Chapter Summaries

At dinner, Mei Sinan explained how he had come to own the land around Tobol Mountain and revealed that his gray-blue eyes were prosthetic eyes provided through an AHgAs trial. Hesta also learned that reports about the Ascending Bright and Mei County had concealed or dismissed important details.

• Mei Sinan told the group that his brothers had left the remote Tobol Mountain land to him, and that Robogriye had leased it while investing in Northern District 14 to qualify to buy it.
• Shi Pingchuan calculated the land's likely value and struggled to hide his surprise as the others praised Mei Sinan's success.
• Mei Sinan said he had met Ding Jiali after arriving at Songxueyuan and having his luggage stolen.
• Ding Yuqing showed Hesta a scrapbook of survivor accounts from the Ascending Bright, which omitted Quicksilver Needles, Anna, crew members, and the hovering vessel.
• Hesta asked Mei Sinan about his eye color, and he revealed that a snowfield trap had injured his eyes and that he had received prosthetic eyes through an AHgAs trial.

Hesta realized that the white cat may have been Anna’s eyes and asked Mei Sinan when he had replaced his own. After Mei Sinan left with Ding Jiali, the family discussed him over breakfast, and Ding Yuqing warned them not to bring him home again.

• Hesta asked Mei Sinan when he had replaced his eyes, and he said it had been about four years earlier.
• Xu Ruyi invited Mei Sinan to stay overnight, but Ding Jiali said he would take him home because Mei Sinan’s skin reacted badly to coarse fabric.
• Mei Sinan asked Ding Yuqing for a school anniversary matchbox, saying a friend of his collected them.
• The next morning, Ding Jiali suggested pairing Mei Sinan with Ding Yuqing, but Ding Yuqing called him strange and told the family not to invite him back.
• Xu Ruyi described Mei Sinan as a good, lonely child, and Ding Yuqing challenged her for pitying him despite his wealth and freedom.

Hesta had breakfast with the Ding family, then rebuffed Shi Yimiao’s attempt to make her an underling. On her way out, she parted from Ding Yuqing, who seemed reluctant to leave but eventually ran toward school.

• Xu Ruyi served Hesta a generous breakfast while Ding Yuqing stayed angry and Ding Jiali joked with them.
• Shi Yimiao demanded that Hesta become her underling, but Hesta took her toy gun, made her call her big sister, and told her to knock next time.
• Hesta left the apartment at 8:10 and greeted Shi Pingchuan and Ding Xueyang on her way out.
• Hesta met Ding Yuqing in the stairwell, and they walked together until Ding Yuqing turned toward school.
• Ding Yuqing walked away slowly, then ran; she looked back to see Hesta still waving before continuing toward school.

Hesta met with Yu Xuekun for a consultation and talked about her recent experiences with Eleven, Eucali, Ksenia, and her host family. Yu Xuekun advised her to pay attention to how the child’s parents viewed her, since their negative impression could cost her points.

• Hesta visited Yu Xuekun’s studio and asked whether she knew a reliable dishwasher repairman for Ms. Xu.
• Yu Xuekun asked Hesta to put away her diary and describe only the recent events that had made a strong impression on her.
• Hesta talked about Eleven and Eucali, her encounter with Ksenia, and her interactions with the host family.
• Yu Xuekun explained the meaning of “willingly endure hardship as if it were sweet” after Hesta recounted Ms. Xu’s explanation.
• Hesta said she had a three-to-three-and-a-half rating for how her host family treated her and mentioned a conflict with Xu Ruyi’s young granddaughter.
• Yu Xuekun warned Hesta that the child’s parents could give her a negative impression and put her points at risk.

Hesta returned home to find Ding Yuqing and Shi Yimiao waiting to teach her Universal Chess. Shi Yimiao beat her with a four-move checkmate and then a two-move checkmate, leaving the family celebrating the child’s skill.

• Yu Xuekun advised Hesta to listen more, argue less, smile, and pay attention to her appearance.
• Ding Yuqing asked Hesta to play chess with Shi Yimiao, who offered to teach her the rules.
• Hesta learned the basics of chess, and Shi Yimiao defeated her with a four-move checkmate.
• Shi Yimiao beat Hesta again with a two-move checkmate and celebrated with Ding Guisheng.

Shi Yimiao made a dire warning before Ding Yuqing’s sister Ding Xueyang returned home with news that her pregnancy was likely carrying the child she had hoped for. The chapter ended with Hesta silently watching Ding Xueyang as she entered the living room.

• Hesta asked to play another chess game, but Shi Yimiao demanded that Hesta become her disciple, and Ding Yuqing refused for her.
• Shi Yimiao warned that someone would be in trouble if she could not wait for her mother, and Ding Yuqing explained that Miaomiao’s warnings had sometimes foretold disasters.
• Hesta became interested in chess, and Ding Yuqing offered her the chess set while explaining Miaomiao’s apparent prophetic ability.
• Xu Ruyi and Ding Xueyang returned home, and Ding Xueyang said a scan suggested her pregnancy had gone as she wished, though they planned to confirm it later.
• Ding Xueyang greeted Hesta, who silently gazed into her eyes.

Hesta noticed tension in Ding Xueyang’s family and learned that Ding Guisheng planned to press her to change Shi Yimiao’s surname. The next morning, Hesta arranged a dishwasher repair while Ding Yuqing warned her that a family argument was about to begin.

• Hesta asked Ding Xueyang whether she had had a good day, and Ding Xueyang worried that she looked tired and discussed using makeup while pregnant.
• Ding Guisheng said he wanted to speak with Ding Xueyang the next morning, but Shi Yimiao chose to stay with him instead of going to bed with her mother.
• Shi Pingchuan returned home cheerfully after Ding Xueyang went to her room.
• Hesta told Xu Ruyi she had arranged for someone to repair the dishwasher, and Xu Ruyi explained that Jiali could use the warranty.
• Ding Yuqing told Hesta that Ding Guisheng would likely insist that Shi Yimiao take Ding Xueyang’s surname because Shi Pingchuan already had a son.
• Shi Yimiao shrieked upstairs, and Ding Yuqing warned Hesta to hurry with breakfast before the family dispute began.

Hesta accompanied Ding Yuqing to a coffee shop on their way to school, where they talked about the future and Ding Yuqing’s need for money. The chapter left Ding Yuqing’s reasons for needing so much money unexplained.

• Hesta finished breakfast and hurried out with Ding Yuqing, who ran ahead despite having plenty of time before class.
• Ding Yuqing took Hesta to the café If We Stop Pretending, where a distressed young man pleaded to see Madam Kaja before leaving.
• The server told Ding Yuqing that Kaja would not see the young man because he had strained the root of his tongue.
• Over coffee, Ding Yuqing asked Hesta about university and her plans after graduation, and Hesta said she might return to the military.
• Ding Yuqing admitted she did not know what she wanted to do and said she needed lots and lots of money.

Ding Yuqing told Hesta how Ding Jiali made his first fortune and revealed that he had been adopted into her family, while insisting she was smarter than him. Hesta left the café unsettled by the stories and by her growing uncertainty about what she had witnessed in the past.

• Ding Yuqing explained that Ding Jiali had bought the paperwork for wrecked luxury cars and resold it to people seeking access to exclusive models.
• Ding Yuqing said Ding Jiali was her adopted cousin and claimed she was much smarter than him.
• Hesta left the café feeling confused and questioned whether her memory of Xu Ruyi screaming at a window was accurate.
• Hesta looked at the women passing on the street and felt as though she were walking among a thousand Zhanmu.
• The café server offered to pay for Ding Yuqing and Hesta's coffees if Ding Yuqing brought Hesta back to a window seat.
• Ding Yuqing refused to let the server use Hesta's red hair to attract customers and teased her for thinking Hesta was special.

Hesta brought Eleven a chess set and invited her on a city tour, then returned home to find the living room wrecked. Ding Xueyang admitted she had smashed everything, leaving Hesta to let the dishwasher repairman inside.

• Hesta bought a Universal Chess set and played with Eleven during lunch at Hope Center.
• Hesta invited Eleven to join a Sunday city tour and said she would pick her up; Eleven considered whom to bring.
• Hesta messaged Eucali about the outing, but Eucali did not reply, and Hesta ran back toward Industrial University.
• Hesta met the dishwasher repairman at her apartment and learned she had mistaken his surname for a gender clue.
• Hesta found the living room filled with broken dishes, vases, and a smashed wine bottle, and prepared to call the police.
• Ding Xueyang appeared in a nightgown and told Hesta she had smashed everything, after which Hesta let the repairman into the apartment.

Hesta stayed with Ding Xueyang until Xu Ruyi returned, then went to evening class. After hearing about a person stalking girls near the family housing area, Hesta searched the streets for nearly forty minutes but found no one suspicious before heading home.

• The repairman fixed the dishwasher, explained that water in its base had triggered the float switch, and took several flowers from the floor.
• Hesta checked on Ding Xueyang, who stayed behind her closed bedroom door, and waited downstairs until Xu Ruyi returned.
• Hesta left for evening class, exhausted, and dreamed of the Ascending Bright, Tan Yi’s ducal residence, and Alvira smiling at her.
• After class, Lin Jiao warned Hesta about a rumored creep stalking girls near the family housing area.
• Hesta circled the family housing area for nearly forty minutes without finding anyone suspicious, then returned home.

Hesta returned to a restored living room and tried to understand Xu Ruyi’s explanation for not using the repaired dishwasher, then sought advice from Yu Xuekun. Meanwhile, Ding Yuqing comforted Ding Xueyang, who rejected her family’s plan to change Miaomiao’s surname in exchange for an apartment and wanted everyone involved to be dissatisfied.

• Hesta found the living room repaired and learned Xu Ruyi was hand-washing dishes she said could not go in the dishwasher.
• Hesta asked Xu Ruyi about Ding Xueyang, then messaged Yu Xuekun to move up their meeting; he offered Monday morning from six to seven.
• Ding Yuqing returned to Ding Xueyang’s room and explained that their father and Shi Pingchuan planned to change Miaomiao’s surname to Ding and transfer an apartment to Ding Xueyang.
• Ding Xueyang revealed that she had asked Shi Pingchuan to change Miaomiao’s surname soon after her birth, but he had refused.
• Ding Xueyang told Ding Yuqing she was dissatisfied with the arrangement and wanted her father and Shi Pingchuan to get neither what they wanted.

Ding Yuqing comforted Ding Xueyang as her sister lost hope, while Hesta challenged Ding Jiali to consider how much work Xu Ruyi handled. Later, Eucali agreed to attend the City Hall event with Hesta and revealed that her uncle had come to Orange Town.

• Ding Yuqing held Ding Xueyang and urged her not to give up because she still had Ding Yuqing and Miaomiao.
• Hesta stopped Ding Jiali from using his delicate crystal bowl so Xu Ruyi would have less washing up to do.
• Hesta told Ding Jiali that Xu Ruyi already had a heavy workload, but he suspected someone at school had influenced her and warned her about clubs.
• Hesta called Eucali, who agreed to join her at the City Hall event on Sunday.
• Eucali told Hesta she had been tired because her uncle had come to Orange Town.

Hesta picked up Eleven and Kiki, then met Eucali at City Hall for an orientation and spoke with Orange Town’s mayor. Hesta’s calm view of the mayor helped Eucali reconsider why she felt intimidated by people in positions of power.

• Hesta picked up Eleven and the shy Kiki, whose real name was Kiki, and took them to lunch.
• Eleven told Hesta that she had nicknamed Kiki Five Point Five after beating her at arm wrestling.
• Hesta, Eleven, and Kiki traveled to City Hall, where they met Eucali and saw a wedding taking place outside.
• Hesta and Eucali spoke with Orange Town’s mayor, while Eucali nervously translated their conversation.
• After taking the children to the family room, Eucali asked Hesta how she could remain so composed around important people.
• Hesta told Eucali that the mayor was no different from her, since they both shared the same human anatomy.

Hesta and Eucali attended Orange Town’s new-resident orientation, where Hesta unexpectedly reunited with Ksenia and met Mei Sinan. As the presentation described Orange Town’s history and community, Eucali was moved to tears, and the chapter ended with the speaker promising that everyone received education and support.

• Hesta spotted Ksenia at the conference hall and ran over to greet her, discovering Mei Sinan beside her.
• Ksenia explained that she was volunteering and planned to take Mei Sinan to audition as a pianist for a nearby choir.
• The man in the blue suit began the orientation presentation, and Hesta struggled to follow his account of Orange Town’s history.
• Kiki noticed Eucali crying during the presentation and gave Hesta tissues for her.
• The presentation reached modern Orange Town, where the speaker said every citizen had access to basic education and community support.

Eucali fled the meditation session after its affirmations overwhelmed her, and Hesta followed her to the restroom. Eucali eventually washed her face as newlyweds arrived at City Hall, while the group’s bus tour was delayed.

• When the tour bus was reported late, a yoga instructor named Wu offered to lead the guests in a meditation session.
• During the affirmations, Eucali began crying, and Hesta noticed how hard she was trying to suppress her distress.
• Eucali bolted from the conference hall, and Hesta followed her while Eleven led Kiki after them.
• Eucali locked herself in a restroom stall and sobbed; Hesta waited outside with Eleven and Kiki.
• After the bus arrived and the other guests went downstairs, Eucali washed her face as bagpipe music announced the newlyweds’ arrival at City Hall.

Hesta and Eucali watched a wedding at City Hall before Ksenia invited them to a church rehearsal, but Hesta chose to return with Eucali, who was exhausted. After taking Kiki’s picture on the wedding steps and promising to mail her a print, Hesta brought the children to dinner and returned home worn out.

• Kiki and Eleven watched a bride’s veil snag on a statue while Eucali and Hesta talked about weddings and Eucali apologized for keeping everyone there.
• Ksenia and Mei Sinan came over, and Ksenia invited Hesta and Eucali to choir rehearsal; Hesta exchanged phone numbers with Ksenia, then decided to leave with Eucali.
• Eucali said she wanted to go back and lie down, and Kiki asked Hesta to take her picture on the City Hall steps.
• Hesta took Kiki’s picture and promised to print it and mail it to her, making Kiki excited.
• Hesta took Eleven and Kiki to the fried chicken restaurant and later returned to her dwelling, exhausted.

Hesta discussed her recent worries with Yu Xuekun, including her concern that Ms. Xu might hurt herself and her confusion about the pain she sensed in those around her. Yu Xuekun explained that Eucali was changing apartments to keep her family from finding her, leaving Hesta to question why Eucali had asked about a relative moving in.

• Yu Xuekun told Hesta she had to end their session on time because she was helping a friend renovate a shop and had tickets to a play.
• Hesta asked to visit the counseling room whenever she wanted, but Yu Xuekun refused.
• Hesta described feeling guilty that Ms. Xu had to prepare dishwasher-safe cookware and recalled ignoring Ding Yuqing's warning not to help.
• Hesta explained that she had stayed alone in the living room because she feared Ms. Xu might hurt herself, and Yu Xuekun advised her to alert family members instead of intervening herself.
• Hesta said her own life felt exceptionally good while everyone around her seemed to be suffering, and Yu Xuekun told her Eucali would move apartments and keep her new address from her family.

Yu Xuekun warned Hesta to adapt to life in the Habitable Zone and consider how ordinary residents would react before acting. After discussing ways Hesta could meet people and relax, they parted, and Hesta returned to the café If We Stop Pretending for coffee.

• Yu Xuekun told Hesta that Eucali’s uncle had learned her address from her mother and asked what Hesta would do if he came to watch her.
• Yu Xuekun reprimanded Hesta for wandering around the school housing area at night and urged her to consider how ordinary District 14 residents would respond to danger.
• Yu Xuekun explained that Quicksilver Needles often struggled to adjust after leaving the front lines and advised Hesta to make friends or reconnect with old ones.
• Yu Xuekun told Hesta that her City Hall event had offset many of her monitoring deductions, then left her to walk to school alone.
• Hesta entered If We Stop Pretending and ordered a latte with extra biscuits.

Hesta visited the café to ask about its owner’s divination and later reflected on Yu Xuekun’s advice to make friends. On campus, she helped an unfamiliar girl open a tent, and the girl hurried back inside to gather her things.

• Hesta learned that the café’s owner used counting rods for divination and would return Friday night, so the server invited her to come by that evening.
• Hesta wandered around campus and considered Yu Xuekun’s advice, thinking about her friendships with Liz, Tulan, Ligo, and Ava.
• Hesta sent Silei a greeting instead of contacting Ksenia.
• Hesta heard a noise near a bush and freed a piece of nylon caught in a tent’s zipper.
• The young girl emerged, thanked Hesta, asked the time, and ducked back into the tent to collect a mug, toothbrush, and towel.