earns Captain Zhang’s trust and becomes increasingly willing to cooperate with law enforcement.
• Captain Zhang is shown as principled but practical. Though aware that involving Lin Xiaosu violates procedure, he prioritizes justice and the lives affected by the criminal network. His joking, relaxed interaction with Lin Xiaosu also reveals a more personable side.
• Zhou Mei proves her analytical ability by constructing a detailed theory connecting Qi Hongzhong to Ghost-Eyed Old Seven and Phoenix City’s criminal hierarchy.
• Sun Yang remains supportive and observant, participating casually during the chess game.
• Qi Hongzhong emerges as the leading suspect behind the assassination and possibly the entire regional drug network, though his flight abroad makes him difficult to apprehend.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus discipline: Captain Zhang struggles between following regulations and taking action against powerful criminals. The chapter suggests that rigid rules may sometimes obstruct justice.
• The difficulty of dismantling organized crime: The police must avoid acting too soon, since arresting lower-level figures or attacking the network without identifying its core could destroy crucial evidence.
• Reasoning and deduction: The investigation relies on connecting seemingly unrelated facts—an assassin’s confession, suspect movements, Qi’s professional influence, his foreign connections, and even his surname.
• Power hidden behind respectable appearances: Qi Hongzhong presents himself as a successful business expert and lecturer, while potentially functioning as a drug kingpin. Likewise, Phoenix City’s business leaders conceal gang-like operations beneath legitimate enterprises.
• The limits of law enforcement across borders: Qi’s residence in the Green-Faced Kingdom places him outside the reach of ordinary extradition and makes direct pursuit extremely dangerous.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu and Captain Zhang develop mutual respect through their discussion of the case and their chess game.
• Captain Zhang and Lin Xiaosu exchange humor, contrasting with the seriousness of the investigation and surprising Sun Yang.
• Zhou Mei shares her theory with the group, prompting Captain Zhang and Lin Xiaosu to test its implications.
• Lin Xiaosu’s final questions expose the investigation’s central paradox: identifying Qi Hongzhong may confirm the mastermind’s identity, but it also means the police must wait rather than immediately strike at the criminal network.

Chapter Summary: “A Different Path”

Key plot points and events

• Lin Xiaosu challenges Zhou Mei’s conclusion that Qi Hongzhong is Ghost-Eyed Old Seven. He argues that Qi deliberately planted evidence and used himself as a decoy.
• He gives two main reasons:
  1. A powerful syndicate leader would have had safer ways to eliminate Lin Xiaosu without sacrificing his ability to return to Daxia.
  2. The police uncovered too many clues too quickly, suggesting the evidence was intentionally manufactured.
• Lin Xiaosu reveals the deeper logic behind the scheme: Qi Hongzhong arranged for the suspects to identify him as Ghost-Eyed Old Seven, then fled abroad. If the police accepted that conclusion, they would halt their investigation into the Phoenix City Underground Syndicate.
• Captain Zhang realizes that the apparent confession and evidence formed a trap designed to buy the syndicate time to relocate or conceal its operations.
• Lin Xiaosu urges the police to abandon the path laid out by the criminals and investigate the organization’s money trail instead.
• Zhou Mei explains that the police had already tracked the Five Tiger Generals’ visible wealth but had failed to find the larger, hidden financial network leading to the syndicate’s true controller.
• Lin Xiaosu insists that investigators create a detailed record of how each Tiger spent money, including purchases, bribes, mistresses, and the movement of money afterward.
• Captain Zhang introduces Wang Donghe, a veteran investigator who had secretly spent three years compiling exactly this kind of financial intelligence while officially semi-retired due to injury.
• Wang’s files reveal detailed records of the Five Tiger Generals’ spending, bribery networks, and hidden transactions.
• From the data, Lin Xiaosu concludes that the Five Tiger Generals are involved in underground dealings because their legitimate businesses cannot explain their wealth.
• He identifies Phoenix Sister as especially suspicious because her spending far exceeds that of the other four, including forty million spent on jewelry. This suggests she may hold a higher position or receive a larger share of the organization’s illicit income.

Character developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates strategic intelligence and confidence. He moves beyond the obvious suspect and recognizes the investigation itself has been manipulated.
• Zhou Mei is forced to reconsider her initial insight and becomes more receptive to Lin Xiaosu’s reasoning.
• Captain Zhang shifts from evaluating Lin Xiaosu’s theory to actively supporting it, recognizing that the case requires changing the police’s investigative direction.
• Sun Yang initially dismisses Lin Xiaosu’s request as impractical, but Wang Donghe’s work proves that the approach is legitimate and valuable.
• Wang Donghe is revealed as a dedicated investigator who continued working secretly for three years despite his official semi-retirement.
• Qi Hongzhong emerges as a highly calculating figure who may have sacrificed his reputation and freedom of movement to protect the larger criminal organization.
• Phoenix Sister becomes the most suspicious of the Five Tiger Generals, potentially indicating a leadership role or greater access to illegal profits.

Significant themes

• Deception and misdirection: The criminals manipulate the police by offering an apparently complete explanation that is actually a deliberate diversion.
• Strategic thinking: Lin Xiaosu argues that investigators must control the direction and tempo of the conflict rather than follow the enemy’s plan.
• Money as evidence: Financial flows are presented as more reliable than statements, appearances, or planted clues.
• Experience and institutional knowledge: Wang Donghe’s years of investigative work validate Lin Xiaosu’s theory and show the importance of patient, long-term investigation.
• Sacrifice for the greater organization: Qi Hongzhong appears to act as a “sacrificial chariot,” accepting personal loss to protect the syndicate.
• Appearance versus reality: The Five Tiger Generals appear to be the organization’s leaders, but their spending may reveal that they are only intermediaries within a deeper power structure.

Important character interactions

• Lin Xiaosu directly confronts Zhou Mei’s theory, creating tension but also pushing the investigation toward a more accurate interpretation.
• He persuades Captain Zhang by explaining how identifying Qi Hongzhong as Ghost-Eyed Old Seven would benefit the syndicate.
• Captain Zhang backs Lin Xiaosu and calls in Wang Donghe, linking the young detective’s insight with the veteran investigator’s secret work.
• Sun Yang’s skepticism is undercut when Wang’s evidence matches Lin Xiaosu’s proposed investigative method.
• The chapter ends with Lin Xiaosu and the police focusing on Phoenix Sister as a possible key to uncovering the syndicate’s true hierarchy and hidden financial controller.

Chapter Summary: “Phoenix City Jewelry Store”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Captain Zhang’s team analyzes the assets of Tiger Brother and Phoenix Sister, discovering that Phoenix Sister appears to have spent far more money than expected despite holding a lower rank.
• The investigators theorize that the difference may be explained by the unknown expenses of the four male Tigers’ mistresses. Lin Xiaosu suggests tracing where those mistresses spent their money.
• Captain Zhang assigns Wang Donghe and Sun Yang to investigate the women’s major expenditures rather than their entire personal lives.
• Three days later, Zhou Mei brings the initial results to Lin Xiaosu at the detective agency.
• The investigation reveals that Phoenix Sister and all four mistresses spent nearly their entire fortunes on jade and jewelry—an unusual pattern that suggests coordinated money laundering rather than personal indulgence.
• Lin Xiaosu explains that jadeite’s value is highly subjective, making it ideal for disguising illegal transfers. Legitimate-looking jewelry purchases could conceal the movement of black-market funds.
• He then identifies a second, more dangerous possibility: Phoenix City Jewelry Store may be transporting drugs hidden among raw jade shipments from the Green-Faced Kingdom, a known drug-producing region.
• The store’s legitimate supply chain—transporting, cutting, processing, and selling raw stones—would provide both a concealed smuggling route and a way to launder profits.
• The five women may have transferred nearly one hundred million yuan through the jewelry business, possibly sending money to Ghost-Eyed Old Seven or another major criminal figure.
• After learning that a new shipment of raw stones arrived two days earlier, Lin Xiaosu decides to visit the jewelry store with Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates his investigative insight by connecting the women’s unusual spending habits to a larger criminal network. He moves beyond the original financial discrepancy and identifies both money laundering and drug trafficking.
• Captain Zhang remains cautious but is willing to authorize broader investigations when Lin Xiaosu narrows the scope into a practical task.
• Wang Donghe and Sun Yang are reluctant to reopen a difficult investigation, especially after Wang’s three-year inquiry into the Five Tigers, but they comply with Captain Zhang’s orders.
• Zhou Mei shifts from skepticism to excitement as Lin Xiaosu’s theory forms a convincing explanation for both the money trail and the missing drug supply route. Her personal concern for Lin Xiaosu is also subtly suggested by her shopping outing and decision to visit him.
• Miao Ruolan initially feels disappointed and jealous, believing Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei may have gone shopping together romantically. She becomes relieved when she learns their outing was actually connected to the investigation. Her growing emotional attachment to Lin Xiaosu is evident.
• Sun Yang remains humorous and resentful, fearing that Lin Xiaosu’s suggestions will create more exhausting work for him.
• Captain Zhang and Zhou Mei lightly tease Lin Xiaosu about appearing considerate while simultaneously creating overtime work for the investigators.

Significant Themes

• Appearances versus reality: The jewelry store appears to be a legitimate and successful business, but may conceal drug trafficking and money laundering.
• Money and criminal hierarchy: The chapter examines how wealth, rank, mistresses, and hidden spending complicate attempts to determine a criminal organization’s true structure.
• Legitimate businesses as criminal cover: The jewelry trade provides an apparently legal method for transferring illicit funds and moving contraband.
• Subjective value and corruption: Because jadeite and jewelry have no fixed production-based value, they can be used to disguise arbitrary financial transfers.
• Investigative reasoning: Ordinary behavioral details—such as several women spending nearly all their money on jewelry—become meaningful when viewed as a coordinated pattern.
• Personal relationships amid investigation: Miao Ruolan’s jealousy and Zhou Mei’s closeness to Lin Xiaosu introduce romantic tension alongside the crime plot.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu challenges Wang Donghe’s financial analysis and persuades Captain Zhang to investigate the mistresses’ spending.
• Captain Zhang assigns Wang Donghe and Sun Yang the follow-up investigation, despite their concerns about expanding the case.
• Zhou Mei reports the findings to Lin Xiaosu and engages with him in analyzing the jewelry purchases.
• Lin Xiaosu questions both Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan about how they would spend a large fortune, using their answers to highlight the abnormality of the five women’s behavior.
• Zhou Mei and Lin Xiaosu jointly develop the theory that the jewelry store launders money and transports drugs.
• Miao Ruolan observes their interaction, initially misinterprets their relationship, then feels relieved when she realizes their meeting is work-related.
• The chapter ends with Lin Xiaosu inviting both women to accompany him to the jewelry store, combining a major investigative step with playful romantic tension.

Chapter Summary: “Disguised Purchase of Jadeite”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Mei, Miao Ruolan, and Lin Xiaosu prepare to investigate Phoenix City Jewelry Store, which they suspect may be connected to the attempted assassination of Lin Xiaosu.
• Captain Zhang is notified and told to make preparations, suggesting that the investigation could become dangerous.
• The group disguises themselves to avoid recognition. Lin Xiaosu poses as a wealthy businessman, while Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan are transformed into glamorous companions from a rich family.
• They arrive at Phoenix City Jewelry Store, owned by the famous jade expert “Divine-Eye Zhang,” whose family has practiced Jadeite appraisal for generations.
• Lin Xiaosu deliberately presents himself as a wealthy but inexperienced buyer. He asks to see the most expensive Jadeite pieces, successfully attracting the attention of the store’s staff.
• In the collectibles section, Miao Ruolan selects a bracelet called “Ice Valley Orchid,” valued at 3.2 million yuan.
• To maintain their cover, Miao Ruolan calls Lin Xiaosu “husband,” unexpectedly embarrassing herself and making Zhou Mei suspicious that the address may contain personal feelings.
• The store owner, Boss Zhang, arrives to negotiate. He lowers the bracelet’s price from 3.2 million to 2.8 million yuan.
• Lin Xiaosu counters with 1.8 million, claiming that eighteen is more auspicious than twenty-eight. Boss Zhang assumes Lin is a wealthy, naïve customer and becomes eager to exploit the opportunity.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates careful planning and strong improvisational skills. He understands that disguises and a convincing wealthy persona are essential to preventing the store from recognizing him.
• Miao Ruolan embraces her role as an elegant, experienced woman despite lacking familiarity with luxury shopping. Her recent study of investigation and micro-expressions helps her convincingly project confidence and sophistication.
• Zhou Mei appears naturally glamorous in disguise and is more observant of the emotional subtext between Lin Xiaosu and Miao Ruolan. She notices Miao’s unexpected use of “husband” and reacts with jealousy or suspicion.
• Boss Zhang is introduced as a celebrated Jadeite expert and successful businessman, but his eagerness to profit from a supposedly ignorant rich customer reveals a more calculating side.
• The saleswoman becomes increasingly excited by the prospect of a large commission and assumes the purchase is nearly certain.

Significant Themes

• Deception and disguise: The group hides their identities through makeup, clothing, speech, and behavior in order to investigate safely.
• Performance and role-playing: Their investigation requires them to act like wealthy clients, with Lin Xiaosu and Miao Ruolan improvising dialogue and relationships.
• Appearance versus reality: The store’s luxury atmosphere, the characters’ transformed appearances, and the Jadeite’s hidden value all emphasize how easily people judge by surface impressions.
• Greed and exploitation: The staff quickly assume Lin Xiaosu is rich and uninformed, exposing their willingness to take advantage of him.
• Suspicion beneath ordinary commerce: What appears to be a jewelry purchase is actually part of a potentially dangerous investigation into a murder plot.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu coordinates the operation and directs Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan to maintain their disguises.
• Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan silently share excitement and concern about the risks of the investigation.
• The sales staff gossip about Lin Xiaosu’s apparent wealth and debate which woman is his preferred companion.
• Miao Ruolan plays the role of Lin Xiaosu’s refined partner, while Zhou Mei observes her behavior skeptically.
• Lin Xiaosu and Boss Zhang engage in a negotiation in which Lin pretends to be naïve, while Boss Zhang attempts to appear generous and trustworthy.
• The chapter ends with Boss Zhang believing he has found an easy customer, unaware that the supposed buyer and his companions are investigating the store.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu explains the hidden pricing rules of the premium jadeite trade. Appraisals are vastly inflated, and genuine insiders negotiate at a fraction of the stated value. However, once a buyer makes an offer, it must be honored.
• Lin Xiaosu purchases an expensive Ice Valley Orchid jadeite bracelet for Lin Xiaosu—apparently for “Lan’er”—at 1.8 million, despite the bracelet’s 3.2-million appraisal.
• He then asks Zhou Mei what she wants. Zhou refuses to choose a similar bracelet because she wants one identical to the first, an impossible demand with natural jadeite. To resolve the tension, Lin offers to let her select rough stones worth 1.8 million instead.
• Boss Zhang eagerly takes them into the workshop and then the premium rough-stone storage area. The workshop reveals large-scale jadeite processing, while the premium stock includes recently delivered old-mine material.
• Lin uses the visit for two purposes: spending money to maintain his cover and investigating suspicious stones delivered two nights earlier. He also deliberately keeps Boss Zhang nearby because he suspects him of being Ghost-Eyed Old Seven.
• Lin calls Zhang “Old Divine-Eye Zhang,” subtly testing whether he is connected to the criminal identity. Zhang carefully rejects the word “Old,” creating a tense exchange of hidden probing and resistance.
• In the premium area, Zhou and Lin inspect several stones. Lin secretly activates his Heavenly Insight Eye and discovers that the first three stones have deceptive “Rogue Windows,” where only a tiny high-quality patch is exposed while the rest of the stone is worthless.
• Lin concludes that Zhang’s reputation for judging jadeite may actually conceal a sophisticated method of cheating customers. He begins examining a fourth stone, focusing on a crack rather than its visible window.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu: Demonstrates exceptional knowledge, strategic thinking, and composure. He uses a lavish purchase to manipulate the situation, investigate the shop, protect Zhou, and keep Zhang from escaping. His Heavenly Insight Eye reveals the true condition of the jadeite and confirms his suspicions.
• Zhou Mei: Shows intelligence and growing awareness of Lin’s covert investigation. She understands his coded language and recognizes that his behavior is part of a larger plan. She also briefly enjoys the opportunity to examine valuable jadeite outside her normal means.
• Boss Zhang: Appears friendly and experienced but becomes increasingly suspicious. His careful correction of “Old Divine-Eye Zhang” suggests that he recognizes the danger of the implication and may be concealing his connection to Ghost-Eyed Old Seven.
• The saleswoman: Internally reacts with shock and envy to Lin’s extravagant spending, mistakenly assuming that Lin is supporting multiple lovers. Her perspective highlights the scale of his apparent wealth.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The visible quality of jadeite can be deliberately misleading, while Lin’s supernatural sight exposes the truth beneath the surface.
• Deception and manipulation: The jadeite trade relies on inflated appraisals, psychological temptation, and technically truthful but misleading presentation.
• Hidden identities and coded communication: Lin and Zhou communicate indirectly because they suspect surveillance, while Lin’s word choice becomes a covert test of Zhang’s identity.
• Wealth as a strategic tool: Lin’s enormous purchase is not merely indulgence; it helps him gain access, control the investigation, and prevent Zhang from fleeing.
• Supernatural insight versus human expertise: Traditional jadeite expertise is shown to be vulnerable to deception, whereas Lin’s Heavenly Insight Eye reveals the entire internal structure of the stones.

Character Interactions

• Lin and the saleswoman interact through his extravagant purchase, while her private assumptions create comic misunderstanding.
• Lin asks Zhou to choose a bracelet, but her demand for an identical piece creates tension and leads him to offer her rough stones instead.
• Lin and Zhang engage in a polite but covert battle of words. Lin’s addition of “Old” tests Zhang, while Zhang’s refusal to accept the title serves as a guarded counter-response.
• Lin and Zhou exchange silent looks because they cannot safely speak. Zhou gradually realizes that the jadeite purchase and the trip into the storage area are part of Lin’s investigation.
• Lin’s inspection of the stones establishes an unseen conflict between his supernatural ability and Zhang’s deceptive presentation.

Chapter Summary: “Old Divine-Eye Zhang, Ghost-Eyed Old Seven”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu continues examining rough stones with his Heavenly Insight Eye, learning to identify valuable material by looking through tiny cracks.
• Instead of leaving after finding several valuable stones, he deliberately approaches a hidden section of Boss Zhang’s shop.
• By tapping the shelving, Lin Xiaosu reveals a concealed floor panel containing a secret stash of rough stones.
• He exposes Boss Zhang as “Ghost-Eyed Old Seven,” a wanted criminal connected to an underground organization operating in Phoenix City.
• Lin Xiaosu splits open one of the rough stones, revealing a bag of white powder hidden inside, confirming the shop’s involvement in illegal trafficking.
• Boss Zhang’s men launch a surprise attack. Miao Ruolan protects Lin Xiaosu with extraordinary martial-arts skill, while Zhou Mei uses her gun to defend herself and control the attackers.
• The workers in the workshop join the attack after realizing their crimes have been exposed. A chaotic battle breaks out, with Zhou Mei shooting several assailants, Miao Ruolan defeating numerous fighters, and Lin Xiaosu incapacitating enemies by throwing stones with perfect accuracy.
• Boss Zhang attempts to shoot Lin Xiaosu, but Lin throws a stone that pierces his wrist and disarms him.
• Captain Zhang arrives with more than thirty police officers, ending the fight and arresting the criminals.
• Boss Zhang refuses to reveal the organization’s secrets, but Lin Xiaosu emerges with a red ledger containing comprehensive records of illegal transactions, suppliers, handlers, and corrupt protectors.
• The ledger implicates the organization’s “Five Tiger Generals” and many officials previously investigated by Captain Zhang, providing the evidence needed to dismantle the criminal network.
• Lin Xiaosu, Zhou Mei, and Miao Ruolan leave the jewelry store after the police operation begins. They change out of their disguises and return the rented wedding car.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates growing mastery of the Heavenly Insight Eye, using it not only to locate valuable stones but also to uncover hidden contraband and concealed structures. His detective instincts and tactical planning are emphasized.
• He reveals that his apparent identity as “Mr. Li” was a disguise and confidently identifies himself as Lin Xiaosu from the Phoenix City Detective Agency.
• Lin proves he anticipated the danger and secretly obtained the organization’s ledger, showing that his investigation extended beyond merely exposing the drug shipment.
• Miao Ruolan displays overwhelming combat ability, defeating multiple armed attackers with effortless precision. Her loyalty and readiness to protect Lin Xiaosu are also clear.
• Zhou Mei proves capable under pressure, using her firearm effectively despite being surrounded and running out of ammunition during the battle.
• Boss Zhang/Ghost-Eyed Old Seven shifts from a smooth, hospitable shopkeeper to a desperate and violent criminal once his operation is exposed. His final threats show his hatred and fear of Lin Xiaosu.
• Captain Zhang arrives at the decisive moment and recognizes the importance of the evidence Lin provides, gaining access to the organization’s inner structure.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The ordinary-looking rough stones conceal drugs, just as Boss Zhang’s friendly shopkeeper persona conceals his criminal identity.
• Justice overcoming secrecy: The criminals depend on hidden rooms, false identities, and silence, but Lin Xiaosu’s investigation brings their operations into the open.
• Trust and teamwork: Lin, Zhou Mei, and Miao Ruolan combine investigation, firearms, and martial arts to survive the attack and expose the organization.
• Internal corruption: The ledger reveals that the criminal network is protected not only by gang members but also by influential “umbrellas” within the system.
• Strategic intelligence: The chapter stresses that dismantling a criminal organization from within is far more effective than attacking its outer members.
• Desperation and consequences: Once the workers realize their crimes have been discovered, they resort to violence, illustrating how fear of exposure drives them to increasingly reckless actions.

Character Interactions

• Boss Zhang attempts to maintain a polite relationship with Lin Xiaosu, but Lin deliberately challenges and exposes him.
• Lin directly confronts Boss Zhang by naming him as Ghost-Eyed Old Seven, forcing the criminal to abandon his disguise.
• Miao Ruolan repeatedly intervenes to protect Lin and Zhou Mei, demonstrating their close cooperation.
• Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan fight side by side while Captain Zhang’s arrival turns the confrontation in favor of the authorities.
• Lin Xiaosu taunts Boss Zhang by revealing that he has already obtained the incriminating ledger, undermining Boss Zhang’s final attempt to protect the organization.
• Captain Zhang receives the ledger from Lin and immediately recognizes that it may expose the entire criminal network, marking a major breakthrough in the investigation.

Chapter Summary: “Speedster on the Old Road”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After exposing the wedding-company scandal, Zhou Mei, Lin Xiaosu, and Miao Ruolan leave and go to Azure Waters Villa for lunch.
• Meanwhile, authorities launch a province-wide crackdown over the major 5.16 case. Most of the criminal organization, including four of the “Five Tigers,” is arrested.
• Tiger Brother escapes Golden River Villa after killing three people and heads north toward the mountains, intending to cross into Dingxi Province and disappear.
• Zhou Mei learns that she and her companions are among the closest people to Tiger Brother and immediately pursues him. Captain Zhang follows, arriving several minutes later.
• Lin Xiaosu uses his Heavenly Insight Eye and determines that Tiger Brother took the old mountain road rather than the faster new road toward Dingxi.
• They spot Tiger Brother’s Road Leopard ahead. Because the mountain road is dangerous and winding, Lin Xiaosu takes over driving despite not having a license.
• His extraordinarily daring driving rapidly closes the distance. Tiger Brother realizes they are pursuing him and orders his men to set a trap using two boulders.
• Lin Xiaosu narrowly avoids the roadblock by striking one boulder and forcing the car through the narrow gap, astonishing Tiger Brother and his men.
• Tiger Brother gives Third Son a pistol. Third Son waits around the next bend and fires directly at Lin Xiaosu’s head as the car approaches, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Zhou Mei shows strong initiative and dedication as a police officer. Despite doubts and fear, she immediately joins the pursuit and drives recklessly in an effort to catch Tiger Brother.
• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates confidence, quick judgment, supernatural perception, and astonishing driving ability. His calmness under extreme danger contrasts sharply with everyone else’s panic.
• Miao Ruolan becomes increasingly aware of her emotional attachment to Lin Xiaosu. His composure during the dangerous drive reminds her of the earlier moment when she called him “husband,” causing her feelings to deepen.
• Tiger Brother is revealed as ruthless, resourceful, and desperate. After escaping through violence, he quickly devises a trap when he realizes pursuit is closing in.
• Third Son acts as Tiger Brother’s loyal and willing subordinate, accepting the task of killing Lin Xiaosu.

Significant Themes

• Justice and retribution: The large-scale arrests show the authorities’ determination to dismantle the criminal network behind the 5.16 case.
• Courage under pressure: Zhou Mei and Lin Xiaosu pursue a dangerous murderer despite the risks, while Lin Xiaosu’s calm driving highlights extraordinary bravery and skill.
• Trust and instinct: Zhou Mei trusts Lin Xiaosu’s judgment about taking the old road, even though it initially seems irrational.
• Emerging romance: Miao Ruolan’s memories and observations suggest her feelings for Lin Xiaosu are becoming stronger.
• Life-and-death pursuit: The mountain chase emphasizes the thin boundary between heroism, recklessness, and death.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Mei jokes and argues playfully with Miao Ruolan and Lin Xiaosu before the pursuit begins.
• Zhou Mei and Lin Xiaosu cooperate closely during the chase, with Lin Xiaosu ultimately taking control of the vehicle.
• Miao Ruolan questions Lin Xiaosu’s lack of a driver’s license, adding humor and tension before witnessing his remarkable ability.
• Tiger Brother and his men coordinate their escape and ambush, blaming Zhou Mei and Lin Xiaosu for destroying their organization.
• The chapter ends with Third Son firing at Lin Xiaosu, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Chapter Summary: “A Quiet Orchid in the Library”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tiger Brother and his gang attempt to escape along the mountain road while Lin Xiaosu, Zhou Mei, and Miao Ruolan pursue them.
• A gunman, Third Son, fires at Lin Xiaosu, but Lin narrowly dodges the bullet and crashes into him, sending him over the cliff.
• Tiger Brother’s driver accelerates away, but Lin uses two pebbles as weapons: one breaks the rear windshield, and the second strikes the driver in the head. The car veers off the cliff and explodes.
• Zhou Mei reports the incident to Captain Zhang. Because the evidence is destroyed in the fire, investigators cannot determine exactly how the crash occurred.
• The Phoenix City 5.16 Major Case concludes with over three hundred criminals and corrupt protectors arrested. Three of the notorious Five Tigers are captured, while Tiger Brother and Water Brother die while fleeing.
• Phoenix City begins to recover as crime and intimidation sharply decline, and citizens finally speak openly about the gang’s abuses.
• Lin Xiaosu spends three days in the library studying geology and mineral resources, rapidly absorbing specialized knowledge through his unusual abilities.
• He meets a talented female painter who has been observing him in the library and has created a portrait of him. They exchange playful conversation and begin forming a personal connection.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates extraordinary driving, reflexes, and Ancient Martial Arts abilities. His precision with the pebbles reveals that his skills now surpass even Miao Ruolan’s, who originally taught him.
• He continues developing intellectually, discovering that he genuinely enjoys learning because knowledge now produces immediate and meaningful results for him.
• Lin also shows humility and humor in his interaction with the painter, admitting that photography would be safer than attempting to paint her.
• Miao Ruolan is astonished by Lin’s growth. Seeing him dodge a bullet and use pebbles with lethal accuracy makes her realize that his abilities have exceeded her own.
• Zhou Mei remains practical and responsible, reporting the incident and cooperating with the police investigation, though she cannot understand the true cause of the crash.
• Captain Zhang becomes increasingly suspicious of Lin Xiaosu’s involvement, recognizing that Zhou Mei’s success was unlikely to have been mere luck.
• The unnamed painter is introduced as intelligent, artistic, independent, and somewhat rebellious. She abandoned an elite overseas art education after deciding that returning home mattered more than fulfilling her parents’ ambitions.

Significant Themes

• Extraordinary ability hidden beneath ordinary appearances: Lin’s impossible actions are concealed by the lack of physical evidence, allowing him to appear merely lucky or exceptionally skilled.
• Justice and social cleansing: The arrests dismantle Phoenix City’s criminal network and its political protection, giving ordinary citizens the courage to reclaim their voices.
• Knowledge as power: Lin’s intense study reflects his growing belief that a detective must understand many disciplines, including geology, science, and the natural world.
• Individual freedom versus social expectations: The painter rejects her parents’ desire to make her a prestigious artist and chooses her own path instead.
• Quiet observation and artistic perception: The painter sees significance in Lin’s stillness amid the movement of the city, suggesting that both art and investigation depend on noticing what others overlook.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Miao Ruolan share an important reversal in their teacher-student relationship: she taught him Ancient Martial Arts, but he now performs feats she cannot match.
• Zhou Mei and Captain Zhang discuss the pursuit and the need to investigate whether the crash was accidental or caused by outside intervention.
• Captain Zhang’s comments show that he suspects Lin’s involvement, though he lacks proof.
• Lin and the painter connect through their shared love of quiet study. She gives him a portrait, explains her artistic philosophy and family conflict, and invites him to draw her.
• Their lighthearted exchange—especially Lin photographing her instead of painting—creates a flirtatious and promising first connection.

Chapter Summary: “Righteous Means”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu leaves the library after receiving an anxious call from Miao Ruolan, sensing that something is wrong.
• At the detective agency, he finds two officials from the Market Security Bureau inspecting the business.
• The officials criticize the agency for having no posted price list and demand its account book.
• The account book reveals extremely high fees: 30,000 yuan for finding a dog and 100,000 yuan for investigating an affair.
• Captain Zhou declares the agency an illegal profiteering operation and imposes a maximum fine of 1.3 million yuan—far beyond what the newly opened business can afford.
• Miao Ruolan becomes distraught, fearing that the agency and her hopes for the future have been destroyed.
• Lin Xiaosu remains calm throughout the inspection, but after Captain Zhou refuses any possibility of negotiation, he warns that the officials are acting on behalf of someone behind the scenes.
• He accuses hidden enemies of trying to force him out of Phoenix City and tells Captain Zhou to prepare for retaliation.
• Lin Xiaosu leaves on an electric scooter, saying he is going to “deal with him,” implying that he intends to investigate or confront whoever is responsible.
• Afterward, Miao Ruolan contacts Zhou Mei for help. Zhou Mei criticizes the agency’s excessive pricing but agrees to call a contact within the Market Security Bureau.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu: Demonstrates remarkable composure and confidence under official pressure. Rather than plead or compromise, he recognizes the fine as part of a larger conspiracy and openly challenges the people behind it. His willingness to retaliate reveals a more forceful and confrontational side.
• Miao Ruolan: Usually calm and formidable due to her Ancient Martial Arts training, she becomes helpless and frightened when facing legitimate authorities and the possible collapse of the business. Her emotional attachment to the agency and its future becomes clear.
• Captain Zhou: Uses his official authority aggressively, imposing the maximum fine and enjoying the power he holds over the agency. His hostility suggests that the inspection may be politically motivated rather than a neutral enforcement action.
• Zhou Mei: Acts as a practical adviser. Though she disapproves of the agency’s pricing strategy, she focuses on finding a solution through her connections.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of authority: The officials appear to use legal regulations as a weapon, exercising power harshly and possibly serving criminal interests.
• Justice versus legality: The chapter questions whether official actions are truly righteous simply because they are carried out under the law.
• Power and resistance: Lin Xiaosu refuses to submit to intimidation, setting personal justice and retaliation against institutional authority.
• Dreams threatened by reality: Miao Ruolan’s hopes for the detective agency are nearly destroyed by an overwhelming fine, highlighting the fragility of ambition.
• Greed and social inequality: The agency’s unusually high prices provoke public resentment, while the officials’ enjoyment of imposing the fine exposes another form of exploitation.

Character Interactions

• Miao Ruolan relies on Lin Xiaosu for direction during the inspection, while Lin Xiaosu calmly instructs her to cooperate.
• Captain Zhou and Lin Xiaosu engage in a tense power struggle: Zhou relies on legal authority, whereas Lin Xiaosu responds with confidence, accusation, and an implied threat.
• The crowd’s mixed reactions reflect the conflict between condemning the agency’s prices and sympathizing with Miao Ruolan’s plight.
• Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan discuss the agency’s reckless pricing and turn toward Zhou Mei’s official connection as their best hope of reducing or overturning the fine.

Chapter Summary: “Trespassing into a Private Residence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Mei investigates whether the Detective Agency can reduce the 1.3-million-yuan fine imposed on them. She learns that, although fines can sometimes be lowered, they cannot realistically be reduced enough for the struggling agency to afford.
• Miao Ruolan suggests that the fine may be part of a deliberate attempt by criminals to drive the Detective Agency out of Phoenix City, possibly involving officials knowingly abusing regulations.
• Zhou Mei realizes Lin Xiaosu may know something important and tries to contact him. However, he has already left to confront Captain Zhou, causing her and Miao Ruolan to worry that he may resort to violence or another reckless action.
• Lin Xiaosu instead travels to the home of Deputy Director Liu Dong, entering the residential complex by following a delivery rider and forcing his way into Liu’s apartment.
• Liu Dong’s wife, Deng Lan, objects and threatens to call the police, but Lin remains completely unafraid. He accuses Liu of issuing the unaffordable fine and openly declares that he intends to expose Liu’s embezzlement and bribery, potentially sending him to prison.
• Lin’s supernatural or highly trained perception allows him to observe details inside the bedroom and infer what happened there the previous night, increasing Deng Lan’s fear.
• At Liu’s office, Liu and his subordinate Zhou Luping mock Lin and overestimate their own authority. They assume Lin is relying on his relationship with Criminal Investigation Captain Zhang Haokong.
• Deng Lan calls Liu and informs him that Lin has come to their home. Liu initially dismisses the matter, but her longer explanation makes him realize the situation may be serious.
• Zhou Luping urges Liu to call the police and accuse Lin of trespassing into a private residence, but Liu refuses to bring subordinates or immediately involve the police. He fears Lin may possess evidence of his corruption and does not want his accusations overheard.
• Liu returns home to find Lin calmly sitting on the sofa while Deng Lan waits nearby in a hostile, defensive posture.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu becomes more aggressive and confrontational. Rather than negotiate through legal channels, he directly threatens Liu and shows that he is willing to invade the official’s private life. His calmness, perceptive abilities, and confidence make him increasingly intimidating.
• Miao Ruolan grows anxious about Lin’s actions. She recognizes both his usefulness in dangerous situations and the danger he poses when angered in a society governed by law.
• Zhou Mei shifts from trying to negotiate the fine to suspecting that the enforcement action may be part of a larger conspiracy. She understands that Lin may have uncovered a legal or political attack against the agency.
• Liu Dong is revealed as corrupt, ambitious, and politically confident, but also deeply cautious once Lin threatens to expose him. His fear of evidence shows that his authority depends partly on keeping his misconduct hidden.
• Deng Lan initially assumes Lin is merely another person seeking leniency, but becomes frightened when he demonstrates knowledge of Liu’s crimes. She adopts a defensive and confrontational attitude.
• Zhou Luping functions as Liu’s loyal subordinate and flatterer. He reinforces Liu’s arrogance by dismissing Lin as ignorant and overdependent on Captain Zhang.

Significant Themes

• Law versus justice: The agency is trapped by a severe fine imposed through official channels, while Lin suspects the law is being manipulated to eliminate them.
• Corruption and abuse of authority: Liu’s position and anticipated promotion contrast with the bribery and embezzlement he allegedly commits.
• Power and intimidation: Lin challenges bureaucratic power not through formal procedure but through personal fear, boldness, and the threat of exposure.
• Consequences of hidden wrongdoing: Liu’s confidence collapses once Lin suggests he knows about his corruption. The chapter emphasizes that corrupt officials fear scrutiny even when they control the legal system.
• Recklessness in a lawful society: Miao Ruolan recognizes that Lin’s Ancient Martial Arts abilities are valuable in combat but dangerous when he responds to injustice outside normal legal boundaries.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan discuss the impossibility of paying the fine and begin considering whether the enforcement action is intentionally malicious.
• Miao Ruolan and Zhou Mei unsuccessfully try to reach Lin, worried that he may act violently.
• Lin confronts Deng Lan in her home, using sarcasm and accusations to unsettle her and pressure Liu indirectly.
• Liu and Zhou Luping discuss Lin dismissively, revealing their arrogance and belief that bureaucratic rank protects them.
• Deng Lan’s call forces Liu to recognize that Lin’s visit is more than a routine complaint.
• The chapter ends with Lin and Liu finally positioned for a direct confrontation, with Lin appearing relaxed and Liu returning home under pressure.

Chapter Summary: “Anti-Corruption at the Scene”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Detective Lin Xiaosu confronts Deputy Director Liu Dong at Liu’s home after Liu refuses to cooperate through proper channels. Their argument escalates when Liu calls the police to remove Lin.
• Lin has deliberately contacted the Anti-Corruption Bureau instead. When its officers arrive, he claims he entered the residence to preserve evidence concerning Liu’s suspected corruption.
• Lin directs the officers toward a safe hidden in Liu’s son’s room. Liu’s companion, Deng Lan, panics and tries to deny its existence, effectively confirming Lin’s suspicion.
• Using his ability of Temporal Retrospection, Lin determines the safe’s combination and opens it. Inside are over 6.58 million yuan in cash and negotiable documents, as well as gold, jewelry, property deeds, equity certificates, and other assets worth at least 20 million yuan.
• Liu is unable to explain how he accumulated such wealth on a monthly salary of 7,500 yuan. Section Chief Li arrests him, while Deng Lan and the evidence are also taken away.
• Outside the building, Lin encounters Police Officer Zhou Yuanqing, who had been sent to arrest him after Deng Lan’s call. Lin reveals that Deng contacted Zhou directly rather than using the emergency line, suggesting a close relationship between Zhou and Liu.
• Lin threatens to investigate Zhou’s background and contacts Captain Zhang to report the suspicious connection. Zhou becomes visibly nervous and intimidated.
• Lin then goes to the Market Security Bureau, where he invokes Liu’s arrest to gain immediate access to Director Ren. Director Ren, who has just concealed cigarettes and an ashtray, receives Lin and asks what he wants.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates confidence, sharp deduction, and a willingness to use unconventional tactics. He turns an accusation of trespassing into a successful anti-corruption operation and remains calm while manipulating both officials and police.
• Liu Dong changes from an arrogant, defensive official into a terrified and helpless suspect once the safe is discovered. His hostility toward Lin intensifies, but he has no credible explanation for his wealth.
• Deng Lan is exposed as nervous and careless. Her attempt to deny the safe’s existence betrays Liu and confirms Lin’s suspicions.
• Zhou Yuanqing is presented as potentially compromised because of his private connection to Liu. His confidence collapses once Lin suggests a formal investigation.
• Section Chief Li acts decisively and professionally, recognizing the evidence and arresting Liu.
• Director Ren appears cautious and possibly uneasy. His hurried effort to hide cigarettes and clean his desk suggests that Lin’s arrival has made him nervous.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and abuse of power: Liu’s hidden fortune exposes the gap between his official salary and his real wealth.
• Justice versus procedure: Lin violates formal procedure by entering Liu’s residence, but he argues that extraordinary action was necessary when official channels were being obstructed.
• Evidence over reputation: Lin emphasizes that Liu’s honesty cannot be determined by asking people about him; the contents of the safe provide concrete proof.
• Fear and accountability: Officials who previously relied on status and connections become frightened when confronted with evidence and the possibility of investigation.
• Institutional complicity: Zhou’s personal relationship with Liu raises the possibility that corruption extends beyond one official and involves a wider network.
• Lin’s unconventional justice: Lin acts outside normal authority but repeatedly produces results, positioning himself as a disruptive force against corrupt institutions.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Liu trade insults during a tense confrontation, with Lin deliberately provoking Liu into revealing his panic.
• Lin works with the Anti-Corruption Bureau by guiding them to the safe and using his detective skills to open it.
• Lin confronts Zhou by exposing his connection to Liu and threatening to investigate him, reversing the attempted arrest.
• Lin uses Liu’s downfall to gain leverage with Director Ren, entering the bureau with an implied warning that other officials may also be vulnerable to scrutiny.
• The chapter ends with Lin and Director Ren beginning a new, potentially threatening conversation.

Chapter Summary: “Taking Down Zhou Luping”

Plot Points and Major Events

• Lin Xiaosu visits Director Ren of the Market Security Bureau after the bureau issues his detective agency an excessive fine.
• He immediately unsettles Director Ren by accurately revealing private details about his cigarette use, demonstrating his extraordinary investigative abilities.
• Lin challenges the legality of the fine by directing Ren to Article 78 of the Great Xia Special Services Business Regulations, which states that detective fees are determined by contracts between clients and agencies. Therefore, the bureau had no legal basis to punish his agency for charging high fees.
• Director Ren summons Captain Zhou Luping and Xiao Song, who admit that the fine was based on the wrong law. Ren orders Zhou to write a self-criticism, though Lin initially appears to let him avoid the humiliation.
• Lin then reveals that Zhou likely knew the investigation was politically motivated. Deputy Director Liu Dong had given Zhou cigarettes as a signal to target Lin’s agency aggressively rather than conduct a legitimate investigation.
• Lin shocks everyone by announcing that Liu Dong has already been taken to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, implying that the corruption investigation is far more serious than they realized.
• He then exposes Zhou’s deeper secret: Zhou allegedly owns ten percent of Azure River Company, a key organization connected to the May 16 major criminal case. Its shareholders are wanted criminals.
• Zhou panics and denies owning shares, but Lin’s accusation forces Director Ren to call the Special Investigation Team to verify the claim.
• Zhou collapses into fearful resignation, realizing that Lin has dismantled the bureau’s attack and turned the consequences back on those who targeted him.

Character Development

• Lin Xiaosu: Displays remarkable observational skill, legal knowledge, psychological pressure, and strategic ruthlessness. He remains calm and often appears courteous, but each remark is calculated to expose his opponents’ weaknesses. His revenge is swift, direct, and disproportionate to the original attack.
• Director Ren: Begins defensively, trying to preserve the bureau’s authority, but quickly becomes anxious when Lin exposes his secrets. Once he realizes Liu Dong has been arrested and Zhou may be involved in a major criminal case, he abandons institutional loyalty and calls the Special Investigation Team.
• Zhou Luping: Initially confident and dismissive, claiming the fine was ordinary law enforcement. His confidence collapses after Lin proves the legal error, reveals Liu Dong’s influence, and exposes his alleged connection to Azure River Company. He ends the scene terrified and physically weakened.
• Xiao Song: Starts as a subordinate observer but becomes visibly frightened as the scale of Lin’s investigation becomes clear. His trembling reflects the wider fear Lin inspires.
• Liu Dong: Though absent, he is revealed as the corrupt official who ordered the attack on Lin’s agency and has already been detained by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Significant Themes

• Law versus abuse of authority: Lin uses the law itself to defeat officials who misuse their power, emphasizing that legal authority is meaningless when officials do not understand or follow the law.
• Corruption and hidden alliances: The cigarette gifts symbolize unofficial orders, bribery, and the blurred boundary between public duties and private interests.
• Fear as a weapon: Lin rarely threatens directly; instead, he reveals precise secrets, causing his opponents to destroy their own composure.
• Revenge and justice: The chapter presents Lin’s retaliation as immediate and methodical: those who target him are exposed through their own corruption and misconduct.
• Appearance versus reality: The bureau presents its action as routine enforcement, but Lin reveals that it was actually an organized attempt to suppress or punish him.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Director Ren engage in a psychological contest, with Ren trying to maintain official authority while Lin steadily strips away his confidence.
• Lin confronts Zhou through a mixture of legal argument, implied accusations, and specific evidence about his relationships and financial interests.
• Director Ren initially protects his subordinates but ultimately turns toward formal investigation once their corruption threatens his own position.
• Zhou attempts to shift blame to Liu Dong, but Lin prevents him from escaping responsibility by exposing both the cigarette signal and Zhou’s alleged ownership in Azure River Company.
• The chapter ends with Lin firmly in control, while Ren, Zhou, and Xiao Song are left frightened and uncertain about their futures.

Chapter Summary: “One Punch to Open the Way”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu confronts Director Ren of the Market Security Bureau over an attempted fine against the Phoenix City Detective Agency. He confidently leaves the notice behind, implying that further harassment will only bring more trouble for the bureau.
• As he exits, he encounters police and members of the Special Investigation Team arresting Zhou Luping. Zhou is so frightened that he must be carried downstairs, while the Market Security Bureau falls into chaos.
• Lin meets Zhou Mei outside. She reveals that Deputy Director Liu Dong has already been taken to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and that Zhou Luping’s arrest is also connected to Lin’s actions.
• Lin explains that his legal position was secure: under the Great Xia Special Business Operations Regulations, detective-agency service fees are governed by contract and are not subject to the Market Management Law.
• He admits that he deliberately allowed the dispute to escalate. His goal was not merely to defeat one fine but to intimidate corrupt officials throughout Phoenix City. By bringing down several officials at once, he hopes to make the detective agency too dangerous to target.
• Zhou Mei warns that those who oppose corrupt officials often suffer tragic consequences. Lin acknowledges that he has now placed himself in the crosshairs of both criminals and corrupt government officials.
• Lin returns to the agency and reassures Miao Ruolan that the fine has been overturned and they owe nothing. He urges her to operate lawfully, pay taxes, and stop being intimidated by officials.
• Miao reveals that another large document was delivered. It turns out not to be a fine but a painting titled “Window,” depicting a person reading beside a window. Its inscription reads: “Ripples shallow beneath the eyes; long days beyond the Window.”
• Before leaving, Lin invites Zhou Mei to spend the afternoon alone with him. She accepts, becoming confused about his relationship with Miao Ruolan and her own growing feelings toward him.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates confidence, strategic thinking, and a willingness to use fear and public consequences to protect his business. He is not reckless: he already knows the law is on his side and intentionally turns the dispute into a warning to others.
• Zhou Mei sees more clearly how calculating and dangerous Lin can be. Her concern for him mixes with admiration, curiosity, and possible romantic jealousy after he fails to deny that Miao Ruolan may be his girlfriend and instead invites Zhou Mei out alone.
• Miao Ruolan moves from anxiety and helplessness to renewed confidence. Lin’s explanation encourages her to study the law and stand up for the agency, though her joking desire to imitate his domineering style shows that his influence is changing her.
• Zhou Luping is exposed as lacking courage despite his official authority. His arrest and collapse underline the vulnerability of corrupt officials once their protection disappears.
• Director Ren and the Market Security Bureau are left intimidated and humiliated, realizing that Lin cannot be bullied through ordinary administrative pressure.

Significant Themes

• Authority through deterrence: Lin believes one overwhelming strike can prevent countless future attacks—“one punch to open the way.”
• Law versus corrupt power: The chapter contrasts genuine legal protection with officials who misuse regulations to threaten businesses.
• Courage and moral confidence: Lin tells Miao that anyone who follows the law has no reason to fear people who act arrogantly or corruptly.
• The risks of confronting corruption: Even when he acts on behalf of ordinary people, Lin understands that challenging entrenched officials may make him a target.
• Public opinion in a small town: News of official arrests spreads rapidly, making corruption scandals both a source of public satisfaction and a force that magnifies Lin’s reputation.
• Emotional ambiguity: Lin’s interactions with Zhou Mei and Miao Ruolan create romantic tension, particularly because he does not clarify his relationship with either woman.

Character Interactions

• Lin intimidates Director Ren and teases Xiao Song, showing his confidence after gaining the upper hand.
• Zhou Mei questions Lin’s motives and warns him about the dangers of becoming a public opponent of corrupt officials. Their conversation also carries flirtatious tension.
• Lin deliberately tells Miao Ruolan about the arrests to restore her confidence rather than frighten her. She responds with admiration and a newfound determination to become stronger.
• Lin’s invitation to Zhou Mei, combined with his silence about Miao Ruolan, leaves Zhou Mei emotionally unsettled.
• The mysterious painting introduces a new, more personal and possibly symbolic element, suggesting that someone is observing or communicating with Lin through art.

Chapter Summary: “Gene Second Realm: Awakening?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu recognizes a painting previously created for him by a mysterious woman he had encountered at the library. The painting now bears a title and ten-character inscription and has been delivered to the Phoenix City Detective Agency.
• While discussing the woman with Miao Ruolan, Lin Xiaosu uses Temporal Reversal to revisit the moment she stood beneath a plane tree. He notices her detached, almost transcendent gaze and witnesses her killing a mosquito with a strand of her hair without even looking at it.
• This display shocks Lin Xiaosu. He considers whether the woman might be a genetic expert who has entered the legendary “Second Realm”—the Awakening stage—where genes produce extraordinary, seemingly supernatural abilities.
• Lin Xiaosu worries about why someone of such immense power would appear in small Phoenix City and intentionally seek contact with him.
• Miao Ruolan leaves to handle a routine property-investigation case independently, marking a step in her growth as a detective.
• Zhou Mei arrives at the agency dressed casually and attractively, believing she may be meeting Lin Xiaosu socially. Instead, he reveals that their real purpose is to investigate who ordered Liu Dong to target him.
• Lin Xiaosu explains that Liu Dong had been paid 50,000 yuan to drive him out of Phoenix City. The money came from the full-time driver and bodyguard of Du Lifeng, the powerful owner of Dell Company, Phoenix City’s largest pharmaceutical enterprise.
• Since Du Lifeng is highly influential and difficult for ordinary people to approach, Lin Xiaosu plans to use Zhou Mei’s police identity to gain access to him and confront him about the plot.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu: Becomes increasingly suspicious and analytical regarding the mysterious woman, recognizing that her abilities may place her among the world’s most powerful Awakened genetic experts. He also demonstrates strategic thinking by involving Zhou Mei in the investigation of Du Lifeng.
• Miao Ruolan: Shows greater independence by taking on a case alone. Her confidence and investigative experience are beginning to develop under Lin Xiaosu’s guidance.
• Zhou Mei: Reveals a softer, more feminine side by dressing up and applying makeup, apparently expecting a romantic outing with Lin Xiaosu. She is disappointed to discover that he is using her authority to access Du Lifeng, though she still agrees to help.
• The mysterious woman: Remains unexplained but is shown to possess terrifyingly advanced abilities, suggesting she may have transcended ordinary humanity through genetic Awakening.
• Du Lifeng: Emerges as a major potential antagonist. Though publicly respected as a model entrepreneur, he may be secretly manipulating events against Lin Xiaosu.

Significant Themes

• The boundary between humanity and superhuman evolution: The woman’s hair-based attack suggests that awakened genetic abilities can fundamentally alter the human body and challenge normal definitions of humanity.
• Power and hidden identities: Public reputations conceal private motives. Du Lifeng is celebrated as a civic-minded business leader, yet someone connected to him may have arranged an attack on Lin Xiaosu.
• Growth and independence: Miao Ruolan’s solo investigation reflects the gradual development of her skills and confidence.
• Miscommunication and unbalanced expectations: Zhou Mei interprets Lin Xiaosu’s invitation as potentially romantic, while he sees it as a practical investigative maneuver, creating comic tension between them.
• The unknown purpose of the mysterious woman: Her interest in Lin Xiaosu and presence in Phoenix City raise questions about whether he has become involved in conflicts far beyond ordinary detective work.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaosu and Miao Ruolan: They tease each other while discussing the painting and the woman. Miao Ruolan demonstrates her own martial ability by catching a mosquito, allowing Lin Xiaosu to compare her technique with the mysterious woman’s far more astonishing power.
• Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei: Their conversation shifts from playful misunderstanding to serious investigation. Lin Xiaosu reveals the conspiracy behind Liu Dong’s actions and persuades Zhou Mei to help him approach Du Lifeng.
• Lin Xiaosu and the mysterious woman: Although they have barely interacted directly, the painting and her supernatural display establish a significant and unsettling connection between them.
• Lin Xiaosu and Du Lifeng: They have never met, but Lin Xiaosu suspects Du Lifeng is connected to the attempt to force him out of Phoenix City. Their anticipated confrontation sets up the chapter’s next conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu convinces Zhou Mei to accompany him to Dell Company, despite her doubts that confronting its chairman will accomplish anything.
• He promises her a possible breakthrough in the May 16 case and reveals that he secretly saw wanted criminal Li Kaiyuan meeting Zhou Luping at White Dew Restaurant.
• Li Kaiyuan had told Zhou Luping how to contact him and asked him to monitor developments in the May 16 case while taking control of several businesses. This information could expose the entire network connected to Tiger Brother.
• Zhou Mei immediately reports the intelligence to the Special Investigation Team. The team launches an operation to capture Li Kaiyuan and promises to recommend her for promotion if the lead proves valid.
• Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei then visit Dell Company to investigate whether chairman Du Lifeng bribed Deputy Director Liu Dong to impose a huge fine on Lin and force him out of Phoenix City.
• Dell Company is portrayed as a highly successful and government-favored enterprise, with extensive facilities, strong business connections, and an impressive reputation.
• They meet Du Lifeng’s capable secretary and learn that Du is finishing a meeting with Changsheng Group, a major national corporation.
• After meeting Du Lifeng, Lin directly accuses him of sending his driver to give Liu Dong 50,000 yuan and ordering him to drive Lin out of the city.
• Du Lifeng immediately denies the accusation, claiming that he and Liu Dong are merely casual acquaintances and that such an arrangement is absurd.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates his usual boldness, strategic thinking, and willingness to take risks. He deliberately uses Zhou Mei’s authority to gain access to Du Lifeng while also ensuring she receives valuable investigative information.
• Zhou Mei shifts from skepticism to excitement when she learns about Li Kaiyuan. Her ambition for another police star motivates her to cooperate, and she proves efficient by immediately contacting the Special Investigation Team.
• Li Kaiyuan is shown as cautious and deeply entangled in the criminal network. His reliance on Zhou Luping reflects both trust and mutual vulnerability.
• Du Lifeng initially appears polished, confident, and socially powerful. His calm, professional demeanor changes when Lin connects him to the bribery allegation, hinting that the accusation has struck a sensitive point.
• Du Lifeng’s secretary is presented as intelligent, composed, and highly competent rather than merely decorative, reinforcing the professionalism and sophistication of Dell Company.

Significant Themes

• Opportunity through action: Lin believes that movement creates opportunities, contrasting with Zhou Mei’s fear that a premature confrontation may alert the suspect.
• Evidence versus inference: The investigators lack direct proof of the bribery, forcing Lin to rely on psychological pressure and strategic questioning.
• Mutual dependence and loyalty: Li Kaiyuan and Zhou Luping are bound together because each person’s safety depends on the other remaining free.
• Power and influence: Dell Company’s government privileges, tax benefits, and prestigious partnerships illustrate how business success can create social and political protection.
• Ambition and merit: Zhou Mei’s desire for promotion and another police star reveals how personal ambition motivates her dedication to the case.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Zhou Mei banter constantly, with Zhou accusing Lin of using her as a shield while still agreeing to help him.
• Lin manipulates Zhou’s ambition by offering information about Li Kaiyuan, strengthening their investigative partnership.
• Zhou’s report energizes the Special Investigation Team and transforms her from a reluctant participant into a key contributor.
• At Dell Company, Lin maintains a relaxed and conversational tone with the secretary and Du Lifeng before abruptly confronting Du with the bribery accusation.
• Du Lifeng responds with controlled disbelief, setting up a tense investigative confrontation between his polished denial and Lin’s uncertain but potentially revealing information.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Xiaosu confronts businessman Du Lifeng about allegedly ordering his driver, Liu Dong (“Dongzi”), to pay Deputy Director Liu Dong of the Market Security Bureau ¥50,000 to shut down the Phoenix City Detective Agency.
• Dongzi is summoned and denies knowing the official, making the payment, or having any connection to the detective agency. He claims he spent the evening in his room after leaving Du Lifeng.
• Zhou Mei carefully observes Dongzi but detects no signs of deception. Lin also appears uncertain, though during their handshake he briefly applies startling strength, seemingly testing Dongzi before allowing him to leave.
• Du Lifeng argues that he had no motive to target Lin, since they had never met. Lin responds by presenting a deduction rather than a direct accusation.
• Lin revisits the Wang Changfa case from seven days earlier. Wang had been infected with the new sexually transmitted drug P39 through Li Yufeng, who appeared to be trying to gain control of his wealth.
• Lin identifies three unresolved questions:
  1. How Li obtained P39 when it had only recently entered the police database.
  2. How she obtained an antidote despite the drug being new and its composition still under analysis.
  3. Why she would use the drug merely to seize Wang’s assets, since controlling a wealthy businessman would not be so simple.
• Lin connects the case to Du Lifeng after discovering that Du’s Dell Company had previously negotiated with Red Star Pharmaceuticals over control of its medicinal-herb cultivation bases.
• The negotiations failed because Wang Changfa, Red Star’s key shareholder and veto-holder, opposed Dell’s plan to genetically modify the herbs at the raw-material stage.
• Lin suggests that Li Yufeng may have been working for Du Lifeng. Du’s company could potentially have supplied both P39 and its antidote, while Li’s real purpose may have been to force Wang—already under immense pressure and now drug-dependent—into abandoning his opposition.
• Lin further proposes that Du tried to remove him because Lin’s investigations had accidentally interfered with Du’s larger plan and might threaten the new one.
• Du’s expression darkens, but Lin reminds him that he had framed the accusation only as a “deduction” and jokes that Du cannot become angry even if it is accurate. The chapter ends with everyone stunned.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu demonstrates strong investigative reasoning, linking apparently unrelated cases, corporate negotiations, drug research, and political pressure. He remains composed and playful even while making a potentially dangerous accusation.
• Du Lifeng initially presents himself as calm, reasonable, and uninvolved. His confidence begins to falter as Lin exposes the possible motive behind his actions, and his darkening expression suggests that Lin may have struck close to the truth.
• Dongzi appears polished, calm, and entirely convincing under questioning. However, Lin’s unusually forceful handshake implies suspicion remains, and Dongzi may possess hidden physical ability or training.
• Zhou Mei shifts from doubting Lin’s judgment to recognizing the depth of his investigation. Her shock shows that Lin has uncovered information beyond the police’s known conclusions.
• Li Yufeng and Wang Changfa, though absent, are reinterpreted: Li may have been an operative rather than an ambitious mistress, while Wang may have been deliberately pressured into surrendering his opposition.

Significant Themes

• Deduction versus proof: Lin cannot openly accuse Du without evidence, so he uses a carefully framed theory to pressure him and observe his reaction.
• Hidden motives behind public events: The Wang Changfa case appears to be a personal scandal but may actually be part of a corporate struggle.
• Power, coercion, and manipulation: Drug dependence is presented not simply as a means of stealing money but as a tool for forcing powerful people into submission.
• Science and ethical risk: Genetic modification of medicinal herbs raises concerns about unpredictable consequences, corruption, and whether official approval guarantees safety.
• Appearance versus reality: Dongzi’s flawless demeanor and Du’s respectable business persona conceal the possibility of criminal activity and larger ambitions.

Character Interactions

• Lin directly questions Dongzi while Du orders him to cooperate.
• Dongzi and Lin maintain polite appearances, but Lin’s forceful handshake creates a silent test and moment of tension.
• Du attempts to dismiss Lin’s suspicions through logic and appeals to peaceful business conduct.
• Lin counters by connecting Du to the earlier pharmaceutical scandal and gradually revealing his theory.
• Zhou Mei silently observes the interrogation and deduction, serving as a witness to the growing confrontation.
• The chapter’s final exchange remains outwardly humorous, but Lin’s accusation leaves Du and the others visibly unsettled.

Chapter Summary: “The Trap He Dug”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Lin Xiaosu and Zhou Mei leave Dell Company, Du Lifeng and his “secretary,” Xiao Juan, analyze Lin’s visit. They realize his detailed accusations were designed to pressure them into killing the detained Li Yufeng and thereby expose themselves.
• Xiao Juan explains that assassinating Li Yufeng would “sever the chain of evidence,” but argues that this is precisely the trap Lin Xiaosu wants them to fall into. If they act, Lin’s investigative abilities may allow him to uncover the entire conspiracy.
• Dongzi, Du Lifeng’s driver and bodyguard, reports that Lin’s handshake was unusually strong and that Lin secretly pulled out one of his hairs. This alarms Xiao Juan and confirms that Lin may have discovered something significant.
• In the car, Zhou Mei worries that Lin’s story may have prematurely alerted their enemy. Lin explains that deliberately “startling the snake” is part of his strategy: any reaction from Du Lifeng’s side—killing Li Yufeng, attacking them, or fleeing—could create a lead.
• Lin reveals the hair he obtained from Dongzi and suspects that Dongzi is a Gene Human. A genetic test using police reagent confirms the suspicion when the liquid turns blue.
• Zhou Mei urges Lin to report the discovery immediately, since Gene Humans fall under higher-level jurisdiction. Lin refuses, reasoning that revealing the hair will frighten Du Lifeng into fleeing, allowing them to expose the larger organization behind him.
• Lin and Zhou Mei return to the detective agency, aware that Du Lifeng may send assassins against Li Yufeng, them, or both.

Character Developments

• Lin Xiaosu: Demonstrates exceptional deductive ability, confidence, physical skill, and strategic boldness. Rather than follow conventional police procedure, he intentionally provokes the enemy to force a reaction and uses Dongzi’s hair as leverage.
• Zhou Mei: Shows caution, professional responsibility, and concern about escalating the case. Though frequently overwhelmed by Lin’s unconventional methods, she trusts him and recognizes his effectiveness. Their mutual teasing also reveals growing familiarity and camaraderie.
• Du Lifeng: Initially considers eliminating Li Yufeng to protect Dell Company, but becomes frightened when he realizes Lin may have anticipated that response.
• Xiao Juan: Revealed to be far more capable and strategically important than an ordinary secretary. She correctly identifies Lin’s trap and acts as Du Lifeng’s adviser and intellectual equal.
• Dongzi: His extraordinary strength and biological characteristics expose him as a Gene Human, making him a much more dangerous and valuable lead than previously suspected.

Significant Themes

• Psychological warfare and counter-traps: Both sides attempt to manipulate the other’s choices. Lin’s apparent mistake is actually a calculated strategy.
• Evidence versus inference: Lin lacks direct proof against Dell Company, but uses pressure, observation, and biological evidence to force the suspects into revealing themselves.
• Unconventional justice: Lin rejects standard investigative caution, believing that controlled provocation can produce stronger evidence than passive surveillance.
• Danger of hidden power: The revelation that Dongzi is a Gene Human elevates the case beyond ordinary crime and suggests the involvement of a powerful organization.
• Confidence and risk: Lin’s boldness contrasts with Zhou Mei’s caution, raising the question of whether his confidence is brilliant foresight or dangerous recklessness.

Important Character Interactions

• Du Lifeng and Xiao Juan privately discuss Lin’s motives, revealing that she is the true strategic mind behind much of their response.
• Dongzi’s report about the handshake and missing hair intensifies the threat within Dell Company.
• Lin and Zhou Mei debate whether to report Dongzi immediately, highlighting their opposing approaches: official procedure versus calculated manipulation.
• Their playful conversation on the drive reveals mutual respect and emotional closeness beneath their professional partnership.
• The chapter ends with Lin and Zhou Mei preparing for a potentially violent night, while the enemy must decide whether to kill, flee, or remain hidden.