Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen explains to Tang Jingbin that the Tang Family’s coming campaign against the Liu Family could be made far more secure with the Gu Family as an ally. Tang admits the alliance would be invaluable, especially given the likely cost of defeating the Liu Family.
• Wu Chen reveals that Gu Ruibo is due to arrive for dinner and asks Tang to play along while he handles the conversation. Tang agrees, though he still cannot understand why Gu Ruibo would risk committing the Gu Family.
• Gu Ruibo arrives and learns Wu Chen intends to act against the Qi Brothers. Wu Chen gives him a packet of evidence detailing wrongdoing by Qi Min and Qi Jun. Gu Ruibo is alarmed by how quickly Wu Chen obtained it and suspects Wu’s abilities are unusually extraordinary.
• Wu Chen says the Qi Brothers are his targets, while the Xiang Family’s response is its own choice. He points out that the Gu and Xiang families already compete and that opposing the Qi Brothers could benefit the Gu Family.
• Wu Chen asks Gu Ruibo to publicly support Tang Jingbin as the Tang Family moves against the Qi Brothers within three days. Gu agrees immediately, offering whatever assistance is needed. Tang is stunned by how quickly the arrangement takes shape.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen guides both men toward an alliance without laying out formal terms. He uses evidence, timing, and carefully chosen questions to make the opportunity—and the strategic logic—clear.
• Tang Jingbin shifts from confusion to eager hope. He recognizes the value of a Gu–Tang alliance but remains puzzled by Wu Chen’s influence and Gu Ruibo’s willingness to commit.
• Gu Ruibo begins by urging caution and trying to prevent escalation. After considering the Gu Family’s rivalry with the Xiang Family and the coming political upheaval, he decides cooperation is advantageous and offers support.
• The three men’s conversation moves from private persuasion to coordinated action: Tang will target the Qi Brothers, Gu Ruibo will publicly back him, and Wu Chen orchestrates the arrangement.

Significant themes

• Alliance-building and leverage: Shared strategic interests can unite families that otherwise have little contact.
• Information as power: Wu Chen’s evidence gives him the means to move events rapidly and influence powerful families.
• Strategic ambiguity: Wu Chen limits his stated objective to the Qi Brothers, leaving the Xiang Family to determine whether the conflict expands.
• Trust and perception: Gu Ruibo’s faith in Wu Chen—and Tang Jingbin’s growing dependence on his guidance—helps turn an implausible partnership into action.

Plot points

• Wu Chen turns a minor dispute involving the Qi brothers into a political opportunity, using compromising information to secure Tang Jingbin’s promise to move against a Xiang Family subordinate business within three days.
• Gu Ruibo agrees to back Tang’s move on behalf of the Gu Family, effectively committing his family to cooperate with the Tang Family and antagonize the Xiang Family.
• After the dinner, Wu Chen privately confirms that the Tang Family has already allied with the Li Family. He tells Gu Ruibo to keep the larger plan secret until the Qi Family affair breaks, and invites the Gu Family to contact his uncle, Li Maoren, about joining the coming campaign against the Ding Family.
• Wu Chen calls Li Maoren and explains that the Gu Family is likely to join the Li–Tang effort. He asks Li Maoren to brief Tang Jingbin on the Ding Family within three days and then arrange a meeting among the three families when the Gu Family calls.
• As Wu Chen drives away with Zhuang Xiaodie, Li Ruobing phones him, teasing him for making a major move without telling her. The chapter ends before he explains.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen reveals how easily he can turn unexpected events into strategic gains. He keeps the broader plan to himself while guiding Tang, Gu, and Li toward cooperation.
• Gu Ruibo shifts from questioning the proposed arrangement to embracing it. He recognizes that bringing the Gu Family into the coming conflict could greatly raise his standing and secure access to the Ding Family’s core assets.
• Tang Jingbin enthusiastically commits to acting against the Xiang Family’s subordinate company and grows warmer toward Wu Chen, though he does not know the full scope of Wu Chen’s plan.
• Li Maoren is stunned by Wu Chen’s success in recruiting the Gu Family. After grasping the strategic logic, he accepts that Wu Chen has set the final steps in motion and agrees to manage the next negotiations.
• Zhuang Xiaodie accompanies Wu Chen and confirms she enjoyed the meal; their easy, affectionate exchange offers a quieter contrast to the political maneuvering.
• Li Ruobing re-enters the story with a playful reproach, signaling familiarity and interest in Wu Chen’s latest activities.

Significant themes

• Small incidents can trigger major political shifts: Wu Chen turns a local dispute into the foundation for a powerful alliance.
• Shared interests create trust: The families’ cooperation is driven less by personal closeness than by common enemies and expected gains.
• Strategic information is power: Wu Chen’s private knowledge lets him guide events while each other character sees only part of the plan.
• Ambition and influence: Gu Ruibo sees the alliance as a path to greater authority within his family, while the larger families position themselves for a struggle over power and assets.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• After Wu Chen’s campaign turns An Menglan’s album into a sensation, he speaks with Li Ruobing. Their playful teasing masks her concern that he might miss his promised return to East Sea; he reassures her he will be back the next day.
• Online attention reaches unprecedented levels: all ten top Weibo searches relate to Wu Chen and An Menglan. Her seven-song digital album sells more than nine million copies in three and a half hours, with sales potentially reaching twenty million.
• Wu calculates that his 50% share of An Menglan’s earnings, together with future royalties and licensing, could bring him more than 500 million yuan.
• The next morning, a fabricated post accuses Wu of cheating with An Menglan and portrays her as a home-wrecker. It mixes a few true details with malicious inventions and spreads rapidly through marketing accounts, suggesting a coordinated smear campaign.
• Wu tells An Menglan not to issue a public response. He suspects an insider sold information and directs her to have her bodyguards question two employees, Chu Jie and Lü Sicheng, both previously involved in selling company information. He hopes their answers will reveal who is behind the attack.
• Wu then registers Magic City Strike Investment Co., Ltd. with Zhuang Xiaodie and intelligence contact Peng Wei. The company has 50 million yuan in registered capital; Zhuang holds 99% after contributing 10,000 yuan, while Peng holds 1% after contributing 49.99 million.
• After lunch with Peng, Wu declines to use paid accounts to influence the online controversy, drops Zhuang off, and leaves Magic City for East Sea.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen remains composed amid both the album’s success and the smear campaign. He treats publicity as an opportunity, quickly identifies the likely insider angle, and delegates the investigation rather than handling it himself.
• Li Ruobing shows that she misses Wu and wants reassurance he will keep his promise to return. Their affectionate banter reflects their competitive but intimate relationship.
• An Menglan shifts from celebrating her album’s success to anxiety about the rumors and the possibility that her real relationship with Wu could be exposed. She trusts his judgment and agrees to follow his instructions.
• Zhuang Xiaodie stays close to Wu, shares the online excitement with him, and joins the new company as its majority shareholder.
• Peng Wei continues as Wu’s intelligence contact and helps establish the company. His willingness to invest heavily reflects Wu’s confidence in his value.

Significant themes

• Publicity and reputation: The same online attention that drives the album’s success can quickly be redirected into a damaging scandal.
• Manipulation and hidden interests: The smear appears to be a calculated attack by rivals threatened by An Menglan’s dominance, aided by a company insider.
• Trust and control: An Menglan relies on Wu’s calm leadership, while Wu delegates both the investigation and business arrangements to people he trusts.
• Success through disruption: Wu’s bold promotion of the album produces extraordinary commercial results—far beyond his original expectations.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen returns to East Sea and visits Li Ruobing at her office, where Su Qingying is also present. He tells them he will take Li Ruobing to meet his parents that evening.
• Qingying, who cannot openly be part of Wu Chen’s family life, declines his casual invitation to come along. She privately tells him she wants to have his baby soon. Wu Chen supports the idea but cautions her to consider its impact on her demanding career. When Li Ruobing asks what they were whispering about, Wu Chen reveals Qingying’s plan.
• After Qingying leaves, Wu Chen teases Li Ruobing about wanting a child. She replies that they have never used contraception and privately hopes to be the first woman to bear his child; she suspects she may already be pregnant.
• Li Ruobing prepares for the family visit, changing into a more understated outfit and bringing gifts. They drive to Wu Chen’s childhood home in an old, modest apartment complex.
• Wu Chen’s parents and sister, Wu Jiao, welcome them. Li Ruobing greets his parents politely and is warmly received, though the parents are visibly nervous around their son’s wealthy, impressive girlfriend. Wu Jiao eagerly inspects the gifts.
• As Wu Chen shows Li Ruobing the apartment, Wu Dahai worries that the social and financial gap between the families may make the relationship difficult. The chapter ends when Wu Chen recognizes that the expensive cigarettes among the gifts came from Li Ruotai, prompting him to ask how costly they are.

Character developments

• Li Ruobing shows a more vulnerable, considerate side: she is anxious about winning Wu Chen’s parents’ approval, tones down her appearance, and brings carefully chosen gifts. Her desire to be Wu Chen’s first mother is also revealed.
• Su Qingying is openly affectionate with Wu Chen but remains cautious about entering his family life. Her wish for a baby reflects both her commitment to him and her intention to balance motherhood with her ambitions.
• Wu Chen is relaxed and affectionate with both women, while also attentive to Qingying’s career concerns and sensitive to his family’s circumstances.
• Wu Dahai and Zhang Xiujuan are pleased by Li Ruobing but intimidated by her wealth and status. Wu Dahai’s unease exposes his concern about whether the relationship is practical.
• Wu Jiao is comfortable and playful, helping ease the first meeting.

Significant themes

• Love and family: Meeting the parents turns the romance into a more serious, public step.
• Ambition and motherhood: Qingying weighs having a child against her leadership responsibilities; Li Ruobing’s competitive wish to be first reveals the complicated dynamics among Wu Chen’s partners.
• Class and belonging: The modest family home contrasts with Li Ruobing’s wealth, raising doubts about whether the couple’s backgrounds can be reconciled.
• Private intimacy versus public constraints: Qingying’s relationship with Wu Chen remains hidden, limiting her ability to share in his family life.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen and Qingying exchange affectionate embraces and kisses, then discuss her wish for a child in private before he reveals it to Li Ruobing.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing banter comfortably, but her nervousness during the family visit shows how much she values his parents’ opinion.
• Li Ruobing makes a respectful first impression on Wu Dahai and Zhang Xiujuan; their special preparation of new slippers signals their effort to welcome her.
• Wu Jiao’s curiosity about the gifts contrasts with her parents’ more serious concern about the couple’s financial and social differences.
• Wu Chen’s question about the cigarettes hints that Li Ruotai’s involvement in the gifts may matter.

Chapter Summary: “Oh, Boss Li!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ruobing realizes she accidentally brought Wu Chen’s parents five cartons of Yellow Crane Tower Big Gold Brick cigarettes, which cost roughly 30,000 yuan per carton and are among the rarest and most expensive cigarettes in the country.
• Wu Chen teases her about choosing five cartons at random and jokes that she should buy a lottery ticket. He suggests they should eventually be honest about the gifts’ value, though Li Ruobing briefly worries he might reveal more serious secrets about their relationship.
• While Wu Chen and Li Ruobing affectionately whisper to each other, Wu Jiao jokingly warns them not to display too much intimacy in front of their father.
• Li Ruobing makes polite conversation with Wu Dahai about the family’s ramen shop and her cosmetics company. She remains composed, but Wu Dahai is nervous and overly respectful because of the apparent difference in their social and financial positions.
• Chen Xue arrives with her father, Chen Jinye, an old friend of Wu Dahai’s. Chen Jinye recognizes Li Ruobing as the wealthy owner of Huancai Fashion Company, whom he had encountered during a business bidding process.
• Chen Jinye is shocked to discover that Li Ruobing is Wu Chen’s girlfriend. He immediately becomes extremely deferential, flattering Li Ruobing and praising Wu Chen’s “good eye.”
• Because Chen Jinye and Li Ruobing can discuss business, their conversation makes the atmosphere more comfortable. Chen Jinye’s behavior also leads Wu Dahai to realize that Li Ruobing is likely far wealthier and more influential than he had imagined.
• As dinner is ready, Chen Jinye initially tries to leave so he will not intrude on the family’s first meal together. Wu Dahai insists that he stay, then privately takes him onto the balcony to ask him something.

Character Developments

• Li Ruobing: Displays confidence, social grace, and adaptability while meeting Wu Chen’s family. Although initially concerned about the extravagant gifts, she handles the awkward situation calmly and speaks naturally with Wu Dahai and Chen Jinye.
• Wu Chen: Remains relaxed and playful, teasing Li Ruobing about the cigarettes and behaving casually in his family home. His comfort contrasts with his father’s nervousness.
• Wu Dahai: Becomes increasingly aware that Li Ruobing’s wealth and status far exceed his expectations. He is polite but uneasy, especially after seeing Chen Jinye—normally a proud and successful businessman—treat Li Ruobing with unusual respect.
• Chen Jinye: Reveals his sharp business instincts and opportunistic enthusiasm. Once he recognizes Li Ruobing’s identity, he becomes eager to cultivate the connection while remaining outwardly friendly toward Wu Chen.
• Wu Jiao and Chen Xue: Serve as observers of the adults’ conversation. They withdraw to Wu Jiao’s room when the business discussion becomes uninteresting.

Significant Themes

• Class and social disparity: Li Ruobing’s wealth creates an invisible pressure during her meeting with Wu Chen’s modest family, especially through the value of the gifts and Chen Jinye’s deferential reaction.
• Family acceptance and first impressions: The visit centers on whether Li Ruobing can fit comfortably into Wu Chen’s family life despite their very different backgrounds.
• Wealth and influence: Chen Jinye’s sudden change in attitude demonstrates how social status affects behavior and relationships.
• Humor amid awkwardness: Wu Chen’s teasing and the absurdly expensive cigarettes lighten the tension surrounding the formal family meeting.
• Business as a bridge: Li Ruobing and Chen Jinye connect more easily through professional conversation than through personal small talk.

Character Interactions

• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing share affectionate, teasing exchanges while worrying about the expensive cigarettes.
• Li Ruobing speaks politely with Wu Dahai about their businesses, helping ease the initial tension.
• Wu Jiao playfully interrupts their intimacy.
• Chen Jinye enthusiastically flatters Li Ruobing after recognizing her, while Wu Dahai watches in surprise.
• Li Ruobing and Chen Jinye establish an easy business-oriented conversation, while Wu Dahai privately observes and begins questioning the true scale of Li Ruobing’s background.
• The chapter ends with Wu Dahai taking Chen Jinye aside, clearly preparing to ask for his opinion or explanation about Li Ruobing and her relationship with Wu Chen.

Chapter Summary: “Laying the Cards on the Table”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• During dinner at Wu Chen’s parents’ home, Wu Dahai privately asks his friend Chen Jinye about Li Ruobing’s background and wealth.
• Chen Jinye explains that Li Ruobing is the owner of Illusion Stone, a highly successful cosmetics company with multiple factories and a possible public listing. He estimates her fortune at several billion yuan and emphasizes her powerful family connections, particularly her brother, Li Ruotai.
• Rather than being pleased, Wu Dahai becomes increasingly anxious about the enormous social and financial gap between his family and Li Ruobing. He worries that she may not genuinely remain with Wu Chen.
• The family shares a large dinner. Li Ruobing is treated respectfully, while Zhang Xiujuan cautiously gets to know her and Chen Jinye repeatedly addresses her as “Boss Li.”
• After dinner, Wu Chen and Li Ruobing agree that they should be honest with his parents. While Wu Chen speaks privately with his father, Li Ruobing tells Zhang Xiujuan that she is pregnant.
• Li Ruobing explains that the pregnancy was intentional, that she and Wu Chen want the child, and that she is prepared for marriage. She also reassures Zhang Xiujuan that the baby will carry the Wu surname.
• In the bedroom, Wu Dahai questions Wu Chen about whether his relationship with Li Ruobing is genuine and lasting. Wu Chen jokes at first, then reveals that he has earned a great deal of money independently rather than relying on Li Ruobing.
• Wu Chen shows his father a bank notification displaying a balance exceeding one hundred million yuan, leaving Wu Dahai stunned.

2. Character Developments

• Wu Dahai: His initial excitement about Li Ruobing’s wealth turns into insecurity and concern for his son. He fears Wu Chen may be financially or emotionally dependent on her, or that the relationship may not last.
• Wu Chen: He remains calm and humorous, attempting to reassure his parents. He demonstrates maturity by planning to address their concerns directly and reveals that he possesses substantial wealth of his own.
• Li Ruobing: She actively takes control of the situation, presenting herself as serious about Wu Chen and their future. Her announcement of the pregnancy is meant to establish her commitment and reduce the family’s fear that she might abandon him.
• Zhang Xiujuan: She begins cautiously and politely, aware of the class difference between the families. After hearing about the pregnancy, she becomes excited and protective, quickly focusing on Li Ruobing’s health and the baby.
• Chen Jinye: He serves as an enthusiastic but poorly informed source of rumors about Li Ruobing’s wealth and influence, unintentionally increasing Wu Dahai’s anxiety.

3. Significant Themes

• Class and social disparity: The chapter highlights the insecurity Wu Chen’s parents feel because Li Ruobing is far wealthier, more powerful, and more accomplished than their family.
• Family acceptance and reassurance: Both Wu Chen and Li Ruobing deliberately reveal major information to convince his parents that their relationship is serious and stable.
• Honesty and “laying the cards on the table”: The pregnancy and Wu Chen’s financial position are disclosed to remove uncertainty and prevent the parents from imagining the worst.
• Independence and self-worth: Wu Chen’s wealth reveal emphasizes that he is not merely dependent on Li Ruobing or benefiting from her status.
• Marriage, family, and continuity: The discussion of pregnancy, marriage, and the baby’s surname shows the relationship moving toward a permanent family commitment.

4. Character Interactions

• Wu Dahai and Chen Jinye: Their balcony conversation contrasts Chen Jinye’s admiration and exaggeration with Wu Dahai’s growing concern.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing: They communicate privately and confidently, coordinating how to reassure his parents. Their mutual understanding suggests a strong and serious partnership.
• Li Ruobing and Zhang Xiujuan: Their polite conversation develops into a candid discussion about pregnancy, marriage, finances, and the child’s surname. Li Ruobing intentionally presents herself as committed to Wu Chen.
• Wu Dahai and Wu Chen: Their private conversation shifts from paternal suspicion to astonishment when Wu Chen reveals his enormous bank balance.
• The family and Li Ruobing: Everyone treats her with unusual respect because of her wealth and status, but her pregnancy announcement begins to make her seem less like an intimidating businesswoman and more like a future member of the family.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen shows his father, Wu Dahai, that his bank balance is 136,204,896 yuan. He has deliberately revealed only part of his fortune, hoping to reassure his parents without overwhelming them.
• Dahai initially fears the money came from crime. Wu Chen says it is legitimate income from writing songs for singer An Menglan. Wu Jiao backs him up, explaining the songs’ popularity and the terms of his deal. When she sees the balance, she is first thrilled, then concerned about how he earned so much.
• Wu Chen leaves his family to discuss the details, trusting Jiao to explain. His mother, Zhang Xiujuan, has also learned that Li Ruobing is pregnant.
• Wu Chen and Ruobing relax together, teasing each other and discussing their relationship. Ruobing reflects on how different the Wu family’s affectionate, ordinary home is from her own wealthy but troubled family.
• Jiao rushes out, excited to learn she may become an aunt, and questions Ruobing about the pregnancy.
• Tang Jingbin calls Wu Chen with urgent news: Lu Song has been in a car accident.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen shows care and restraint by revealing only enough money to reassure his parents. He also relies on Jiao’s enthusiasm and credibility to explain his success.
• Wu Dahai moves from shock and suspicion toward understanding once he hears the money came from Wu Chen’s songwriting.
• Wu Jiao is proud and excited about her brother’s success, but the size of his wealth makes her worry about his safety and choices. She is also thrilled by Ruobing’s pregnancy.
• Zhang Xiujuan responds more calmly than her husband and seeks a straightforward explanation.
• Li Ruobing is affectionate with Wu Chen and openly compares the warmth of his family with the dysfunction of her own. She shares her pregnancy news with his family.
• The family’s warmth is underscored by their lively questions, concern, and excitement; Wu Chen and Ruobing’s teasing shows their intimacy.

Significant themes

• Family trust and reassurance: Wu Chen wants his parents to know they are financially secure while protecting them from the full scale of his wealth.
• The value of a loving home: Ruobing’s response highlights the emotional comfort of the Wu family compared with the burdens of wealth and family power.
• Sudden success and its consequences: Wu Chen’s extraordinary earnings bring pride and excitement, but also disbelief and concern.
• New beginnings and looming danger: The pregnancy offers joyful news, while Tang Jingbin’s report of Lu Song’s accident abruptly reintroduces suspense.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen learns that Mao Rusong has been seriously targeted in a staged-looking collision: a large truck with out-of-town plates ran a red light, rammed his convoy on a road where such trucks were prohibited, then fled.
• Tang Jinbin suspects the Qi Brothers, given their feud with Mao Rusong. Wu Chen doubts they are responsible: the attack was too conspicuous and crude for the calculating Qi Min. He suspects someone used the feud as cover to kill Mao Rusong and frame the brothers.
• Wu Chen waits for Gu Rui Bo’s report from the hospital. He is prepared to Reset the day if Mao Rusong has died, but has not decided whether to do so until he learns the extent of the injuries.
• Back inside, Wu Chen joins his family and Li Ruobing. The family warmly discusses her pregnancy and the gifts she brought for Wu Chen’s parents and sister.
• Wu Dahai discovers that Wu Chen has transferred thirty million yuan into his parents’ account. His parents are reluctant to accept such a large sum, but Wu Chen reassures them that he can earn more and wants them to stop working so hard.
• Gu Rui Bo calls just as Wu Chen is explaining this, and Wu Chen steps out to answer.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen stays composed and analytical about the crash, distinguishing his concern for Mao Rusong from fear of having made an irreversible mistake. His ability to Reset gives him confidence, but his friendship with Mao Rusong still makes the situation personally important.
• Tang Jinbin alerts Wu Chen out of concern and initially assumes the Qi Brothers are responsible. Wu Chen’s questions prompt him to reconsider, though he remains unsure who else could be behind the attack.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing appear close and comfortable. She shares the pregnancy news with his family and brings generous gifts; Wu Chen accepts his mother’s scolding for not telling the family sooner.
• Wu Chen’s parents are proud of his success and welcoming toward Li Ruobing, but their instinct is to put his future needs first rather than accept his money. Wu Chen’s transfer shows his desire to care for them.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and misdirection: The obvious suspect may be a scapegoat; Wu Chen looks beyond appearances and weighs motive, method, and the attacker’s likely style.
• Power and consequence: A public, rule-breaking attack risks provoking a major conflict in Magic City.
• Family care and changing fortunes: Wu Chen’s wealth reshapes his family’s circumstances, while his parents’ reluctance reflects enduring parental concern and humility.
• Second chances: Wu Chen’s Reset ability means he can prevent an irreversible loss, though he still values his relationships and must decide when to use it.

Episode 229 Summary: “Will Mr. Wu Solve the Case?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mao Rusong is deliberately rammed by a truck in what appears to be an attempted murder. Although the impact severely damages the rear side of his Rolls-Royce, Mao suffers only a concussion and a head wound.
• His survival is attributed to several factors: his driver accelerates at the moment of impact, the Rolls-Royce’s strong safety structure absorbs much of the collision, and—most importantly—Mao had changed seats because Wu Chen previously warned him that the conflict with the Qi Brothers might escalate.
• Wu Chen decides not to reset the day, believing the attack may provide clues and evidence against the people responsible.
• He asks Gu Ruibo to obtain traffic-surveillance footage tracking both the truck and Mao’s convoy. He also instructs everyone to avoid contacting the Qi Brothers until Mao wakes up.
• Wu Chen discusses the incident with Zhuang Xiaodie and later explains the entire conflict to Li Ruobing, including the deaths that triggered the dispute and why the Qi Brothers might have suspected Mao.
• At home, Wu Chen’s parents gradually accept the thirty million yuan he has given them, while Li Ruobing helps reassure them. The family spends the evening together before retiring.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing examine nearly nine and a half hours of traffic footage. The truck had emerged from a factory, stayed for more than seven hours in a private parking lot, struck Mao’s convoy, and was later abandoned by the driver, who escaped.
• Li Ruobing believes the footage is insufficient to identify either the driver or the mastermind. She starts a ten-minute timer and challenges Wu Chen to name the person behind the attack using only the surveillance recordings.
• After a rapid and seemingly superficial review of the footage, Wu Chen confidently identifies Cao Liangpeng as the likely mastermind.

Character Developments

• Wu Chen demonstrates strategic judgment and restraint by allowing events to unfold instead of resetting the day. He also shows confidence in his ability to infer hidden connections from limited evidence.
• Mao Rusong is revealed to be cautious and adaptable. Because he took Wu Chen’s warning seriously and changed seats, he avoids potentially fatal injuries.
• Gu Ruibo becomes openly furious at the attack because of his close friendship with Mao. Although skeptical that Wu Chen can solve the case remotely, he cooperates fully.
• Li Ruobing continues to grow more emotionally invested in Wu Chen. She playfully challenges him, tries to prevent him from “cheating,” and reveals that she is increasingly open to marriage despite once rejecting the idea.
• Wu Chen’s parents begin accepting their son’s wealth and support, while remaining grounded and attached to their ordinary lifestyle.
• Cao Liangpeng is introduced as Wu Chen’s unexpected suspected mastermind, though the episode ends before the evidence behind the accusation is explained.

Significant Themes

• Cause and effect across repeated days: Wu Chen’s warning changes Mao’s behavior and directly prevents a much worse outcome, showing how small interventions can reshape events.
• Evidence versus certainty: The attack is designed to leave no obvious trail, yet Wu Chen believes hidden patterns in the surveillance can reveal more than conventional investigators might notice.
• Power struggles and covert violence: The conflict among powerful families escalates from political and business maneuvering to assassination attempts carried out through staged accidents.
• Trust and emotional commitment: Li Ruobing’s willingness to wager marriage and call Wu Chen “husband” reflects her changing feelings and growing acceptance of their complicated relationship.
• Family and wealth: Wu Chen’s parents struggle to adjust to his financial success, but their continued attachment to work and family keeps them humble.

Important Character Interactions

• Wu Chen and Gu Ruibo coordinate Mao’s protection and the collection of surveillance evidence.
• Wu Chen reassures Zhuang Xiaodie about Mao’s condition.
• Li Ruobing questions Wu Chen about his connection to the attack and challenges his confidence in solving it.
• Their playful bet escalates into a serious romantic agreement: if Li Ruobing loses, she must marry Wu Chen and begin calling him “husband”; if Wu Chen loses, he cannot pursue additional women.
• The episode closes with Li Ruobing convinced she has won—only for Wu Chen to name Cao Liangpeng as the mastermind.

Plot and key events

• After Wu Chen and Li Ruobing review surveillance footage of the attack on Mao Rusong, Wu Chen identifies Cao Liangpeng as the mastermind. Cao is a wealthy veteran entertainment businessman and Mao’s former partner and longtime rival.
• Li Ruobing doubts Wu Chen’s conclusion because she saw the same footage and found no clues. Wu insists he worked it out from the recording, though he does not yet explain how.
• Wu calls Mao Rusong and tells him to investigate Cao’s communications around the time of the attack, trace any trusted subordinates involved, and gather evidence before confronting Cao. Mao follows the plan.
• The next morning, Mao confirms that Cao arranged the attack. When confronted with the evidence, Cao reportedly tried to draw a gun and protested that Mao had repaid his past help with contempt.
• Mao explains that Cao’s motive combined longstanding resentment and business ambition. At a recent gathering, Cao saw Mao receiving far more respect and attention; then the dispute between Mao and the Qi Brothers gave Cao a chance to frame them and profit from Mao’s death.
• Li, astonished that Wu’s deduction proved correct, presses him to reveal how he solved the case. Wu agrees, but first playfully reminds her of a bet she made. She calls him “husband,” then eagerly brings him the computer so he can explain.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen demonstrates striking confidence and insight, directing Mao’s investigation despite being far away and having only the surveillance footage. His calm, teasing manner contrasts with Mao’s agitation and Li’s competitive frustration.
• Li Ruobing trusts Wu enough not to believe he deliberately deceived her, but his success challenges her pride and makes her question her own reasoning. Their teasing turns affectionate when she calls him “husband.”
• Mao Rusong moves from disbelief to certainty, then gratitude and anger. His deferential “report” to Wu shows how greatly his respect for Wu has grown.
• Cao Liangpeng is revealed as a bitter, ruthless former mentor-like partner who resents Mao’s rise and hopes to exploit his death.

Significant themes

• Resentment and envy: Cao’s old grievances intensify as Mao surpasses him socially and commercially.
• Power, reputation, and opportunity: Cao expects the Qi Brothers to take the blame and Mao’s death to destabilize his business network.
• Trust and loyalty: Mao accepts Wu’s advice without proof at first, while Wu’s reliability strengthens their relationship.
• Intimacy through teasing: Wu and Li’s playful rivalry and private affection develop alongside the investigation.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing review surveillance footage of the truck that caused Mao Rusong’s fatal crash. Wu Chen skips most of the recording and compares images of the truck before and after it leaves a parking lot.
• He notices that the nighttime driver sits farther back than the earlier driver, despite wearing similar clothes. Wu Chen concludes the truck was taken from its real driver, who was likely ambushed and killed; the attacker used the driver’s clothes to disguise the change.
• Wu Chen has Li Ruobing note several vehicles seen along the truck’s route and Mao Rusong’s convoy route. He explains that they served as support and surveillance: monitoring police, providing backup, and reporting the convoy’s location so the truck could strike at the right moment.
• The white Santana that entered and left the truck lot is especially suspicious: its rear sat lower when it exited, suggesting it carried a heavy load—possibly the real truck driver’s body.
• Wu Chen identifies the vehicles as belonging to people under powerful businessman Cao Liangpeng. Their connections point to Cao as the mastermind behind the staged crash.
• Li Ruobing is amazed by Wu Chen’s ability to recognize vehicles and connect them to their owners from a brief review of footage. Wu Chen attributes it to his work as an intelligence dealer and does not reveal the deeper source of his knowledge.
• The case discussion ends when Li Ruobing turns affectionate, talks about having several children with Wu Chen, and kisses him. A phone call interrupts them later.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen demonstrates extraordinary memory and investigative skill, reconstructing the murder plan from small visual clues and his extensive knowledge of powerful figures’ vehicles. He shares only a simplified explanation with Li Ruobing.
• Li Ruobing initially questions the evidence behind Wu Chen’s deductions, but becomes convinced when he links the cars to Cao Liangpeng’s network. Though unsettled by Wu Chen’s abilities, she accepts that some things about him may remain inexplicable.
• Their exchange blends analytical partnership with intimacy: Li Ruobing challenges his reasoning, then sets aside her doubts and expresses affection and hopes for their future family.

Significant themes

• Observation and memory: Seemingly minor details—driver posture, a car’s lowered rear, and vehicle movements—can reveal a carefully concealed crime.
• Power and conspiracy: The crash required coordination among multiple accomplices, ultimately leading to a powerful figure.
• Trust and the unknowable: Li Ruobing trusts Wu Chen even when his abilities defy ordinary explanation.
• Intimacy amid danger: The chapter shifts from a murder investigation to a warm, playful moment between the couple.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Menglan calls Wu Chen to ask whether he has identified the source of the leaked materials connected to her new song.
• Wu Chen correctly guesses that He Zong Media arranged the leak, though An Menglan confirms that she has no direct evidence linking the company to it.
• The actual chain of events is revealed: Su Lei sold the demo to paparazzi studio Moli Fang, which was paid by He Zong Media through intermediaries to leak the material anonymously.
• Wu Chen decides not to pursue He Zong Media directly because doing so would be complicated and time-consuming. Instead, he plans to make the company pay through a separate, more efficient strategy involving Peng Wei and the takeover of Moli Fang.
• An Menglan also reports that the people who sold information about her and Wu Chen—Chu Ji and Lü Sicheng—have been identified. Lü Sicheng has confessed and will be handed to prosecutors.
• Wu Chen instructs An Menglan to publicly announce that Lü Sicheng fabricated the scandal and leaked the information, hoping to calm online public opinion.
• During the call, An Menglan accidentally mentions an undisclosed “matter” between herself and Wu Chen, exposing the existence of their wager to Li Ruobing.
• To cover herself, An Menglan claims that Wu Chen has been discussing a technology-based investment in Dream China Music. He supposedly wants 50% of the company’s shares without investing cash, offering his abilities and resources instead.
• Li Ruobing is shocked by the proposal but realizes that An Menglan has effectively accepted Wu Chen’s terms because she now deeply trusts his abilities. The call ends with Li Ruobing amused and impressed by Wu Chen’s influence.

Character Developments

• Wu Chen: Demonstrates his strategic intelligence and confidence. He prefers efficient solutions over complicated investigations and continues manipulating events from behind the scenes. His business value is so great that An Menglan is willing to consider giving him half of her company.
• Li Ruobing: Shows her possessive, playful, and competitive side when she learns An Menglan may be hiding something. Although she teases and intimidates An Menglan, she remains confident that Wu Chen favors her most. She also recognizes how thoroughly Wu Chen has influenced An Menglan.
• An Menglan: Becomes increasingly obedient and trusting toward Wu Chen. She is initially cautious and nervous when Li Ruobing discovers the wager, but quickly invents a business explanation to conceal it. Her willingness to surrender 50% of Dream China Music demonstrates how strongly she believes in Wu Chen’s capabilities.
• Lü Sicheng and Chu Ji: Are exposed as insiders who sold confidential information. Lü Sicheng confesses and becomes the public scapegoat for the scandal.

Significant Themes

• Control and influence: Wu Chen’s power comes not only from money but from his ability to predict, manipulate, and resolve situations with minimal effort.
• Trust and submission: An Menglan increasingly accepts Wu Chen’s judgment, while Li Ruobing observes that he can win people over without coercion.
• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: Li Ruobing and An Menglan compete indirectly for Wu Chen’s attention, with their guarded words revealing their feelings.
• Efficiency versus confrontation: Wu Chen avoids an exhaustive legal battle against He Zong Media and chooses a more calculated way to punish it.
• Public image and media manipulation: The scandal, leaked recordings, anonymous accounts, and planned public announcement highlight the entertainment industry’s dependence on controlling information.

Character Interactions

• Wu Chen and An Menglan discuss the leak, the scandal, and their future business negotiations in a formal but increasingly personal conversation.
• Li Ruobing listens in, takes the phone, and confronts An Menglan about their secret wager.
• Li Ruobing taunts An Menglan about calling Wu Chen and implies that An Menglan is emotionally attached to him.
• An Menglan remains outwardly composed but is clearly embarrassed and pressured until she disguises the wager as a business investment discussion.
• Li Ruobing ultimately understands that An Menglan has fallen under Wu Chen’s influence, while remaining reassured that Wu Chen’s strongest attachment is to her.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ruobing praises Wu Chen after learning that he convinced An Menglan to surrender 50% of her shares. Wu Chen’s success greatly improves Ruobing’s opinion of Menglan, whom she no longer considers a serious rival. She concludes that Wu Yurong remains the more dangerous woman.
• Li Ruobing and Wu Chen resume their intimate morning together after being interrupted by An Menglan.
• Wu Chen’s parents receive cigarettes and other gifts through Li Ruobing, leaving Wu Dahai unusually cheerful and proud of his son.
• Wu Dahai secretly tells his old friend Chen Jinye that Wu Chen has earned a large amount of money and transferred thirty million yuan to his parents. Chen Jinye is delighted by Wu Chen’s success and advises Wu Dahai to invest the money conservatively in property rather than business.
• Chen Jinye mentions rumors about a powerful young man in East Sea known as “Mr. Wu.” Neither man realizes that the rumors refer to Wu Chen. They assume the title belongs to someone with a far more powerful background.
• At home, Wu Jiao teasingly implies that Wu Chen and Li Ruobing have been intimate. Wu Chen playfully disciplines her, while Li Ruobing enjoys seeing his ordinary, familial side.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing prepare to leave after lunch. Wu Chen learns that Chen Jinye once had business dealings with Li Ruobing’s company, but the cooperation ended. He asks Li Ruobing to explain what happened.

Character Developments

• Wu Chen: His reputation and wealth continue to grow, yet he remains attentive to his parents and protective of their interests. He tests Chen Jinye’s character indirectly and is reassured when Chen refuses to exploit their friendship for financial gain.
• Li Ruobing: Her trust and affection for Wu Chen deepen. She becomes less threatened by An Menglan and appreciates Wu Chen’s warm, playful behavior with his family.
• Wu Dahai: He gains confidence and pride after learning about his son’s success, though he remains cautious and financially conservative.
• Chen Jinye: He demonstrates loyalty and integrity by refusing to mix friendship with business or take advantage of Wu Dahai’s money. His practical advice reflects his understanding of Wu Dahai’s personality.
• Wu Jiao: She remains mischievous and outspoken, teasing her brother and Li Ruobing about their relationship.
• An Menglan: Though absent for most of the chapter, her willingness to give up half her shares changes Li Ruobing’s assessment of her from potential rival to relatively harmless ally.

Significant Themes

• Trust and loyalty: Chen Jinye’s refusal to profit from Wu Dahai’s friendship proves the strength of their decades-long bond.
• Family pride and changing status: Wu Chen’s success transforms how his parents view themselves and their future.
• Appearance versus reality: The “Mr. Wu” rumored about in East Sea is actually Wu Chen, but people imagine him as someone from a powerful, mysterious family.
• Security versus ambition: The discussion over investing in property versus business reflects the contrast between Wu Dahai’s desire for stability and Wu Chen’s rapidly expanding ambitions.
• Private intimacy and public power: Wu Chen is feared and respected in elite circles, yet at home he behaves like an ordinary son and teasing older brother.

Character Interactions

• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing: Their flirtatious intimacy and growing mutual confidence show the strength of their relationship.
• Wu Dahai and Chen Jinye: Their cigarette-sharing conversation highlights their lifelong friendship, mutual assistance, and shared concern for their families.
• Wu Chen and Wu Jiao: Their playful physical teasing reveals a comfortable sibling bond.
• Li Ruobing and Wu’s family: Her willingness to help prepare vegetables and her ease in the household signal her increasing acceptance as part of the family.
• Wu Chen and Chen Jinye: Wu Chen respects Chen’s integrity and begins investigating his past business relationship with Li Ruobing, setting up the chapter’s closing conflict or revelation.

Key plot points

• At Wu Chen’s parents’ home, he raises the story of Chen Jinye’s chemical company, Shengye Chemical, losing its supply contract with Li Ruobing’s company two years earlier. Chen says his titanium dioxide was sound, but factory officials Bao Yuquan and Wang Xiangming accused him of supplying defective goods and ended the deal.
• Li Ruobing initially considers checking with the factory, noting that the two officials are long-time associates of her family. Wu Chen signals that he believes Chen, and Li immediately accepts his judgment: she orders Chen to return to the factory that afternoon and resumes the contract.
• Li calls Wang Xiangming, summons him and Bao Yuquan to her office, and makes clear that she will investigate the matter. Chen, relieved and grateful, leaves early to prepare for the meeting.
• After lunch, Wu Chen and Li leave his parents’ home. On the drive back to the city, Wu Chen explains that Bao has allegedly been taking kickbacks and that Wang also benefited, though the two officials’ relationship is strained. Li considers how to handle the corruption.
• At the city parking garage, Li heads back to work while Wu Chen says he is going to see Su Qingying and Qin Ying. He asks Li to say he was delivering documents if anyone asks. They exchange affectionate teasing and kisses before parting; Wu Chen then drives toward Jinfu Jewelry, where Su Qingying and her father, Su Ruiwen, are likely to be.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen quietly guides the conversation and gives Li confidence to act, while withholding details about his next plans.
• Li Ruobing shows that she trusts Wu Chen’s judgment deeply, even in a major company matter involving her own longtime associates. Her warmth and playful intimacy with him contrast with her forceful, decisive leadership at work.
• Chen Jinye moves from fear and frustration to relief and gratitude after Li believes him and restores the contract. He is eager to protect his reputation and seize the chance to revive his struggling business.
• Wu Dahai and Zhang Xiujuan welcome the couple warmly and see them off without treating their departure as a major farewell. Wu Jiao and Chen Xue observe the household’s affectionate dynamics and are surprised by Li’s trust in Wu Chen.

Significant themes

• Trust and loyalty: Li’s decisive response rests less on evidence than on her confidence in Wu Chen.
• Corruption and accountability: The alleged kickbacks and false quality claims show how insiders can exploit a company and harm smaller suppliers.
• Power and leadership: Li’s authority is clear in her immediate summons and firm orders, but the chapter also recognizes that large organizations inevitably contain problems.
• Affection amid business pressures: Domestic warmth, teasing, and public affection sit alongside serious questions of corporate misconduct and responsibility.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen visits Su Qingying at Jinfu Group, ostensibly to bring her a document. Mu Qianqian meets him downstairs and escorts him to the executive floor.
• While Su Qingying is in a meeting, Wu Chen and Qianqian flirt and share an affectionate moment in her office. Qianqian jokes that Wu Chen has many other women, then leaves when Su Qingying returns.
• Su Qingying sends Qianqian on a work errand so she can be alone with Wu Chen. They share a tender reunion before Su Ruiwen unexpectedly walks in.
• Su Ruiwen notices his daughter’s flushed, uneasy manner and how close she and Wu Chen are. Though Wu Chen is known to him by reputation, he begins to suspect something is happening between them.
• Wu Chen has deliberately come to meet Su Ruiwen and draw his attention. Since he and Su Qingying have agreed to have a child, Wu Chen believes Su Ruiwen will eventually discover the relationship and wants to prepare for that eventual confrontation.
• Su Ruiwen discusses Jinfu Group’s succession and a recent boardroom dispute with Su Qingying. He is gradually handing her authority, while the powerful shareholder Xu Zhenyuan resists her leadership.
• When Su Ruiwen asks to see the cooperation documents supposedly brought by Wu Chen, Su Qingying produces an older document and pretends it came that day. Su Ruiwen spots the date and realizes they have lied to him.

Character developments

• Wu Chen shows affection toward Qianqian and Su Qingying, but also acts strategically: he wants Su Ruiwen to notice him before Su Qingying’s future pregnancy makes the truth impossible to hide.
• Su Qingying is increasingly burdened by work and concern over her ill father, yet Wu Chen remains the person with whom she can relax. Her nervousness around Su Ruiwen reveals how much she fears him discovering her relationship.
• Mu Qianqian balances playful intimacy with professional ambition. She takes pride in being trusted with responsibility at Jinfu Group and wants Wu Chen to support her future career.
• Su Ruiwen admires Wu Chen’s growing reputation and is grooming Su Qingying as his successor, but his instincts as a father make him suspicious of the pair.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and impending disclosure: Wu Chen and Su Qingying’s private relationship is becoming harder to conceal, especially with their plan to have a child.
• Family responsibility and succession: Su Ruiwen’s illness drives the transfer of power to Su Qingying, while the company’s future remains contested.
• Affection alongside ambition: The characters’ romantic bonds coexist with professional goals, political maneuvering, and questions of inheritance.
• Reputation and influence: Wu Chen’s rumored deeds have made him a formidable figure in East Sea, shaping how Su Ruiwen receives him.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen and Qianqian tease each other privately, but maintain a formal assistant-and-guest façade in public.
• Su Qingying responds warmly to Wu Chen, and Qianqian gently helps conceal their intimacy when she returns.
• Su Qingying’s fatherly relationship with her is strained by her secrecy: he supports her leadership but carefully watches her behavior around Wu Chen.
• Wu Chen and Su Ruiwen exchange courteous introductions, while the concealed tension between Wu Chen and Su Qingying undercuts their polite conversation.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen visits Jinfu Group, ostensibly to deliver documents for Li Ruobing. Su Ruiwen notices that the document copy shown to him is dated the previous day, exposing the excuse as false.
• Su Ruiwen suspects Wu Chen and his daughter, Su Qingying, are hiding something—possibly an affair. He stays composed because he lacks proof and fears damaging Qingying’s relationship with Li Ruobing.
• Wu Chen’s careful, flawless small talk only increases Su Ruiwen’s suspicions. Su Ruiwen eventually invites him to his office for a private conversation.
• Qingying tells Mu Qianqian that she was relieved her father did not catch her behaving intimately with Wu Chen. Mu teases her and checks that things are all right.
• In private, Su Ruiwen confronts Wu Chen about the fake pretext. Wu Chen admits Qingying was keeping a secret for him but refuses to reveal it.
• Wu Chen says Li Ruobing sent him to help Qingying with problems inside Jinfu Group. He identifies second-largest shareholder Xu Zhenyuan as a problem—not because of anything he has already done, but because he may threaten Qingying’s authority when she succeeds her ailing father.
• Wu Chen recommends getting rid of Xu Zhenyuan. Su Ruiwen is taken aback, unsure what Wu Chen means.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ruiwen is shown as shrewd and cautious. Though suspicious and protective of Qingying, he avoids an open confrontation until he understands the situation and considers the political risks.
• Wu Chen remains calm and unreadable, deliberately giving Su Ruiwen little to work with. He is frank about some matters but guarded about his personal secret, and he confidently raises a hard-line solution to the company’s succession problem.
• Su Qingying is relieved that her father has not discovered her closeness with Wu Chen, confirming that their secret worries her.
• Su Ruiwen and Wu Chen engage in a tense, measured contest: Su probes for answers, while Wu deflects personal questions and steers the discussion toward Jinfu Group’s internal power struggle.
• Qingying and Mu Qianqian share a brief, familiar exchange in which Mu teases Qingying about the near-discovery.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and suspicion: Wu Chen and Qingying’s concealment makes Su Ruiwen more wary, even when Wu behaves impeccably.
• Power and succession: Su Ruiwen’s declining health makes Qingying’s transition to leadership—and the loyalty of senior figures like Xu Zhenyuan—a pressing concern.
• Trust versus intrusion: Su Ruiwen is uneasy that Li Ruobing is intervening in his company’s affairs without his knowledge, even if the help is well-intentioned.
• Composure and strategy: Both men manage the conversation carefully, using restraint, implication, and calculated disclosure rather than open hostility.

Key plot points and events

• Su Ruiwen struggles to believe that Li Ruobing would destroy Xu Zhenyuan simply to protect Su Qingying. He fears her willingness to go that far could eventually endanger his daughter—or Jinfu Group.
• Wu Chen explains that Li’s plan is not to frame Xu but to expose his many past crimes. He lists fraud, embezzlement, murder, assault, and a false rape accusation, along with witnesses and other evidence.
• To prove his claims, Wu gives Su the precise location of a murdered woman’s body. Su records it and plans to verify the information, while continuing to question Wu about Xu’s other crimes and the people who can corroborate them.
• Su concludes that, if Wu’s account is true, Xu can be brought down. He considers using the evidence to remove Xu and possibly secure Xu’s Jinfu shares for Su Qingying.
• After Wu leaves, Su reflects on Li’s capabilities and calls her. He reveals that Wu told him everything and that he is sending someone to dig up the body.
• Li is blindsided: she does not know what Wu has told Su or whose body he means. She initially fears Wu has made a serious mistake, then wonders whether his apparent blunder was deliberate.

Character developments

• Su Ruiwen moves from shock and distrust to cautious belief as Wu supplies increasingly specific, verifiable details. He remains opposed to a baseless frame-up but is willing to use genuine evidence against Xu for both justice and family advantage.
• Wu Chen demonstrates extraordinary composure, memory, and access to detailed information. His confident, methodical revelations leave Su impressed—and make Li question what he is really planning.
• Li Ruobing is revealed, through Su’s reactions, as far more formidable than he had understood. Her confidence is shaken when Su unexpectedly confronts her with Wu’s disclosures, but she quickly begins considering whether the situation is part of Wu’s plan.
• Xu Zhenyuan, though absent, is exposed as a ruthless criminal whose long-standing position at Jinfu may be in jeopardy.

Significant themes

• Justice versus manipulation: Exposing real crimes is morally different from framing someone, even if both can produce the same outcome.
• Power and loyalty: Li’s willingness to act for Qingying alarms Su, who fears the consequences of such fierce devotion.
• Evidence and control: Information becomes a weapon in corporate and personal power struggles; whoever possesses proof can reshape the balance of power.
• The limits of understanding: Su and Li are both unsettled by Wu’s knowledge and by the possibility that events are unfolding according to a plan they cannot see.

Character interactions

• Wu and Su engage in a long, probing conversation: Su tests the claims and gathers names and details, while Wu answers with calm precision.
• Su and Li speak by phone after Wu leaves. Su believes she orchestrated the investigation and openly tells her he is acting on the information; Li’s confusion exposes how little she knows about Wu’s actions.
• Wu and Li, though not together in the closing scene, are linked by their earlier agreement that he would say he was delivering documents—a cover story that makes Su’s revelations all the more alarming.

Key plot points and events

• During a call with Su Ruiwen, Li Ruobing realizes Wu Chen has not prepared her for questions about Xu Zhenyuan’s embezzlement. She concludes Wu Chen may deliberately want Su Ruiwen to become suspicious.
• Li plays along with the story that she merely delivered Wu Chen’s documents, while her uncertainty about the details makes Su Ruiwen question who actually investigated Xu Zhenyuan.
• Recalling Wu Chen’s knowledge, Su Qingying’s sudden rise at Jinfu Group, and Li’s willingness to cover for Wu Chen, Su Ruiwen concludes that Wu Chen—not Li—uncovered Xu Zhenyuan’s secrets and may be far more capable than he appears.
• Li calls Wu Chen, furious that he involved her without warning. She explains she feared the plan could damage his relationship with Su Qingying’s father. Wu Chen remains confident and says they will discuss it when he arrives.
• At Li’s office, the pair reconcile affectionately. After Wu Chen tells her what he told Su Ruiwen and explains the Xu Zhenyuan investigation, Li is astonished by the extent of his abilities and asks whether he has some kind of supernatural power.

Character developments

• Li Ruobing shows both sharp judgment and deep concern for Wu Chen. Though powerful and self-assured, she is emotionally open with him and worries about the risks his plans pose to his relationship with Su Qingying.
• Su Ruiwen shifts from gratitude and admiration toward suspicion and alarm. He begins to see Wu Chen as the hidden force behind several major developments.
• Wu Chen remains composed and confident, concealing how he accomplishes things. His influence over events—and the mystery surrounding his capabilities—grows.

Character interactions

• Li carefully handles Su Ruiwen’s probing questions, indirectly encouraging his suspicions while protecting Wu Chen.
• Su Ruiwen praises Li and asks her to support Su Qingying, then reinterprets her evasiveness as evidence that Wu Chen is responsible.
• Li and Wu bicker over his failure to warn her, then reconcile in an intimate, playful exchange.
• Li listens as Wu explains the investigation and confronts him directly about the possibility of supernatural abilities.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and suspicion: Wu Chen’s concealed role prompts others to reassess what they know about him.
• Trust and partnership: Li protects Wu even while criticizing his risky, unannounced plans.
• Power and appearances: Wu’s youth and lack of visible background contrast with the extraordinary influence and investigative reach Su Ruiwen attributes to him.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• Li Ruobing asks Wu Chen whether he has supernatural powers. He says only that he had extraordinary experiences before meeting her, leaving the details unexplained. She accepts this small revelation as a sign that they have grown closer.
• At Wu Chen’s home, Li Ruobing and Su Qingying prepare dinner while Mu Qianqian playfully teases Wu Chen. She asks him to promise to care for and protect her for life; he agrees. In return, he asks her not to discuss how they first met unless he gives permission.
• Wu Chen’s request is a precaution: Mu Qianqian once heard him describe his thousand-year reincarnation, though she dismissed it as a joke. He worries she may eventually reconsider the story and tell someone, especially the perceptive Li Ruobing or Su Qingying.
• Elsewhere, Su Ruiwen has workers excavate beneath a parking shelter at Tianhe Machinery Factory. They uncover a suitcase containing a woman’s partially preserved body, apparently buried for at least three years.
• Su Ruiwen orders the factory closed and its employees paid while he investigates. He wants to build a case against Xu Zhenyuan before alerting the police, and also intends to recover Xu’s shares in Jinfu Jewelry.
• That evening, Su Ruiwen returns home and asks after his daughter, Su Qingying. Learning that she may be at Wu Chen’s house with Li Ruobing, he abruptly stops on the stairs.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing: Their relationship deepens through a moment of trust. Wu Chen reveals a little about his mysterious past, while Li Ruobing chooses not to press him.
• Wu Chen and Mu Qianqian: Their teasing, affectionate dynamic shows how comfortable she is with him. Beneath her playful manner, Qianqian fears losing her place in his life; Wu Chen recognizes this and reassures her with a lasting promise.
• Wu Chen and Mu Qianqian’s secret: He is less concerned with the bar encounter itself than with preventing her from casually revealing the conversation that could eventually expose his reincarnation secret.
• Su Ruiwen and Wei Jianhe: Wei cooperates eagerly with the powerful businessman, hoping to earn favor. Su Ruiwen keeps his investigation controlled and discreet.
• Su Ruiwen and Madam Su: Their conversation turns from his late-night work to Su Qingying’s whereabouts. His sudden reaction upon hearing she may be with Wu Chen suggests the news carries particular significance.

Significant themes

• Trust and intimacy: Wu Chen’s partial confession marks emotional progress, while Li Ruobing respects his boundaries.
• Promises and security: Qianqian’s request reveals her insecurity, and Wu Chen’s promise offers reassurance.
• Secrecy and consequences: Wu Chen carefully manages who knows his past, aware that even a story dismissed as unbelievable could become convincing later.
• Power, evidence, and justice: Su Ruiwen chooses a covert investigation over immediate police involvement, determined to secure proof before confronting Xu Zhenyuan.

Key plot points and events

• Su Ruiwen works late, reviewing a recording of his conversation with Wu Chen to compile evidence against Xu Zhenyuan and plan to recover shares that would strengthen the Su Family’s control of Jinfu Group. Madam Su takes over the transcription when his health and fatigue concern her.
• The recording leaves Madam Su uneasy: Wu Chen answers Su Ruiwen’s probing questions with unusual completeness. Su Ruiwen also wonders what else may be significant about Wu Chen, considers contacting Wu Yurong, and decides to ask questions at Lu Guangnian’s wedding the next day.
• On August 2, Wu Chen wakes beside Su Qingying. She tells him Li Ruobing suspects their relationship; Wu confirms it, and Qingying admits she denied nothing but did not confess.
• Wu Chen, Li Ruobing, Su Qingying, and Mu Qianqian attend Lu Guangnian’s lavish wedding at Tangsha Private Club. Lu’s son Lu Jiawei greets Wu Chen as “uncle,” reflecting Wu Chen’s unusually close bond with Lu Guangnian, though Wu asks him to speak as an equal.
• At the wedding, Su Qingying leaves to meet her father, Su Ruiwen. Li Ruobing then asks Wu Chen whether he and Qingying are involved; he confirms it.
• Wu Yurong approaches Wu Chen and pointedly compliments Li Ruobing, provoking her. She then reveals that Su Ruiwen questioned her, and Li demands to know what she told him.

Character developments

• Su Ruiwen remains determined to deal with Xu Zhenyuan, but his health is fragile. His suspicion that there is more to Wu Chen than meets the eye grows.
• Madam Su is protective of both her husband and daughter. She trusts Qingying and believes Li Ruobing’s strength makes an affair hard to conceal, though the recording unsettles her.
• Su Qingying appears increasingly close to Wu Chen and accepts that Li Ruobing may know about them, but she has not openly acknowledged the relationship to her.
• Li Ruobing learns definitively that Wu Chen and Qingying are lovers. Rather than react openly, she treats it as no immediate threat, though her encounter with Wu Yurong quickly reveals her sensitivity to rivals and provocation.
• Lu Jiawei has risen from a salaried professional to a Juli Group vice president and prospective heir to Lu Guangnian’s fortune; he confidently performs his new role as host.

Significant themes

• Power, inheritance, and control: Su Ruiwen’s plan to recover shares, Lu Jiawei’s new status, and the gathering of wealthy families all center on influence and succession.
• Trust and concealed relationships: Qingying’s relationship with Wu Chen remains discreet, while people around them infer or investigate it.
• Appearances and social maneuvering: The wedding is both a celebration and a high-stakes networking event; characters maintain public courtesy while exchanging pointed private remarks.
• Health and responsibility: Su Ruiwen’s illness contrasts with his determination to secure his family’s future, and Madam Su tries to protect him from overwork.

Character interactions

• Su Ruiwen and Madam Su show affection and mutual concern: she urges him to rest, then takes over his work.
• Wu Chen and Su Qingying share an intimate, trusting exchange about Li Ruobing’s suspicions.
• Li Ruobing publicly behaves as Wu Chen’s partner, taking his arm and accompanying him to the wedding, while privately confirming his relationship with Qingying.
• Lu Jiawei and Tang Mei defer to Wu Chen as family, and Wu Chen gently rejects the “uncle” title.
• Wu Yurong’s pointed remarks spark a tense exchange with Li Ruobing, ending with Li demanding to know what Wu Yurong disclosed to Su Ruiwen.