Chapter Summaries

At the Barrier Lake gathering, Su Can claimed he had gotten Xu Dong’s online account banned with a phone call, but everyone dismissed him as a braggart. The chapter ended with Xu Dong calling Wang Jie in the middle of the night to say he could no longer log in to the special account Wang Jie had given him.

• Su Can told Xu Dong that he had made a call and gotten Xu Dong’s account banned, prompting disbelief and tension among the guests.
• Zhu Cheng and others steered the conversation away, and the guests later laughed about Su Can’s claim after he left.
• Xu Dong went to the Huanhu Clubhouse with Wang Jie and their friends, but he remained angry about Su Can’s public challenge.
• Wang Jie returned home and wondered whether Su Can might have enough ability and backing to become another powerful figure in Huangcheng.
• Xu Dong called Wang Jie in the middle of the night and said he could no longer log in to the special account Wang Jie had given him.

After his confrontation with Xu Dong stirred Huangcheng’s social circles, Su Can returned from sightseeing and navigated invitations from people hoping to get close to him. He told Li Pengyu that his next move was to widen the divisions around Xu Changcheng and weaken the officials protecting him.

• Zhang Shen and Yao Ming took Su Can and Li Pengyu sightseeing and fishing, while people in Huangcheng tried unsuccessfully to find Su Can.
• Zhu Cheng called Su Can, asked about Xu Dong’s suspended Facebook account, and invited him to meet with Yang Ning, Zhang Qian, and others.
• Zhang Shangwu and Luo Guiying invited Su Can’s family to dinner, where Zhang Qian tried to draw closer to Su Can while her parents probed his background.
• Li Pengyu explained that people viewed Su Can’s conflict with Xu Dong as a private feud, and Su Can said this would keep others from readily supporting Xu Changcheng.
• Su Can told Li Pengyu that he intended to exploit divisions among Huangcheng’s officials and expand his gains against Xu Changcheng’s allies.

Su Licheng’s dispute with Xu Changcheng over Barrier Lake’s eastern shore stalled the development plans and sharpened tensions within Huangcheng’s government. Su Can gained Cheng Ruinian’s trust by discussing the political fallout, then encountered Tian Tian, who tried to explain Xu Dong’s behavior while nervously approaching him.

• At the mayors' coordination meeting, Yang Wanli rejected both Xu Changcheng’s and Huang Yu’s plans for Barrier Lake’s eastern shore and ordered a new review and public tender.
• Xu Changcheng complained to Zhou Zhaofeng, who suspected Su Licheng or Su Can had helped provoke the conflict, and Xu decided to make the newcomer follow local rules.
• Zeng Ke welcomed Cheng Ruinian at home, and Su Can questioned him about municipal affairs and warned that Xu Changcheng might retaliate against Su Licheng.
• Cheng Ruinian shared his concerns about Xu Changcheng and began to lower his guard toward the Su family, while Su Can saw him off as a promising new ally.
• During a morning run, Tian Tian approached Su Can and Li Pengyu, defended Xu Dong, and admitted through her actions that she was too nervous to speak comfortably with Su Can.

Su Can and Tian Tian discussed her doubts about marrying Xu Dong, joking about how they might build a life together despite having little money. Tian Tian admitted she had asked about Su Can’s intentions toward Zhang Qian and hinted there was still time for her own future, while Su Can’s distant gaze recalled an earlier love.

• Su Can rejected Tian Tian’s attempt to defend Xu Dong and told her not to judge whether Xu Dong was good or bad.
• Tian Tian said her relationship with Xu Dong did not define her own opinions and described her doubts about a life of comfort, marriage, and family expectations.
• Su Can argued that love needed material security, while Tian Tian said two people could work together to build wealth and a life.
• Tian Tian and Su Can joked about their imagined married life, and she pointed out that Su Can’s claims of poverty were mostly an act.
• Tian Tian asked how Su Can had gotten Xu Dong banned from Facebook, then asked whether he had considered settling down with Zhang Qian.
• Tian Tian studied Su Can’s distant gaze and suggested there was still time for him to accomplish things in Huangcheng, unaware that he recalled a girl from his past.

Su Can realized that Xu Changcheng’s side might be preparing a move against Su Licheng just as the vice mayor was about to make his first major public address in Huangcheng. When Su Can discovered that Su Licheng’s speech overlapped with provincial leader Geng Luoxiang’s remarks, he and Cheng Ruinian hurried to revise it before Su Licheng took the stage.

• Tian Tian urged Su Can to give Zhang Qian a chance, but Su Can told her he had a girlfriend.
• Su Can spent the Spring Festival in Huangcheng with his parents, exchanged greetings with friends and business associates, and learned that Tang Wu and Lin Luoran planned to visit.
• As Su Licheng prepared for his first public address, Su Can worried about the sudden quiet from Xu Changcheng’s side and discussed the political tensions with his father.
• Before the conference, Cheng Ruinian warned Su Can that Xu Changcheng had excluded him from preparing Su Licheng’s speech and arranged for someone else to write it.
• Su Can recognized that Su Licheng’s speech might repeat Geng Luoxiang’s remarks and told Cheng Ruinian to revise it during the brief transition before Su Licheng spoke.

Su Licheng foiled Xu Changcheng, Zhou Zhaofeng, and Guo Huai’s attempt to embarrass him by delivering a different speech, then gained Cheng Ruinian as his secretary. After Geng Luoxiang visited the Su family, the story shifted to Beijing, where Lin Luoran left for Rongcheng and messaged Su Can, “Here I come.”

• Xu Changcheng and Zhou Zhaofeng expected Su Licheng to repeat Geng Luoxiang’s speech, while Guo Huai hoped the mistake would ruin Su Licheng and give him grounds to punish Cheng Ruinian.
• Su Licheng delivered a fluent, different speech, earning thunderous applause and leaving Xu Changcheng, Zhou Zhaofeng, and Guo Huai shaken.
• Su Licheng asked the Secretariat to assign Cheng Ruinian to him, and Guo Huai became increasingly uneasy when Su Licheng continued treating him cordially.
• After the provincial supervision team’s three-day investigation, Geng Luoxiang visited Su Can’s home and brought gifts on Zhao Lijun’s instructions.
• Lin Luoran declined her Peking University classmates’ graduation dinner, gave one admirer a false phone number, and had Zhang Guoli drive her to the airport.
• Lin Luoran boarded a flight to Rongcheng and sent a final message to Su Can saying, “Here I come.”

Tang Wu picked up Lin Luoran in Rongcheng and brought her home, where Tang Wu’s parents warmly welcomed her. As the two women shared a bed and talked through the night, Lin Luoran realized that despite their friendship and similarities, they could not become true friends who fully trusted each other.

• Tang Wu spoke with Wang Wei at the airport, encouraged him to keep living with purpose, and waited for the arriving flight.
• Tang Wu greeted Lin Luoran, took her home, and called Su Can to say they would visit him the next day.
• Tang Wu’s parents welcomed Lin Luoran and took her to dinner, where she was moved by their warmth.
• Tang Wu and Lin Luoran discussed Su Can’s difficulties in Huangcheng, and Lin Luoran reflected on her persistent feelings for him.
• As they lay awake after talking, Lin Luoran recognized that she and Tang Wu could not reach deep into each other’s hearts and become true friends.

Su Can waited impatiently in Huangcheng for Tang Wu and Lin Luoran to arrive, while the two women drove there from Rongcheng and were pursued by Xu Dong’s group after Lin Luoran kicked him. As Su Can left Barrier Lake to meet them, Tang Wu called and urgently told him to come quickly amid roaring engines and tire noise.

• Su Can spent the morning preparing for Tang Wu and Lin Luoran’s arrival and refused Zhang Qian’s invitation to a Barrier Lake cookout, angering Tian Qu.
• Tang Wu and Lin Luoran drove toward Huangcheng in Wang Yue’s Benz and encountered Xu Dong’s convoy at a gas station.
• Xu Dong grabbed a lock of Lin Luoran’s hair, and she kicked him before she and Tang Wu drove away.
• Xu Dong and his companions raced after Tang Wu and Lin Luoran in their cars.
• Su Can left Barrier Lake with Li Pengyu after his calls went unanswered, and Tang Wu finally answered amid the sound of speeding vehicles and told him to come quickly.

After a car collision left Tang Wu and Lin Luoran in danger, Su Can rushed to the scene and attacked Xu Dong, who had tried to blame them. Geng Luoxiang and the police arrived, arrested Xu Dong’s group, and left Su Can relieved to be reunited with the women.

• Tang Wu called Su Can to report that Xu Dong and his companions were chasing them after Lin Luoran kicked Xu Dong.
• Tang Wu and Lin Luoran’s car collided with Xu Dong’s BMW as they pulled over, and the impact cut off the call.
• Su Can raced to the scene, found both women shaken but alive, and embraced them.
• Su Can attacked Xu Dong while Li Pengyu restrained him, and the surrounding group called for help.
• Geng Luoxiang arrived, and Zhang Lucheng ordered Xu Dong, Wang Jie, and their companions arrested.
• Su Can relaxed as Tang Wu and Lin Luoran stood safely beside him.

Xu Changcheng learned that Xu Dong had been detained after clashing with Su Can, and his allies began seeking ways to intervene. Tian Qu heard that Su Can had beaten Xu Dong, confronted Su Can in anger, and ended the night crying and unable to sleep.

• Liu Chaoyang told Xu Changcheng that Xu Dong had been detained after a confrontation involving Su Can and Geng Luoxiang.
• Xu Changcheng left the dinner to call his contacts and try to get Xu Dong released.
• Tian Qu reassured Zhang Qian and asked around about Xu Dong's arrest, believing his father would likely resolve the matter.
• Zhang Qian told Tian Qu that Xu Dong had called from the detention center and that Su Can had beaten him.
• Tian Qu called Su Can, argued with him over his actions and her relationship with Xu Dong, then cried herself to sleep.

After Xu Dong’s attack left Tang Wu and Lin Luoran injured but alive, Su Can resolved to use the incident to undermine Xu Changcheng’s influence in Huangcheng. Back at the family home, the survivors recovered together, and Su Can and Tang Wu shared a secret, intimate moment while Lin Luoran lay awake upstairs.

• Su Can and Li Pengyu discussed how Xu Changcheng might use his connections to lessen Xu Dong’s punishment, and Su Can said his real aim was to bring Xu Changcheng down.
• Su Can returned home with Tang Wu and Lin Luoran, while Su Licheng refused to let officials question the exhausted young people that night.
• Zeng Ke treated Tang Wu’s and Lin Luoran’s injuries, then hosted them at dinner and arranged for both women to stay in the house.
• Lin Luoran thanked Su Can, joked that he resembled the lead in Scooby-Doo, and went upstairs to bed.
• Tang Wu came downstairs to kiss Su Can and share an intimate moment with him, telling him to live well after asking what would happen if she died.
• Lin Luoran lay awake in bed, listening as Tang Wu went downstairs and holding herself as she trembled in the night.

Tian Tian wrestled with doubts about her expected future with Xu Dong, while Su Can and his family dealt with the fallout from Xu Dong’s arrest and the pressure surrounding the case. The chapter ended with Tian Tian meeting Su Can outside the family compound as he arrived with Tang Wu and Lin Luoran.

• Tian Tian argued with herself about whether to get up, regretted her harsh words to Su Can, and went jogging but did not see him.
• Lin Luoran told Lin Zouwen that she and Su Can had slept together, leaving Su Can startled when she greeted him afterward.
• Su Can arranged for Guo Changsheng and the Provincial Newspaper Group to support the response, while he and his family gave statements to the Provincial Inspection Team.
• Lin Luoran spoke with her parents, and news spread throughout Huangcheng that Xu Dong had been detained over deliberately ramming another car.
• Su Can rejected another call from Tian Tian, then encountered her outside the compound as she stood with Zhang Qian and others.

Tian Tian gathered her friends to meet Su Can and mediate his conflict with Xu Dong, but Su Can said Xu Dong’s arrest was beyond his influence. Over dinner, Tian Tian learned that Tang Wu was Su Can’s wife, leaving her hopes of growing closer to him shattered.

• Tian Tian met Su Can with Tang Wu and Lin Luoran, then invited them and her friends to eat barbecue together.
• During dinner, Tian Tian asked about Tang Wu and Lin Luoran’s backgrounds, and their arrival from Rongcheng helped the group piece together how Xu Dong’s actions had led to his detention.
• Guo Shuran’s husband urged Su Can to let the conflict end, but Su Can said the Provincial Inspection Team had arrested Xu Dong for breaking the law and that neither he nor his father could interfere.
• Tian Tian asked whether Xu Dong would be punished heavily, and Su Can told her that Xu Dong’s reckless disregard for others made trouble inevitable.
• Tian Tian realized Su Can had missed camping to pick up Tang Wu and Lin Luoran, then learned Tang Wu was his wife; Zhang Qian’s wineglass fell and shattered.

Su Can outlined a plan to acquire and modernize Huangcheng’s coal, charcoal, and coking businesses to reduce pollution and recover valuable by-products, while seeking help from Su Licheng. The chapter left Su Licheng weighing the plan against the political struggle with Xu Changcheng and considering whether Xu’s actions would bring about his downfall.

• Su Can told Lin Guangdong to establish Phoenix companies and prepare to acquire Li Jin Sheng’s charcoal factory and Huangcheng coal and coking businesses.
• Su Can explained to Li Pengyu, Lin Luoran, and Tang Wu that modernizing Huangcheng’s inefficient, polluting industries could bring visible improvements, though the project would require substantial funding.
• Su Can and Su Licheng discussed acquiring Qingshan Carbonization Industrial Company, retaining its workers, removing its managers, and relocating the plant to the planned Bonded Zone.
• Su Can asked Su Licheng to help secure municipal or commercial funding for industrial upgrades and described Li Jin Sheng’s more efficient charcoal-making machines.
• Su Licheng considered the proposed reforms and wondered whether Xu Changcheng’s efforts to suppress information about Qingshan Real Estate might cause Xu to fall.

Xu Changcheng expected his connections to protect him, but Du Wei’s confession and a provincial investigation exposed his corruption and led to his detention, while Xu Dong faced prosecution. Back with Su Can’s family, Li Pengyu recounted the collapse of Xu Dong’s planned wedding and teased Lin Luoran about Su Can calling her his wife.

• Xu Changcheng told Zhou Zhaofeng he would use Deputy Department Head Li to remove Geng Luoxiang and ease pressure on Xu Dong’s case.
• Zhou Zhaofeng secretly criticized Xu Changcheng to a woman on the phone, then Xu Changcheng learned that a provincial team would investigate Xu Dong and that Fu Xinren had been removed from the case.
• Du Wei voluntarily reported Xu Changcheng to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, accusing him of abusing his office and taking bribes, and Xu Changcheng was placed under disciplinary detention.
• Investigators exposed Xu Changcheng’s bribery, mistresses, and favors for his relatives, while Xu Dong faced prosecution and the Xu family’s influence crumbled.
• Zhou Zhaofeng visited Xu Changcheng in detention and urged him to cooperate, then Xu Changcheng asked what would happen to Xu Dong.
• Li Pengyu told Tang Wu and Lin Luoran about Xu Dong’s ruined wedding prospects and Su Can’s actions, then teased Lin Luoran about Su Can calling her his wife.

After Xu Changcheng’s downfall, Su Can met with Tian Tian, who confronted him about the end of her planned marriage to Xu Dong. Su Can advised her not to wait for Xu Dong out of pity, and Tian Tian burned his letter before asking whether Su Can would run with her the next morning.

• Huangcheng officials and residents learned that Xu Changcheng had been removed as vice mayor and placed under investigation after Du Wei’s confession exposed the Qingshan Group’s wrongdoing.
• Zhang Qian called Su Can outside, where she and Tian Tian confronted him in the family compound’s garden.
• Tian Tian described her doubts about marriage and thanked Su Can for helping prevent her from marrying Xu Dong.
• Tian Tian showed Su Can the letter Xu Dong had written from detention and asked whether she should wait for him.
• Su Can told Tian Tian not to wait out of pity, and Tian Tian burned Xu Dong’s letter.
• Tian Tian asked Su Can whether he would join her for a morning run the next day.

Su Can recruited managers to build Phoenix Industries and discussed its expansion and financing with Su Licheng, while the two considered the unresolved forces behind Xu Changcheng’s downfall. Su Licheng then outlined plans to modernize Huangcheng’s coking industry and diversify its economy, as Su Can and his companions returned to Shanghai for the new semester.

• Su Can met Lin Guangdong’s team at the airport, including Wu Jianshe, who would manage Phoenix Industries, and Lu Wei, who would oversee Phoenix Investment Holdings’ overseas operations.
• Su Can’s group inspected Li Jin Sheng’s charcoal plant and other factories and coking sites as Phoenix Industries prepared its initial acquisitions.
• Su Can urged Su Licheng to meet Wu Jianshe and Lu Wei and clarify support for a Commercial Bank loan to upgrade coking plants and reduce pollution.
• Su Can and Su Licheng questioned why Du Wei and Xu Changcheng had shielded Zhou Zhaofeng, and Su Licheng chose to focus on economic growth and environmental protection rather than pursue the wider political forces.
• Su Licheng addressed a municipal executive meeting, calling for coking-industry reform, cleaner production, stronger industrial development, and a more diverse local economy.
• Su Can, Tang Wu, Lin Luoran, and the others flew back to Shanghai as the new university semester approached.

Su Can attended a family dinner in Rongcheng where Zeng Na introduced her boyfriend, Deng Songqi, to her relatives. Su Can defended Deng Songqi against Zeng Qu anming’s criticism, but the dinner’s mood changed when Zeng Na’s former boyfriend Zhang Jing arrived.

• Zeng Na waited with Su Can outside Lion House for Deng Songqi, who arrived nervous and carrying gifts for the family.
• At dinner, Zeng Zhaoding scolded Zeng Yuan about his poor grades, and Zeng Yuan joked with Su Can about becoming a rich second-generation kid.
• Deng Songqi told Yin Shufen about his retired parents and his job at Tongxing Technology Company, but Zeng Qu anming questioned the company’s prospects.
• Su Can defended Deng Songqi, arguing that wealth and status could change and that persistent effort mattered most.
• Zeng Na and Deng Songqi grew more at ease as Su Can’s words softened the family tension, until Zhang Jing entered the restaurant with a woman and Zeng Na recognized her ex-boyfriend.

At a family meal, Liao Jun revealed that Deng Songqi was the son of Lieutenant General Deng Kai, surprising Zeng Na and her family and changing their view of him. Su Can offered Deng Songqi a chance to join Facebook, Zeng Qu anming accepted their relationship, and Su Can arranged to meet Wang Bu before leaving.

• Zhang Jing and Liao Xin arrived at the meal, where Liao Xin looked down on Zeng Na and her family while discussing her relatives' possible help with Zhang Jing's father's troubles.
• Liao Jun recognized Deng Songqi and revealed to the table that his father was Lieutenant General Deng Kai of the Provincial Military Region.
• Zeng Na was angry that Deng Songqi had hidden his family background, while Zeng Qu anming reconsidered him and told him not to mistreat Zeng Na.
• Su Can gave Deng Songqi Qiao Shuxin's business card and suggested he bring hawthorn slices to Zeng Na to make peace.
• Su Can arranged to meet Wang Bu at Grandmother's Kitchen in Tongshulin two days later.

Su Can met Wang Bu in Tongshulin and discussed Dunhuang’s plans for the commercial street, property regulation, and political tensions in Huangcheng. Their afternoon ended with Wang Bu reprimanding Liao Xingchang over his driver’s abuse of a valet, while Zhang Jing finally broke with Liao Xin and her family.

• Su Can and Wang Bu talked about Tongshulin’s rising property values, Dunhuang’s interest in the Paulownia Grove Commercial Street site, and the difficulty of dealing with Zhou Zhaofeng.
• Liao Xin complained to Liao Xingchang about a failed loan and berated Zhang Jing over his past relationship with Zeng Na.
• Liao Xingchang’s driver beat a valet after the valet scraped his Audi, and Liao Xingchang left the injured man behind as he entered the restaurant.
• Liao Xingchang recognized Wang Bu beside Su Can and tried to greet him, but Wang Bu refused his handshake and warned him to watch his methods.
• After Wang Bu and Su Can left, Zhang Jing pushed Liao Xin away and declared that he would have nothing more to do with her or the Liao family.