Chapter Summaries

Hesta met with a male teacher from the supervisory team about her complaint against Zuo Wentao and insisted their conversation be recorded. After waiting two hours for Zuo Wentao, she left without meeting him and headed away from the cafeteria.

• Hesta asked whether Ms. Moly knew about the meeting and whether the conversation was being recorded, then started recording it on her phone.
• The male teacher suggested Hesta meet Zuo Wentao face-to-face and treat his actions as a misunderstanding rooted in his age.
• Hesta agreed to let the teacher call Zuo Wentao, but he did not arrive despite the teacher's repeated assurances that he was coming soon.
• Hesta left the office and checked Molly's office, finding the Principal's Office door locked.
• After waiting two hours, Hesta declined the teacher's offer to find Zuo Wentao and left Wenhui Building, walking away from the cafeteria.

Hesta left Wenhui Building without seeing Molly and walked with Cheng Xiaoshu, reassuring her that she did not blame her for withdrawing the complaint. She described her search for signals and a sense of direction in the unfamiliar Habitable Zone, then arrived at class on Friday and found Zuo Wentao waiting in the front row.

• Hesta visited Molly's closed office, and Cheng Xiaoshu caught up with her outside Wenhui Building.
• Cheng Xiaoshu apologized for withdrawing her complaint, but Hesta said she had never blamed her and was grateful for her support.
• Hesta told Cheng Xiaoshu that she felt unmoored in the Habitable Zone and needed to send out signals to find feedback from fellow travelers.
• On Friday, Hesta arrived early for class, hoping to ask Teacher Chen about Madam Kaja, but saw Zuo Wentao sitting in the first row.

Hesta attended Chen Beiyi’s Literary Appreciation class while Farn, assigned to monitor her, tried to keep her from provoking trouble. After Chen Beiyi failed to acknowledge Hesta, Hesta left before the second class and later lay on the lawn with Farn, who asked what illness she had come to District 14 to recover from.

• Farn stopped Hesta from greeting Chen Beiyi and warned that further trouble could get Hesta locked up until her recovery period ended.
• Farn explained that she had taken the monitoring assignment after seeing Hesta’s dangerous combat record and hearing about her evaluation video.
• Chen Beiyi introduced herself, began teaching, and did not look at Hesta during the first class.
• Hesta left the classroom during the break before the second class began.
• Farn followed Hesta to the lawn and asked what illness she had come to District 14 to recover from.

Hesta confronted Farn about what she had told Lin Jiao and the others, then questioned her about the Chelated Being incident in Mei County. Farn offered to help Hesta improve her standing in District 14 in exchange for information, and the chapter ended with Farn asking what Hesta knew about Mother City.

• Hesta and Farn grappled until a campus guard interrupted them, then both ran off.
• Hesta asked Farn what she had told Lin Jiao and the others, and learned Lin Jiao had likely guessed Farn's identity as a Quicksilver Needle.
• Hesta worried that Lin Jiao might connect her unusual attitude toward Ava to the Tan Yi Murder Photography case.
• Hesta asked Farn about the Mei County Chelated Being's examination report and whether the escaped one had been caught, but Farn knew nothing about the outcome.
• Farn offered to help Hesta save her score in exchange for her cooperation, and Hesta asked Farn to get the examination report.
• Farn offered to share Lin Jiao and the others' backgrounds orally, then asked Hesta what she knew about Mother City.

Farn told Hesta how Lin Jiao and Xiang Hanshan met and described their trip to Core City, where they were found near Mother City after going missing. Hesta questioned why the incident had not been reported, and Farn challenged her account of never entering Mother City.

• Farn explained that Lin Jiao and Xiang Hanshan met through a school club and became close despite their very different family circumstances.
• Farn recounted Lin Jiao's schemes to earn money and said she often accompanied Xiang Hanshan to events during school vacations.
• Farn said Lin Jiao and Xiang Hanshan went to Core City for an investiture ceremony, got separated from their group, and were found by Farn near Mother City.
• Farn told Hesta that the incident's information had circulated only within the Mei County station and had not been reported to the United Government or Office No. 2.
• Farn confronted Hesta about her role in the District 5 riot, and Hesta explained that she had stayed outside Mother City to lure Chelated Beings out.

Hesta talked with Farn about District 14’s command transfer and the little-known District 15, then met Ding Yuqing with Lin Jiao and went with them to the Archipelago Poetry Society’s gathering. Lin Jiao hinted that she might do something ridiculous to become friends with Hesta.

• Farn questioned Hesta about her knowledge of the transfer of command over District 14’s Quicksilver Needles, and Hesta said she had only learned about it after leaving Robogriye’s ship.
• Farn showed more interest in District 15, and Hesta asked whether that was what she meant.
• After class, Hesta met Lin Jiao and invited her to walk to the school gate to meet Ding Yuqing.
• Lin Jiao invited Hesta to the Drama Club’s Saturday performance of an adapted Dagger and Sheath and sent her the time and address.
• Ding Yuqing arrived dressed for her outing with Hesta, then left to use the restroom after the three reached the tennis court gathering.
• Lin Jiao told Hesta to watch what ridiculous things she might do to become friends with her.

Hesta told Lin Jiao that she had a solution to Zuo Wentao’s obstruction, though she had tried other channels first. At a poetry club gathering, Ding Yuqing introduced herself and became the target of Xiang Hanshan’s pointed hostility.

• Hesta told Lin Jiao that Zuo Wentao had failed to show up for a proposed private settlement and that she knew how to solve the problem.
• Hesta, Lin Jiao, and Ding Yuqing went to an outdoor poetry club event, where Hesta lent Ding Yuqing her jacket.
• Lin Jiao introduced Hesta and Ding Yuqing to the club members, and Ding Yuqing answered questions about her interests and hobbies.
• Ding Yuqing said she enjoyed skiing and snorkeling and described taking vacations with her older sister.
• Xiang Hanshan interrupted Ding Yuqing to criticize her for saying “my sister’s daughter” instead of “niece,” and Ding Yuqing struggled to continue her introduction.

At a poetry club gathering, Ding Yuqing and Hesta confronted Xiang Hanshan over her harsh treatment of Yuqing, then left as the group followed Hanshan. On the way home, Yuqing questioned why Hesta had brought her, and Hesta said the group could be charming at certain moments.

• Hesta challenged Xiang Hanshan about rushing Ding Yuqing and treating her harshly, while Xiang Hanshan apologized without asking Yuqing to forgive her.
• Ding Yuqing defended her way of referring to her niece, then left with Hesta.
• Xiang Hanshan accused Lin Jiao of knowing she would drive outsiders away and left the court, followed by the other members.
• Lin Jiao stayed behind, asked the others to check on Hanshan, and began texting Hesta.
• On the way home, Ding Yuqing told Hesta the group had been unreasonable and asked why she had brought her; Hesta said they could be charming at certain moments.

Ding Yuqing stayed angry with Hesta after Xiang Hanshan’s rebuke, though she admitted to herself that Hesta and Lin Jiao looked charming together. Later, Lin Jiao explained to Hesta why Xiang Hanshan guarded the club’s members-only activities, and the group arrived at a play, where Eleven and Kiki asked to see backstage.

• Ding Yuqing hurried away from Hesta, replaying the evening and thinking about Hesta and Lin Jiao’s striking bearing.
• Lin Jiao and Hesta picked up Eleven and Kiki and took them to see a play at Industrial University.
• Lin Jiao explained that Xiang Hanshan had objected to Ding Yuqing because the club protected its members-only activities and values.
• Lin Jiao led the group into the auditorium through a side entrance and went toward the backstage area.
• Eleven and Kiki asked Lin Jiao to take them backstage, and Hesta joined them.

Hesta, Lin Jiao, and Eleven visited the backstage area of Ksenia’s play, where Hesta unexpectedly reunited with Ksenia. As Ksenia prepared for the performance, Hesta explained why she had asked for her contact information and never messaged her.

• Hesta restrained Eleven backstage, and Ksenia calmed the child with candy.
• Hesta and Ksenia caught up while Lin Jiao helped Ksenia adjust her hair for the performance.
• Ksenia directed Mei Sinan back to his place after confirming that Teacher Wu had his missing hat.
• As Ksenia walked Hesta and Lin Jiao toward the corridor, Hesta said she had always believed they would meet again and had feared losing track of Ksenia.

Hesta left the theater with Eleven while Lin Jiao took Kiki to watch the play, then reunited with both children and returned them to the children's center. Farn brought Hesta a report about the Chelated Beings, and Hesta concluded that it was fake because its key details did not match.

• Hesta asked Lin Jiao to take Kiki to the play while she took Eleven away so Eleven would not disrupt the performance.
• Kiki chose to watch the play with Lin Jiao, while Hesta carried Eleven out of the theater.
• That evening, Hesta took Eleven and Kiki back to the children's center, where Eleven asked to see the play another time.
• Farn met Hesta outside the center and gave her a report about the capture and elimination of another Chelated Being.
• Hesta read the report and told Farn it was fake because the important details did not match.

Hesta told Farn that the Chelated Being she killed at Mei County station had silver rings around its pupils, contradicting the report and raising the possibility that its body had been replaced. After returning home, Hesta joined the women of the Ding family for dinner and learned that Xu Ruyi was grieving her late friend and worrying about how her own husband would fare if she died.

• Hesta told Farn that the dead Chelated Being had silver rings around its pupils, while Farn insisted Quicksilver Needles could not contract Chelated Disease.
• Hesta proposed that the body might have been replaced after Farn left the scene, and Farn said United Government security teams had handled much of the processing at Mei County station.
• Hesta returned home and ate with Ding Xueyang, Miaomiao, Aunt Hong, and Ding Yuqing while Xu Ruyi rested in her room.
• Ding Yuqing told Ding Xueyang that Xu Ruyi had learned her friend Aunt Xiong had died and had become upset after seeing how haggard Aunt Xiong's husband looked.
• Ding Yuqing said Xu Ruyi had asked whether her own husband would react the same way if she died.

Ding Xueyang waited with her family for Shi Pingchuan to reply to Miaomiao’s video, while Aunt Hong prepared to leave despite their efforts to persuade her to stay. A conversation about Ding Xueyang’s marriage ended with her admitting she did not believe divorce would give her a better life.

• Miaomiao asked for her father, then sang and danced in a video urging Shi Pingchuan to come home, but he did not reply while the family waited.
• Ding Xueyang learned Aunt Hong could stay only a few more days because her daughter-in-law was due to give birth.
• Ding Yuqing recalled that Shi Pingchuan had once joked about Ding Xueyang’s thoughtful gift for his niece, explaining why she had disliked him from the start.
• Ding Yuqing asked whether Ding Xueyang planned to stay with Shi Pingchuan for life, and Ding Xueyang said divorce would not bring a better life anyway.

Ding Xueyang explained to Ding Yuqing and Xu Ruyi why she feared divorcing Shi Pingchuan, describing her worries about Miaomiao’s future and her belief that her husband favored sons. The family discussed their regrets and hopes, and the chapter ended with Xu Ruyi wondering what more she could do as she and Ding Xueyang sat beside Miaomiao.

• Ding Xueyang told Ding Yuqing that she worried about supporting Miaomiao alone and hoped to secure an apartment for her daughter, while keeping Miaomiao’s surname unchanged.
• Ding Xueyang said she had grown wary of Shi Pingchuan because she believed he favored sons, and Xu Ruyi defended her husband and disputed that their family favored boys.
• Ding Yuqing and Ding Xueyang laughed about their family’s history of son preference, then reassured Xu Ruyi that they knew she loved them.
• Ding Yuqing said she did not want marriage or children, and Ding Xueyang encouraged her to find passions and ideals that could guide her choices.
• Hesta fell asleep at the table and woke as the family grew quiet; Xu Ruyi stroked Miaomiao’s head and admitted she did not know what else she could do.

After a family gathering, Hesta and Ding Yuqing went for a late-night walk and discussed Ding Yuqing’s feelings about her family and her parents’ marriage. Ding Yuqing noticed Hesta seemed to be thinking about someone and offered to listen whenever she was ready to share.

• Hesta found Ding Yuqing awake, and they went downstairs for a walk because Ding Yuqing could not sleep.
• Ding Yuqing said that some of the weight on her chest had lifted and reflected that people who wore chains could still bring freedom to others, referring to Ding Xueyang.
• At the night market, Ding Yuqing told Hesta that Ding Jiali had said her father would be discharged the next afternoon.
• Ding Yuqing explained how her mother had changed her mind about her father after seeing him still waiting across the street after their last planned meeting.
• Ding Yuqing described how a crush could overwhelm reason, then teased Hesta for seeming to think of someone and offered to hear her secrets whenever she wanted.

Hesta struggled to sleep after realizing her feelings about someone, then accepted Ksenia’s invitation to hike next weekend. At lunch with Eucali, she learned that Eucali had dyed her hair black after strangers harassed her for being Hesta, and offered concern about the trouble.

• Hesta stayed awake thinking about someone and nearly messaged Tulan and Ligo, but closed her computer without sending anything.
• Ksenia called Hesta after her cast party and invited her to hike with the club next weekend, and Hesta accepted.
• Hesta dreamed of young Xu Ruyi stopping on a narrow path and meeting Ding Guisheng’s gaze, then woke at ten and hurried to meet Eucali.
• Eucali noticed Hesta looked tired and explained that she had dyed her red hair black because strangers had harassed her on the street.
• Hesta asked whether Eucali had told Yu Xuekun, but Eucali said she did not want to trouble her over something small.
• Eucali invited Hesta to help cook, and Hesta mentioned that she might go hiking the following week.

Hesta agreed to ask whether Eucali could join next week’s mountain outing, then received a coded message directing her to call Chiba from someone else’s phone. Chiba offered to help Hesta leave for a recuperation stay, but Hesta chose to remain in Orange Town with her new friends.

• Hesta asked the trip’s organizer to include Eucali in the mountain outing, and the organizer agreed to make a group chat.
• Hesta found a note and an old book from a woman named Yu, with a bookmark warning her not to use her own phone.
• Hesta let Ding Yuqing hide in her room after Miaomiao soaked Ding Yuqing’s belongings, then borrowed her phone to call Chiba.
• Hesta went to the attic to speak privately with Chiba, who said she was going to Songxueyuan to meet Silei.
• Chiba offered to arrange a prison sentence and a recuperation stay elsewhere, but Hesta said she wanted to remain where she was because she had made new friends.

Hesta asked Chiba for a way to secretly access files about Ava and was warned to stay away from the closed Mei County case. She later rejected a proposal to leave District 14 and told Yu Xuekun she wanted to stay, while her efforts to reach Molly remained unsuccessful.

• Hesta asked Chiba how she could search files about Ava without leaving a trail, and Chiba warned her not to reopen the Mei County Chelated Being case.
• Hesta told Farn she was no longer interested in pursuing the Mei County case and asked for Sophie Moly's contact information.
• Hesta gave Farn a book about power and suffering, apologized for being harsh, and said they could discuss District 15 another time.
• Hesta spent three days trying to find Molly on Wenhui Building's ninth floor but failed to catch her.
• Hesta told Yu Xuekun she had spoken with Chiba about leaving District 14 but wanted to stay because she had made friends there.

Hesta was rebuffed by Yu Xuekun after asking why her extra work for her host family had not improved her rating, though Yu later sent her information about Madam Kaja. When Hesta attended class, she realized Zuo Wentao had arranged to confront her and agreed to give her postponed speech.

• Yu Xuekun dismissed Hesta's efforts caring for her host family as too insignificant to affect her rating and sent her out of the office.
• Yu Xuekun emailed Hesta the documents about Madam Kaja that she had promised to find.
• Hesta noticed Zuo Wentao in the lecture hall, despite expecting Teacher Chen to teach, and sensed danger as she took her seat.
• Zuo Wentao called on Hesta and offered her fifteen minutes to deliver the speech she had prepared about their classroom dispute.
• Hesta considered the rules against behaving abnormally in the Habitable Zone, laughed, and agreed to speak.

Jane Hesta explained to her classmates why her return to menstruation was good news after her medical discharge, turning their laughter into applause and forcing Zuo Wentao to join in. Later, she wondered what the class had been laughing about and reflected on an apology from an unnamed girl.

• Hesta answered Zuo Wentao's question about her period, prompting laughter from the class.
• Hesta introduced herself as a former District 3 medic and described the hardships and scarcity she had experienced in the wastelands.
• Hesta explained that her returning menstrual cycle showed her health was recovering and thanked District 14 for its acceptance and care.
• The class applauded, and Zuo Wentao joined in as students looked toward him.
• Farn told Hesta she had won back a round against Zuo Wentao, while Hesta recalled that an unnamed girl had apologized for laughing.