Recaps

Zhou Xingwen reunited with his classmates under a new homeroom teacher and helped Guo Zhen borrow money, while offering him a computer for his birthday. The chapter ended with Zhang Xin calling after Zhou as he left school, stirring memories of his old feelings for her.

• Zhou Xingwen joked with Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin before they hurried into class and met their new homeroom teacher, Li Ping.
• Zhou Xingwen found Guo Zhen waiting at the school gate, and Guo asked to borrow fifty thousand yuan by the next afternoon.
• Zhang Xiaotong brought Zhou Xingwen sixty thousand yuan, and Guo Zhen explained he wanted to study machine repair and computers.
• Zhou Xingwen offered Guo Zhen a computer as a birthday present and reassured him that he trusted him with the loan.
• Xu Jiajia questioned Zhou Xingwen about Guo Zhen, but he distracted her from learning why Guo had needed the money.
• Zhang Xin called after Zhou Xingwen as he left school, and he reflected on his long-held feelings for her.

Xingwen helped Guo Zhen arrange heart surgery for Third Brother at Beijing 301 General Hospital, bringing Guo Zhen and his chosen family closer. After Third Brother was taken for treatment, Xingwen asked Lu Wei to seek out people at Stanford working on internet development, while he and Guo Zhen spent their days roaming the city.

• Zhang Xin told Xingwen that Guo Zhen had come to borrow money because Third Brother needed heart surgery, and warned him to be careful.
• Xingwen found Guo Zhen at City Hospital and persuaded him to take Third Brother to Beijing for treatment, offering help through Zhang Xiaotong and Lu Wei.
• Lu Wei arranged a hospital appointment and an escort, and Xingwen and Guo Zhen persuaded Third Brother to accept the trip.
• Xingwen asked Lu Wei to find English speakers to visit Stanford University and contact anyone interested in developing something on the internet.
• Two days later, Third Brother left for treatment, and Xingwen and Guo Zhen spent their time exploring the city and joking about becoming CEOs.

Zhou met with Zhang Xiaotong, Lu Wei, and Cai Qing to discuss Sun Electronics’ strategy, approve investments in Stanford ventures, and plan a chip-processing factory in Sichuan. He also asked Cai Qing to find Fu Xiaofei for a future game project, then ended the meeting listening to Wong Jim’s theme song and sensing that he was nearing a turning point.

• Zhou went to Lu Wei’s office after Zhang Xiaotong called him, where he found Cai Qing back from Stanford with investment materials.
• Zhou told Zhang Xiaotong and Lu Wei to focus Sun Electronics on manufacturing and wholesaling, and approved venture funding for the Stanford projects.
• Cai Qing reported that she had bought an abandoned military factory in Sichuan for nine million; Zhou directed her to convert it into a chip-processing plant and seek cooperation with Intel.
• Zhou asked Cai Qing to find Fu Xiaofei in Mianyang and establish long-term contact with him so they could make games.
• Cai Qing said Japanese representatives were challenging the Sunsoft name, while Lu Wei explained that the company was registered as TaiYangElectric.
• Zhou played Wong Jim’s theme song from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, and he and the women listened quietly.

Zhou Xingwen helped Zhang Xiaotong support his parents after their factory suspended production, while she completed her entrance exams and Third Brother prepared for surgery in Beijing. At the testing site, Xingwen met Snow Fate manager Sun Changlu, shared ideas about business and popular culture, and left him a contact number before leaving with Xiaotong.

• Zhang Xiaotong quietly gave Zhou Xingwen money twice a month, and he passed it to his parents as their factory suspended production.
• Zhang Xiaotong urged the family to care for Third Brother before his scheduled operation in Beijing, while Zhou Xinglu avoided Zhou Xingwen after Xingwen scared him off with a group of older boys.
• Zhang Xiaotong finished her entrance exams, and Zhou Xingwen took her to a Snow Fate shop for ice cream.
• Zhou Xingwen's casual suggestion about selling frozen desserts outside testing sites inspired manager Sun Changlu to set up stalls near the exam venues.
• Zhou Xingwen discussed books and business with Sun Changlu, then gave him the editorial office number for Crimson Youth.
• Zhang Xiaotong finished her exams and left with Zhou Xingwen and his friends, telling him quietly that she would follow him too.

After exams, Zhou Xingwen turned down Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin’s summer English class invitation because he had business plans to handle. He helped Zhang Xiaotong take over Snow Fate and entrusted its expansion to Sun Changlu, then urged Liu Mingyao to focus Sun Electronics on networking and computer games.

• Zhou Xingwen finished his exam early and declined Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin’s invitation to attend summer English classes, citing work for his cousin’s magazine.
• Zhou Xingwen arranged publicity for Sun Homeland and learned that Sui Yunfei’s businesses had been defrauded, so Zhang Xiaotong bought Snow Fate back from him.
• Zhou Xingwen and Zhang Xiaotong persuaded Sun Changlu to manage Snow Fate’s expansion with a five-million budget and a ten-percent share of annual profits.
• Zhou Xingwen visited Liu Mingyao, learned that Sun Electronics’ research and development had made little progress, and encouraged him to prioritize networking and recruit programmers.
• Zhou Xingwen proposed bundling trial computer games with computers for sale, and Liu Mingyao embraced the chance to build a legacy in Chinese game development.

The narrator and Zhang Xiaotong advised Yu Chunrong to expand Sun Red Tea production, prepare for future competition, and plan a shift toward fruit juice exports. After enjoying childhood snacks outside a school, they learned that Third Brother would arrive that afternoon.

• The narrator and Zhang Xiaotong visited Yu Chunrong, who was overwhelmed by sales representatives seeking stock.
• The narrator advised Yu Chunrong to launch more tea flavors, increase production, and prepare for competition from Taiwanese brands.
• The narrator told Yu Chunrong to hire ten workers, build ties with local fruit growers, and prepare to export natural fruit juice.
• The narrator and Zhang Xiaotong left the factory and bought spicy tofu-skin and ham-sausage skewers outside a school.
• Zhang Xiaotong received a call and told the narrator that Third Brother would arrive at four thirty that afternoon.

The narrator reunited with Guo Zhen and the others, then joined them at the train station to welcome Third Brother home after his successful operation. As Third Brother arrived, the narrator reflected on his past and the responsibility that came with his newfound power, while a crowd of fierce-looking people gathered behind them.

• The narrator found Guo Zhen, Yang Yuanzhe, and Ge Jinqiu at the pool hall and told Guo Zhen that Third Brother was returning after a successful operation.
• Guo Zhen dressed carefully for the reunion, and the group headed to the station while the narrator distracted him with talk about games.
• The narrator met Zhang Xiaotong and Lu Wei at the station, and they waited together for Third Brother's train.
• The narrator reflected on his regrets and responsibilities as the train arrived, while Guo Zhen wept and Third Brother comforted him.
• Third Brother greeted the group and offered to treat them to dinner, then noticed dozens of fierce-looking people gathered behind them.

Xingwen revealed to Third Brother that he was the force behind Sun Electric Appliance City and other successful products, then planned to discuss recruiting him to help balance power within Sun Group. At Third Brother’s home, Third Brother began explaining his conflict with Old Master.

• Third Brother turned away the men who had come to welcome him, but relented when Old Cannon and Xiaobai explained how they had tried to help during his illness.
• Lu Wei arranged a welcome dinner at Mountain Wild Home, where Third Brother publicly declared Xingwen, Zhang Xiaotong, Yang Yuanzhe, and Ge Jinqiu to be his friends and family.
• In the car, Third Brother asked Xingwen who he was, and Xingwen admitted he had created Sun Electric Appliance City, Sun Red Tea, and the popular Chicken Essence.
• Xingwen told Third Brother he wanted to discuss a plan after dinner, and Third Brother agreed.
• After the dinner, Xingwen, Zhang Xiaotong, Guo Zhen, and Third Brother went to Third Brother’s home, where Third Brother began explaining why he had rejected Old Master’s associates.

Xingwen offered Third Brother ten million to start a business, and Third Brother agreed to explore controlling the South Korean smuggling route. Xingwen explained that he wanted to use profits to expand his influence while opening industries to competition, and he and Zhang Xiaotong headed home after arranging next steps.

• Third Brother revealed that his father was a powerful gang leader in Yulin County and that he had left home after his father killed his mother and later remarried.
• Xingwen offered to invest up to ten million in Third Brother within a year, asking for no returns for five years, and Third Brother agreed to join him.
• Xingwen suggested that Third Brother investigate trade through Dalian Port or the local port, including smuggling South Korean goods.
• Xingwen explained that he wanted to launch industries, withdraw once they matured, and make room for competition and wider economic growth.
• Third Brother understood that Xingwen wanted to control the South Korean smuggling route and agreed to handle the initial arrangements without taking money yet.
• Xingwen asked Third Brother to register a company and inform Lu Wei and the others about him before leaving with Zhang Xiaotong.

In the summer of 1994, the narrator’s investments in coffee futures and Malaysian plywood brought Sun Group enormous profits, and he used the windfall to plan overseas investments and launch two schools. The chapter leaves Liu Mingyao with a game proposal for a bundled home electronic pet as the group moves into gaming.

• The narrator directed the trading team to cash out quickly, and coffee futures and Malaysian plywood investments earned the company close to US$170 million and another ninety million yuan.
• The narrator gathered Lu Wei, Cai Qing, Liu Mingyao, Xu Jun, Yu Chunrong, Sun Changlu, Third Brother, and Zhang Xiaotong, then proposed opening a profitable private school and a free charitable school.
• Sun Changlu, Liu Mingyao, Lu Wei, Cai Qing, Yu Chunrong, and Xu Jun supported the school plan and offered to help; the group decided to convert old factories in Sichuan and Anhui.
• The group chose to keep publicity for the schools low-key, while Liu Mingyao asked the narrator for a game design proposal.
• The narrator gave Liu Mingyao a proposal for a home electronic pet to bundle with computers.

Zhou Xingwen oversaw the development of portable electronic pets while collecting memories with his classmates and refusing a place in Experimental Middle School. The chapter ended with him planning how to enroll in No. 13 Middle School and aim for No. 1 High School.

• The R&D team delivered a portable electronic pet, and Zhou Xingwen gave it to Zhang Xiaotong after discussing its design and taking a photo together.
• Zhou Xingwen decided to add computer connectivity and RPG features to the electronic pets while the development team continued its work.
• Zhou Xingwen asked Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin to write in his class memory book, and he recorded a reflection about the summer of 1994.
• Teacher Li offered Zhou Xingwen a place in Experimental Middle School’s accelerated class, but he said his parents wanted him to attend No. 13 Middle School.
• Zhou Xingwen told Teacher Li he also wanted No. 13 Middle School so he could pursue admission to No. 1 High School, then began planning how to get there.

Crimson Youth was suspended after rival writers complained, while Zhang Xiaotong and the narrator worked to secure its registration and Third Brother built a smuggling distribution network. With You launched successfully, and the chapter ended with Liu Mingyao arranging a meeting with Sony’s Ken Kutaragi.

• Crimson Youth was ordered to suspend publication after veteran children's writers sent a complaint to the Ministry of Culture, and Dong Qinghua worked to secure a registration number.
• The narrator learned that the magazine's suspension stemmed from competitors' interests and decided to use the break and the public attacks as publicity.
• Guo Zhen told the narrator that Third Brother was building sales channels with underworld contacts, and the narrator urged him to establish the operation gradually.
• Teacher Li visited to recruit the narrator for Experimental Middle School, but his parents refused and said he would attend No. 13 Middle School.
• The narrator launched six versions of the With You electronic pet, which sold extremely well despite the spread of imitations.
• Liu Mingyao told Zhang Xiaotong and the narrator that Sony's Ken Kutaragi wanted to meet them.

Zhou met Ken Kutaragi to discuss bringing With You to the PlayStation, then prepared a cautious cooperation proposal that avoided an exclusive deal. The chapter ended with Liu Mingyao reporting that Ting Hsin and Uni-President were entering China's tea beverage market.

• Liu Mingyao told Zhou that Ken Kutaragi wanted to meet him and With You’s creator.
• Zhou met Kutaragi at a restaurant, where they discussed the game and a possible PlayStation port.
• Zhou declined to make With You exclusive, and Liu Mingyao offered Sony third-party development and a portable version linked to the PlayStation.
• Zhou gave Liu Mingyao a draft cooperation agreement and told him to negotiate with Sony for development kits and technology.
• Liu Mingyao reported that Ting Hsin and Uni-President had paused their instant noodle rivalry and decided to enter China's tea beverage market.

Zhou Xingwen responded to Taiwanese beverage companies entering the market by advising Yu Chunrong on pricing, distribution, and a foreign-invested company front, while recruiting Third Brother to gather business intelligence. As Christmas approached, he worked on the WithYou console port and staged a threatening-looking intervention to help Zhang Xiaotong deal with Wang Bin.

• Zhou Xingwen and Zhang Xiaotong split their duties, and he advised Yu Chunrong to lower wholesale prices, expand distribution, and present the beverage factory as a foreign-invested enterprise.
• Zhou Xingwen asked Third Brother to build an intelligence network and investigate the Taiwanese brands entering the domestic market.
• Zhou Xingwen helped Liu Mingyao and Japanese developers port WithYou for the PS, aiming to release it as a major Christmas title.
• Zhang Xiaotong asked Zhou Xingwen to stop Wang Bin from pestering her with love letters, so he and Guo Zhen assembled a group outside No. 1 High School.
• Zhou Xingwen's group surrounded Wang Bin after evening study, and Guo Zhen announced they would take him aside for a heart-to-heart.

The narrator and Guo Zhen used a forged IOU and intimidation to drive Wang Bin away from Zhang Xiaotong. As Christmas Eve arrived, the narrator waited for Zhang Xiaotong after school, brought her home, and kissed her before she came upstairs.

• The narrator, Zhang Xiaotong, and Guo Zhen used forged evidence to accuse Wang Bin of owing money, while Guo Zhen and his men threatened him and ordered him to leave No. 1 High School and stop pursuing Zhang Xiaotong.
• The narrator called Zhang Xiaotong, then treated Guo Zhen and the others to seafood; Wang Bin transferred to No. 2 High School within a week and stopped harassing Zhang Xiaotong.
• As Christmas approached, the narrator’s businesses and the promotion of "WithYou" continued to grow, while an animation company discussed adapting the game.
• On Christmas Eve, the narrator waited for Zhang Xiaotong outside school, walked home with her, kissed her earlobe, and waited as she came upstairs, blushing.

On Christmas Eve, Zhou Xingwen and Zhang Xiaotong shared an intimate evening, kissed, and admitted their feelings for each other. They agreed to face the resistance to their relationship with time, leaving their future together uncertain.

• Zhou Xingwen welcomed Zhang Xiaotong to Auntie's new home and spent Christmas Eve alone with her.
• Zhang Xiaotong changed into a festive outfit and wore the earring Zhou Xingwen had given her.
• Zhou Xingwen kissed Zhang Xiaotong, realized he truly liked her, and asked her to be his girlfriend and marry him in the future.
• Zhang Xiaotong cried with happiness, then told Zhou Xingwen she believed they could be together after a few years.
• Zhou Xingwen said they should wait before taking their relationship further, then fled to the kitchen and Zhang Xiaotong followed, laughing.

Xingwen recruited Yang Yuanzhe and Ge Jinqiu to develop a detailed proposal for a new historical trading RPG, then joined Guo Zhen in asking Lu Wei to supply goods for a Russia trade venture. The chapter left them preparing to exchange Chinese goods for military supplies.

• With You became a major sales success, and SCE sought a closer partnership with Sun Electronics as Liu Mingyao basked in the company’s sudden fame.
• Xingwen invited Yang Yuanzhe, Ge Jinqiu, and Guo Zhen to dinner, revealed his role in creating With You, and asked Yang and Ge to draft a detailed proposal for New Voyage Chronicles.
• Xingwen set Yang Yuanzhe’s deadline before Spring Festival and offered to pay him as a senior planning supervisor.
• At Lu Wei’s office, Xingwen reviewed the company’s school costs and European launch plans for its electronic pet products.
• Guo Zhen told Lu Wei that he and Xingwen wanted light industrial goods and food to resell in Russia, and Xingwen explained they intended to trade for military supplies.

The narrator arranged for Third Brother to lead a risky trade mission into Russia, hoping to build ties and monopolize smuggling channels while using shared interests to protect the company from powerful officials. He also pursued negotiations with SCE and gave Yu Chunrong intelligence to guide the tea business, before turning his attention to exams.

• Lu Wei prepared goods and contacts for Third Brother's Russian trading mission, and Third Brother agreed to take it on.
• The narrator explained to Lu Wei that smuggling could create shared interests with powerful people and provide protection for the company.
• Liu Mingyao continued tense negotiations with SCE over technical support for Sun Electronics.
• The narrator gave Yu Chunrong extensive intelligence about rival companies and advised him to defend their department-store position while delaying other plans.
• The tea beverage strategy was settled, and the narrator faced exams again.

After Zhang Xiaotong gave Xingwen access to roughly seven hundred million US dollars in their funds as a Valentine’s Day gift, he encountered Shao Ke, Wang Yi, Gao Kang, and Zhang Chen at the Lantern Festival. The chapter ended with Xingwen approaching their stall and asking whether they had any Manson tapes.

• Xingwen’s parents moved into an apartment at Sun Homeland, and Zhang Xiaotong helped them get a better price.
• On Valentine’s Day and the Lantern Festival, Zhang Xiaotong gave Xingwen a wallet containing his ID and bank cards with access to about seven hundred million US dollars.
• Xingwen and Zhang Xiaotong agreed to keep their relationship private from their families for a few more years.
• Xingwen recognized Shao Ke, Wang Yi, Gao Kang, and Zhang Chen at a stall near the lantern fair and became emotional at seeing them again.
• Xingwen led Zhang Xiaotong to the stall and asked the group whether they had any Manson tapes.

Zhou Xingwen reunited with Shao Ke and the other music enthusiasts, then pushed Sun Electronics’ game development and negotiations forward while juggling schoolwork. The chapter ended with him considering how to deal with a teacher who had offended people and deciding to ask Guo Zhen for help.

• Zhou Xingwen bonded with Shao Ke, Wang Yi, Zhang Chen, and Gao Kang over alternative music, bought tapes, and exchanged contact information.
• After Spring Festival, Zhou Xingwen ordered Liu Mingyao to develop New Voyage Chronicles and recruit university students to help with preliminary work.
• Zhou Xingwen urged Liu Mingyao to travel to Japan and recruit experienced game producers, while teasing him about the trip.
• By the end of February, SCE agreed to send experienced PlayStation developers to help Sun Electronics after console sales exceeded one million.
• Zhou Xingwen outlined New Voyage Chronicles’ role as a foundation for a future online game, then returned to schoolwork and his conversations with Zhang Xiaotong.
• Zhou Xingwen remembered that his politics teacher had offended some people and decided to call Guo Zhen for help.

The narrator used Guo Zhen’s connections to get his politics teacher back to school, then decided to leave ordinary school and study at a school he would establish. He planned new schools in Yulin County and Beiguan City and went alone to say goodbye to Zhang Xin and Xu Jiajia.

• The narrator asked Guo Zhen to use his connections to frighten his troublesome homeroom teacher indirectly, and Guo Zhen agreed to help the politics teacher.
• The narrator explained to Zhang Xiaotong that he wanted to give former thugs opportunities to change their lives, and she warned that managing them could be difficult.
• After considering how school kept him from managing his other responsibilities, the narrator decided to attend his own school and planned a Public Welfare School in Anhui and a Private School in Beiguan City.
• Guo Zhen helped the politics teacher return to school, and the homeroom teacher stopped making trouble for the narrator after learning he had helped resolve the dispute.
• The narrator chose Yulin County for the new Public Welfare School and arranged to meet Zhang Xin and Xu Jiajia for a farewell meal.
• Zhang Xiaotong declined to join the meal and went with Lu Wei to consider school sites while the narrator met Zhang Xin and Xu Jiajia alone.

Zhou Xingwen said goodbye to Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin before leaving for a private school in Yulin County, then returned to Zhang Xiaotong and continued planning the school and Sun Electronics’ future. The chapter ended with Liu Mingyao leaving for Fusang to recruit game developers for Sun Electronics.

• Zhou Xingwen told Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin that he might attend a new private school in Yulin County, and the three shared a farewell dinner.
• Zhou Xingwen saw Xu Jiajia and Zhang Xin off, called Zhang Xiaotong, and returned to sleep beside her.
• Zhou Xingwen approved Zhang Xiaotong’s plan to renovate a bankrupt pencil factory into a school and focused on developing their new game.
• Zhou Xingwen instructed Liu Mingyao to learn from Sony while keeping the partnership at arm’s length and recruiting developers.
• Liu Mingyao briefed Cai Qing and departed for Fusang with cash and an entourage to recruit talent.

The narrator pursued Zhou Shichang as a future recruit while reorganizing Sun Group and expanding its business amid the tea market battle and international game industry maneuvering. He also persuaded his parents to let him attend a private school, while Liu Mingyao returned from Japan and Sun Electronics prepared Whit You’s overseas launch.

• Uni-President and Ting Hsin launched competing green teas on Qingming Festival, beginning a full-scale market battle.
• The narrator asked Cai Qing to approach Zhou Shichang, whose conflict with his current employer was expected to drive him out soon; Zhou agreed to keep Sun Group’s offer in mind but said he would finish his current work.
• The narrator assigned Cai Qing to recruit Zhou Shichang, put Lu Wei in charge of trading, and handed Electronics City to Zhong Rui; Lu Wei later sold shares for a profit of more than 50 million yuan.
• Liu Mingyao contacted Matsuno of Quest and Mikami of Capcom in Japan, alarming both companies, then returned to Shenyang with several Japanese people.
• The narrator asked his parents to let him attend a private school, and Zhang Xiaotong helped persuade them to agree.
• The narrator prepared for Whit You’s English-language launch as Liu Mingyao returned to oversee it, while he suspected Dongda was preparing to pursue its own plans.

Zhou Xingwen recruited Zhou Shichang to lead Sun Group’s tea beverage campaign, then advised Japanese game producers on their projects. Third Brother returned with news of a large weapons stockpile and the dangers of expanding their smuggling operation, leaving Zhou Xingwen worried about the consequences.

• Zhou Xingwen met Zhou Shichang after his exams, presented a market report, and persuaded him to join Sun Group as a consultant before taking charge of its sales campaign.
• Zhou Xingwen reviewed Japanese producers’ game proposals and suggested adding proactive combat to Mikami’s game and movement-based interaction to Mizuguchi Tetsu’s music game.
• Third Brother warned Zhou Xingwen that someone was investigating him, and Zhou reflected on Liu Mingyao’s family connections and their partnership.
• Third Brother returned and described his cross-border trade with Russian gangs, explaining that his group had accumulated enough weapons to arm a small corps.
• Third Brother judged that the smuggling operation had achieved its initial goal but that expanding it would require far more strength, while Zhou Xingwen worried about the legal risks of their weapons stockpile.

Zhou Xingwen and Third Brother agreed to build their organization carefully, while Sun Group reviewed its expanding businesses and assigned Zhou Shichang to help develop its tea lines. The chapter ends with Shao Ke calling Zhou Xingwen to invite him to the Secondhand Market.

• Third Brother showed Zhou Xingwen and Guo Zhen his hidden arsenal, and Guo Zhen committed to joining him despite the risks.
• Zhou Xingwen and Third Brother agreed to expand quietly, with few casualties, after Third Brother explained that the Old Master supported his plans.
• Third Brother began organizing the expansion, while Zhou Xingwen arranged offshore companies to protect Zhang Xiaotong's privacy.
• Zhou Xingwen introduced Zhou Shichang at the Roundtable Meeting, where the group reviewed its businesses and heard Zhou Shichang propose new tea marketing strategies.
• Zhou Xingwen assigned Zhou Shichang to work with Yu Chunrong and Xu Jun, and Zhang Xiaotong announced the group's dividends.
• Shao Ke called Zhou Xingwen from the Secondhand Market, and Zhou Xingwen agreed to meet him there.