Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen stops He Shixin from trying to secure his help by sleeping with him, reminding her that He Xinxin might someday learn Wu Chen killed her biological father.
• He Shixin insists that Xinxin must never learn the truth. Wu Chen assures her he will keep the girl away from the conflict and will not involve her in Ding Ruilong’s death.
• Wu Chen proposes that He Shixin and Xinxin go to East Sea, then travel abroad after He Shixin testifies against the Ding family. He also offers to teach Xinxin to paint.
• He Shixin agrees to cooperate, but demands that Wu Chen sleep with her as a way to cuckold Ding Ruilong and give her leverage and reassurance. Though Wu Chen repeatedly says he wants to keep their relationship straightforward, he eventually accepts her proposal.
• Afterward, the two leave the hotel acting like a couple for the cameras, then separate. Wu Chen buys He Shixin emergency contraception before they part.
• He Shixin plans to tell Xinxin they are leaving for East Sea the next day. Wu Chen returns to the KTV, where Mao Rusong presents him with an equity agreement offering him a substantial stake.

Character developments and interactions

• He Shixin shifts from fear and desperation toward conditional cooperation. Her concern for Xinxin is her strongest motivation, but she also seeks revenge on Ding Ruilong and a personal bond with Wu Chen that might protect her. Her trauma has shaped her belief that sex is a way to manage danger and influence men.
• Wu Chen shows both strategic control and apparent consideration: he uses He Shixin’s love for her daughter to halt her, promises to protect Xinxin, and lays out a plan rather than exploiting her initial fear. At the same time, he has guided He Shixin’s thinking throughout their encounter.
• Their relationship remains ambiguous: they are not presented as a couple, yet they become intimate and agree to cooperate. He Shixin also believes intimacy may give her leverage over Wu Chen because of his relationship with Li Ruobing.
• Mao Rusong resumes his business dealings with Wu Chen, presenting an equity agreement without delay.

Significant themes

• Protection and innocence: Wu Chen insists that Xinxin should not bear the consequences of her father’s crimes.
• Trauma and agency: He Shixin’s choices are shaped by past abuse, fear, and a learned belief that intimacy can offer protection or control.
• Trust and manipulation: He Shixin has little proof Wu Chen is telling the truth, yet his candor and knowledge of her private thoughts persuade her. The narration also suggests her decisions have been influenced by Wu Chen.
• Revenge and complicity: He Shixin wants Ding Ruilong punished and seeks to make him suffer personally, while Wu Chen plans the larger campaign against the Ding family.

Key plot points and events

• Mao Rusong offers Wu Chen a 45% stake in Chenghai Entertainment, worth roughly 90 million yuan, for a token one yuan. The gift is both an apology over Mao Qi and an effort to draw Wu Chen into Mao’s circle.
• Wu Chen accepts the gesture but refuses to hold the shares himself, explaining that his coming conflict with Ding Ruilong could create problems for Mao. Instead, he has Zhuang Xiaodie sign the agreement, making her the company’s major shareholder.
• Mao Rusong treats Zhuang with newfound respect. Wu Chen encourages her to use her acting training in Chenghai’s productions, hinting that he may help her become a star.
• Li Maoren calls Wu Chen to discuss Ding Ruilong’s possible arrival in East Sea. He asks Wu Chen not to kill Ding there, while offering the Ding family’s compensation. Wu Chen says Ding will survive, but may not leave unhurt; Li Maoren accepts this so long as Wu Chen leaves no loose ends.
• Wu Chen and Zhuang spend the day together. He tells her he will return to East Sea the next day, and later tells Li Ruobing that he is bringing back three people—three women. Li Ruobing is startled and suspicious.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen shows strategic restraint with Mao Rusong while accepting his alliance, and places the shares in Zhuang’s name. He remains confident and cryptic about his plans for Ding Ruilong.
• Zhuang Xiaodie moves from bewilderment and insecurity to excitement and gratitude as she gains both a stake in a company and a possible path into acting. Her affection for Wu Chen deepens.
• Mao Rusong shifts from treating Zhuang as someone under his authority to addressing her as an equal, signaling his respect for Wu Chen and the new relationship he hopes to build.
• Li Maoren has come to regard Wu Chen as a valuable prospective member of the Li family, despite recognizing how formidable and dangerous he is. Their conversation reflects growing trust and a shared opposition to the Ding family.
• Li Ruobing speaks comfortably with Wu Chen but becomes wary when she learns he is bringing three women home.

Significant themes

• Power and alliance-building: The share transfer is less a business deal than a way to secure Wu Chen’s favor and strengthen political and commercial ties.
• Opportunity and transformation: Zhuang’s new ownership stake and possible acting career mark a dramatic change in her prospects.
• Strategic restraint and controlled retaliation: Wu Chen intends to confront Ding Ruilong without killing him, balancing personal anger against a larger plan.
• Trust, loyalty, and jealousy: Wu Chen’s closeness with Li Maoren contrasts with Li Ruobing’s unease over the other women in his life.

Key plot points and events

• Li Ruobing angrily confronts Wu Chen by phone after hearing he has been involved with several women and is bringing them to East Sea. Wu Chen teases her, while she insists she is angry rather than jealous.
• Zhuang Xiaodie, lying beside Wu Chen, overhears the call and worries that Li Ruobing—the acknowledged girlfriend—will mistreat her. Wu Chen reassures her.
• The next morning, Wu Chen and Xiaodie drive back to East Sea, meeting He Shiqin and her daughter, He Xinxin, on the way. The three women arrive with him at his villa.
• Li Ruobing is waiting there, prepared to appear angry. Seeing Xinxin, who looks like a schoolgirl, briefly makes her think she has misunderstood Wu Chen’s plans.
• Wu Chen introduces the newcomers. When Li learns He Shiqin is the key witness to Ding Ruilong’s murder of Dong Yuantao—and realizes He Shiqin has likely agreed to testify against him—her attitude changes immediately.
• Li warmly welcomes He Shiqin and treats Xinxin kindly. She then kisses Wu Chen in front of the newcomers, signaling their relationship and responding to his meaningful glance. Finally, she turns her attention to the nervous Xiaodie.

Character developments

• Li Ruobing shifts from feigned fury and possessiveness to warmth and strategic support once she understands He Shiqin’s importance. She remains confident and commanding, but shows compassion toward He Shiqin and Xinxin.
• Wu Chen remains playful and self-assured, teasing Li rather than explaining everything over the phone. He anticipates her reaction to He Shiqin and relies on her to build rapport.
• Zhuang Xiaodie is obedient and affectionate toward Wu Chen, but anxious about her place among his women and afraid of Li Ruobing’s authority.
• He Shiqin arrives with her daughter and appears to have aligned herself with Wu Chen, potentially helping bring down Ding Ruilong.
• He Xinxin is initially intimidated by Li, but relaxes when Li treats her kindly.

Significant themes

• Jealousy, boundaries, and plural relationships: Li accepts Wu Chen’s other relationships in principle but fears their number will diminish his attention to her.
• Power and social standing: Li’s role as Wu Chen’s official girlfriend gives her a distinct place among the women around him.
• Strategic alliances and loyalty: He Shiqin’s presence signals a consequential move against Ding Ruilong.
• Compassion beyond guilt by association: Li does not blame He Xinxin for her father’s crimes and treats both mother and daughter with sympathy.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen and Li exchange teasing, flirtatious challenges by phone, masking her genuine concern beneath banter.
• Wu Chen comforts Xiaodie and assures her Li will not harm her.
• Li greets He Shiqin warmly and reassures Xinxin, quickly replacing the threatening atmosphere she had created.
• Li publicly kisses Wu Chen, affirming their bond, while He Shiqin shields Xinxin’s eyes.
• At the chapter’s close, Xiaodie nervously backs away as Li approaches, leaving their first direct interaction unresolved.

Chapter Summary — “Giving Enough Face!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Chen returns to East Sea with Zhuang Xiaodie, He Shiqin, and He Xinxin. They visit Li Ruobing at her home.
• Although Li Ruobing had previously been angry about Wu Chen’s behavior, she warmly welcomes Zhuang Xiaodie and calls her “little sister.” Her change in attitude is largely influenced by learning about He Shiqin’s connection to the Ding family and by her desire to give Wu Chen face in front of the others.
• Li Ruobing prepares fruit and cooks an elaborate meal for the group, deliberately acting as the gracious “mistress of the house.” She makes clear that she does not intend to openly challenge Wu Chen over his relationships.
• Zhuang Xiaodie nervously helps Li Ruobing in the kitchen. Li confirms that Xiaodie slept with Wu Chen, while Xiaodie anxiously explains that she is taking contraceptive medicine. Li finds her nervousness amusing rather than threatening.
• Li Ruobing privately confronts He Shiqin while they prepare the meal, directly asking whether she has also slept with Wu Chen. He Shiqin’s shocked and guilty reaction confirms it.
• Rather than retaliate, Li Ruobing calmly says that it does not matter and deliberately presents herself as accustomed to Wu Chen’s affairs. She does this partly to reassure He Shiqin and preserve their cooperation, since He Shiqin remains an important witness against Ding Ruilong.
• He Shiqin confesses that she initiated the encounter with Wu Chen and explains how their arrangement began, including the tutoring agreement. Li accepts the explanation and changes the subject.
• Wu Chen arranges for Zhuang Xiaodie to stay in a guest room, while He Shiqin and He Xinxin receive separate housing. He Xinxin remains unaware that Zhuang Xiaodie is romantically involved with Wu Chen.
• The group shares a lavish meal. Li asks about Xiaodie’s studies, speaks with He Xinxin about painting, and offers He Shiqin a vacant villa to rent. The arrangement is presented as a practical favor, though Wu Chen and Li have coordinated it to conceal the true relationships from He Xinxin.
• After lunch, Zhuang Xiaodie stays behind to wash the dishes. Wu Chen, Li Ruobing, He Shiqin, and He Xinxin leave to inspect the villa.
• That evening, Wu Yurong waits in a private restaurant room for Wu Chen, having dressed carefully for their meeting. Su Qingying arrives with her mother, mistakenly believing the room is reserved for her dinner with Wu Chen. She attempts to leave after seeing Wu Yurong, but Wu Yurong tells her that she has entered the correct room, setting up a new confrontation.

Character Developments

• Li Ruobing: Demonstrates remarkable composure and strategic maturity. Instead of displaying jealousy, she gives Wu Chen status and protects his image. Her apparent acceptance of his affairs is partly genuine tolerance and partly a calculated performance meant to reassure He Shiqin and preserve an important alliance.
• Wu Chen: Continues manipulating social and psychological situations to his advantage. He carefully controls what each woman knows, keeps He Xinxin ignorant of the complicated relationships, and coordinates the public appearance of harmony.
• Zhuang Xiaodie: Remains timid and insecure around Li Ruobing, fearing judgment and rejection. Li’s unexpectedly kind treatment eases her anxiety, and Xiaodie tries to gain approval by helping in the kitchen.
• He Shiqin: Initially fearful that Li Ruobing will retaliate after learning about her relationship with Wu Chen. She becomes more relaxed once Li acts forgivingly, and she openly accepts responsibility for initiating the affair.
• He Xinxin: Remains innocent and unaware of the hidden romantic arrangements. She admires Li Ruobing and attempts to please Wu Chen, but does not suspect the truth about Xiaodie or her mother.
• Wu Yurong and Su Qingying: Their unexpected meeting at the restaurant introduces a new layer of tension. Wu Yurong’s calm invitation for Su Qingying to stay suggests that she may have anticipated—or at least intends to exploit—the encounter.

Significant Themes

• Maintaining “face” and social status: Li Ruobing’s behavior centers on giving Wu Chen dignity in front of others, even when she knows he has been unfaithful.
• Strategic deception: Nearly every major interaction involves concealment, performance, or carefully controlled information.
• Jealousy versus power: Li’s willingness to tolerate Wu Chen’s affairs reflects not weakness but confidence, calculation, and her understanding of her own position.
• Psychological manipulation: Wu Chen influences everyone’s behavior by controlling what they know and by exploiting their fears and desires.
• Appearance versus reality: The peaceful family meal masks a complicated network of affairs, alliances, and ulterior motives.
• Protection through silence: Characters conceal the truth to protect reputations, relationships, and strategic interests—especially He Xinxin’s innocence and He Shiqin’s usefulness as a witness.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Ruobing and Zhuang Xiaodie: Li welcomes Xiaodie, confirms her relationship with Wu Chen, and disarms her nervousness through teasing and unexpected kindness.
• Li Ruobing and He Shiqin: Their kitchen conversation is the chapter’s central confrontation. Li exposes that she knows about He Shiqin and Wu Chen, then chooses reassurance over punishment.
• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing: Their relationship is based on mutual psychological maneuvering. Wu Chen manipulates Li’s mindset, while Li knowingly performs acceptance to strengthen his position.
• Wu Chen and He Xinxin: He maintains her idealized view of him and ensures she does not discover his other relationships.
• Wu Yurong and Su Qingying: Their surprise meeting at the restaurant ends the chapter on a cliffhanger, with Wu Yurong implying that Su Qingying’s arrival is not unwelcome or accidental.

Key plot points and events

• Su Qingying arrives at a private dining room with Mu Qianqian and finds Wu Yurong there. She assumes the meeting is business-related, unaware that Wu Yurong is also involved with Wu Chen.
• While making conversation, Wu Yurong asks how long Mu Qianqian has known Wu Chen. Qianqian answers that they met on July 7, leading Wu Yurong to suspect she is one of Wu Chen’s partners.
• Wu Chen arrives with Li Ruobing and Zhuang Xiaodie. Wu Yurong immediately embraces and kisses him in front of everyone, shocking Su Qingying and Mu Qianqian.
• The group sits down. Li Ruobing wipes Wu Yurong’s lipstick from Wu Chen’s mouth, while Wu Chen’s affectionate teasing of Qianqian makes Su Qingying realize the gathering is for his partners to meet.
• Su Qingying openly calls Wu Chen “honey,” and he confirms his relationship with Wu Yurong. He explains that he arranged the dinner so the women could get acquainted and avoid future complications.
• Conversation gradually becomes more relaxed. Wu Yurong helps include the unfamiliar Zhuang Xiaodie, asking about her acting studies.
• Wu Yurong receives a call from her daughter, Song Xuan, who says she is downstairs at the building. Wu Yurong reacts with surprise and looks toward Wu Chen.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Yurong is affectionate and unreserved with Wu Chen, even in front of the others. She quickly reads the room, suspects Qianqian’s connection to him, and makes an effort to draw Zhuang Xiaodie into the conversation.
• Su Qingying moves from respectful confusion to understanding the gathering’s true purpose. Once she realizes the others are Wu Chen’s partners, she drops her pretence and helps keep conversation flowing.
• Mu Qianqian is unusually subdued around Wu Yurong and remains stunned by the public kiss. Her close, playful relationship with Wu Chen becomes evident.
• Li Ruobing, Wu Chen’s official girlfriend, stays composed but is visibly displeased by Wu Yurong’s boldness. She and Wu Yurong avoid speaking directly, while Li calmly wipes away the lipstick mark.
• Zhuang Xiaodie observes the complicated situation with curiosity and initially keeps quiet. Wu Yurong’s friendly attention helps her feel less excluded.
• Wu Chen remains calm, openly affectionate with the women, and deliberately arranges the seating to avoid creating unnecessary tension.

Significant themes

• Secrecy becoming disclosure: The women’s relationships with Wu Chen, previously concealed or only partly understood, come into the open.
• Jealousy and uneasy coexistence: The women respond differently to sharing Wu Chen, but his gathering aims to establish familiarity and reduce conflict.
• Status and respect: Su Qingying’s deference to Wu Yurong reflects the latter’s formidable reputation as a business leader.
• Social awareness and inclusion: Wu Yurong’s skill at reading people and welcoming Zhuang Xiaodie contrasts with the room’s initial tension.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Yurong receives a call from her daughter, Song Xuan, who is dining with friends on the ground floor. Worried that Song Xuan might discover her relationship with Wu Chen, Wu Yurong leaves the private room to meet her.
• Once Wu Yurong is gone, Su Qingying admits she had felt tense around her and Li Ruobing, sensing unresolved friction between the two women. She asks Wu Chen how his relationship with Wu Yurong began, but he keeps the details to himself.
• Mu Qianqian playfully complains that Wu Chen is bullying her, seeking help in turn from Su Qingying, Li Ruobing, and Zhuang Xiaodie. None intervenes, and Li Ruobing jokingly says she cannot control Wu Chen.
• In the lobby, Wu Yurong finds Song Xuan and her large group of musician friends. When they cannot get a private room, she offers to arrange one for them, partly to spare them disturbing other diners and partly to keep them apart from Wu Chen’s party.
• Song Xuan spots a distinctive blue Lamborghini outside and realizes Wu Chen has returned to East Sea. She calls him, and he confirms he is eating in the building. Eager to see him, she asks which room he is in.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Yurong is affectionate and protective toward Song Xuan, but carefully conceals her connection to Wu Chen. She tries to manage the situation without drawing attention to herself.
• Song Xuan is excited both by her musical success and by the prospect of seeing Wu Chen. She has protected his privacy despite record companies’ attempts to find him.
• Wu Chen remains playful with Mu Qianqian and secretive about his relationship with Wu Yurong. His songs have made him a major—though elusive—name in music.
• Su Qingying is relieved when Wu Yurong leaves and curious about Wu Chen’s relationship with her, while avoiding being caught between Wu Yurong and Li Ruobing.
• Li Ruobing stays composed and indulges Mu Qianqian’s teasing, showing no jealousy toward her.
• Mu Qianqian uses affectionate, comic appeals to recruit the women around her to her side, but each refuses to intervene.

Music success

Song Xuan’s song “A Song for Me” has surged to number two on Penguin Music’s quarterly chart within three days. Wu Chen’s “Heart’s Remedy,” released under the same songwriting credit, has become an even bigger hit, topping several charts and breaking platform records. Their shared success has drawn intense interest from entertainment companies, but Song Xuan has declined offers and withheld Wu Chen’s information until she can consult him.

Significant themes

• Secrecy and discretion: Wu Yurong works to keep her relationship with Wu Chen hidden from her daughter.
• Fame and privacy: The songs’ rapid success brings attention and business pressure, while Wu Chen deliberately remains difficult to find.
• Loyalty and trust: Song Xuan respects Wu Chen’s privacy and waits to discuss his professional choices with him.
• Romantic and social tension: The women’s unspoken reactions hint at complicated relationships, balanced with teasing and affectionate humor.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• During dinner at Blossoms in Prosperity, Wu Chen receives a call from Song Xuan, a young musician whose hit songs he wrote. They agree to meet the next day to sign a contract. Li Ruobing recognizes Song Xuan and grows uneasy.
• Song Xuan is dining at the same restaurant with friends. Her mother, Wu Yurong, learns Wu Chen is there but avoids letting her daughter discover that she and Wu Chen know each other.
• The dinner turns convivial, with the women discussing fashion, skincare, and business. Wu Yurong suggests future investment with Su Qingying, while Li Ruobing and Su agree to explore a cosmetics or perfume collaboration.
• As the evening ends, Wu Yurong asks Wu Chen where he is staying. The suggestive question makes the women wonder who will spend the night with him. Wu Chen says “home,” teasing them before telling everyone to head back.
• Wu Chen returns to his villa with Li Ruobing and Zhuang Xiaodie. Li stays the night, while the others leave with their companions.
• Zhuang Xiaodie feels intimidated by the other women’s wealth and status. Wu Chen reassures her that he is not abandoning her: she will return to Magic City and receive support to learn to manage Chenghai Entertainment, with the chance to star in its next major production.
• After Zhuang Xiaodie goes to bed, Wu Chen enters the master bedroom, where Li Ruobing is showering.

Character developments

• Wu Chen remains composed amid the women’s flirtation and rivalry. He uses teasing ambiguity to provoke reactions, but also reassures Zhuang Xiaodie by offering her a path toward independence and success.
• Li Ruobing shows jealousy and watchfulness when Wu Chen speaks with Song Xuan and when Wu Yurong asks where he will stay. At home, however, she openly chooses to remain with Wu Chen.
• Zhuang Xiaodie feels inferior beside Wu Chen’s accomplished companions and fears being discarded. His promise of career support restores her confidence and gives her a goal beyond being his lover.
• Wu Yurong carefully conceals her connection with Wu Chen from Song Xuan, while still addressing him intimately in front of the other women.
• Song Xuan is excited by her musical success and eager to meet Wu Chen, though she accepts that he is busy.

Significant themes

• Status and self-worth: Zhuang Xiaodie measures herself against the other women’s wealth and achievements, while Wu Chen offers her a chance to build her own standing.
• Jealousy and romantic competition: Wu Chen’s relationships are an unspoken source of tension, especially when the women consider where he will spend the night.
• Secrecy and public image: Wu Yurong’s effort to hide her connection with Wu Chen contrasts with Song Xuan’s growing public success.
• Power and opportunity: Wu Chen’s influence shapes both business collaborations and Zhuang Xiaodie’s career prospects.

Character interactions

• Mu Qianqian playfully clings to Wu Chen and teases him about the woman calling, then later becomes drunk and openly affectionate.
• Li Ruobing and Wu Chen share a private, affectionate exchange at home, while she silently watches his interactions with the others.
• Wu Chen comforts Zhuang Xiaodie, turning her fear of rejection into motivation to work toward a career.
• The women maintain a cordial dinner conversation and discuss possible business partnerships, even as romantic tensions remain beneath the surface.

Key plot points and events

• After spending the night together, Wu Chen wakes late on July 20, exhausted but pleased that his relationship with Li Ruobing has changed: this time, intimacy followed genuine love rather than being merely physical.
• Li Ruobing remains asleep, worn out from the night. Wu Chen leaves her undisturbed and finds Zhuang Xiaodie preparing lunch. He recognizes that she has chosen several supposedly stamina-boosting ingredients for him and teases her about overhearing the couple.
• Wu Chen contacts Song Xuan to arrange a meeting and calls Old Blade, learning that Jiang Chuan—a longtime Ding Family insider and fixer—is being held in East Sea. Wu Chen plans to question him.
• Lei Cheng tells Wu Chen that Ding Ruilong asked him to persuade Tao Manying to break her endorsement contract with Illusion Fashion, offering to cover Lei Cheng’s losses. Lei Cheng refused, citing his reputation.
• Ding Ruilong plans to come to East Sea and meet Lei Cheng in person. Unaware that Lei Cheng is allied with Wu Chen, he has inadvertently given Wu Chen a way to learn about his movements.
• Wu Chen arranges to meet Lei Cheng. Later, he wakes Li Ruobing, carries her downstairs, and they share a teasing, affectionate lunch. Lei Cheng then calls again to say Ding Ruilong has contacted him about the endorsement once more.

Character developments

• Wu Chen is confident and playful, but his satisfaction comes from having won Li Ruobing’s love, not merely her physical affection. He also continues gathering intelligence and positioning himself against Ding Ruilong.
• Li Ruobing shows a softer, more vulnerable side after their night together. Though she trades teasing remarks with Wu Chen, she asks him to carry her and openly accepts his care.
• Zhuang Xiaodie is attentive and somewhat coy, trying to look after Wu Chen through her cooking. Her awkwardness around him hints at tension in their relationship.
• Lei Cheng proves candid and steady in his support of Wu Chen, refusing Ding Ruilong’s request despite the potential advantages.
• Ding Ruilong appears arrogant and calculating, but his ignorance of Wu Chen and Lei Cheng’s alliance leaves him vulnerable to being monitored.

Significant themes

• Emotional intimacy versus physical intimacy: Wu Chen sees this encounter as fundamentally different from their past encounters because it is grounded in mutual love.
• Vulnerability and care: Li Ruobing’s exhaustion and dependence reveal tenderness beneath her usual forceful exterior; Wu Chen responds by caring for her.
• Power and strategic miscalculation: Ding Ruilong’s efforts to undermine Li Ruobing’s business create an opening for Wu Chen, showing how hidden alliances and incomplete information shape the conflict.
• Affection expressed through teasing and everyday acts: Their banter, Zhuang Xiaodie’s cooking, and Wu Chen carrying Li Ruobing convey relationships through small, domestic gestures.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen and Li Ruobing move from playful combativeness toward greater tenderness: they tease each other, but she trusts him enough to ask for help.
• Wu Chen jokes with Zhuang Xiaodie about her ingredients and her having overheard them, easing her embarrassment with a reassuring gesture.
• Wu Chen and Lei Cheng speak openly and coordinate a meeting, strengthening their quiet alliance against Ding Ruilong.
• Wu Chen also maintains contact with Old Blade, relying on his network to pursue information about the Ding Family.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Ding Ruilong asks Lei You, head of Hongfa Group, to pressure his younger brother Lei Cheng into making Tao Manying break her endorsement contract. Lei You expects his authority to settle the matter.
• Lei Cheng refuses. He tells Wu Chen that Lei You ordered him to comply and warned him not to provoke the Ding or Li families. Lei Cheng responds that Lei You should mind his own business and reaffirms his promise to Wu Chen.
• Wu Chen keeps the details from Li Ruobing, explaining only that Lei Cheng’s call concerned his brother. He intends to keep his plans regarding Ding Ruilong—and the danger awaiting him in East Sea—secret.
• At lunch, Li Ruobing playfully questions Zhuang Xiaodie about the meal. She teases her, then shows surprising warmth by serving her food. Zhuang Xiaodie responds by serving Li Ruobing in turn, creating an unusually harmonious atmosphere.
• Later, Wu Chen meets Song Xuan at a café to review and sign a contract. Song Xuan brings her mother, Wu Yurong, who claims she wanted to meet the songwriter behind her daughter’s hit song.
• Wu Yurong and Wu Chen conceal their existing relationship by acting as if they are meeting for the first time. She asks him polite questions and discusses music with him and Song Xuan before Song Xuan presents the contract.
• When Song Xuan leaves for the restroom, Wu Yurong sits on Wu Chen’s lap, kisses him, and starts asking whether Li Ruobing had been with him the previous night. Song Xuan suddenly rushes back in and catches them.

Character developments and interactions

• Lei Cheng reveals that his apparent submission to Lei You is a façade. He has spent ten years quietly building connections and is preparing to strike back; Ding Ruilong’s attempt to use Lei You only intensifies his anger.
• Wu Chen remains calm and strategic, reassuring Lei Cheng while withholding sensitive information from Li Ruobing. He also helps Wu Yurong maintain a convincing public pretense in front of Song Xuan.
• Li Ruobing is relaxed and playful after her night with Wu Chen. Though initially wary of Zhuang Xiaodie, she treats her warmly and even seems to welcome her, provided she remains sensible.
• Zhuang Xiaodie is nervous around Li Ruobing but responds courteously, and the two share a moment of mutual politeness.
• Wu Yurong smoothly performs the role of a concerned mother while covertly arranging a socially acceptable reason to meet Wu Chen. Their private affection resurfaces as soon as Song Xuan leaves.
• Song Xuan is proud of Wu Chen’s music and reassured when her mother gets along with him. Her sudden return exposes the hidden relationship at the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Significant themes

• Deception and appearances: Lei Cheng’s apparent defeat, Wu Chen’s secrecy, and Wu Yurong’s staged first meeting all contrast outward behavior with hidden intentions.
• Loyalty and power: Lei Cheng’s loyalty to Wu Chen overrides his brother’s authority, while Ding Ruilong’s influence becomes a source of conflict.
• Jealousy and shifting relationships: Li Ruobing’s unexpected friendliness toward Zhuang Xiaodie suggests a changing attitude toward Wu Chen’s other women.
• Secrecy and risk: Wu Chen and Wu Yurong’s concealed relationship becomes increasingly precarious when Song Xuan unexpectedly returns.

Key plot points and events

• Song Xuan leaves the private dining room to answer an unknown call. The caller is An Menglan, the celebrated singer Song Xuan idolizes. An Menglan praises Song Xuan’s songs and invites her to join her music company; Song Xuan eagerly accepts. An Menglan also asks Song Xuan to introduce her to Wu Chen, whose talent she admires.
• Song Xuan rushes back to tell Wu Chen and walks in on her mother, Wu Yurong, sitting in Wu Chen’s lap with her arms around his neck. The sight leaves both women stunned.
• During the awkward silence, Wu Chen receives a call from Old Blade: Jiang Chuan has died after falling from an eighth-floor apartment window. Wu Chen reasons that Jiang may have killed himself out of fear of the Ding Family and concern for his family overseas—or died while trying to escape. He concludes the outcome is the same.
• Wu Yurong gets off Wu Chen’s lap, while Song Xuan struggles to process what she has seen. She wonders whether Wu Chen and her mother have been deceiving her about their relationship and even about his offer to help her music career.
• Wu Chen asks why Song Xuan burst in. On learning An Menglan called, he leaves, claiming he has urgent matters. He spends the next seven hours making calls and visiting various places.
• Late that night, Wu Chen drives a Lamborghini at extreme speed onto an unfinished overpass and jumps a gap of more than ten meters. The car lands, rolls, and the world goes dark—resetting the day.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Xuan shifts from thrilled fan to overwhelmed daughter. Her excitement at An Menglan’s offer is overtaken by shock, confusion, and embarrassment when she discovers Wu Chen and Wu Yurong together. Her devotion to music and admiration for An Menglan are reinforced.
• Wu Yurong is exposed in an intimate moment with Wu Chen and panics when Song Xuan sees them. Her instinct to explain makes her seem guilty, deepening Song Xuan’s suspicions.
• Wu Chen stays calm through both the family confrontation and news of Jiang Chuan’s death. He quickly redirects the conversation, then leaves to pursue other matters. His final high-risk stunt suggests he treats danger and the day’s reset with unusual detachment.
• An Menglan enters the story as both Song Xuan’s idol and a potential professional ally. Her interest in Wu Chen hints at his reputation and musical ability.
• Old Blade reports Jiang Chuan’s death and apologizes, but Wu Chen refuses to blame him.

Significant themes

• Secrets and misunderstandings: Song Xuan’s discovery raises questions about how much her mother and Wu Chen have concealed.
• Fear and sacrifice: Wu Chen interprets Jiang Chuan’s death through his fear of the Ding Family and desire to protect his loved ones.
• Talent, ambition, and privilege: Song Xuan wants professional promotion without sacrificing her studies, while An Menglan’s career shows how exceptional ability and family influence can coexist.
• Risk and repetition: Wu Chen’s deliberate leap and the day’s reset emphasize his unusual relationship with danger and the constraints of the time loop.

Chapter summary

• Wu Chen wakes at 7:00 a.m. on July 20, 2020, having completed a third voluntary Reset. Unlike his earlier planned Resets, this one followed an unexpected situation that gave him time to explore and enjoy the day before dying in a speeding car. He wakes beside Li Ruobing, exhausted after they spent the night together, and goes back to sleep.
• After waking at noon, he repeats much of the day’s routine, calls Song Xuan about an engagement contract, and speaks with Old Blade about Jiang Chuan. Drawing on his accumulated experience of the repeating day, Wu Chen makes small changes: he arranges to have Jiang Chuan tied up and changes his meeting time and place with Lei Cheng. He also tells Zhuang Xiaodie to get ready for an outing.
• At lunch, Li Ruobing teases Wu Chen about taking Zhuang Xiaodie out. He affectionately kisses and reassures Li Ruobing, telling her to rest; she accepts his attention despite her normally strong-willed nature.
• Wu Chen meets Senior Song Xuan and her mother, Wu Yuerong, to discuss a contract. He already knows Wu Yuerong is accompanying her daughter, though she had decided to come at the last minute. While Song Xuan is away, Wu Chen and Wu Yuerong embrace and kiss. Wu Chen anticipates Song Xuan’s sudden return and startles Wu Yuerong into moving away just before her daughter bursts into the room.
• Song Xuan excitedly announces that singer An Menglan has called and wants to sign her—and is also interested in Wu Chen. Song Xuan hopes Wu Chen will join the company, since his songs helped make her music popular. Wu Chen agrees to share his number but says he has no desire to become a star; he would rather earn money writing songs.
• Song Xuan persuades her cautious mother to consider the deal, promising that music will not interfere with her studies or require her to debut. Wu Yuerong agrees only if she stays involved in every detail. Song Xuan leaves to call An Menglan, while Wu Yuerong privately wonders how Wu Chen knew events would unfold as they did.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen displays extraordinary composure and precision, treating the repeated day as familiar while deliberately testing how small changes affect events. His intimate, affectionate behavior with Li Ruobing contrasts with his calculated handling of the café meeting.
• Li Ruobing shows a softer, indulgent side with Wu Chen, though she remains teasing and strong-willed.
• Wu Yuerong balances her secret intimacy with Wu Chen against her protective, authoritative role as Song Xuan’s mother. Her near-discovery leaves her unsettled and increasingly suspicious of Wu Chen’s apparent foresight.
• Song Xuan shifts from businesslike contract discussions to unrestrained excitement over An Menglan’s offer. She is eager to share the opportunity with Wu Chen and determined to win her mother’s approval.
• The scene highlights Wu Chen’s unusual, secretive closeness with Wu Yuerong, alongside Song Xuan’s trusting dependence on her mother and her enthusiasm for pursuing music.

Significant themes

• Repetition, memory, and control: Wu Chen’s Reset experience lets him anticipate familiar events and experiment with altered choices.
• Fate versus agency: Even when the day repeats, Wu Chen can make small changes, though he seems to know what is coming.
• Ambition and personal choice: Song Xuan sees signing with An Menglan as a dream opportunity, while Wu Chen rejects celebrity in favor of songwriting.
• Secrecy and family trust: Wu Chen and Wu Yuerong conceal their relationship, while Wu Yuerong’s protectiveness and Song Xuan’s excitement shape the negotiation.

Plot and events

• Wu Yurong tries to find out how Wu Chen knew she would arrive with Song Xuan. He evades her questions, and she chooses not to press him.
• Song Xuan reports that singer An Menglan wants to meet her in East Sea and also hopes to meet Wu Chen. The conversation ends with Wu Chen and Song Xuan signing an unusually generous revenue-sharing agreement for his songwriting and composing.
• Later, Wu Chen visits a shabby apartment where Old Blade’s men are holding Jiang Chuan, a longtime operative of the Ding Family.
• When Jiang Chuan is untied, he quickly takes one guard hostage and demands to be released. Wu Chen stays calm, signals the others not to intervene, and persuades Jiang Chuan to let the guard go.
• Wu Chen reveals that he knows Jiang Chuan’s partner and children live in California, a secret unknown to the Ding Family, and warns that they could be harmed if Jiang Chuan’s past crimes come to light. Jiang Chuan agrees to talk but keeps a knife.
• After Wu Chen orders everyone else out, he asks Jiang Chuan to hand over everything. Jiang Chuan appears to surrender the knife, then uses the moment of distraction to kick at Wu Chen; the chapter ends mid-attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen remains composed and guarded. He dodges Wu Yurong’s probing, shows little excitement about An Menglan, and later uses precise knowledge and psychological pressure to control Jiang Chuan.
• Wu Yurong is curious about Wu Chen’s unusual insight but recognizes he does not want to explain himself and respects that boundary. Her teasing conversation with him suggests familiarity and intimacy.
• Song Xuan is thrilled that An Menglan wants to meet her, while Wu Chen’s indifference frustrates her. She and Wu Chen nonetheless reach a business agreement.
• Jiang Chuan shifts from despair and thoughts of suicide to a desperate attempt to escape, then relents when Wu Chen exposes the vulnerability of his family. He remains wary and resourceful, however, and launches a surprise attack.
• Wu Chen’s calm authority contrasts with the guarded, deferential behavior of Old Blade’s men; Jiang Chuan’s sudden hostage-taking briefly puts them on the defensive.

Significant themes

• Secrets and hidden knowledge: Wu Chen’s unexplained foresight and knowledge of Jiang Chuan’s family give him leverage.
• Power and coercion: The chapter shows different ways to control a situation—physical force, loyalty, negotiation, and threats.
• Family as vulnerability: Jiang Chuan’s partner and children are both his greatest concern and the means by which Wu Chen pressures him.
• Trust and self-preservation: Jiang Chuan seeks a chance to survive but refuses to become fully defenseless, setting up the final confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Chuan attacks Wu Chen, but Wu Chen quickly outclasses him, disabling his leg and forcing him to his knees. Jiang Chuan surrenders the dagger rather than risk using it.
• Wu Chen tells Jiang Chuan that although the Ding and Li families want him dead, his situation may not be as hopeless as he believes. He suggests Jiang Chuan can choose another path, particularly if he is trying to protect his family.
• Wu Chen leaves Jiang Chuan with Old Blade’s men, instructing them not to restrain or hurt him. Jiang Chuan retreats to the bedroom and sits alone, visibly torn between despair and hope.
• Wu Chen goes to Manyin Bar and secretly records an adulterous couple discussing their spouses and relationship. He knows their meeting place and timing from information he obtained during earlier time loops.
• Zhuang Xiaodie joins Wu Chen, dressed carefully for their outing. They drive to Zhizhen Manor, a heavily guarded villa community, and arrive at Villa No. 7.

Character developments

• Jiang Chuan shifts from desperate resistance to surrender after realizing the gulf between his and Wu Chen’s fighting ability. Wu Chen’s words leave him contemplating the possibility of a way out.
• Wu Chen demonstrates not only overwhelming combat skill but also restraint and strategic patience: he spares Jiang Chuan, tries to influence his decisions, and gathers evidence discreetly.
• Zhuang Xiaodie readily joins Wu Chen and makes an effort to look polished, suggesting she is attentive to his invitation and eager to accompany him.
• Old Blade’s men treat Wu Chen with caution and respect, trusting their boss’s warnings about his abilities.

Significant themes

• Power and surrender: Jiang Chuan’s confidence collapses when confronted with Wu Chen’s superior skill.
• Hope amid desperation: Wu Chen challenges Jiang Chuan’s belief that death is inevitable and encourages him to consider alternatives.
• Information as leverage: Wu Chen uses knowledge gained through the time loops to anticipate events and collect evidence.
• Appearances and hidden truths: The bar’s dim, intimate setting conceals the affair, while the couple’s public lives differ from their private behavior.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen and Jiang Chuan’s confrontation ends with Jiang Chuan surrendering and listening to Wu Chen’s attempt to change his outlook.
• Wu Chen establishes authority over Old Blade’s men by giving them clear instructions, which they accept without question.
• The recorded couple speak casually about concealing their affairs from their spouses, revealing their intimacy and deception.
• Zhuang Xiaodie greets Wu Chen warmly, joins him in the Lamborghini, and takes his arm as they enter Villa No. 7.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen arrives at Lei Cheng’s villa with Zhuang Xiaodie. Tao Manying, a famous actress and Lei Cheng’s goddaughter, welcomes them and serves tea herself.
• While waiting for Lei Cheng, Wu Chen discusses Tao Manying’s endorsement work for Brilliant Colors, where she has been working with Li Ruobing.
• Lei Cheng joins them and learns that Xiaodie is a third-year acting student and a major shareholder in an entertainment company Wu Chen established. He assumes Wu Chen intends to help her become a star.
• Lei Cheng teases Wu Chen about whether Li Ruobing will be jealous of Xiaodie. Wu Chen reveals that Ruobing already knows about her and that Xiaodie even cooked lunch for them. Xiaodie explains that she calls Ruobing “big sister,” astonishing Lei Cheng and Tao Manying.
• Wu Chen and Lei Cheng then go upstairs for a private discussion. Lei Cheng reports that Hongfa Group has suspended him as chairman and general manager of its East Sea subsidiary, placing Zhu Haobo—one of Lei You’s allies—in charge. Lei You has also warned Lei Cheng not to cause trouble for the family.
• Lei Cheng adds that Hu Xuelin, a longtime supplier and his personal friend, has twice urged him to reconsider and meet. Wu Chen prepares to show Lei Cheng a video revealing Hu’s wife having an affair with Zhu Haobo.

Character developments

• Wu Chen remains composed and confident, openly acknowledging his relationship with Xiaodie and making clear that Ruobing knows about it.
• Zhuang Xiaodie is nervous and inexperienced among powerful figures, but manages to behave calmly and respectfully. She feels honored by Tao Manying’s attention and accepts her position in Wu Chen’s life, referring to Ruobing as her “big sister.”
• Lei Cheng begins the visit curious and cautious about Xiaodie’s presence. His shock at Ruobing’s acceptance gives way to admiration for Wu Chen, before he turns to the urgent political and business pressures surrounding his suspension.
• Tao Manying acts as a gracious host and takes an interest in Xiaodie as a possible future colleague, while remaining surprised by the unusual arrangement between Wu Chen, Ruobing, and Xiaodie.

Significant themes

• Unconventional relationships and acceptance: Wu Chen’s relationship with Xiaodie is not hidden from Ruobing, who appears to have accepted her.
• Power and influence: Wu Chen’s status shapes how others treat Xiaodie and opens opportunities for her career.
• Loyalty and pressure: Lei You uses both corporate authority and personal connections to pressure Lei Cheng.
• Secrecy and strategy: The private study conversation—and Wu Chen’s video—introduce concealed information that may affect Lei Cheng’s conflict with his family and business rivals.

Character interactions

• Tao Manying warmly welcomes Wu Chen and Xiaodie, treating Xiaodie with respect because of Wu Chen’s importance.
• Lei Cheng probes Wu Chen’s relationship with Xiaodie through joking questions, then reacts with astonishment when he learns Ruobing knows and accepts her.
• Wu Chen and Lei Cheng share an easy, affectionate friendship, but shift into serious confidence once alone.
• Lei Cheng’s relationships with Lei You, Zhu Haobo, and Hu Xuelin emerge as sources of pressure; Wu Chen may have evidence that complicates Hu’s attempt to persuade Lei Cheng.

Plot points and events

• Lei Cheng explains that his friend Hu Xilin keeps trying to meet him and persuade him, despite being told to stay out of Lei Cheng’s affairs.
• Wu Chen shows Lei Cheng a video he filmed that afternoon. It captures Zhu Haobo, a senior Fumao Group executive and Lei You’s trusted subordinate, meeting privately with Qian Ruiling, Hu Xilin’s wife and business partner. Their intimate behavior and conversation make clear that they are having an affair.
• Lei Cheng is troubled by the discovery: Hu is his close friend, and the affair links Hu’s family to Zhu Haobo and Lei You.
• Hu calls for the third time, then arrives at Lei Cheng’s gated residence and insists on being let in. Lei Cheng gives in and tells his staff to bring him to the study.
• Lei Cheng hesitates to show Hu the video, fearing the sudden revelation will humiliate and hurt him. Wu Chen says to show it directly, noting that Hu is unfaithful too.
• Wu Chen explains that Hu and Qian signed a prenuptial agreement: either spouse who cheats forfeits everything in a divorce. Hu’s substantial company stake—and the couple’s jointly built wealth—makes the video potentially worth billions.

Character developments and interactions

• Lei Cheng shows loyalty and compassion toward Hu, worrying about the emotional and personal consequences of exposing the affair. He is also astonished that Hu has apparently concealed his own infidelity.
• Wu Chen remains calm and seemingly well-informed. He filmed the affair only an hour earlier and appears to know both Hu’s behavior and the couple’s private agreement, deepening the mystery of his knowledge and reach.
• Hu Xilin is portrayed as persistent, meddlesome, generous, and fiercely loyal. His arrival puts Lei Cheng in the position of deciding whether—and how—to confront him with the evidence.
• Qian Ruiling is established as a capable businesswoman, but the video reveals her affair with Zhu Haobo.
• Zhu Haobo is identified as Lei You’s trusted subordinate, making his involvement more than a private marital scandal.
• Wu Chen pushes Lei Cheng toward direct disclosure; Lei Cheng weighs that advice against the need to protect his friend’s feelings.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and friendship: Lei Cheng’s concern is not merely whether to reveal the truth, but how to do so without betraying Hu.
• Secrecy and hypocrisy: Both spouses have kept affairs hidden, each apparently fearing the financial consequences of the prenuptial agreement.
• Power and leverage: Private evidence can have enormous business and financial value, as well as personal consequences.
• Trust and uncertainty: Wu Chen’s advance knowledge and access to sensitive information unsettle Lei Cheng and suggest that Wu Chen has capabilities or connections beyond what he has revealed.

Key plot points and events

• The chapter explains how Hu Xuelin and Qian Ruiling built Xirui Electronics from factories contributed by their families when they married. The company is now valued at over five billion yuan, but their prenuptial agreement would give Qian only a small share in a divorce.
• Lei Cheng realizes why Wu Chen willingly showed Hu Xuelin the video of Qian’s affair with Lei You’s aide, Zhu Haobo: it gives Hu a valuable advantage and creates an opening for Wu and Lei Cheng to enlist him.
• Wu advises Lei Cheng to bring Hu into his struggle against his elder brother, Lei You. Hu could become an important outside supporter, especially as a longtime supplier to Lei Cheng’s company. Wu also points out that Hu has been unfaithful himself, but insists the information should be presented as an opportunity for cooperation, not as a threat.
• Hu arrives at Lei Cheng’s home, where Lei introduces Wu as his own “brother” without giving his full name.
• Hu urges Lei Cheng to withdraw from the dispute involving Ding Ruilong, Li Ruobing, and Tao Manying’s endorsement contract. He suggests ways to end the contract, including faking a medical reason or asking Li Ruobing to release them from it.
• Lei reveals that he does not know Li Ruobing personally: he acted because she is Wu Chen’s friend. Hu is stunned by the revelation.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen comes across as highly strategic and persuasive. He anticipates how personal secrets can reshape alliances and coaches Lei on exactly how to speak to Hu.
• Lei Cheng is impressed and unsettled by Wu’s foresight, but follows his guidance. He uses the meeting to test Hu’s loyalties and then identifies Wu as the real link to Li Ruobing.
• Hu Xuelin appears loyal, meddlesome, and practical. He genuinely wants to protect Lei from powerful families, though his advice would mean abandoning Tao Manying’s commitment and compromising their principles.
• Lei Cheng and Hu Xuelin speak with the familiarity of longtime friends. Hu’s concern contrasts with Lei’s determination to stay involved.
• Hu Xuelin and Wu Chen meet for the first time, with Hu treating Wu respectfully because Lei calls him family.

Significant themes

• Language as influence: Wu stresses that framing the same information differently can change how people respond.
• Secrets as leverage: The affair video and knowledge of Hu’s own infidelity can shift personal and business alliances.
• Loyalty versus caution: Hu wants Lei to avoid danger, while Lei chooses to honor commitments and follow Wu’s broader strategy.
• Alliance-building: The chapter shows how business relationships, personal ties, and carefully managed revelations can draw new players into a conflict.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen’s identity as Li Ruobing’s partner is revealed to Hu Xilin, who realizes he has been arguing in front of the very person he hoped to influence. He and Lei Cheng quarrel over Hu’s efforts to reconcile Lei Cheng with Lei You.
• Wu Chen stops the argument and tells Hu that Lei You arranged the car crash that nearly killed Lei Cheng. The driver has been found, and Lei Cheng is secretly preparing to bring Lei You down and reclaim the family business.
• Wu Chen shows Hu a video he filmed that afternoon: Hu’s wife, Qian Ruiling, meeting Lei You’s confidant Zhu Haobo in an apparently intimate relationship. He warns that their affair could lead to a divorce and a threat to Hu’s assets.
• Lei Cheng advises Hu to stay calm, avoid alerting Qian, protect his own affairs, and prepare for divorce. The three men privately discuss plans involving Qian, Zhu, and Lei You.
• Hu thanks both men and ultimately aligns himself with Lei Cheng, recognizing that he cannot risk losing Lei Cheng’s support.
• At dinner, Tao Manying, Zhuang Xiaodie, Lei Cheng, Wu Chen, and Hu share a meal. Lei Cheng receives a call from Ding Ruilong, ending the chapter on a new development.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen remains composed and strategic: he mediates the quarrel, reveals evidence, and steers Hu toward a practical alliance with Lei Cheng.
• Lei Cheng is fiercely loyal to Wu Chen and determined to avenge his wife and expose Lei You. He turns from anger to calculated persuasion, offering Hu advice while subtly securing his support.
• Hu Xilin shifts from defending Lei You and trying to mediate to shocked distrust of Lei You. Learning about his wife’s affair and the potential danger to his fortune makes him dependent on Lei Cheng’s help.
• Tao Manying briefly interrupts the argument, calming the men’s behavior, then helps host dinner. Zhuang Xiaodie contributes to the meal and shares a cordial relationship with Tao.
• The central interaction is a tense negotiation disguised as reconciliation: Wu Chen and Lei Cheng give Hu help, but also make clear that their interests—and Hu’s vulnerabilities—are now intertwined.

Significant themes

• Information and leverage: Evidence and private knowledge reshape alliances and grant power.
• Loyalty versus self-interest: Hu’s support changes as he reassesses Lei You and considers his own security.
• Strategic persuasion: Wu Chen and Lei Cheng use careful language and selective disclosure to influence Hu without openly threatening him.
• Betrayal and revenge: Lei Cheng’s pursuit of Lei You is driven by the alleged murder attempt and the loss of his wife.

Plot points and events

• While dining with Lei Cheng, Wu Chen hears Ding Ruilong call and offer to help Lei Cheng against his brother, Lei You. Ding hints that one brother’s death would leave the other as sole heir.
• Lei Cheng pretends to consider the offer, then—after a signal from Wu Chen—agrees to meet Ding the next afternoon. Wu Chen and Lei Cheng later discuss the matter privately and settle on a plan.
• After dinner, Wu Chen drives Zhuang Xiaodie to a quiet street near the South District’s bar area. He waits by an alley, apparently anticipating trouble.
• A group of local youths ambushes a young man and woman in a GTR. The pair escape into the alley, but their pursuers catch and beat them. The young man fights back skillfully, yet is overwhelmed.
• When the woman cries for help, Wu Chen leaves the car and walks into the alley. He ignores threats to stay away; as he approaches, one attacker charges at him with a club.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen stays composed and directs Lei Cheng’s response to Ding, then deliberately waits for the alley incident, suggesting he knows what is about to happen.
• Lei Cheng recognizes the danger in Ding’s proposal but follows Wu Chen’s cue, agreeing to meet while concealing his true intentions.
• Ding Ruilong demonstrates political skill: by approaching both brothers and offering support, he pressures Lei Cheng and tries to keep him from confiding in Li Ruobing.
• The trapped couple show contrasting reactions: the young man fights fiercely to protect them, while his companion is terrified but keeps urging him on and ultimately begs Wu Chen for help.
• Zhuang Xiaodie remains trusting and obedient with Wu Chen, though she is alarmed by the woman’s screams.

Significant themes

• Manipulation and leverage: Ding exploits family rivalry and the prospect of inheritance to gain influence.
• Knowledge and control: Wu Chen’s foreknowledge lets him steer events while appearing casual.
• Courage against overwhelming odds: The young man resists despite being badly outnumbered, while Wu Chen steps in despite the attackers’ threats.
• Power and vulnerability: The couple’s status and confidence offer little protection once they are ambushed on unfamiliar ground.

Key plot points and events

• Wu Chen intervenes when a gang attacks Bao, a short-haired young man, and his girlfriend in a dark alley. He quickly breaks one thug’s arm and knocks out another before placing himself between the gang and the couple.
• Nearly twenty thugs attack. Drawing on a thousand years of repeated experience and extensive fighting skill, Wu Chen defeats them with ease, leaving many injured and the rest unwilling to continue.
• The gang’s leader, He Ming—known as Whitehead—recognizes Wu Chen from a photograph circulated through the underworld. Realizing Wu is connected to powerful figures, he drops his baton and kneels. The remaining thugs follow.
• Terrified of the consequences, He Ming cuts off his own little finger as an apology, hoping to follow a precedent set by another underworld figure who had offended Wu. Wu directs him and the others to kneel facing the wall in surrender.
• Four wealthy young people who had instigated the trouble try to slip away. Wu stops them; after the punk-haired leader recognizes him and tries to explain himself, all four kneel as well.
• Wu tells the people in the alley to make a phone call, then leaves. He knows the incident is not over: the couple’s identities are important, and their injuries could create a serious political and underworld problem.

Character developments

• Wu Chen is revealed as an exceptionally skilled and experienced fighter, calm and controlled even while facing a large group. His reputation alone proves more powerful than his fists once He Ming recognizes him.
• Bao moves from injured and barely standing to feeling safe enough to lean on his girlfriend and watch in awe. Wu Chen’s fighting reshapes his idea of what a master fighter can do.
• He Ming shifts from cautious gang leader to panic-stricken subordinate. His self-mutilation shows how deeply the underworld fears offending Wu Chen.
• The punk-haired instigator goes from confidence and attempted evasion to frightened submission when he understands Wu Chen’s identity.

Significant themes

• Reputation and power: Wu Chen’s connections and notoriety can halt violence more effectively than his physical strength.
• Experience and mastery: His composure and efficiency come from repeated combat over a thousand years, making the gang’s numbers and weapons largely irrelevant.
• Fear and hierarchy: The underworld’s strict chain of command shapes everyone’s reactions, from He Ming’s immediate surrender to the rich youths’ obedience.
• Violence and consequences: A seemingly ordinary alley assault threatens to become a major crisis because the victims are socially significant.

Character interactions

• Wu Chen protects Bao and his girlfriend without needing to exchange words with them; the girlfriend supports Bao as they watch him fight.
• The gang initially attacks Wu Chen as a group, but its members turn to pleading submission once He Ming recognizes him.
• He Ming begs Wu Chen for mercy and offers his severed finger as an apology; Wu responds with terse gestures rather than anger or negotiation.
• The wealthy instigators try to distance themselves from the attack, but Wu’s quiet authority forces them to admit their fear and kneel.

Plot points and events

• Wu Chen intervenes when a group of street racers and their associates ambush Tang Xinbao and Guo Qiqi outside a bar. He defeats the attackers, who turn out to be connected to Li Ruotai’s underworld organization, and orders them to call their contacts.
• Wu stays at the scene rather than leaving. He knows the incident will reach Li Ruotai and expects his subordinates to arrive and explain themselves.
• After checking that Tang can stand, Wu hears how the dispute began: Tang and a racer argued at the bar about modified cars and racing. The racer’s side later ambushed them, damaged Tang’s car, and beat the couple.
• Wu urges Tang to call his second uncle. This prompts Tang to realize Wu knows personal details about him and Guo Qiqi, and to ask who Wu is.
• Wu gives a deliberately unhelpful answer about his family running a ramen shop, then says he is 22 and claims his martial arts are self-taught.
• A convoy arrives carrying Zhao Guai and He Ming’s older brother, Yu Hailiang. Zhao rushes to greet Wu and insist the attack was a misunderstanding.
• Meanwhile, Zhuang Xiaodie watches from Wu’s Lamborghini and tells Li Ruobing by phone that more people have arrived, leaving Li Ruobing alarmed.

Character developments and interactions

• Wu Chen remains calm and strategic. He explains to himself that he intervened not out of a general desire to be a hero, but because he knew the victims and anticipated both the consequences of doing nothing and the benefits of stepping in. He treats the attackers as, in effect, members of Li Ruotai’s own circle.
• Tang Xinbao goes from stunned and injured to deeply grateful, then curious about Wu’s identity and fighting ability. He is a rebellious young man from a powerful military family who is estranged from his father and usually turns to his second uncle for help.
• Guo Qiqi supports Tang and thanks Wu. She is introduced as Tang’s childhood friend and girlfriend, from a long-established, wealthy business family.
• Zhao Guai arrives deferential and anxious, emphasizing how much authority Wu holds over Li Ruotai’s people.
• Zhuang Xiaodie and Li Ruobing provide a parallel reaction to the escalating scene: Xiaodie reports events, while Li Ruobing grows increasingly concerned.

Significant themes

• Power and hierarchy: The attackers’ confidence collapses once they recognize Wu, and Zhao’s urgent deference reveals Wu’s influence over the local underworld.
• Selective responsibility: Wu rejects the idea of intervening in every injustice; he acts here because of his personal connection to the victims and his assessment of the situation.
• Family background and independence: Tang’s refusal to follow his family’s military path has strained his relationship with his father, while his bond with Guo Qiqi crosses two powerful family circles.
• Identity and uncertainty: Wu keeps his background vague, leaving Tang and Qiqi unsure who their rescuer really is.