Three-Body Recap, Plot, Synopsis

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Three-Body Synopsis

In 2007, there was an unusual disturbance in the basic science of the Earth, which led to shock and worry in the scientific field.

Scientists committing suicide, countdowns to near-miracles, secretive ”Science Boundary", and the mysterious "Three-Body" game ......

Nanoscientist Wang Miao is taken to the Joint Operations Centre by police officer Shi Qiang and infiltrates an organisation called "Science Boundary" to assist in the investigation.

In the mist, Wang Miao comes into contact with an organization called ETO and discovers that its commander-in-chief is actually Ye Wenjie, the mother of Yang Dong. Yang Dong is a scientist who died by suicide.

As the ETO and the Operations Centre play games with each other, Wang Miao and Shi Qiang gradually determine that the world in the game "Three-Body" really exists.

And the source of all the events is a struggle for survival between two civilisations.

With the combined efforts of the Joint Operations Centre and the scientists, Wang Miao and Shi Qiang have strengthened their faith and rekindled their hope, leading people to continue to prepare for fighting the imminent invasion of the “Three-Body" in the future.

Three-Body Recap

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Episode 1 Recap

In the summer of 2007, as preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games were underway, renowned physicist Yang Dong was found dead in her bedroom. Police determined she had committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills, as there were no signs of foul play. Shortly after, the military took over the scene.

Captain Shi Qiang of the Public Security Bureau remained in his car playing a game on his phone, while his team was informed that they needed to "invite" several scientists to a meeting. The recent string of scientist suicides, including Yang Dong's, had alarmed the scientific community. On the television program "Interact with Science," biologist Pan Han, known for predicting an ecological disaster from genetically modified crops, described the over-development of technology as a disease.

He compared its explosive growth to cancer, arguing that it would ultimately destroy its host, humanity, and that scientists were merely the first to recognize this bleak reality. Later, Shi Qiang and a military officer visited the home of nanomaterials expert Wang Miao. Wang immediately stated that smoking was not allowed in his apartment. Shi Qiang questioned him about his contact with an organization called the Frontiers of Science.

Wang described it as a legitimate and influential international academic group, questioning why he shouldn't associate with it. When Wang asserted his right to privacy and tried to end the conversation, Shi Qiang physically blocked the door. The military officer intervened, politely informing Wang of a mandatory high-level meeting that afternoon and confirming that his other appointments had already been rescheduled. After verifying their credentials, Wang agreed to attend.

As he closed the door, he overheard the officers outside complaining about Shi Qiang's crude behavior and questioning his presence in the Battle Command Center. That afternoon, Wang arrived at the Battle Command Center, a requisitioned art museum. Shi Qiang apologized for his earlier bluntness and gave Wang a brief tour. He asked about Wang’s research, musing about whether his nanomaterial could be used to slice a truck in half.

Wang confirmed a line one-hundredth the thickness of a human hair could do so, but added that if one is determined, any object can become a weapon. Shi Qiang agreed, citing a murder case he investigated where the weapon was a frozen fish. In the meeting, General Chang Weisi introduced international military liaisons, including Colonel Stanton from the North American Combat Zone and Colonel Mike from the European Combat Zone.

Shi Qiang whispered to Wang that their goal was to gather intelligence without sharing any. General Chang announced that an "enemy" offensive against top scientists was escalating, leading to a sharp increase in suicides worldwide. Wang was stunned to see Yang Dong's name on the list of victims. The General explained that most of the scientists, in their final moments, had come to believe that physics itself did not exist.

At Wang's request, Shi Qiang procured Yang Dong’s suicide note from her fiancé, Dr. Ding Yi. Yang Dong’s note read: "All evidence points to a single conclusion: physics has never existed, and will never exist. I know what I'm doing is irresponsible, but I have no choice." The discussion turned to the Frontiers of Science, an organization linked to most of the deceased scientists.

Ding Yi explained that the group sought to determine if there was a fundamental boundary to scientific inquiry, a limit they believed humanity was now encountering. General Chang then spoke with Wang privately, asking him to infiltrate the Frontiers of Science as an informant. Wang explained that he had been invited to their gatherings by a physicist named Shen Yufei but had declined to join, as his work in applied physics differed from their focus on fundamental theory.

He repeatedly refused the General's request, citing his busy schedule. Shi Qiang interjected, crudely questioning Wang’s fortitude and stating he didn't want to see anyone else die. Enraged, Wang declared he never wanted to see Shi Qiang again. After dismissing Shi Qiang, the General explained that Shi was a veteran anti-terrorism expert whose experience was vital. Wang questioned why the military was involved, and Chang cryptically replied that a war was beginning.

He asserted that humanity's long period of peace had been an "accident" that was now over, urging a shaken Wang to prepare himself. A flashback to ten months earlier reveals the origin of Yang Dong's despair. At a high-energy particle accelerator base where she was the lead scientist, she was inexplicably shown the results of an upcoming collider experiment before it had even run. The data was anomalous.

When the actual experiment commenced, the live results were just as chaotic and nonsensical, confirming an impossibility. As she grappled with this, a mysterious voice spoke to her, using the metaphor of an insect on a pane of glass, unable to pass through because it cannot perceive the true nature of the barrier. This experience shattered her belief in the laws of physics. Back in the present, General Chang considered recruiting Dr. Ding Yi to infiltrate the Frontiers of Science.

However, Shi Qiang argued that the organization must have had a specific reason for approaching Wang Miao, speculating it was connected to his research on mass-producing "nano flying blades." Elsewhere, a disembodied voice offered to help an unknown party "get the world," stating its own civilization needed outside help to solve its problems. The episode concludes as a car arrives to pick up Dr. Ding Yi for a meeting.

Episode 2 Recap

Wang Miao met with Ding Yi, who, seeing Wang Miao's wedding ring, reminisced about buying a house for his intended marriage to Yang Dong, lamenting that he had thought she would finally embrace a domestic life. Ding Yi described Yang Dong as a distant star whose light felt cold. Wang Miao then shared that representatives from the Battle Command Center had approached him that afternoon, proposing he join the Frontiers of Science organization.

Relieved that Wang Miao had declined, Ding Yi dismissed the organization's members as "arrogant idiots," explaining that their own investigations should have revealed two individuals completely unrelated to the Frontiers of Science, with Yang Dong being one of them. When Wang Miao asked why Yang Dong took her own life, Ding Yi simply stated, "Because physics doesn't exist anymore." Skeptical, Wang Miao countered that if physics were truly gone, a book released from one's hand should fly upwards, not fall.

Ding Yi wryly agreed, musing that historical figures like Newton and Einstein should be floating in the sky. He then invited Wang Miao to play pool, a game he and Yang Dong cherished because it reminded them of particle collisions in an accelerator. Ding Yi had Wang Miao perform five collision experiments, reorienting the pool table by ninety degrees after each of the first four shots.

Each of the five shots yielded the same result: the black ball consistently went into the corner pocket. Ding Yi then challenged Wang Miao to explain this outcome using the language of physics. Wang Miao obliged, noting that the consistent mass of the balls, their relative positions, the velocity of the cue ball, and the resulting momentum exchange all proved the uniformity of physical laws across time and space—the very bedrock of all scientific discovery.

Ding Yi then asked Wang Miao to imagine an alternate scenario where the results were impossible: the black ball veering off course, flying into the air, or even accelerating out of the solar system. Ding Yi confirmed that such impossible results had indeed occurred in Yang Dong's accelerator experiments. Her first three data sets, recorded at different times, were all inconsistent with each other and with theoretical predictions.

While Wang Miao noted that abnormal data can be a normal part of experimentation, Ding Yi insisted that "this time, it's different." He recounted how, during the investigation into her mentor Professor Munphy's death, Yang Dong was shown faxes she had sent him. She was horrified to discover that the timestamps indicated Munphy had received data identical to hers before her experiments were even complete.

Wang Miao declared this "absolutely impossible" within known physics, and Ding Yi agreed, adding that they only believe it's impossible because they still believe in physics. If such an event were true, the uniformity of physical laws would be shattered, rendering physics nonexistent and precipitating a catastrophe for theoretical research. This, he explained, is why some people desperately cling to theories like the "shooter and farmer" hypotheses promoted by the Frontiers of Science.

He warned that such unprovable theories, while offering hope, could also lead to despair, as it did for Yang Dong. The phrase "physics doesn't exist anymore" haunted Wang Miao, who even visualized pool balls defying gravity on his drive home. He later met Shen Yufei at a large manor, a private residence provided by a Frontiers of Science member for their discussions. Wang Miao admitted he still couldn't fully accept their theories, despite finding them appealing.

Shen Yufei explained that the name "Frontiers of Science" reflects their belief that doubt and the desire to push past boundaries are the most captivating parts of any subject. Wang Miao then presented the "shooter hypothesis and the farmer hypothesis" to the gathered members. In the shooter hypothesis, two-dimensional beings on a target might mistake a marksman's random shots—which appear every ten centimeters—for a fundamental law of their universe.

In the farmer hypothesis, a turkey scientist might declare a universal law that food arrives at 11 a. m. every day, only to be slaughtered on Thanksgiving when the farmer comes at the usual time. Wang Miao concluded that humanity could be like these misguided scientists, implying that our perceived physical laws might have inherent boundaries. An emotional scientist in the audience declared that while he might accept the theory, he could never accept being a "turkey scientist."

Wang Miao voiced his concern that such a belief system could be psychologically "killing." Shen Yufei chillingly retorted that the turkeys were, in fact, "meant to die on Thanksgiving Day." Leaving the meeting, Wang Miao confronted Shi Qiang, accusing him of orchestrating his recent encounters to push him toward investigating the Frontiers of Science. Shi Qiang admitted to the manipulation and asked what Wang Miao had learned.

He stated that while forensics confirmed Yang Dong's death was a suicide, he was more interested in the "why." He confessed to deliberately focusing Wang Miao on Yang Dong and revealed that her funeral was in two days, knowing Wang Miao would attend. In a separate conversation, Shi Qiang had assured his superior, Chang Weisi, that he would solve the case by following Wang Miao, while also pressuring Chang to resolve his pending suspension.

At Yang Dong's funeral, Wang Miao met her mother, Ye Wenjie. He introduced himself as a friend and nanotechnology researcher working on a super-strength material, which Ye Wenjie praised as audacious. He offered to give her a photograph of Yang Dong he had taken recently, but as he pulled it out, he noticed a strange anomaly and quickly retracted it, blaming a printing glitch. From a distance, Shi Qiang noted the long conversation.

Later, at home, Wang Miao examined the photo and discovered a series of numbers. A call to his photo developer confirmed the numbers were also on the negative, which was impossible for his antique, fully mechanical Leica M2 camera that lacked any data imprinting function. Wang Miao realized the numbers were a countdown. The photo he almost gave Ye Wenjie showed 1,194 hours remaining.

He took a new photo of his living room, and the countdown on it read 1,187 hours—just over 49 days. He was left to wonder what would happen when the time ran out.

Episode 3 Recap

Wang Miao finds his world plunged into disarray by a relentless countdown that appears only to him. His focus is momentarily broken by the arrival of his wife, Li Yao, and daughter, Doudou. Wang Miao, who usually restricts access to his camera, unexpectedly asks Li Yao to take pictures for him. When she attempts to photograph Doudou, he hastily stops her, instructing her to photograph anything else, fearing the mysterious countdown might manifest on his daughter.

After developing the film himself, Wang Miao is relieved to find no trace of the countdown. Later, however, Li Yao, concerned by his erratic behavior and pale complexion, discovers other photos with numbers imprinted on them. Wang Miao stops her from touching the prints, claiming he is investigating how the numbers appeared.

He explains the numbers were present when the film was developed and appeared in real-time, postulating a powerful, penetrating gamma ray as the source but admitting such precision is technologically impossible. Desperate, he contacts Professor Wu, who dismisses the phenomenon as scientifically impossible unless it originated from a "paranormal power." Driven by urgency, Wang Miao borrows a digital camera from his neighbor, who notes his unwell appearance.

He then enlists Li Yao and Doudou to help him take more photos, despite Li Yao's growing concern for his mental state. They playfully swap cameras, repeatedly photographing a plush toy. However, every picture Wang Miao takes, regardless of the camera, unfailingly displays the countdown. This chilling consistency leads him to the stark realization: "It's me. I'm the target."

Following this epiphany, Wang Miao immediately calls someone named Shen, asking them to investigate any anomalies in Yang Dong's activities before her suicide. While driving, Wang Miao is disoriented by a blinding flash from a passing truck. When he opens his eyes, the countdown is vividly present in his vision, forcing him to brake abruptly. Shi Qiang, who has been covertly following him, pulls up and demands to know what he saw.

Wang Miao denies seeing anything, offering a vague excuse about a headlight. Shi Qiang states he is there to protect him, but Wang Miao, still in shock and unwilling to reveal the countdown, rebuffs the offer, asserting that as a researcher with no power or money, he requires no protection. Overwhelmed, Wang Miao stops his car again and stumbles into the road. The numbers are transparent and ethereal, yet they weigh heavily on his mind.

Back home, he confides in Li Yao that he is "seeing things," even with his eyes closed. She suggests he visit her old classmate, Zhou Nan, an ophthalmologist. Wang Miao questions if his condition is beyond ophthalmology, but Li Yao assures him they will investigate systematically, starting with his eyes and then neurology. As he lies in bed, the continuing countdown prompts him to ask, "Where will we be 49 days later?" to which she responds, "Still here, no?"

The next day, Zhou Nan diagnoses him with Muscae volitantes, or floaters, a common eye condition. When Wang Miao clarifies he is seeing a precise string of numbers, Zhou Nan attributes it to exhaustion and stress, suggesting a vacation. He recounts a case of psychogenic blindness to emphasize the mind's impact on vision, but Wang Miao feels misunderstood.

Back home, Li Yao relays the doctor's assessment, but Wang Miao insists his situation is different because what the doctor claims "doesn't exist" is undeniably real to him. He tries to explain his fear with an analogy of humanity as turkeys on a farm run by a superior civilization, but Li Yao dismisses the theory. Later that night, Wang Miao calls Shen Yufei for a meeting, and she sends him an address.

Upon arriving, he notices an RX8620, a costly piece of equipment also present at his own research center. He finds Shen Yufei in her study and details his experience with the countdown. She unexpectedly asks about his nanoscience project and then instructs him to "stop your research." Stunned, Wang Miao protests that it is a crucial national project, but she simply replies, "Just try it." He refuses, declaring he will not accept being a "turkey scientist." Shen Yufei then reveals that many of the scholars who committed suicide had ties to the "Frontiers of Science," hinting that its work is "more fundamental" than he can imagine.

Episode 4 Recap

Restless and sleepless for two days, Wang Miao is tormented by a countdown only he can see. He dismisses a colleague's suggestion to see a psychiatrist, reflecting on a recent Frontiers of Science gathering. He now understands why scientists, when faced with phenomena that defy explanation, instinctively turn to the "farmer" and "shooter" hypotheses—true comprehension, he believes, only comes from direct experience.

Driven by this, he heads to his lab late at night, as news reports detail a series of mysterious lab explosions and scientist deaths. Wang Miao awakens in his lab, where his assistant, Yu Zheng, praises his innovative work on the Flying Blade nanomaterial, though it still cannot be mass-produced. The assistant reports that the reaction chamber is malfunctioning and requires a shutdown for maintenance, which Wang Miao had previously resisted.

Now confronted by his own inexplicable visions, Wang Miao agrees to halt the experiment immediately. As the process stops, the countdown in his vision vanishes. Enraged to see the countdown still on his computer, he smashes the monitor and furiously calls Shen Yufei, demanding to know the countdown's purpose. He argues that his applied physics research is not significant enough to warrant such attention and challenges her "shooters and farmers" to demonstrate power beyond human tricks like holograms.

Shen Yufei calmly replies that the worthiness of attention is not for them to decide, stating her intent is to help him avoid Yang Dong's fate. Accepting his challenge, she sends him a website containing Morse code and tells him that if he restarts his research in three days, the countdown will resume.

She instructs him to find a location to observe the cosmic microwave background on the 14th, promising that from 1 to 5 AM, the entire universe will "flicker" for him. Wang Miao is sitting dejectedly in his office when Shi Qiang arrives, revealing he knows about the countdown. Wang Miao lies, claiming it's a benign eye condition called Muscae volitantes. Shi Qiang offers a clue to encourage cooperation: Yang Dong also halted her experiment right before her suicide.

He points out a disturbing pattern—all the scientists who took their own lives had been in contact with Shen Yufei, and now she is in contact with Wang Miao. He urges Wang Miao to accept his protection, but Wang Miao vehemently refuses, arguing that Shi Qiang has no proof and would be powerless to stop Shen Yufei if she truly intended to harm him. Wang Miao visits Ye Wenjie at her home.

Observing his troubled state, Ye advises him not to dwell on his worries, sharing that her daughter Yang Dong was never suited for marriage or motherhood, as they belonged to a different world from her own. In Yang Dong's room, Ye shows Wang Miao a photo of them in front of an old antenna and a birch-bark notebook with Yang Dong's childhood drawings.

She explains that Yang Dong had a unique mind, finding complex formulas "beautiful" and interpreting Bach's music as a giant building an intricate house. Wang Miao tries to reassure her, but Ye insists her upbringing was a failure. Yang Dong's world, she laments, was built solely on "pure ethereal theories"; when those theories collapsed with the idea that "Physics doesn't exist," she had nothing left to live for.

Before he leaves, Wang Miao asks where he can observe the cosmic microwave background. Ye suggests two observatories and offers to contact her student, Sha Ruishan, who works at the one in the Beijing suburbs. Noting Wang Miao's pale complexion, she gives him some ginseng for his health. Shi Qiang is waiting outside Ye Wenjie's home. He tells Wang Miao he finds Ye Wenjie’s calm demeanor unsettling for a grieving mother.

Unable to find a taxi, Wang Miao reluctantly accepts a ride. During the drive, Shi Qiang reveals a critical discovery: nine more scientists, an entire astronomical observation team in Helsinki, recently committed suicide after observing solar anomalies and trying to publicize them. He then returns to Yang Dong, explaining that while there was no overt connection to Shen Yufei, he found surveillance footage of Shen giving Yang Dong a file folder in a cafe eight months prior.

The meeting occurred just five days before Yang Dong’s suicide, and the folder was never found among her belongings. Later at home, a visibly trembling Wang Miao accidentally drops and shatters a glass, startling his daughter, Doudou. She reminds him of a school lecture on Friday and asks him to attend, which he promises to try to do. He reflects on the "Frontiers of Science" discussions, musing that fear stems from ignorance.

When Doudou asks if Yang Dong was afraid, Wang Miao explains that her world consisted solely of physics, making the notion that "Physics doesn't exist" the most terrifying prospect imaginable for her.

Episode 5 Recap

Mu Xing, a new media reporter, collided with Shi Qiang's motorcycle. She apologized, at first claiming she was uninsured but offering to pay for repairs, though she later admitted she did have an insurance policy. Recognizing Shi Qiang from a recent news report about his suspension, Mu Xing revealed she was also investigating the recent scientist suicides and offered to cooperate, claiming to have helpful information.

Shi Qiang, however, dismissed her offer, returned her voice recorder, and stated she would get no information from him before leaving. Wang Miao traveled to the Miyun Observatory and met Sha Ruishan, a student of Ye Wenjie. Sha Ruishan showed him the vast array of observation instruments, explaining that interference from pagers and mobile communications had rendered most of them "deaf ears."

He clarified that his own project, which uses satellite data to create a map of the cosmic microwave background, was less affected. When Wang Miao requested to observe a one to five percent fluctuation in the cosmic background radiation, Sha Ruishan was perplexed. He explained that such a massive fluctuation was physically impossible, stating it would mean the universe was "flickering like a faulty lightbulb."

He showed Wang Miao the stable "green line" representing the cosmic background radiation, betting it would remain unchanged until the end of the world. Despite his skepticism, he agreed to set up the observation for 1:00 AM as Ye Wenjie had instructed. At exactly 1:00 AM, the green line on the monitor turned red.

In disbelief, Sha Ruishan checked data from two other satellites and even called the Ürümqi observatory, only to confirm the impossible was happening: the universe was flickering. Wang Miao had him print the anomalous waveforms and began interpreting them as Morse code. He deciphered a countdown: "1108 hours remaining." He explained that after an initial period, the flicker would resume daily from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM, declaring, "the entire universe will flicker for you."

Sha Ruishan, still reeling, asked Wang Miao to share the truth when the time was right. Wang Miao explained that the cosmic microwave background, normally invisible, could be seen with 3K glasses, which compress its wavelength into visible red light. He asked Sha Ruishan to arrange for a pair to be brought to the Beijing Planetarium before 5:00 AM, but advised him not to investigate the phenomenon further, as it would yield no results.

Wang Miao sped to the Beijing Planetarium and collected the 3K glasses. The moment he put them on, his vision was flooded with a crimson glow that resolved into a massive, imposing countdown directly in front of him. Overwhelmed, he tore the glasses off and frantically called Shen Yufei, hysterically demanding to know what would happen at the end of the countdown. Her only reply was, "I don't know."

Shi Qiang found a distraught Wang Miao, remarking that unlike Yang Dong, Wang Miao "wouldn't dare to kill himself," and insisted they go for breakfast. Over food and drinks, Wang Miao confessed everything: the countdown in his vision and Shen Yufei's seeming ability to make the universe flicker. Shi Qiang dismissed it all as "bullshit," asserting his "ultimate theorem" that anything sufficiently strange must be man-made trickery.

He crudely suggested that even if science failed, humanity could revert to an agrarian or primitive society as their ancestors did. He urged Wang Miao to "stand straight and not collapse," advising that the more "they" tried to scare him, the less he should give in. Since Wang Miao was being targeted, Shi Qiang vowed he wouldn't let him die easily. Shi Qiang's words gave Wang Miao a new resolve.

He ate, slept, and handed over the photos of the flicker phenomenon to Shi Qiang. His spirits lifted, he was even seen smiling and sharing jokes with his daughter, Doudou. At Doudou's request, he gave a lecture at her school, using a tennis ball and an iron ball to demonstrate that physics relies on experimentation, not just imagination. He encouraged the children to persevere in their pursuit of truth, citing historical figures like Bruno and Galileo.

Back in his lab, Wang Miao announced the completion of maintenance and ordered, "Restart the experiment." As the experiment began, the countdown reappeared in his vision, but this time, he faced it without fear. Meanwhile, Dr. Ding Yi was conducting experiments with a particle accelerator, frustrated by inconsistent results that failed to match her calculations. A male colleague tried to console her, playfully suggesting that accepting his marriage proposal might make her experiments run smoothly.

Dr. Ding explained the core problem: each inaccuracy was making their theoretical models "more complex, vague, and uncertain," rendering experimental verification nearly impossible. When her colleague suggested she simply "measure more times," Dr. Ding wryly retorted that in that case, he would have to "propose more times."

Episode 6 Recap

Shi Qiang presents Chang Weisi with a series of photographs taken by Wang Miao, each displaying a mysterious countdown. He explains that while the countdown initially appeared only in the photos, it has now progressed to where Wang Miao sees it directly in his vision.

Shi Qiang recounts a story about a superstitious former colleague to illustrate his belief that strange events always have a cause, but admits this countdown is exceptionally bizarre, especially since it disappeared when Wang Miao halted his nano experiment. He reveals that Shen Yufei was the one who told Wang Miao to stop his research. Puzzled by the countdown's origin and what happens when it reaches zero, Chang Weisi assigns Shi Qiang the mission to find answers.

Shi Qiang asserts that Shen Yufei's significant investment in Wang Miao makes him their crucial entry point. As Shi Qiang departs, Chang Weisi takes a cigarette from his pack, leaving only a single one, a nod to the superstition and a wish for success. After consulting Professor Peng about the possibility of the universe flickering, Chang Weisi convenes a multi-national meeting.

He reports a new, unprecedented phenomenon in the Asian Combat Zone: a scientist, Wang Miao, is seeing a countdown projected directly onto his retina. Shi Qiang then approaches Wang Miao, insisting that all recent strange events are linked to Shen Yufei and the Frontiers of Science, and proposes that Wang Miao go undercover within the organization.

Wang Miao, now disillusioned, shares his new perspective: he believes the group is trying to force him to accept that humanity is like a flock of turkeys on a farm, oblivious to their true fate. Shi Qiang dismisses this, calling himself a "bodyguard turkey" who will protect Wang Miao. He reveals a custom-made timer strapped to his chest, declaring that if Wang Miao's countdown reaches zero, his will as well.

The two men then synchronize their timers, solidifying their shared mission. With their countdowns synchronized, Shi Qiang questions Wang Miao about the progress of his "Flying Blade" experiment. Wang Miao explains that his team is using a resource-intensive method and is trying to find a more efficient substitute, but the experiment is not yet complete. Shi Qiang optimistically suggests the countdown might signal the experiment's success.

Wang Miao then asks if anyone else who had contact with Shen Yufei, besides those who committed suicide, is still alive. Shi Qiang confirms that Yang Dong's mother, Ye Wenjie, is alive and seems to be living a normal life.

He speculates briefly if Ye Wenjie might also see the countdown but dismisses it, reasoning that since she helped Wang Miao get access to the observatory for his cosmic radiation observation, she would have likely revealed it if she saw it too. Chang Weisi provides Shi Qiang with a spacious museum warehouse as his new office and introduces Xu Bingbing, a CID agent whose efficiency is "worth ten agents."

Shi Qiang, unimpressed, demands the ten specialists he was promised and humorously declares Xu Bingbing his "hostage." He tests her by assigning a massive workload: clean the office immaculately and retrieve extensive information on Ye Wenjie, a reporter named Mu Xing, and a list of scientists and their families, all by day's end. Xu calmly accepts. Meanwhile, Wang Miao's daughter, Doudou, expresses her wish for him to stay home more.

Wang Miao visits Ye Wenjie, who vaguely recalls Shen Yufei as another nanotechnology researcher. During their talk, Wang Miao asks about the "universe flicker." Ye Wenjie, an astrophysicist, calmly explains that scientific panic is a recurring event in history, citing the persecution of figures like Copernicus and Bruno for theories now considered basic facts. She suggests that problems that seem immense today may seem commonplace in the future.

Xu Bingbing demonstrates her remarkable competence by quickly delivering all the requested files, impressing Shi Qiang. She then plans to investigate Sha Ruishan, Ye Wenjie's student, who witnessed the flicker with Wang Miao. Wang Miao tells Shi Qiang that his conversation with Ye Wenjie has calmed him, making him more receptive to the idea that humanity might simply be unaware of its true nature, like Schrödinger's cat.

He clarifies that he sees a "third possibility" beyond living or dead: that physics itself has ceased to exist. He relays Ye Wenjie's nuanced view: "Physics has not ceased to exist; it's just that the physics we know might not exist." Sha Ruishan later explains to Shi Qiang the impossibly massive scale required to artificially create the universe flicker—a screen 300,000 kilometers wide, 150,000 kilometers from Earth—concluding it's a feat achievable only by mythology, not science.

In his new office, Shi Qiang guides Wang Miao through Ye Wenjie's tragic past. Her father, the scientist Ye Zhetai, was denounced by her own younger sister, Ye Wenxue. During a brutal public struggle session, his wife, Shao Lin, joined their daughter in disavowing him, a betrayal that shattered him before his eventual suicide.

Wang Miao now understands Ye Wenjie’s calm reaction to her own daughter’s death, theorizing that she may see it as a form of release from the suffering caused by the perceived "non-existence of physics." Shi Qiang, however, finds her composure unsettling, believing her deep familial loss should have fostered a greater attachment to life and that her resilience must stem from a more complex reason.

He points out her contradictory statements about having little contact with Shen Yufei while seeming to align with the Frontiers of Science's philosophy. As they talk, Shen Yufei receives an order from her "Lord": eliminate Wang Miao if he continues his research. Shen argues against the command, proposing they try to "rope him in" and convert him to their cause instead.

Episode 7 Recap

After carefully considering the nature of the countdown and the universe flicker, Wang Miao proposed a rational explanation, suggesting that a massive screen could be set up in space to project the flicker, and similarly, a tiny screen could be placed near his pupils to project the countdown. He acknowledged that everything beyond scientific cognition is initially dismissed as pseudoscience.

Concluding that Shen Yufei’s actions were designed to make him feel like a "turkey scientist," Wang Miao expressed a strong desire to know the "farm" he was in and the identity of the "farmer," asking if joining the Frontiers of Science would reveal these answers. Shen Yufei confirmed his eligibility and later provided him with an address. Meanwhile, Pan Han viewed Wang Miao's decision to continue his experiments as a failure on Shen Yufei's part, deeming her efforts meaningless.

Shen Yufei disagreed, asserting that her actions held more significance than his. Wang Miao visited the address, a temple that differed from ordinary ones as it didn't collect offerings. Its few visitors were mostly academics and researchers seeking solutions to unsolved problems. There, he met Professor Han, a former particle physicist who now taught and joked about becoming a monk named "Daydream," a nod to how all research can feel like wishful thinking when it hits a dead end.

Shen Yufei eventually appeared and revealed that Professor Murphy's last stop before his suicide was this very temple. His curiosity now outweighing his fear, Wang Miao pressed her to reveal the "farmer" and the meaning of the countdown. Shen Yufei called what he saw a "miracle," warning that the truth behind it might not be acceptable to everyone. She then gave him a website, inviting him to personally explore the "farmer's world."

At a new media seminar, Mu Xing, an independent media professional, eagerly approached Pan Han, a renowned biologist and environmentalist. She expressed admiration for his "Pastoral China" project, an experimental community that uniquely transformed urban waste into necessities within the city itself. Pan Han, reluctant to engage, stated that environmentalism was for public welfare, not for show, and deferred their conversation. Mu Xing persisted, using the pretense of returning materials he had dropped to obtain his contact information.

Unbeknownst to them, Xu Bingbing was tracking Mu Xing and reported the encounter, including Pan Han's apparent disinterest, to Shi Qiang. Wang Miao accessed the website, discovering it was a game called "Three-Body" that required a V-suit. Shi Qiang immediately sought reimbursement for the expensive equipment from Chang Weisi, emphasizing its necessity for his "work" concerning the Frontiers of Science and boasting that he would beat the game.

As they donned the V-suits, Wang Miao found he could not remove the countdown from his vision. Shi Qiang joked that the game world might be filled with "turkeys," referencing Wang's own analogy, while recalling Shen Yufei's description of it as a world of the "shooter and the farmer." Upon entering the game, Wang Miao, now named Hairen, found himself in a desolate, cold land. Stone-like objects fell from the sky, forming the characters "Three-Body."

Shi Qiang's game ID was Stew. Wang Miao soon met King Wen of Zhou and his follower, who explained they were in the Warring States Period and that both he and King Zhou of Shang were still alive. King Wen carried a heavy sandglass to keep track of time, as the sun's behavior during a "Chaotic Era" was too erratic to be a reliable guide.

To Wang Miao's surprise, what he thought was dawn was actually dusk, and the sun soon set. Shi Qiang was separated and, after admitting to other players he was a newbie, encountered a group who suggested burning dehydrated bodies for fuel—an act he disdained as something only King Zhou of Shang would do. After a blue-hued sun rose and set almost immediately, two days passed without light. Then, a new sun appeared.

While it initially provided warmth, its heat rapidly intensified into a dangerous threat, forcing Wang Miao and King Wen to find shelter. The extreme conditions caused King Wen's follower to dehydrate. Wang Miao learned that dehydration was a survival mechanism in the Chaotic Era, allowing bodies to be stored like "dried mushrooms" and rehydrated later.

Concerned, he went to find Shi Qiang, only to discover him being tricked into dehydrating by fellow travelers who intended to use his body as food or fuel. Wang Miao intervened in a frantic struggle. Ripping off his VR headset, the real Shi Qiang saw Wang Miao's avatar fighting fiercely but was unable to re-enter the game. Shi Qiang's character was lost, his dehydrated body taken by others—a common fate for those who couldn't adapt.

Wang Miao continued his journey with King Wen. A month passed, marked by alternating periods of extreme heat and cold. They then spotted two large, disk-shaped "Flying Stars," which King Wen said signaled the arrival of a "Stable Era." He explained that the game's objective was to use intellect to understand the sun's patterns, as civilization's survival depended on predicting the Stable Eras. However, he admitted this was thought to be impossible, leading to many failed attempts at rebuilding civilization.

When Wang Miao argued the sun had no pattern, King Wen insisted he simply hadn't found the "world's origin" and revealed his plan to present King Zhou of Shang with an "accurate calendar." Approaching Zhaoge, they heard the sound of massive pendulums and saw thick-walled, pyramid-like structures built to survive the extreme temperatures.

There, they met King Zhou of Shang and Fu Xi, who theorized that the sun was a god and the pendulums were a tool to hypnotize it into a long, stable sleep—a method King Zhou deemed ineffective. King Wen, addressed as Ji Chang, then presented his own theory: the world operated on a balance of Yin and Yang, which could be predicted using "the code of the universe."

At King Zhou's command, he forecasted a precise series of chaotic and stable periods, culminating in a golden age that would last three years and nine months. After his recent predictions were verified, a delighted King Zhou ordered the mass rehydration of his entire kingdom. People began to revive, some with limbs missing from long-term storage, and were told to enjoy the coming beautiful Stable Era.

Episode 8 Recap

Eight nights into a new Chaotic Era, the sun has vanished. Inside the Three-Body game, Ji Chang (King Wen of Zhou) observes three flying stars, a sign of an impending brutal winter capable of pulverizing stone. In response, King Zhou of Shang orders everyone to dehydrate for survival. Wang Miao continues playing through the event, witnessing a single night that lasts forty-eight years.

As the temperature drops to absolute zero, the atmosphere freezes and falls as snow of dry ice and solid nitrogen, obliterating Civilization No. 137, which had reached the Warring States Period. Though the civilization is destroyed, the game announces its "seed" remains, ready to restart. Forced out of the game, Wang Miao is deeply shaken by the complete annihilation of a civilization.

A bewildered Shi Qiang asks how he "died," and Wang Miao explains that during dehydration, his body would have shriveled into a piece of human skin. Shi Qiang suggests they re-enter the game to defeat King Zhou, but Wang Miao clarifies that, according to King Wen, the game's true objective is not combat but deciphering the sun's erratic movements. Wang Miao and Shi Qiang discuss the game's alarming realism.

Wang Miao highlights details like the scientifically accurate composition of the multi-layered snow and the buried pyramid, suggesting the game's purpose transcends entertainment. As they prepare to play again, they are interrupted by a call for a meeting. Meanwhile, journalist Mu Xing sarcastically confronts Shi Qiang about a fabricated hit-and-run, probing him for information about the Frontiers of Science. Shi Qiang dismisses her and instructs his subordinate, Xu Bingbing, to continue investigating Mu Xing’s motives.

Concurrently, Sha Ruishan, a student of Professor Ye, summons Wang Miao to the observatory. Obsessed with the universe flicker they previously witnessed, Sha has meticulously recreated every detail of that day, including his meals and a minor injury, hoping to trigger the event again. He shows Wang Miao the radio telescopes, complaining about ground interference. Wang Miao states with certainty that the universe will not flicker.

When the countdown ends with no result, a distraught Sha bizarrely blames the failure on Wang Miao's black socks. Sha passionately argues they were "chosen," like Newton, by a divine power, and that he wants to understand this phenomenon, which he compares to God parting the Red Sea. Wang Miao, whose vision still shows the faint image of a countdown, coldly replies that he has no such desire.

At the war room, General Chang Weisi proposes placing top scientists under surveillance and implementing protective measures if they are contacted by the Frontiers of Science, which he deems a critical step to preserve intellectual assets. Later, Shi Qiang presents Wang Miao with a detailed report on the Three-Body game compiled by Xu Bingbing, who played all night. Xu explains that while they observed the random, unpredictable shifts between extreme cold and heat, they could not decipher a pattern.

She notes how "mire fish" survive by burrowing into the mud, a method similar to lungfish dormancy but impossible for humans. Both agree the game's incredible detail is abnormal; Xu theorizes that unlike normal games that add details for immersion, Three-Body compresses immense amounts of information, hinting at a hidden truth. Unable to find the game's developer, Xu suggests consulting top domestic game companies.

Shi Qiang reveals the game has existed for a while, popular among scientists and intellectuals, including many Frontiers of Science members. However, none of the deceased scientists, like Yang Dong, had played it. Xu Bingbing speculates the game is a test for Wang Miao's admission into the organization. Later, Shen Yufei praises Wang Miao's progress and invites him to another gathering to discuss the "shooter and farmer" parable.

Meanwhile, General Chang provides Shi Qiang with a list of top international scientists, noting more recent suicides. He tasks Shi Qiang and Wang Miao with identifying those who have had contact with Shen Yufei for protection. Shi Qiang theorizes that those who engage with the Frontiers of Science either end up cooperating or, unable to handle the truth, commit suicide.

With help from Shi Qiang and Xu Bingbing, Wang Miao identifies several scientists from the gathering, including quantum optics specialist Pan Jianzhong, fluid dynamics expert Cheng Yuan, quantum dynamics expert Zhai Yiming, and atmospheric physicist Zhang Jiuchao. In a separate interview, Mu Xing discusses environmental crises with Pan Jianzhong, who laments that people ignore problems that don't directly threaten them and suggests hope lies in individuals asking what they can do.

Based on the intelligence, General Chang’s team places nine scientists with close ties to Shen Yufei under protective surveillance. Shortly after, one of them, Zhai Yiming, experiences a sudden vision impairment, describing it as flashing "sparks and fireworks" without any numbers. He is immediately hospitalized. Mu Xing, who was tipped off, is caught by Shi Qiang while covertly filming the scene. She accuses the authorities of detaining scientists and claims it's connected to the suicides.

At the police station, Shi Qiang interrogates her about her source, suggesting she is being manipulated to create panic, but she insists she is spreading the truth. After being treated, Zhai Yiming confirms his vision has returned to normal and that a doctor diagnosed his episode as a case of severe eye floaters.

Episode 9 Recap

Wang Miao's daily life was made convenient by the countdown he saw, even when waiting for a red light. Upon returning home, he found his daughter, Doudou, struggling with a science experiment: how to fit an egg into a bottle. Wang Miao lit a piece of paper inside the bottle, and the pressure change caused the egg to smoothly slip in. Doudou was amazed, exclaiming that it was like magic.

Wang Miao explained the science behind it, emphasizing that physics is not magic. Meanwhile, Xu Bingbing reported to Chang Weisi and Shi Qiang that she had successfully handled reporter Mu Xing. She recounted how she simply sat in front of Mu Xing in silence for nearly three hours, causing Mu Xing to break down.

Xu Bingbing then told Mu Xing the matter was a state secret to secure her cooperation, even allowing her to continue her investigation on the condition she did not disclose classified information. Mu Xing had already obtained a video revealing all eight safe houses for the scientists.

This baffled Chang Weisi and Shi Qiang, as he had selected and numbered the houses himself, informing the escorting SWAT teams of their specific locations only at the last possible moment, making a leak seem impossible. Shi Qiang's investigation of Hu Xiaoxi, Mu Xing’s source, was surprisingly easy, as Hu Xiaoxi arrogantly and voluntarily surrendered. At the Combat Center, Hu Xiaoxi mocked Chang Weisi and his team, questioning if they even knew who their enemy was.

He displayed extensive knowledge, identifying the command center as the Asian Combat Zone and referencing its European and North American counterparts. Chang Weisi revealed Hu's background as a former internet cafe administrator who became a sci-fi writer, recently winning a large prize for a story about a terrifying future. Hu brazenly claimed to be Chang's enemy, boasting he knew the safe house locations before Chang's orders were even given.

However, Chang Weisi countered that Hu had simply followed instructions from an email and a brief, eleven-second phone call. When Hu attempted to tell a condescending story about a farmer and turkeys, Chang cut him off, dismissing him as an unworthy pawn. Shi Qiang complained that dealing with Hu Xiaoxi was a waste of time and expressed concern that Wang Miao was now exposed to the Frontiers of Science, as he had provided the list of scientists.

In a separate conversation, Shen Yufei praised Wang Miao's performance in the Three-Body game to Pan Han, noting that his progress surpassed their own, suggesting he could grasp the "Lord's" will more quickly. Pan Han remained dismissive, stating Wang Miao was not one of them. Feeling the pressure on Chang Weisi from the security leak, Shi Qiang decided to take a more proactive approach.

He resolved to accompany Wang Miao to meet Shen Yufei, planning to be direct while also ensuring Wang Miao's protection. Pan Han later met with Mu Xing, revealing that he had orchestrated her receiving the information from Hu Xiaoxi. He gave her classified documents on industrial pollution, framing his actions as a biologist's duty and explaining that a powerful union of like-minded people could help her achieve her goals.

Mu Xing realized Pan Han was far more than a simple biologist. Wang Miao arranged to speak with Shen Yufei, who instructed him to meet her inside the Three-Body game. They met on a train in Civilization No. 139, which had advanced to the Steam Age during a long Stable Era. Shi Qiang, disoriented by the game's non-sequential train car numbers, eventually joined them.

Shen Yufei stated their gatherings were always open and offered to share what she knew, but their conversation was cut short as the civilization was abruptly destroyed by the appearance of two suns. Wang Miao and Shi Qiang immediately exited the game to find Shen Yufei in the real world. Arriving at Shen Yufei's home, they found the door open and Shen Yufei waiting. Shi Qiang questioned her about the scientists' suicides.

Shen Yufei explained she had shown Professor Munphy the truth by providing him with the results of Yang Dong's collider experiment "before" it was run. The data showed three wildly inconsistent outcomes with no discernible pattern, a result that should be impossible to predict. She stated that neither applied nor fundamental physicists could calculate such a thing, suggesting physics as they knew it did not exist. She attributed this knowledge to the "Lord," who knows all.

Shen Yufei claimed Munphy committed suicide because his scientific faith was shattered by accepting this truth. Regarding Yang Dong, Shen Yufei professed not to understand her suicide. She noted that Yang Dong had seemed to accept the experimental failure, changed jobs, and even considered marriage. Shi Qiang pressed her about a file she gave Yang Dong five days before her death. Shen Yufei claimed it was merely a recommendation letter for a research institute.

She found it incomprehensible that Yang Dong, ten months after the experiment, would end her life with a note declaring, "Physics has never existed, and will never exist." Shen Yufei concluded that she only revealed the truth; the scientists' subsequent choices were their own.

Episode 10 Recap

Shi Qiang mused that Shen Yufei's group resembled a pyramid scheme. He concluded that the most significant development in their investigation was the paradox of Yang Dong's death: she hadn't taken her own life when expected, but rather when she appeared to be recovering. Shi Qiang believed understanding this period was crucial and insisted on speaking with Ding Yi again.

When Wang Miao expressed discomfort with repeatedly approaching Ding Yi about his deceased fiancée, Shi Qiang assigned Xu Bingbing to gather details about Yang Dong's activities between the experiment's failure and her suicide. Xu Bingbing returned with information, noting that while marriage is typically important for women, Yang Dong hadn't even chosen her own wedding invitations. She usually disliked shopping and only bought black and white clothing. Wang Miao, however, recalled seeing a red dress at Ding Yi's home.

Xu Bingbing confirmed she had also seen several bright, fashionable dresses with their tags still on, which Yang Dong and Ding Yi had bought together. This transformation, from a woman solely focused on physics to one decorating a new home and preparing for a wedding, struck Wang Miao as abnormal. Ding Yi had recalled a day they spent shopping for furniture where Yang Dong never once mentioned physics, a rare occurrence.

She seemed relaxed, even contemplating a tub for flower petal baths. Shi Qiang suggested this change might signify Yang Dong embracing life after her contact with Shen Yufei, but Wang Miao maintained that for Yang Dong, this behavior was not a sign of recovery but a strange deviation. Wang Miao grew impatient with the investigation. Shi Qiang laid out his conclusion: after interacting with Shen Yufei, Yang Dong seemed to abandon scientific research, choosing to become a "carefree" housewife.

Yet, he questioned why someone so carefree would then commit suicide, especially after accepting a new job offer. He pointed out that Yang Dong had not contacted Shen Yufei during her last three days—the critical period when she likely wrote her suicide note. Wang Miao, having experienced the countdown and universe flicker himself, understood despair but couldn't fathom a shock so profound it would lead to suicide.

Shi Qiang also found it unusual that Yang Dong's mother, Ye Wenjie, had never mentioned any changes in her daughter, despite being a retired academic with ample time. He urged Wang Miao to speak with Ye Wenjie. Frustrated that this was consuming his research time, Wang Miao angrily left, but Shi Qiang sarcastically retorted, "If physics never existed, what is there to research?" Later, Shi Qiang and Chang Weisi discussed their findings.

Chang Weisi admitted that Wang Miao's description of the universe flicker, like a giant movie screen in the sky, was hard to refute except for the fact that humans lack the technology to create it. Taking a logical leap, Shi Qiang suggested that Shen Yufei might be an alien.

When informed of this, Wang Miao declared he didn't care if the force behind everything was aliens or ghosts; he was resolved to understand its true nature, form, power, and purpose, believing this to be of the utmost value. Wang Miao later visited Tsinghua University to give a lecture at Ye Wenjie’s request. Afterward, he mentioned having seen her old files and noted that parts remained classified.

Acknowledging it was a special, memorable period, Ye Wenjie began to recount her experience as an "educated youth" assigned to the Greater Khingan Mountains. There, she met Bai Mulin, a reporter for the "Great Production News". As two of the few educated people in the area, they connected over their shared perspective. Bai Mulin expressed his dismay at the extensive logging, viewing it as environmental destruction.

He shared an English copy of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring", which he was translating for an internal-reference report, and revealed his plan to write to the central leadership about the harmful practices. Ye Wenjie secretly kept the book, deeply moved and shocked by its contents. One day, her work crew was sent to cut a firebreak near Radar Peak, a forbidden military zone named for a large parabolic antenna that would occasionally appear on its summit.

Ye Wenjie learned of the strange phenomena associated with it: animals grew anxious, birds scattered, and people experienced dizziness, nausea, and hair loss. Locals also spoke of the weather changing from snow to rain, clear skies turning stormy, and strange lights appearing at night when the antenna was active. When Ye Wenjie went to return the book, Bai Mulin showed her the letter he had written to the central leadership.

After she offered some suggestions for improvement, he decided to re-copy it, but his hands trembled from operating a chainsaw. Ye Wenjie offered to transcribe it for him in her neat handwriting. Bai lamented that a talented astrophysicist like her was wasted in such a place, but Ye Wenjie privately considered herself fortunate to be there. In the quiet hut, with the scratching of her pen and the scent of sawdust, she felt a sense of relaxation and warmth she hadn't experienced since her father's death.

Episode 11 Recap

The quiet of the hut, punctuated by the soft scratching of a pen and the scent of pine sawdust, offered Ye Wenjie a rare sense of peace and warmth she hadn't experienced since her father's death. As Bai Mulin prepared to leave, Ye Wenjie offered to wash his dirty clothes, but he politely declined, urging her to rest after her strenuous work, which he noted was as demanding as the men's labor.

He promised to report her situation to the higher-ups, but Ye Wenjie declined his help, stating she found her current surroundings very quiet. When Bai Mulin probed if she was trying to escape something, Ye Wenjie offered no response. Two days later, Bai Mulin departed, leaving Ye Wenjie to her continuous, demanding labor. Soon after, Ye Wenjie was urgently summoned back to the company headquarters, a comrade warning her that she was in serious trouble.

Upon arrival, she found Director Zhang of the political department awaiting her. He sternly presented a letter signed by "Revolutionary Masses" and asked if she had written it. After an initial denial, faced with proof of her handwriting, she admitted to copying it for someone else. When pressed, she reluctantly identified the person as Bai Mulin, the reporter who had recently visited.

Director Zhang revealed they had already investigated Bai Mulin, who claimed he had only mailed the letter for Ye Wenjie, professing complete ignorance of its contents. A stunned Ye Wenjie could hardly believe his words, but her disbelief was shattered when Bai Mulin himself was brought in and confirmed that she was responsible for the letter. Director Zhang then produced a Chinese translation of "Silent Spring," calling it a "negative example" used for internal criticism.

He explained that the book was viewed as having a profoundly negative impact, promoting an "idealist conception of history" and "doomsday" theories under the guise of environmentalism to justify the "corruption and degeneration of capitalism." Ye Wenjie stated the book was not hers and that Bai Mulin had lent it to her. Enraged, Bai Mulin grabbed the book and struck her on the head with it, vehemently accusing her of stealing it.

He claimed his possession of the book was legal as he was an assigned translator. While admitting some fault for not safeguarding it, he escalated his accusations, claiming she stole it while he was working and would have blamed him entirely if he hadn't been present to defend himself. Visibly disappointed and numb, Ye Wenjie was ordered to be taken to the division headquarters for further interrogation until she confessed.

Shivering from the cold in a spartan room, Ye Wenjie found a glimmer of hope when Cheng Lihua, a military representative from the court's military control commission, arrived. Cheng Lihua immediately ordered a stove and offered Ye Wenjie hot water, speaking with a sympathetic tone. She presented a document, urging Ye Wenjie to sign it to prove her stance and resolve her "ideological issues."

To persuade her, Cheng Lihua pointed to the last page, noting that Ye Wenjie's own sister, Ye Wenxue, had already signed the document, which contained statements about their deceased father. Ye Wenjie refused, stating that since her father was dead and she had no knowledge of the events described, she could not sign. Cheng Lihua then laid out the choices: cooperation, leading to a study class and a return to the tree farm, or stubbornness, resulting in severe consequences.

Despite Cheng Lihua's persistent appeals for her well-being, Ye Wenjie remained resolute, finally declaring, "The gravity of reality is too heavy. I won't sign it." Years later, an older Ye Wenjie reflected on these events, stating they were "in the past." When asked by her interlocutor, Wang, if she hated Bai Mulin, she mused that his betrayal was likely a choice forced by the immense political pressure of the era, though still not a "right choice."

This led her to ponder the concepts of "right and wrong," a question that "Silent Spring" had prompted her to consider. Using the example of pesticide use, she explained that what appears justified from a human perspective is destructive from nature's standpoint, illustrating that right and wrong are often a matter of perspective. After that tumultuous period, she left the northern tree farm.

She concluded that from a universal scale, definitions of right and wrong can change, and with age, one realizes that events once perceived as catastrophic ultimately hold little significance. Often, she explained, when one feels pushed to desperation, a turning point is closer than imagined.

Episode 12 Recap

Shi Qiang remained puzzled by Ye Wenjie's past, particularly her lack of resentment towards those who harmed her, and tasked his team with further investigation into a mysterious place Ye Wenjie had mentioned visiting after a near-fatal experience. Despite their diligent efforts, little progress was made. Simultaneously, concerns escalated as multiple combat zones reported a high number of senior intellectuals engaged in the immersive Three-Body game, a development Chang Weisi found alarming.

Shi Qiang's initial disinterest in Ye Wenjie turned into keen curiosity as he discovered that multiple, seemingly unrelated leads converged on her: she was the mother of Yang Dong, whose suicide was under investigation; she had connections to Shen Yufei within the "Frontiers of Science"; and as an astrophysicist, she paradoxically entertained the notion that physics as it's understood might not exist. This confluence of clues compelled Shi Qiang to delve deeper into her past.

He urgently pressed Chang Weisi to declassify parts of Ye Wenjie's old files, which revealed her participation decades ago in a crucial national defense project at the Red Coast Base, a facility that housed an enormous, unprecedented antenna. Shi Qiang speculated it might have been used for information warfare against Western nations and emphasized the urgency of obtaining these records. Meanwhile, discussions among the investigators centered on the Three-Body game.

They believed that uncovering its underlying patterns required extensive professional knowledge, making a scientist the ideal player. While Shi Qiang found the challenge of recruiting such a person daunting, Wang Miao thought of Sha Ruishan, whom he deemed "the chosen one." Wang Miao and Shi Qiang then visited Sha Ruishan, who was preoccupied with a model he built based on the universe flicker phenomenon, intending to scale it into a massive cosmic light display.

Despite Sha Ruishan's initial dismissiveness towards Shi Qiang, he was intrigued by the game Wang Miao introduced. As a self-proclaimed "professional player," Sha Ruishan confidently asserted he could master it quickly, requesting forty virtual reality suits for his team to "raid dungeons"—a number Shi Qiang negotiated down to five. Separately, Pan Han provided journalist Mu Xing with sensitive materials exposing industrial pollution.

When she questioned his motives, Pan Han explained that the collective efforts of people like them were making it impossible for such truths to be concealed. He clarified that their goal was not to foster opposition to technology itself, but to reveal the dangers inherent in its application by simply presenting the facts. Just then, Wang Miao's wife, Li Yao, called with a hospital emergency, asking him to pick up their daughter, Doudou.

Prioritizing the investigation, Shi Qiang volunteered to get Doudou so Wang Miao could continue with the game, but Wang Miao sternly warned him not to smoke in front of his daughter. Wang Miao, known as Hairen in the game, re-entered the Three-Body world to find a new civilization, this time with Aztec-style pyramids. He met a man named Qin Guli, who directed him to an observatory where he encountered Mozi.

Mozi acknowledged Hairen's previous visit with King Wen but stated his disagreement with King Wen's theories. He recounted the efforts of past civilizations, including Civilization No. 139 which reached the Steam Age, and mentioned Confucius, who developed a "system of rites" for the universe. Confucius had predicted a five-year Stable Era that surprisingly lasted only a month.

Mozi then recounted a shocking event: during Confucius's era, the sun rose to its zenith, suddenly extinguished, and plunged the world into extreme cold, freezing Confucius into an icy statue. A "flying star" then appeared in the sun's place. Mozi distinguished his own practical, observational approach from what he considered the mysticism of others. Meanwhile, Shi Qiang treated Doudou to foods her parents forbade, like stewed giblets and ice cream.

A news report featuring Mu Xing highlighted severe environmental pollution from a pharmaceutical factory, leading to the birth of deformed infants. Shi Qiang tried to call Mu Xing, but the call was curtly handled by her colleague and went nowhere. Mozi elaborated on his "universe model theory," describing the universe as a double-shelled sphere floating in a sea of fire. Wang Miao logged out to build a computer simulation of this model, enlisting Xu Bingbing's help.

He explained that light from the external "sea of fire" enters a large hole in the outer shell, illuminates the space between the shells, and then passes through small holes in the inner shell to create the stars. The sun is the projection of the large outer hole onto the inner shell.

Mozi's theory accounted for the sun's changing size and brightness by suggesting the outer shell contracts or expands with the intensity of the fire sea, but Wang Miao noted it failed to explain the "flying stars." While Wang Miao worked, Shi Qiang offered to take Doudou roller skating, expressing regret for not allowing his own son the same freedom.

Back in the game, Mozi showed Wang Miao his "universe machine," a physical model of his theory that he claimed could function as a precise "calendar" to predict cosmic events. He excitedly announced that his machine predicted an imminent four-year Stable Era, prompting the civilization's emperor to issue an "order to rehydrate." Wang Miao accelerated the game's time, and the Stable Era began, seemingly making Mozi the game's ultimate victor.

However, Wang Miao remained in the game and continued to accelerate time. At his request, Mozi provided a smoked filter to observe the sun, revealing it had a core. Despite Mozi's unwavering faith in his prediction, the stable period ended catastrophically. The "golden earth" appeared on the horizon, which was in fact the sun expanding to engulf the planet. As calls to "dehydrate" echoed, Mozi insisted it was unnecessary, convinced his machine's prediction was infallible.

But his Civilization No. 141, which had reached the Eastern Han Period, was consumed by fire. The civilization was destroyed, leaving only its "seed" to restart in the unpredictable world. Wang Miao logged out to find Doudou eating ice cream. Shi Qiang defended himself by stating he hadn't smoked and admitted to taking her roller skating. Exasperated, Wang Miao took his car keys to drive Doudou home.

Later, Shi Qiang, Wang Miao, and other investigators met with Sha Ruishan, who was now in awe of the game. They discussed the core objective: predicting Stable Eras to survive. Wang Miao explained that this was akin to ancient civilizations developing calendars to predict seasons, but infinitely more difficult as the Stable and Chaotic Eras occurred randomly, like earthquakes.

He recounted the failed attempts of in-game figures like King Wen, Confucius, and Mozi, attributing their failures to the Three-Body sun's fundamentally different nature. He described how the sun could jump from dawn to noon in a second or extinguish instantly, suggesting it could move at incredible speeds. Wang Miao highlighted a crucial clue from Mozi: when the sun extinguished in Confucius's era, a "flying star" appeared.

He theorized that this flying star was always present but was obscured by the sun's intense light. Using a flashlight to demonstrate, he showed how the "flying star" would only become visible once the "sun" was turned off. He concluded that there was a vital connection between the sun and the flying stars that required further observation to understand.

Episode 13 Recap

Wang Miao began to understand the intricacies of the Three-Body game, realizing that the erratic movements of the sun within it mirrored the inexplicable universe flicker. He concluded that if he could decipher the sun's pattern, he might comprehend the universe flicker, confirming Shen Yufei's earlier assertion that the answers were indeed within the game.

Shi Qiang, observing that someone named Sha Ruishan had made significant discoveries after only one game session due to his astrophysics background, suggested that an astrophysicist would be a valuable asset to Wang Miao. He specifically pointed to Ye Wenjie, noting her leisure time and potential willingness to converse.

Shi Qiang admitted his underlying motive for connecting Wang Miao with Ye Wenjie was his lingering suspicion about her calm demeanor following Yang Dong's death; he felt her reaction was unnaturally composed. Despite the late hour, Wang Miao contacted Ye Wenjie, scheduling a time to consult with her. Meanwhile, Shi Qiang sought out a reporter named Mu Xing. He observed that her reports often steered public opinion towards distrusting scientific advancements.

Mu Xing's stance was that her work simply revealed truth, exposing the hazards of technology while enjoying its conveniences, but Shi Qiang accused her of biased reporting, suggesting she incited animosity towards science itself rather than just its negative consequences. He pressed her about her true affiliations, warning her that he would eventually uncover who she and her group truly were. Mu Xing, defiant, invited him to investigate.

Concurrently, a chilling report emerged about an explosion in a laboratory that killed four top domestic scientists, including a Nobel laureate. Shen Yufei, enraged, confronted Pan Han, viewing these deaths as the enemy's increasingly bold massacre, especially given the victims' potential to advance Three-Body research. Pan Han, however, believed both he and Shen Yufei should follow the "Lord's will."

Their conversation revealed a fundamental disagreement: Pan Han, representing a faction of the Adventists, saw themselves as the "irreconcilable enemies" of those who sought to prevent the Lord's arrival to punish sinners, while Shen Yufei accused him of misusing the Lord's power against humanity and vowed to stop them. Later, Wang Miao met with Ye Wenjie. He asked her about "flying stars," and she promptly described them as stars with unstable rotational and orbital periods.

Impressed, Wang Miao invited her to his office. Ye Wenjie then recommended two old books, "Stellar Structure and Evolution" and "Stellar Movements and the Structure of the Universe," which might be difficult to find in their original editions. Wang Miao brought up their previous conversation, asking more about the mysterious place she went to after her time with the Construction Corps. Ye Wenjie revealed the place was called Red Coast.

She mentioned knowing of a book about Red Coast written by the developer of its self-interpretation system, but dismissed many of its contents as inaccurate. She confided that at the time, she believed her life was completely over, fearing she might even die in that isolated room.

In her recollection, Ye Wenjie was brought to Red Coast by helicopter in freezing weather, waking to find two men arguing: Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng and Chief Engineer Yang Weining of Red Coast Base.

They had seen her paper, "Possible Energy Interfaces in the Solar Radiation Zone and Their Reflective Properties," and gone to great lengths to arrange her transfer, even against some resistance from the military control commission, including Cheng Lihua, who advocated for a severe sentence for Ye Wenjie. Yang Weining, a former graduate student of Ye Wenjie's father, was a kind man, though Ye Wenjie had only briefly met him once at her home.

She noted that without the urgent need for personnel at Red Coast and her specialized knowledge, Yang Weining wouldn't have been able to secure her transfer, yet he still undertook significant personal risk to do so. Upon arriving at Red Coast Base in a snowstorm, bundled in thick clothing, Ye Wenjie was informed of the facility's nature: a top-secret national defense scientific research institution.

Due to her past, once she entered, it was likely she would never be able to leave. Yang Weining urged her to consider her decision carefully, as the helicopter would not depart for another three hours. However, Ye Wenjie accepted without hesitation, expressing her willingness to remain in the isolated place for the rest of her life, considering it the most desirable place besides a hypothetical afterlife. Wang Miao then questioned the purpose of such a highly classified base.

Ye Wenjie explained that Red Coast was a massive weapons research project, potentially even more significant than the atomic or hydrogen bombs. When offered to join Yang Weining in the transmission group, she chose to wait outside, despite the cold, wrapped in Yang Weining's borrowed hat. From there, she witnessed a transmission: birds flying overhead suddenly plummeted to the ground, dead. She experienced an internal heat and an itching sensation on her skin, consistent with a staff member's similar reports.

She observed the presence of a giant antenna and a powerful electric field. Despite Red Coast's high-security classification, the restrictions on her daily life, such as the leave-of-absence approval process, had little impact. She found her initial time at Red Coast to be genuinely relaxing, often climbing to the peak to watch the sunrise. This was the very place she had looked up to from the northern tree farm. She grew to love it, feeling she could stay there forever.

Episode 14 Recap

Upon her arrival at the Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie was not given a permanent role but instead assigned various technical tasks under the watchful eye of a security guard. When asked about her past, she acknowledged having made a "serious mistake." One day, while cleaning a machine, Ye Wenjie keenly observed a malfunction.

Chief Engineer Yang Weining confirmed her finding and instructed her to address it, noting her impressive experimental knowledge and strong observation abilities, which contrasted sharply with her father's purely theoretical approach. Ye Wenjie explained that her mentor had instilled in her the importance of practical skills in astrophysics, and her self-taught knowledge in electronic engineering and computer science had enabled her to identify the glitch.

Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng, upon learning of Ye Wenjie's expertise, promptly placed her in charge of maintenance. Ye later reflected that this was her first substantial assignment at Red Coast, bringing a sense of relief and purpose. Ye Wenjie often worked and ate alone, taking on extra tasks when a colleague, Liu, feigned illness to shirk his duties.

During the 151st regular transmission, a series of malfunctions occurred, including an amplifier unit failure and a computer magnetic core storage error, leading to a weakening signal. Liu quickly identified the faulty device as No. 1731. Later, Ye Wenjie discovered that Liu had documented the problem and its solution in his maintenance report, but someone had deliberately crossed it out. She then witnessed Liu arguing with Yang Weining, accusing Yang of trying to make him "take the fall."

When Ye Wenjie told Yang that Liu was more professional than he appeared and that it would be a shame to dismiss him, Yang revealed the truth: Liu was intentionally feigning incompetence to force his own transfer. Yang explained that a top-level project like Red Coast offered no further opportunities for scientific achievements, and a core position meant a lifelong commitment to the remote location. Liu, a brilliant technician, had orchestrated his own removal.

Yang warned Ye Wenjie to stick to her maintenance duties and not meddle in other affairs. Despite Yang Weining's reservations, Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng advocated for Ye Wenjie to replace Liu. Lei highlighted Ye Wenjie's comprehensive expertise, responsibility, and desire for improvement, deeming her a highly suitable candidate. Yang, however, strongly objected, citing Ye Wenjie's past mistakes and insisting she was "unfit to enter the core of Red Coast."

Lei dismissed these concerns, and Ye Wenjie ultimately assumed Liu's core position in the Transmission Department. Following a successful 152nd regular transmission, Yang reiterated his caution to Ye Wenjie to steer clear of matters outside her purview. Lei Zhicheng extended his trust to Ye Wenjie, granting her normal access to the reference room and explaining that the computer control section of the transmission system would be progressively opened to her.

As Ye Wenjie gained deeper insight, she questioned the system's outdated equipment, noting the computers were primitive, still used magnetic core memory and paper tape input, had a maximum uptime of only 15 hours, and possessed a low-precision targeting system. Lei acknowledged these limitations but emphasized their mission to overcome all obstacles and create miracles. After Ye Wenjie had been in the Transmission Department for 43 days, Lei asked for her overall assessment of the system.

She cautiously replied that she was only responsible for maintenance. Lei then disclosed that the Red Coast system was essentially a "giant microwave oven" designed to destroy enemy satellites by emitting high-power microwave radiation, capable of burning out their electronic components. He explained its unique modulation for penetrating enemy shielding and cited recent successful attacks on two target satellites. He revealed the system's capacity to strike key enemy assets, including KH-8, the upcoming KH-9, and potentially the Skylab station.

Just as he finished, Yang Weining interrupted and asked Ye to leave. He then confronted Lei, questioning the wisdom of such a disclosure and reaffirming his belief that Ye was "problematic." Lei defended his decision, praising Ye's ability and emphasizing the need to achieve results for the country. Yang expressed his own frustration, arguing that Lei, who had brought him to the base, still did not trust him. Lei responded grimly that sometimes, trust can lead one into an abyss.

The very next day, Ye Wenjie was transferred out of the Transmission Department. She later recounted this to Wang Miao, clarifying that Lei Zhicheng's decision to share Red Coast's supposed purpose was a personal gesture of trust for which she was profoundly grateful at the time. She described Yang Weining as a cautious intellectual typical of his era, but it was Lei's frank military demeanor she initially admired.

However, she eventually discovered that everything Lei had told her about Red Coast's purpose was a lie. The true reason for its construction was far more significant and astonishing than he had let on, though she could not yet reveal it to Wang Miao. Wang Miao relayed these conversations to Shi Qiang, who immediately noted the shared surname "Yang" between Yang Weining and Yang Dong—a connection Wang had also noticed but was too hesitant to ask about.

Wang mentioned making some progress in the game but noted that Ye Wenjie claimed to know little about "flying stars." Shi Qiang then presented Wang Miao with a scientific paper, revealing its author was "Wenjie Ye, Tsinghua University"—Yang Dong's mother. Wang then recalled that Ye had recommended the book "Stellar Structure and Evolution" as a reference for her paper.

Shi Qiang's suspicion of Ye Wenjie intensified; he found her reaction to her daughter's death overly calm and her life seemingly unchanged. He listed the reasons for his doubt: she accepted the "turkey" theory, helped Wang observe the cosmic flicker, encouraged him to be like Copernicus, was an astrophysicist who had written on the very subject of "flying stars," and had a fondness for observing the sun at Red Coast. Yet, her apparent dissociation from the "Frontiers of Science" made her, in Shi Qiang's view, the most significant remaining mystery.

Episode 15 Recap

Wang Miao was engrossed in a book when his daughter, Doudou, posed a puzzling question about lamps failing on a road. While initially stumped, Doudou’s innocent remark about it being daytime from 8 AM to 4 PM, and therefore no lamps being on, sparked a profound realization in Wang Miao. He recognized that seemingly complex problems often hide all crucial information within them, much like Copernicus pointed out the obvious while others focused on minute calculations.

Inspired, Wang Miao decided to adopt this "Copernican" approach to his own dilemmas. Later, Wang Miao, having changed his in-game identity to Copernicus, logged back into the "Three-Body" game. He found himself in a chaotic historical setting, specifically the European Middle Ages, where he encountered Pope Gregory, Aristotle, and Galileo. Aristotle, dismissive of Mozi's contributions, explained that he and Galileo rigorously deduced a model of the universe through observation and experimentation.

Wang Miao, in turn, humbly admitted that his own model, while based on observation, still couldn't precisely predict the sun's movements or generate a reliable calendar. He then revealed the core problem: their world was afflicted by the "three-body problem," involving three suns whose unpredictable interactions caused alternating "Stable Eras" and "Chaotic Eras." During a Stable Era, the planet orbits one sun, but during a Chaotic Era, other suns’ gravitational pull causes unstable wandering.

Enraged, Pope Gregory ordered Wang Miao burned to death. Wang Miao desperately tried to clarify that everyone had witnessed the three suns, though often mistaking the other two for "flying stars"—distant stars with unstable cycles of revolution and rotation. Galileo vehemently disagreed, pointing out the lack of scientific basis for such a claim.

Wang Miao elaborated on a unique optical phenomenon, similar to a "polarization" effect that made distant suns appear as mere "flying stars" due to the planet's atmosphere, which had confused previous observers. Leonardo da Vinci, present at the scene, recalled a vague historical record of a civilization destroyed by two suns.

Wang Miao then explained that the simultaneous appearance of three suns, a "Tri-solar day," was the most devastating catastrophe, turning the planet's surface into a molten furnace and leaving no trace of the perished civilization. Unmoved, the Pope again condemned him to be burned. As he was being condemned, Wang Miao furiously challenged the Pope, referencing Giordano Bruno as another whose beliefs were deemed wrong, and accusing them of being unable to accept ideas beyond their comprehension.

He declared that he would log back in, only to be informed that the game's system had captured his retinal scan, preventing his return to that identity. Before the sentence could be fully carried out, the world suddenly plunged into chaos: three suns appeared simultaneously, and civilization No. 183 was utterly destroyed. However, because Wang Miao successfully unveiled the fundamental structure of the "Three-Body" universe, he was advanced to the second level of the game.

Explaining his breakthrough to Shi Qiang, Wang Miao asserted that the game's very name, "Three-Body", held the answer. He elaborated that the "Three-Body" world featured three suns, with "flying stars" being merely distant perceptions of these same suns. The recurring destruction of civilizations in such a world made their advanced technological level incredibly perplexing.

This realization, Wang Miao noted, stemmed from a prompt by Ye Wenjie and her old paper, leading Xu Bingbing to admit that she now shared Shi Qiang's deep suspicion of Ye Wenjie. Shi Qiang urged Xu Bingbing to finalize the declassification of Ye Wenjie's files, emphasizing her importance as a major point of inquiry. Elsewhere, Mu Xing attended a "Frontiers of Science" gathering where the "shooter and farmer theory" was discussed.

She questioned Shen Yufei about the seemingly religious nature of some of their presentations and the organization's true purpose. Shen Yufei advised her to consult Pan Han regarding the purpose, acknowledging their differing perspectives but reiterating the open-door policy of "Frontiers of Science". Mu Xing confessed her primary interest lay not in science itself, but in public perceptions of it. Meanwhile, Wang Miao was visibly preoccupied, lost in his thoughts even while accompanying Doudou.

Wang Miao re-entered the "Three-Body" game, finding himself amidst Isaac Newton and Leibniz, who were squabbling over the invention of calculus. They were joined by Von Neumann, who was tasked with solving complex differential equations that even the world's mathematicians couldn't handle, leading them to the East. Unaware of what a "calculator" was, Von Neumann proposed a "human wave tactic," using thirty million ordinary people for the massive calculations.

Their mission led them to Qin Shi Huang, the current ruler, who demanded a demonstration. Von Neumann obliged, showing how three soldiers could form a basic "gate component" for computation using red and white lanterns for binary signals. He then explained that ten million such gate components—including AND, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, XNOR, and tristate gates—would be built by soldiers and assembled into an enormous system, a "computer," capable of solving the complex equations for predicting the suns' movements.

Concurrently, Xu Bingbing presented new findings regarding Ye Wenjie's social connections. She revealed that Ye Wenjie had a niece, Chen Xue, who was Ye Wenxue's daughter. Despite the strained relationship between the sisters, Ye Wenjie had supported Chen Xue since college. Chen Xue, a recent MIT graduate, had just returned to China and was living in the apartment above Ye Wenjie’s, a property allegedly borrowed from a colleague.

Xu Bingbing’s investigation found no suspicious links between Chen Xue and "Frontiers of Science", Shen Yufei, or even significant contact with Ye Wenjie herself, as Chen Xue had been abroad during the time of Yang Dong's suicide. Furthermore, Xu Bingbing uncovered that Shen Yufei’s nanomaterial company had recently employed a large number of mathematical calculation personnel, a move seemingly unrelated to its primary business.

Xu Bingbing suspected these individuals were being utilized for other purposes, especially given that Shen Yufei’s husband, Wei Cheng, was a mathematician, implying these auxiliary calculations were ultimately for his benefit. Responding to Qin Shi Huang’s command, the soldiers instantly arranged themselves into a vast, intricate "Computer Formation," christened "Qin I." Its core, the Central Processing Unit, was formed by five elite legions, while a "display" array, located closer to the front, showed key operational parameters.

Cavalry units served as the "bus," swiftly transmitting information across the entire system. The "hard drive," located at a distance, comprised three million highly educated individuals—the same scholars Qin Shi Huang had saved from being buried alive—each meticulously recording intermediate calculation results. This "hard drive" was identified as the bottleneck in the computation speed.

When a system lockup occurred due to a faulty "gate circuit" in the CPU, Qin Shi Huang immediately ordered the execution of the soldiers forming that specific component, establishing a severe precedent for future malfunctions. With the system repaired, the "Three Body 1. 0" solar orbit computation software was launched, calculating the suns' positions for the next two years.

Qin Shi Huang reflected on the immense collective wisdom that could be generated by large numbers of disciplined individuals, even if some Europeans criticized his tyrannical rule. An advisor countered, asserting that this was mere mechanical operation, not true wisdom, and that these ordinary people were 'zeros' whose collective efforts only gained meaning with Qin Shi Huang, the 'one', at their head. Finally, a message appeared, urging the game's progress to accelerate.

Episode 16 Recap

Shi Qiang and Xu Bingbing arrived at Shen Yufei's residence, still unable to determine the purpose of Wei Cheng's calculations. Xu Bingbing noted that the hired mathematicians were merely completing assigned tasks within deadlines, unaware of the project's overall objective. Shi Qiang speculated that Shen Yufei's significant efforts to support Wei Cheng were likely driven by her own agenda, not love.

Inside, Wei Cheng celebrated a breakthrough, declaring he had discovered "the variable, not the constant" in what he described as a probability problem. He explained that while this was only the first of potentially over a hundred steps, he was certain he was on the right path. Before passing out from drinking, he mentioned an "evolutionary algorithm."

Shen Yufei appeared, explaining that Wei Cheng's sole passion was mathematics and that she had hired a large team to support his work, expressing satisfaction with his progress. However, she refused to disclose the nature of his calculations. Shi Qiang observed the coldness between the couple, noting Shen Yufei prioritized a cushion over her collapsed husband, and described their home as more of a "studio" and their relationship as "employer-employee."

Xu Bingbing recounted Wei Cheng's history: a high school math prodigy who was admitted to Fudan University without an exam, he later drifted through his academic and professional life until meeting Shen Yufei. Their swift marriage was followed by her substantial financial support for his calculations. This reinforced Shi Qiang's belief that their union was a matter of utility for Shen Yufei, though Xu Bingbing suggested Shen Yufei might simply see him as a genius.

In the Three-Body game, Wang Miao learned that the first phase of computation was complete, predicting the suns' orbits for the next two years. Qin Shi Huang was told a long Stable Era would begin, but an imperial astrologer warned of a "Tri-solar Syzygy," where three suns align and orbit the planet in formation. This phenomenon, which Von Neumann admitted was not in their models, caused the planet's gravity to diminish.

As objects floated into the air and the ocean was pulled into space, Civilization No. 184, despite having developed classical mechanics and the Von Neumann computer, was destroyed. After exiting, Wang Miao was contacted by a game administrator who demanded his personal information for verification, threatening a permanent ban. Wang Miao complied and was invited to a player meet-up.

He later shared a new insight with Shi Qiang: the Three-Body Problem might be solved not with physics, but with a complex mathematical model. Shi Qiang revealed that Shen Yufei had been pursuing this very approach for months, employing hundreds of mathematicians, including Wei Cheng, to work on the problem. Pan Han visited journalist Mu Xing, claiming a recent lab explosion that killed four scientists was a cover-up for the murder of a bridge-playing group.

He argued that current technology is harmful and that a benevolent "Lord" could offer a better path. He then confronted Wei Cheng, demanding he stop his "meaningless" calculations. When Wei Cheng refused, Pan Han shot his computer mainframe to prove his gun was real. Shen Yufei intervened, asserting that Pan Han's violent reaction confirmed Wei Cheng's recent breakthrough was correct.

She accused Pan Han of obstructing the Lord's arrival, which she aimed to "save," while he retorted that the Lord needs no saving from "turkeys." He challenged her, questioning if she truly knew which side the Commander was on. Pan Han accused Shen Yufei's Redemptionist faction of distorting the Lord's will, while declaring his Adventist faction's goal was humanity's destruction as punishment for its crimes against the Earth.

Shen Yufei countered that he was misrepresenting the Lord's will and that she still hoped to save the world, quoting the Commander's sentiment that humanity cannot restrain its own madness. Later, contemplating Pan Han's question about whether she had "listened to the Lord's voice," she arranged to expand the Centaurus signal reception system. Shi Qiang's team discussed a global surge in violent attacks by former pacifists and environmentalists now chanting, "The Lord will come to punish vice."

Shi Qiang suspected the Frontiers of Science was acting as a recruitment agency for a larger organization. He pressed Wang Miao, outlining how Shen Yufei had orchestrated his experiences with the "universe flicker" and the game, but that all connections traced back to Ye Wenjie. His suspicion solidified when Xu Bingbing reported that Shen Yufei had just taken a train to Hai City.

Wang Miao connected this to Shen Yufei's red ginseng factory in nearby Qijiatun and recalled Ye Wenjie had given him red ginseng. Xu Bingbing confirmed the factory had minimal sales and that Ye Wenjie had also purchased a train ticket to Hai City. The ginseng was two years old, implying a long-standing connection between Ye Wenjie and Shen Yufei.

Episode 17 Recap

Shi Qiang pressed Chang Weisi for Ye Wenjie's declassified file, growing increasingly impatient with the delay. He pointed out the unusual coincidence that both Ye Wenjie and Shen Yufei were scheduled to go to Hai City the next day. Suspecting something was amiss, Shi Qiang declared his intention to take Wang Miao to investigate their destination, Qijiatun, which he noted was not only the location of Shen Yufei's red ginseng factory but also the Red Coast Base.

Despite Chang Weisi's mild irritation, Shi Qiang insisted they catch an early flight to the Northeast and then a train to Qijiatun to ensure they arrived around the same time as Ye and Shen. He assured Wang Miao that their associate department would provide a police escort from the airport directly to the train station. Meanwhile, on a train, Shen Yufei received a chilling phone call. The caller warned her that someone was outside her door, intending to kill her.

She was instructed to hang up, flush the toilet, and then wait for three knocks before opening the door and leaving. Shen Yufei diligently followed the instructions. Upon opening the door, she found no one, but the phone rang again, directing her to proceed to car No. 1. Navigating through the train, she accidentally bumped into another passenger before reaching car No. 1, where she found Ye Wenjie.

Ye Wenjie, whom Shen Yufei addressed as "Commander," stated that "they" were making their move and revealed that Chen Xue had just saved Shen Yufei's life. Chen Xue suggested taking Ye Wenjie back, but Ye reassured them that professionals would handle the equipment and she would personally oversee it.

Ye Wenjie also disclosed that Headhunter Qi's son had informed her about a foreign volunteer teacher in the village who taught children to protect spruce and skylarks and loved planting trees, confirming, "It's him. He's been in the village for several days." Realizing the danger, Ye Wenjie declared they could no longer stay on the train and decided they would disembark at the next stop, Shanhai Pass, as she was their target and the Adventists had gone mad.

When Shen Yufei inquired if Ye Wenjie was aligned with the Redemptionists, Ye Wenjie clarified that initially, there were no such factions. She mused that disagreements were caused by "Lord," much like the Tower of Babel, leaving her to question whether Lord sought destruction or redemption for humanity. She concluded they needed to get off and "listen to Lord's voice" to decide their next step, even if two years of silence from Lord also constituted a message.

Back in Beijing, Wang Miao's wife expressed concern about his sudden, early departure for Hai City, where he claimed he was to inspect a nanotech red ginseng processing plant. Despite the early hour, Shi Qiang and Wang Miao were already at the airport.

Wang Miao, initially surprised by the lack of conventional flights to the Northeast at such an early time, learned from Shi Qiang that they would be taking an SA341 gunship, as Chang Weisi had been unable to secure a J-10 fighter jet. On the train, Shi Qiang complained about the food and their lack of proper tickets as they repeatedly searched for Ye Wenjie and Shen Yufei without success. They were soon approached by train police checking tickets and IDs.

Wang Miao deduced something serious had happened. The police officer confirmed a murder had occurred; a body with a snapped neck, suggesting a professional killer, had been removed several stops prior, and all identifying information had been disposed of. Noting that Ye Wenjie and Shen Yufei were nowhere to be found, Shi Qiang immediately instructed Wang Miao to call Ye Wenjie.

She answered, claiming she was already in Qijiatun visiting old friends and that her friends had arranged a car for her to avoid the long train ride. Following Shi Qiang's lead, Wang Miao expressed interest in visiting the Red Coast Base, and Ye Wenjie agreed to wait for him there.

Shi Qiang found the timing of the murder too coincidental with their absence, despite the unlikelihood of their direct involvement, and they were now stuck on the train for over ten more hours. At the Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie, Shen Yufei, and Chen Xue arrived. An associate reported to Ye Wenjie that they had maximized reception for all wavebands from the direction of Centaurus but had still received no message.

Ye Wenjie then commanded them to dismantle all the reception equipment. She explained that if Lord had chosen the Adventists, their own efforts were pointless, but if neither faction had received messages, it was their responsibility to change the Adventists' path. She reassured a dismayed Shen Yufei that this was not a bad thing.

After the system was dismantled, Ye Wenjie instructed Shen Yufei to return to Beijing so that Wang Miao, who would arrive soon, would not see them together. Using Shen Yufei's phone, Ye Wenjie then called Pan Han, instructing him to inform Evans that it was time for them to meet at Red Coast. Later, Wang Miao arrived at the village entrance of Qijiatun, waiting under a large cypress tree as instructed.

Shi Qiang went to the village committee to gather information about the red ginseng factory. A villager, Qi Jianguo, soon arrived to pick up Wang Miao, confirming he was sent by Ye Wenjie. Qi Jianguo shared that Ye Wenjie had lived with his family when she was younger and they were very close. He also confirmed the presence of a red ginseng factory run by a foreigner, which provided local employment.

When asked, he dismissed the idea of Ye Wenjie having any connection to the factory. Upon reaching the dilapidated Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie greeted Wang Miao. She explained that the base was abandoned, but its structural framework remained due to the prohibitive cost of demolition. As they walked through the deserted facility, Ye Wenjie led Wang Miao to the Monitoring Department.

She explained that what she initially perceived as a demotion turned out to be Red Coast's true core, where she discovered the real purpose of the base. In a flashback, unseen colleagues debated how much to tell her, with one arguing she needed information to work effectively while another cautioned against revealing too much.

Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng, asserting he knew what to say, then formally informed Ye Wenjie of her transfer, explaining the department's objective: to monitor all enemy activities in space, including intercepting communications and tracking spacecraft, effectively serving as "the eyes of Red Coast."

Episode 18 Recap

Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng officially transferred Ye Wenjie to the Monitoring Department, explaining its work. He stated that the department's goal was to monitor all enemy activities in space, including intercepting communications between enemy spacecraft and the ground, tracking their orbital positions, and collaborating with telemetry and tracking centers to provide data for Red Coast's combat systems, effectively making it "the eyes of Red Coast."

Chief Engineer Yang Weining attempted to intervene, urging Lei Zhicheng to reconsider disclosing such sensitive information to Ye Wenjie. However, Lei Zhicheng insisted that work must progress and Ye Wenjie needed all the information to perform her duties effectively, taking full responsibility for his decision. Lei Zhicheng further elaborated that Ye Wenjie was initially brought in due to her paper and accurate predictive model concerning solar activity, as the Red Coast monitoring system often faced interference from solar flares.

Her strong work abilities led him to entrust her with more significant tasks. He expressed his personal trust in her, hoping she would work hard to earn the organization's trust and that one day he could address her as "Comrade Ye." Despite Lei Zhicheng's trust, Ye Wenjie found her activities severely restricted; she could access software source code but not the database, and had to learn most technical software from scratch, making the process very challenging.

During her work, Ye Wenjie reported to Chief Engineer Yang Weining that the monitoring system had received information, which, after computer deciphering and analysis by GSD's Surveying and Mapping Bureau, turned out to be satellite photographs of important Chinese military targets, including the naval harbor at Qingdao and several key factories of the Third Front program. The images were confirmed to originate from a Western KA-9 reconnaissance satellite, which was undergoing experimental transmission tests.

Its immature radio digital transmission, with lower frequencies and significant signal leakage, made it detectable by the Red Coast system. Yang Weining, however, abruptly ordered her to abandon this target and change the monitoring frequency, promising to inform her of the new direction later. Ye Wenjie questioned this, arguing it was a unique opportunity to understand Western space reconnaissance systems. Yang Weining grew agitated, angrily reiterating his order and dispatching her to check a broken machine in the Transmission Department.

Ye Wenjie felt that Yang Weining was intentionally hindering her, exhibiting strange behavior and frequently lashing out, though she remained unfazed. Instead, she became intrigued by the many inexplicable occurrences she encountered, which led her to believe that Red Coast was far more intricate than she had initially imagined.

She observed that the designated frequencies for three particular transmissions during the 299th launch of the Red Coast Project were below the microwave range, meaning they could not generate any heating effect on the target. Ye Wenjie concluded that both Yang Weining's peculiar conduct and these abnormal phenomena strongly suggested that the true intent behind Red Coast was deeply hidden and top-secret.

In a separate conversation, Shi Qiang called Chang Weisi from Qijiatun, confirming that the red ginseng factory there was legitimate and provided income for the locals. He then pressed Chang about the declassified files he had promised, emphasizing his urgent need for them. Chang Weisi confirmed he had obtained the files and that their content was "way beyond imagination," prompting Shi Qiang to demand he reveal Red Coast's true purpose.

Meanwhile, Ye Wenjie was summoned to Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng's office. She initially believed Lei Zhicheng was facing repercussions for promoting her and silently vowed not to implicate him. However, Lei Zhicheng informed her that while he personally disagreed with the decision, it had been made by Chief Engineer Yang Weining after repeated appeals to the high-ups, with Yang taking full responsibility for the consequences.

Lei Zhicheng explained that the Army Political Department had also investigated her work, and with superior approval, they were now authorized to disclose the true nature of the Red Coast Project to her. He stressed that she must cherish this opportunity, work diligently to "redeem her sins," and strictly adhere to all rules, as any transgression would result in severe punishment.

It was then that Ye Wenjie realized everything Lei Zhicheng had told her, including his expressions of care, promotion, and protection, had been a facade. She finally understood why Chief Engineer Yang Weining had consistently tried to obstruct Lei Zhicheng, acknowledging Yang as a good man who had stood up for her and would eventually reveal the project's true purpose.

Chief Engineer Yang Weining then confirmed Ye Wenjie's commitment, warning her that once she understood the truth, she would lose any hope of leaving Radar Peak, and it would become her lifelong home. Ye Wenjie, unwavering, agreed. Yang Weining then presented her with a confidential file. He explained that the document outlined two modes for converting fundamental scientific research into practical technology: the gradualistic and saltatory modes.

Yang Weining particularly emphasized that the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) was the field most likely to produce a technological leap, one whose impact would exceed the combined influence of breakthroughs in physics, biology, and computer science. It was through this revelation that Ye Wenjie understood Red Coast was neither an offensive weapon nor a system for monitoring enemy spacecraft.

He detailed how NATO countries were already prioritizing SETI, citing Project Ozma, the Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory, their target stars Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani, and plans for the Pioneer and Voyager probes to carry information about Earth civilization into space. He also highlighted the formidable capabilities of the newly constructed Arecibo Observatory and the substantial investments made by European nations in this endeavor.

Yang Weining stressed that any nation establishing contact with extraterrestrial civilizations would fundamentally alter the global power dynamic, and as a major socialist power, they could not afford to fall behind in this strategic area. Consequently, he assigned Ye Wenjie the critical task of developing the Red Coast Self-Interpreting Code System.

This system was to be built upon universal mathematical and physical principles, forming an elemental linguistic code comprehensible to any civilization familiar with basic algebra, Euclidean geometry, and non-relativistic physics, and on this foundation, new language systems like Chinese and Esperanto would be established. Ye Wenjie grasped the profound implications, realizing that the mysterious Red Coast Project was entirely dedicated to the exploration of extraterrestrial intelligence, and that she was now the creator of its self-interpreting system.

Reflecting on the Cold War's peak, the pervasive threat of nuclear weapons, and humanity's collective madness, Ye Wenjie later conveyed to Wang Miao that while nuclear weapons were terrifying, the universe harbored far more potent forces like black holes and anti-matter, making nuclear bombs seem as gentle as a "tiny candle" in comparison. Ye Wenjie recalled her daily routine in the monitoring room, observing and recording the waveform of cosmic radio waves, perpetually awaiting contact from extraterrestrial civilizations.

She described the Red Coast's advanced radio receiver, which used a ruby-based traveling-wave maser to amplify signals received by a gigantic antenna, its core immersed in liquid helium at -269 degrees Celsius for exceptional sensitivity. This allowed them to pick up faint signals within a 1,000 light-year radius, encompassing an estimated 20 million stars. Beyond listening, Red Coast also attempted to send messages into the cosmos to establish contact.

She and Chief Engineer Yang Weining redrafted a comprehensive letter, which Ye Wenjie read aloud. This goodwill message introduced Earth civilization, highlighting its achievements—a splendid civilization, diverse cultures, and an initial understanding of nature and society—while also candidly acknowledging its flaws, such as hatred, prejudice, war, and severe wealth inequality leading to widespread poverty.

It expressed humanity's collective efforts to overcome these challenges and build a better future, portraying Red Coast's mission as part of this endeavor to create an ideal society where every individual's labor and value are respected, and all material and spiritual needs are met, ultimately making Earth a "more perfect civilization." The letter conveyed a deep hope for connection with other advanced societies to create a better life across the vast universe.

All this information, along with basic overviews of Earth, its life systems, human society, and world history, was sent after the Self-Interpreting Code System was transmitted. Wang Miao lauded Red Coast as a truly great project, inquiring about the security measures for such transmissions.

Ye Wenjie explained that the messages underwent rigorous multi-disciplinary vetting to ensure they contained no coordinates of Earth within the Milky Way, and transmission times on higher frequencies were minimized to reduce the likelihood of being located. Wang Miao expressed curiosity about the project's exceptionally high security rating despite SETI being a marginalized field at the time.

Ye Wenjie noted that this question had persisted throughout Red Coast's existence, but they could only marvel at the foresight of its top decision-makers. Wang Miao speculated that had Red Coast succeeded, the world would be profoundly different, though acknowledged it was perhaps too soon to judge its success, given how little the radio waves had traveled. Ye Wenjie added that cosmic signals weaken with distance, making reception improbable.

She cited Soviet astrophysicist Nicolai Kardashev's classification of civilizations based on their energy use for communication—Type I (Earth's total output), Type II (a star's output), and Type III (a galaxy's output)—and pointed out that Earth had not even reached Type I, and Red Coast's transmission power was merely a tiny fraction of Earth's total output, likening their call to the "buzzing of a mosquito."

Wang Miao countered that if Type II or III civilizations existed, humanity should have heard from them. Ye Wenjie agreed, suggesting that Red Coast's efforts seemed to indicate that intelligent life might indeed be unique to Earth, a conclusion she and others involved emotionally embraced. Wang Miao lamented the project's cessation, believing such a great endeavor should have continued.

Ye Wenjie then recounted the Red Coast's large-scale renovation in the late 1970s, which automated its transmission system and significantly enhanced its data processing capabilities to monitor 40,000 channels simultaneously. As understanding of SETI's immense difficulty grew, the leadership gradually lost interest, leading to a lowered security rating and a reduction in the base's security detail to just five guards.

Although Red Coast technically remained part of the Second Artillery Corps, its scientific management was transferred to the Astronomy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which introduced unrelated research projects. Ye Wenjie confirmed that many of her own accomplishments came from this period. Initially, Red Coast, with China's largest radio telescope, undertook general radio astronomy projects.

Later, with the establishment of other radio observatories, Red Coast's focus shifted to observing and analyzing solar electromagnetic activity, necessitating the addition of a solar telescope. These practical applications finally provided some return on the substantial investment in Red Coast, a success she largely attributed to Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng. She revealed that Lei, an astrophysicist before enlisting, had helped sustain the base by introducing these projects, allowing him to return to his professional field.

However, once Red Coast was reclassified for civilian use, the military completely abandoned it, and the CAS could not sustain its immense operating costs, leading to its eventual closure. Ye Wenjie described her profound loneliness in the empty monitoring room during quiet nights, listening to the "lifeless noise of the universe" through her headphones. This subtle, seemingly eternal noise sometimes felt like the endless cold winds of Radar Peak, chilling her to the bone with an indescribable solitude.

She often contemplated that life on Earth was an "accident among accidents" in a vast, "empty palace" where humanity was merely "the only ant." This realization instilled a profound internal conflict within her, sometimes making life seem incredibly precious and weighty, and other times rendering humanity so insignificant that nothing mattered. In this strange, contradictory state of mind, she found herself growing old, day by day.

Episode 19 Recap

Wang Miao, having left the Red Coast Base, received a call from Shi Qiang, who was waiting for him at the village entrance. Shi Qiang informed him that General Chang Weisi had accessed and shared Red Coast's files, which revealed its purpose was to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Shi Qiang noted Ye Wenjie's surprising composure, as she opted to stay and reminisce while visiting old friends.

Although locals, including Qi Jianguo, suggested Ye Wenjie had minimal contact with Shen Yufei and that Shen Yufei, an adviser who periodically visited for work, had already left, Shi Qiang found the coincidences suspicious. Despite his skepticism, Shi Qiang admitted there was nothing they could do to investigate or question her without further information. He then decided they should return to research Red Coast.

Wang Miao questioned who Ye Wenjie's "old friends" might be, considering she had lived there for many years. Ye Wenjie's "old friend" was Mike Evans. At the abandoned Red Coast Base, which she described as surprisingly warm despite its cold history, she reflected on its significance as the origin point of everything. Evans, calling her "Commander," hailed her as the spiritual leader and supreme commander of the ETO.

He expressed profound gratitude, attributing his purpose to her act of pushing the button to contact "Lord," a decision he deemed far more significant than any other in human history. Evans revealed that his ship, the "Judgment Day," served as the "Second Red Coast," named in homage to the original. It was established three years prior, utilizing the specific direction and frequency she provided to communicate with Lord.

He reminded Ye Wenjie of their initial ideal: to invite Lord to transform human civilization, curbing its madness and evil to create a harmonious, sinless world. However, Ye Wenjie conceded that "everything has changed," indicating a shift in her perspective. Evans argued she hadn't grasped humanity's true nature, believing her actions stemmed from an enduring love for mankind, influenced by her father's sense of responsibility, leading her to cling to hope despite suffering.

He contended that human evil was indelible, even declaring his own betrayal as her first follower, and asserted that humanity was "absolutely incorrigible." Evans noted her continued efforts to receive messages from Lord, having rebuilt a reception system at the abandoned Red Coast, which he ironically termed the "Third Red Coast." He then questioned if she had changed her reception and transmission methods, or if she had been fabricating Lord's arrival all along.

Ye Wenjie asked if she had the right to fabricate such things. Evans, believing self-destruction was a merciful end for humanity, asked if there had ever been mercy in human civilization. When Ye Wenjie suggested he still had a choice, Evans, viewing all choices as pointless in the vastness of the universe, declared that humanity was already trapped in an un-savable inferno, and she was the one who ignited it.

Ye Wenjie, deeply saddened, lamented that she had started the fire but could no longer control its destructive spread. The Red Coast Base, operational from 1968 to 1987, reportedly detected no abnormal radio waves during its two decades of service, suggesting no extraterrestrial contact. Wang Miao confirmed that Ye Wenjie's description of Red Coast's true intent was largely consistent with the official archives.

When Shi Qiang questioned the extreme secrecy of a project aimed at finding aliens, Wang Miao explained Bill Mathers' "contact as symbol" theory. At Shi Qiang's request, Xu Bingbing simplified this, explaining that contact with an alien civilization was akin to acquiring a powerful martial arts manual; whoever possessed it would become invincible, transforming the world.

Shi Qiang, linking this idea to General Chang Weisi's observation about terrorists becoming pacifists and scientists committing suicide, pondered if these drastic changes were due to alien contact. Wang Miao added that Ye Wenjie herself emphasized the profound impact of extraterrestrial exploration on a researcher's worldview.

Xu Bingbing and her team's detailed examination of the Red Coast files further highlighted Ye Wenjie's unusual history: she married Yang Weining in 1973, and both her husband, Yang Weining, and Lei Zhicheng tragically died on the same day in 1979, falling from a mountaintop platform at Red Coast. Shi Qiang reiterated his belief that Ye Wenjie was exceptionally unique.

At a global operations center, the bleak reality of fruitless alien searches was acknowledged, with signals from space being deemed mere planetary noise. The possibility of an alien threat, though a prior conjecture, remained the most undesirable scenario, leaving humanity feeling as helpless as 16th-century indigenous peoples facing an advanced armada.

Shi Qiang then provided Wang Miao with more Red Coast data, urging him to investigate unusual radio frequencies from other nations, even though the immense distances suggested billions of years for round-trip communication. Wang Miao’s inquiry about faster-than-light travel was dismissed by Shi Qiang, who likened it to using carrier pigeons in the age of cellphones.

Wang Miao then proposed that a strong signal could be an accidental spillover from aliens communicating with their neighbors, which Shi Qiang countered by comparing such a powerful signal to knocking on a door with an atomic bomb, implying such a strong signal would not be accidental. Shi Qiang suggested that while there might not be aliens humanity could understand, there could be those beyond human comprehension.

He pushed Wang Miao to consult Ye Wenjie again on the Fermi Paradox: if aliens exist, where are they? Wang Miao, hesitant to press Ye Wenjie so soon after her return, especially on sensitive topics like Yang Weining’s death, was still encouraged by Shi Qiang to simply ask about extraterrestrial life and Red Coast’s findings.

Wang Miao reflected on the Fermi Paradox and various theories, including the Rare Earth Hypothesis and the idea of advanced or primitive civilizations, or even a collective radio silence. When Wang Miao finally posed the questions to Ye Wenjie, she gave a non-committal answer, stating she "encourages thought experiments but suspects everything." Shi Qiang found this unsatisfactory, viewing it as an evasion that necessitated further investigation into Ye Wenjie.

Meanwhile, Shi Qiang was called back to the police station due to a special directive from General Chang Weisi. They had to clear a room for Wei Cheng, who had arrived with a computer and data, claiming to report a crime, but then, after claiming to report a crime, spent five hours silently engaged in calculations, refusing to meet Shi Qiang and Wang Miao, who had waited outside.

After an exasperating five-hour wait, Wei Cheng finally agreed to an audience, but only if they brought him alcohol, a request Shi Qiang interpreted as a sign of progress. Wei Cheng, seeking refuge from threats, explained his presence at the Public Security Bureau, deeming it the safest place. He began to recount his life story, starting from high school, where his innate mathematical talent allowed him to instinctively solve problems without conscious derivation.

He perceived numbers as solid figures and geometric shapes as numbers. Despite his teacher's recognition of his gift, Wei Cheng admitted he failed to appreciate it, leading a shiftless academic and teaching career. Growing weary of his aimless life, he embarked on a journey to a temple, seeking a peaceful retreat rather than monastic life, correcting Shi Qiang's assumption that he had become a monk by revealing he was married.

There, he encountered Professor Han, an old friend of his father's—a profound scholar who had embraced Zen Buddhism in his later years. Professor Han enlightened Wei Cheng on the concept of "emptiness," illustrating how a radio, when conceptually dismantled into its components, ceases to exist as a unified entity, demonstrating that "form is emptiness" and that true peace comes from filling oneself with this emptiness. Sleepless nights in the uncomfortable temple prompted Wei Cheng to apply Professor Han's teachings.

In his mind, he first created a boundless, lightless void, but this emptiness brought anxiety. He then introduced a single, massive sphere, which, motionless in the void, symbolized death. A second sphere, mirroring the first, still resulted in a static, death-like arrangement, or a fixed "dance of death" if given initial motion. However, with the introduction of a third sphere, the situation transformed dramatically.

The three spheres, set in motion, engaged in an endlessly complex, non-repeating dance, as equations describing their movements poured into his mind. This "dance," though seemingly chaotic, held an infinitely long, underlying rhythm that utterly captivated him. While others believed him to be insane, Professor Han recognized that Wei Cheng had "found emptiness." For the first time, Wei Cheng experienced the profound joy of mathematics, his mind clearer and calmer than ever before, marking the beginning of his research into the Three-Body problem.

Episode 20 Recap

Wei Cheng, dedicated to solving the Three-Body Problem, worked tirelessly using only blank ledgers and pencils. He had no knowledge of Henri Poincare's assertion that the problem was mathematically unsolvable, nor did he care for established masters, believing his new evolutionary algorithm, which used quantity to derive quality, could succeed through massive computation, even if current computers were insufficient. Day after day, he used up many ledgers, with the remnants often burned in an incense burner, causing excessive ash.

One day, Shen Yufei burst into his room, instantly recognizing his unique research from a few discarded papers, surprising Wei Cheng with her exceptional mathematical talent and shared obsession with the Three-Body Problem. Unlike the unobservant temple visitors, Shen Yufei possessed an academic demeanor. Recognizing his poor working conditions, she offered him access to supercomputers and a minicomputer, urging him to leave the temple with her.

Unable to sleep after her departure, Wei Cheng wandered the temple grounds and overheard Shen Yufei praying to Buddha, "Buddha, please help my Lord break away from misery." He found this prayer profoundly strange and contradictory, which instilled in him a growing sense of inexplicable fear. He sought guidance from a temple master, who cryptically warned him against joining Shen Yufei, sensing that she concealed unimaginable secrets.

Despite the warning, Wei Cheng decided he couldn't remain in the temple forever and chose to go with her. Over the next few years, Wei Cheng lived his dream life in a big house, with a minicomputer and frequent access to global supercomputers, all funded by Shen Yufei, whose wealth he did not question. They married for convenience, and their only regular interaction revolved around discussions of the Three-Body Problem.

While Shen Yufei was preoccupied with the Frontiers of Science, often hosting numerous visitors, Wei Cheng remained solely focused on his calculations, having no interest in joining her organization. Wang Miao recognized the groundbreaking nature of Wei Cheng's work. While previous approximation methods had only yielded a few stable solutions, Wei Cheng's evolutionary algorithm had found over a hundred.

Wei Cheng's ultimate goal was to construct a mathematical model that could precisely predict the subsequent motions of the Three-Body System given any initial configuration with known vectors, a goal shared by Shen Yufei. However, his breakthrough also brought him trouble. Pan Han, a biologist in his thirties from the Frontiers of Science, threatened Wei Cheng, brandishing a real gun and destroying his computer to force him to stop his calculations.

That same night, Wei Cheng felt a cold object on his neck, waking him to find Shen Yufei, holding a knife, who also threatened him, declaring she would kill him if he ceased his work. She told him that completing his calculations would make him a savior, but stopping would condemn him as a sinner, rendering his existence meaningless. Wei Cheng felt trapped, destined to die either way.

Feeling that he was already living on borrowed time, Wei Cheng entrusted all his models and shared documents on a disk to Wang Miao, urging him to verify them but also to stay away from these matters, as the world was on the brink of significant change.

He revealed he wasn't as foolish as he seemed, having learned much by living with Shen Yufei, but believed that police or even God would be useless, as humanity had reached a point where prayers went unanswered, with even God and Shen Yufei's "Lord" struggling. Soon after, Wang Miao called Shen Yufei, who confirmed Wei Cheng had constructed the model and expressed her eagerness to test it immediately in the Three-Body game.

Before hanging up, she simply told Wei Cheng, "do not drink." Wang Miao was taken to the Nanomaterial Center to enter the Three-Body game. Inside, he first encountered Copernicus, who identified himself as a "lost soul abandoned by God" and described how the Tri-Solar Syzygy had destroyed previous civilizations. He then heard Einstein, trembling, speak of the "Great Rip," a catastrophic event that no one could survive.

Wang Miao then met Einstein, who acknowledged the human-formation computer model developed by Wang Miao, Newton, and others was close but lacked the gravitational perturbation described by general relativity, a gap his own work could bridge. However, he admitted the results hadn't been astronomically confirmed. Shen Yufei joined Wang Miao, acknowledging that if Wei Cheng's model failed, it meant mathematics offered no solution to the Three-Body Problem. She led him to the impending Pendulum Initiation Ceremony, their last hope.

At the ceremony, the UN Secretary General informed them that while dozens of evolutionary algorithms had been developed, including many superior to Wei Cheng's, all had conclusively proven the Three-Body Problem to be unsolvable, revealing the Trisolaran System as an unpredictable chaotic system. Wang Miao questioned how humanity could have faith in exploring the complex universe if even simple systems were chaotic.

The Secretary General further revealed that a colossal companion planet, a product of the Great Rip, now orbited their world. He detailed how Civilization No. 191 was annihilated when three suns, appearing as frozen flying stars, converged on their planet, exceeding the Roche limit and tearing it into two pieces. The oceans boiled, continents melted, and a river of lava solidified into unstable rings, causing centuries of meteorite rains.

Life on both the companion and mother planets was nearly wiped out. After 90 million years, Civilization No. 192 emerged. Recent discoveries revealed that the Trisolaran Stellar System once had twelve planets, but only theirs remained, consumed by the three "breathing" suns, which cyclically expand and contract, devouring planets. The next expansion was predicted in 1.

5 to 2 million years, leading to the conclusion that "God has turned his back on Trisolaris," leaving them as "the loneliest kids in the universe." As the Pendulum Initiation Ceremony began, Shen Yufei remarked on humanity's insignificance but also the greatness of life, evident in Civilization No. 192's tenacious rebirth. She thanked Wang Miao for showing her this resilience, even if tenacity in such despair was tragic.

She suddenly thought of Yang Dong, speculating that Yang Dong must have experienced even greater despair to conclude that "Physics has never existed and will never exist." Shen Yufei told Wang Miao he was the "chosen one" with a mission, as she had nothing left to do.

She then left the game, stating that Trisolaran Civilization's only path was to "gamble with the universe" and venture into the vast sea of stars to find a new home in the Milky Way. The Pendulum Ceremony officially commenced, the gigantic metal fist of the pendulum swinging eternally against the unfeeling universe, a symbol of Trisolaris's indomitable battle cry. Four hundred fifty-one years later, Civilization No. 192 was destroyed by twin suns.

However, it had reached the Atomic and Information Ages and crucially proved that the Three-Body Problem had no solution, ending 191 cycles of futile effort and setting a new course for future civilizations: to abandon their stellar system and find a new home in the stars. After this outcome, Pan Han appeared, mockingly telling Shen Yufei that her efforts were meaningless and that her less advanced civilization had no chance of success.

He claimed that both the Adventists and Redemptionists were driven by selfish desires, and humans were merely seeking to overcome their perceived insignificance. Shen Yufei, however, was not desperate; the game had shown her unimaginable sights, including worlds torn apart by tidal forces and planets consumed by stellar coronas. She recognized that these seemingly powerful forces were mere "tiny drops" in the universe. She conceded that both factions were selfish, with humanity simply seeking to feel important.

She concluded that humans make choices, but the Lord, having been listened to, had already made its choice by making no choice, implying its departure. Shortly after, Shi Qiang called Wang Miao, reporting that Shen Yufei had been found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. He confirmed that Wei Cheng's mathematical model had not succeeded, but had instead conclusively proven the Three-Body Problem to be unsolvable.

Shi Qiang mentioned that Shen Yufei had been "devastated" and had even referred to Yang Dong as having been "even more so." Surveillance footage showed that Pan Han was the only person who had entered or exited the scene around the time of Shen Yufei's death, making him the prime suspect.

Episode 21 Recap

During his interrogation, Pan Han admitted to having conversed with Shen Yufei about math, physics, and philosophy, noting that they were both members of the Frontiers of Science. When confronted with evidence that he had threatened Wei Cheng and destroyed his computer, Pan Han dismissed Wei Cheng as a "math lunatic" and claimed he merely intended to stop him and Shen Yufei from engaging in meaningless research on the Three-Body problem.

Pan Han confirmed he was the last person Shen Yufei saw before her death, but was unconcerned as surveillance footage showed he had left her house beforehand. The footage revealed Shen Yufei sitting alone for a long time before taking her own life, a fact corroborated by the autopsy report. Pan Han coldly stated that Shen Yufei had seen the truth and made her choice.

Meanwhile, a distraught Wei Cheng awoke and desperately asked if their efforts had succeeded, only to be informed of Shen Yufei's demise. Upon seeing her body, he refused to accept her death, convinced that something had gone wrong, and immediately reverted to frantic calculations. Wang Miao, deeply affected by Shen Yufei's death, reflected on how she had been alive and speaking to him just an hour before, only to become a cold body.

He questioned whether she was truly an enemy, as enemies typically do not commit suicide, emphasizing the need to investigate what truly transpired within the Three-Body game. Shi Qiang, recalling a grim memory from a past war, told Wang Miao they had no time to mourn and must act decisively. Wang Miao then revealed that Shen Yufei and he had made a final effort which only confirmed that the Three-Body problem was unsolvable.

Shortly after, Wang Miao received an email inviting him to an offline gathering of Three-Body players, and Shi Qiang urged him to attend, reiterating that they had no time for sorrow. Wang Miao arrived at the meet-up, observing the sparse attendance.

Wang Miao, upon hearing from a journalist present, realized that despite the small number, the attendees were highly accomplished individuals, including Mr. Bai, a renowned scholar; a Puli Prize-winning author; the vice president of China's largest software company; and a high-level executive from the State Power Corporation. He communicated with Shi Qiang via text.

Pan Han, who was hosting the gathering, welcomed the attendees, describing them as social elites for whom the Three-Body game was specifically designed due to its profound content and complexity. Wang Miao, introducing himself as a nanomaterials researcher and a Ph. D. student in earth management sci-tech, then posed a critical question to the group: Was Three-Body merely a game, or did the world of Trisolaris truly exist?

Pan Han did not directly answer, but his subsequent discussion affirmed the reality of the Three-Body world. He explained that Trisolarans could indeed dehydrate themselves to survive harsh climates and that the Trisolaran human-array computer, though seemingly unrealistic, was a functional entity, using light-speech for rapid communication facilitated by reflective body surfaces. He confirmed the existence of three suns as the basis of the Trisolaran environment. Pan Han then revealed the game’s simple goal: to gather like-minded individuals.

He then presented the central question to the group: If Trisolaran civilization truly existed and was seeking a new home, what would be their attitude? He introduced the analogy of the Aztecs, implying that external intervention, even violent, could prevent a civilization from becoming excessively dark and bloody.

While two attendees expressed strong reservations about the dangerous implications of such a discussion, the majority voiced their profound disappointment with human society and its inability to self-improve, eagerly anticipating an external force like the Trisolaran civilization to bring about change and "true beauty." When asked for his stance, Wang Miao declared his support for their views.

Pan Han then asked the two dissenting individuals to leave, informing them that their game accounts would be deleted, before welcoming the remaining attendees into the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO), declaring them "comrades." Later, Wang Miao elucidated his newfound conviction to Shi Qiang, explaining that the game revealed a reality where civilizations were reborn from destruction, turning miracles into necessity. He shared his certainty that an alien civilization existed on a planet encircled by three suns, possessing an undying civilization.

Shi Qiang, initially skeptical, was convinced by Wang Miao's detailed account, which tied the countdown, the universe flicker, and the scientists' suicides to this alien "Lord" and their human collaborators. He deduced that the ETO members, including Shen Yufei and Pan Han, were likely aided by these aliens, allowing them to evade capture.

Wang Miao further explained that the ETO's common ideal stemmed from the Three-Body problem having no solution, making finding a new home their only choice, which they believed to be Earth. Shi Qiang reported this shocking revelation to Chang Weisi, who acknowledged it as their worst-case scenario. Chang Weisi stressed the urgency of the situation, recognizing that while they didn't know when or how the aliens would arrive, the ETO likely possessed this knowledge.

He called for unprecedented global unity and transparency among all battle sectors to dismantle the ETO and share any discoveries immediately. Meanwhile, Pan Han had been actively meeting with members of the Frontiers of Science. Mu Xing, a reporter who had recently returned from abroad, had also been investigating "the Lord" and interviewed foreign scientists who believed in the aliens' impending arrival to transform humanity. Shi Qiang, learning of Pan Han's visit to Mu Xing's studio, went to meet her.

Mu Xing shared reports on the universe flicker that had been suppressed by authorities, highlighting a global information blockade. Shi Qiang, suspecting Pan Han was providing her with information, probed her about "the Lord" organization behind him, a concept Mu Xing was also aware of. While Mu Xing found the idea of an alien civilization acceptable, she doubted anyone would believe her if she reported it, fearing it would be dismissed as a stunt.

Despite her fatalistic view that humanity, as a "backward civilization," was destined for replacement, she agreed to cooperate with Shi Qiang. She revealed that she had already planted a Trojan horse in Pan Han's computer but was unable to access it due to encryption, which Shi Qiang promised to handle using their resources. Under Chang Weisi's urgent command, the decryption of Pan Han's computer files progressed rapidly.

As the first part of the files was successfully decrypted, a list of ETO members, mostly in Europe, was uncovered. Pan Han, in a calm phone conversation with Evans, discussed the ETO's internal factions, labeling Shen Yufei as an "Adventist" who ultimately failed to grasp human nature.

He suggested a strategy to take advantage of the decrypted list, proposing "unconditional arrests" for those members to be carried out by the Battle Command Center, which he believed would eagerly "eliminate them," securing a "great victory" for their side. Pan Han also noted the "Commander" was not on the list and pondered her faction.

Furthermore, he proposed shutting down the Three-Body game servers, believing the game, originally meant to educate selected individuals about Trisolaris, was ironically fostering the "Redemptionists" faction, who absurdly believed they could solve the Three-Body problem themselves. Later, at home, Wang Miao had a conversation with Doudou about aliens.

Despite his earlier conviction, he admitted to her that he couldn't answer with 100% certainty whether aliens existed or would come to Earth, humbly stating that in the face of the vast universe, they were all still learning.

Episode 22 Recap

Chen Xue informed Ye Wenjie, addressing her as Commander, that several European branches of the organization had been purged by the Battle Command Center. She emphasized that all those purged were Redemptionists, while the Adventists remained unharmed. Chen Xue suspected Pan Han and his associates were behind these actions, and that they were likely responsible for Shen Yufei's death.

She urged Ye Wenjie not to attend Shen Yufei's funeral, warning that it would attract the Battle Command Center's attention and cause the Adventists to question her stance. Despite the warning, Ye Wenjie insisted on attending to bid Shen Yufei farewell. Ye Wenjie expressed her profound despair, stating that kindness, at the scale of the universe, is as empty and insignificant as dust. Later, Wang Miao reflected on Shen Yufei's long-standing efforts to solve the Three-Body Problem.

He noted her ultimate despair came from realizing the problem was unsolvable, and that her initial hope of helping the Trisolarans transform their perilous world evolved into the grim realization that they intended to invade humanity's home. Shi Qiang commented that Shen Yufei might not have been a bad person after all.

He also observed that Pan Han, during Three-Body player gatherings, consistently preached about the "Lord's" coming but never discussed solving the Three-Body Problem, indicating a clear ideological division within the ETO regarding their ultimate objectives. Wang Miao expressed regret that they had not attempted to recruit Shen Yufei to their side.

Prompted by the recent global purges of ETO members, Wang Miao decided to return to the Three-Body game to see if his newly acquired status as a "comrade" would alter the game's progression. Meanwhile, the Battle Command Center successfully decoded new files, which included a maintenance log from the Three-Body game server. This revealed the server's location: an artificial satellite orbiting Earth at an altitude of 24,000 kilometers, currently within the European combat zone.

As they prepared to launch an attack, the game server initiated a shutdown sequence, transitioning directly to its final scene. Wang Miao, immersed in the game, witnessed his virtual world dissolving. Landmarks like the pyramid, the United Nations Headquarters, and the giant pendulum vanished, replaced by hundreds of millions of Trisolarans. They explained they were preparing for an expedition, marking the passage of three civilizations.

Wang Miao observed their massive formation, which appeared not as stars but as an artificial construct: the magnificent Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet. They confirmed their civilization had achieved interstellar flight capabilities, with their ships traveling at one-tenth the speed of light. Their destination was a star with planets located four light-years away, the closest to the Trisolaran system. The Trisolarans then explicitly confirmed their target was Earth, noting the uniform distribution of stars in the Milky Way.

They conveyed that while the current generation might not witness the outcome, their descendants, in four or five centuries, would receive news from this new world, marking the rebirth of the Trisolaran Civilization. The game concluded, instructing Wang Miao to attend an ETO gathering if he remained true to his commitment, with the address to be sent via email.

After the game's abrupt conclusion, Shi Qiang expressed his profound frustration and anger, stating that discovering the Trisolarans were heading for Earth was far from a victory, despite the Battle Command Center's successful attempt to block signals to the satellite server. He felt humanity was utterly exposed, noting that the Trisolarans appeared unfazed by the attack, suggesting they were either prepared or indifferent.

He pressed Wang Miao about the fleet's arrival time: given the four light-year distance and one-tenth light speed, the journey should theoretically take forty years. However, the game claimed four to five hundred years. He questioned whether this discrepancy was a miscalculation or a deliberate attempt to mislead them, to which Wang Miao stated there was no need for them to do so.

Shi Qiang then presented the most dire possibility: that the Trisolarans could have departed forty years ago, meaning their arrival could be imminent, leaving Earth completely unaware of their precise journey or when they began. Chang Weisi explained to Wang Miao and Shi Qiang that the Earth-Trisolaris Organization was deeply fractured into distinct factions that frequently slandered and attacked each other.

The majority of the recently arrested ETO members were Redemptionists, who aimed to solve the Three-Body Problem and included many Three-Body players, such as Shen Yufei. In stark contrast, the Adventists, like Pan Han, believed the Three-Body Problem was unsolvable and fervently advocated for humanity's destruction, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their "Lord." A third, smaller faction, the Survivors, were optimistically confident the "Lord" would spare them, though they were largely disregarded by the other two groups.

The primary ideological conflict within the ETO existed between the Redemptionists and the Adventists. The information found on Pan Han's computer, including a list of Redemptionists, suggested an ongoing internal struggle between the factions. While direct contact with "the Lord" had not been established, ETO members consistently referred to a figure they called the "Commander," whom Chang Weisi suspected was their leader and connected to the organization.

Separately, Shi Qiang refused to share the flash drive's contents with Mu Xing, believing the information posed a grave danger to her. However, Pan Han subsequently contacted Mu Xing, urging her to continue her foreign reporting, which led Shi Qiang to suspect that Pan Han had intentionally leaked sensitive information to her. Acting on Chang Weisi's directive to protect Mu Xing, Shi Qiang attempted to detain her.

Mu Xing resisted, asserting her value to "them" and requesting twenty-four hours to complete a final task given by Pan Han before she would disappear. Shi Qiang refused the full twenty-four hours but agreed to a meeting at 10 PM for a handover. Separately, Pan Han met with Chen Xue, who voiced her suspicions regarding his involvement in the European purges and Shen Yufei's death.

Pan Han dismissed her concerns, stating the purpose of their meeting was to discuss the "Commander." He revealed that Mu Xing had been investigating the Commander, uncovering records of her presence at the Second Red Coast Base in 1996. Pan Han then instructed Chen Xue to protect the Commander, emphasizing the importance of an upcoming conference.

Meanwhile, Mu Xing diligently examined the files Pan Han provided, which contained information about the Commander's presence at the Second Red Coast Base in 1996. While researching, she also inquired about a 1996 file concerning personnel who went on an expedition to Country T. This investigation, combined with her past recollections of seeing the Commander at a lecture at Tsinghua University, led Mu Xing to recognize the Commander's significant historical connections.

As Mu Xing prepared to leave, she was attacked by an unseen assailant. During her struggle, she overheard the attacker state their need to protect the Commander and desperately asked if the attack was because she had traced information related to Tsinghua University. At the crime scene, Shi Qiang discovered that the surveillance cameras on the road had been dismantled, suggesting a premeditated attack. Although Mu Xing's primary digital recorder was missing, he located a secondary one.

Despite his dislike for coffee, Shi Qiang went to the café where he had arranged to meet Mu Xing, grappling with profound sorrow. While listening to the recovered recording, he heard Mu Xing's final words, which included references to the "Commander" and "Tsinghua University." This immediately brought Ye Wenjie to his mind. The autopsy report confirmed Mu Xing's neck had been twisted, a method identical to a previous murder on the K1303 train, prompting a joint investigation.

Shi Qiang reviewed surveillance footage from a convenience store Mu Xing had visited shortly before her death, and later identified a car whose driver matched the suspect's profile from a highway camera. Although the image was blurry, Shi Qiang recognized the woman. Further evidence, including Chen Xue's purchase of a K1303 train ticket, strongly implicated her as the suspect in both murders.

As the action team prepared to apprehend Chen Xue, Wang Miao received an email invitation to an ETO conference. Recognizing this as an opportunity, Chang Weisi ordered the immediate suspension of Chen Xue's arrest, prioritizing intelligence gathering. Shi Qiang later informed Pan Han that Chen Xue was the primary suspect in Mu Xing's murder, and Mu Xing's recording captured Chen Xue stating her intent to protect the Commander.

He also highlighted the identical murder methods and Chen Xue’s K1303 ticket, confirming Mu Xing was investigating the ETO’s Commander and had traced her activities to Tsinghua University just before her death.

Episode 23 Recap

Before her death, Mu Xing's investigation led her to Tsinghua University, which was Ye Wenjie's workplace. Chen Xue, the daughter of Ye Wenjie's sister, Ye Wenxue, had previously achieved direct admission to Tsinghua University through independent enrollment, securing the only guaranteed spot that year. However, the person ranked second in the admissions process approached Ye Wenxue and paid a substantial sum of money to buy Chen Xue's admission slot.

Consequently, Ye Wenxue secretly withdrew Chen Xue's college application and severed mother-daughter ties with her. Later, Ye Wenjie, a physics department teacher at Tsinghua, found Chen Xue and informed her that her mother had an older sister. After this, Chen Xue went on to study at MIT and had only recently returned to China in June after completing her graduate studies. Investigators noted that her actions appeared normal and went unnoticed until the two recent murders.

All accumulated clues increasingly pointed towards Ye Wenjie. Wang Miao, however, remained deeply perplexed and troubled by one particular detail: Yang Dong was Ye Wenjie's daughter. Shi Qiang, observing Wang Miao's distress, sharply retorted that the enemy they faced was not human—it was the Earth-Trisolaris Organization, an extraterrestrial entity.

He warned Wang Miao against attempting to empathize with the enemy, asserting that such an emotional approach would overturn his judgment of right and wrong and leave his kindness vulnerable to exploitation, making his situation more dangerous. This stern advice was particularly crucial as Wang Miao was soon to attend an ETO gathering, a situation Shi Qiang anticipated would be far more complex and dangerous than they could imagine.

Wang Miao acknowledged the warning, jesting about Shi Qiang being there to back him up, even joking about becoming a martyr if caught, to which Shi Qiang gruffly dismissed, telling him to wait for rescue instead. Wang Miao then drove alone to the specified address. Meanwhile, Ye Wenjie told Chen Xue that she had been influenced by Pan Han.

Chen Xue, in turn, explained that she had eliminated Mu Xing to safeguard Ye Wenjie, believing Mu Xing would have posed a threat otherwise. She also reminded Ye Wenjie that their comrades should not become enemies, and that Ye Wenjie's original intent in agreeing to form the ETO and become its commander was to steer its members away from an anti-human path.

With the general assembly about to commence and everyone awaiting her final instruction, Ye Wenjie ultimately confirmed the dispatch of a "confirmation document," signaling her final command. Concurrently, Shi Qiang was making preparations for the ETO meeting. He deduced that this gathering, unlike previous netizen meet-ups which were for screening members, would include core ETO members and involve significant discussions, especially since the Adventists had just dealt with the Redemptionists.

He suggested a full deployment to apprehend key figures, emphasizing that the ETO was not a typical criminal organization and might have armed forces present. General Chang Weisi provided strong support, authorizing the Snow Leopard Special Forces and gunships to be on standby and granting Shi Qiang full on-scene command. Chen Xue later discovered that files on Ye Wenjie's computer had been restored.

She explained that merely deleting files to the Recycle Bin was insufficient; they needed to be "shredded" completely to prevent recovery, pointing out files with a "Restored" tag. Ye Wenjie casually dismissed it as an accidental action but internally knew that her daughter, Yang Dong, had inadvertently seen the Earth-Trisolaris Organization files on her computer. Upon Wang Miao's arrival, the internal meeting hall was abuzz with heated debate.

Pan Han openly admitted to murdering Shen Yufei, justifying his action by claiming she was a traitor who had led the Adventists into a dangerous predicament. A Redemptionist vehemently accused Pan Han of having malicious intent, using the Lord's technology and predictions for personal gain and influence. Pan Han retorted that he sought not personal fame but charisma to guide human thought, which he viewed as a pile of trash.

He argued that with governments globally declaring war on the ETO and initiating crackdowns in Europe and North America, purging the Redemptionists was a necessary first step to prevent them from siding with the government. He then controversially declared that the Commander belonged to the Adventists. The Redemptionists vehemently denied this, asserting the Commander was on their side, and a chaotic demand for a "Global Uprising" erupted among the attendees.

Amidst the clamor for a global uprising, Ye Wenjie, the Commander, entered the hall. Wang Miao watched her with a mix of surprise and confusion. Ye Wenjie addressed the assembly, acknowledging her recent poor health and the severe situation. She immediately confronted Pan Han, accusing him of gravely violating organizational discipline. Pan Han, defiant, argued for decisive action against internal enemies. Ye Wenjie countered by questioning his commitment to the ETO's ultimate ideal of "losing everything, including humans."

Pan Han attempted to justify his actions by claiming he had stopped Wei Cheng and Shen Yufei's calculations to prevent the Lord's non-arrival if the Trisolaran problem was solved. He then again demanded she explicitly declare herself an Adventist and reiterate their agenda: that human society, unable to solve its own problems or restrain its madness, required the Lord's intervention for forced supervision and transformation to create a new, perfect, and bright human civilization.

At this point, a man named Rafael, who revealed himself as a former peace activist turned extremist due to a personal tragedy and disillusionment with humanity, stepped forward. He confessed that his significant donations had allowed him to enter the core of the Adventists. As an insider, he exposed the Adventists' secret agenda: their belief that humanity is an evil species guilty of heinous crimes against Earth, and their ultimate goal is the complete destruction of all humanity.

He clarified that this destructive aim was Mike Evans' personal lifelong ideal from the very beginning, and Evans had deceived everyone, including Ye Wenjie, transforming the Adventists into a "kingdom of terror" comprised of extreme environmentalists and misanthropes. Rafael further disclosed that the Adventists had monopolized communication with the Lord, intercepting messages, selectively transmitting only small, altered portions, and sending numerous unchecked messages from the Second Red Coast Base.

He stated that Shen Yufei, although a core Adventist, was a resolute Redemptionist at heart and had provided crucial evidence of the Adventists' betrayal, which ultimately led to her death because she "knew too much." Ye Wenjie, concluding the revelations, declared that for Evans and people like Pan Han, there was no saving, and that to uphold the ETO's true ideals, they would now "thoroughly resolve the problem of the Adventists."

Immediately following her words, Chen Xue swiftly twisted Pan Han's neck, killing him, and his body was promptly removed. Wang Miao, witnessing the brutal execution, was overcome by surprise and terror. Ye Wenjie then turned towards him and introduced him to the assembly as Professor Wang Miao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and her friend. She informed them that Wang Miao researched nanomaterials, a technology the Lord intended to extinguish first from Earth.

Wang Miao, maintaining his composure, questioned why the Lord prioritized suppressing that particular technology. Instead of a direct answer, Ye Wenjie led the group on a recollection of the Red Coast's past, stating that the story of the Red Coast was essential to understanding the organization's development and history. The Red Coast's story began with the arduous exploration of extraterrestrial civilizations. Many cosmic factors severely interfered with their listening efforts.

Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng found Ye Wenjie working late and brought her to Yang Weining's office, reminding Yang that Ye Wenjie had been transferred to Red Coast specifically because of her paper on solar interference, a critical challenge she was expected to overcome.

They explained that while solar interference often affected communication satellites when Earth, satellites, and the Sun aligned, the situation at Red Coast was more severe and frequent because the Sun, as the interference source, was positioned between the outer space transmission source and Red Coast as the receiver. Furthermore, the Red Coast's monitoring and transmission systems shared the same antennae, significantly compressing listening time.

Ye Wenjie's paper had proposed that the Sun, being composed simply of hydrogen and helium, underwent calculable fusion processes, offering a new approach. Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining clarified their goal: to understand the rules and characteristics of solar electromagnetic radiation to filter it out digitally by building a mathematical model of the Sun to predict its behavior and avoid interference.

They acknowledged that solar electromagnetic radiation was only stable within limited frequency ranges; outside of these, it was volatile and unpredictable, meaning that during intense solar activities like sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections, solar interference could not be eliminated. They decided to focus solely on the electromagnetic radiation during the Sun's normal activity.

Lei Zhicheng admitted that neither he nor Yang Weining, whose focus was on ideological work and not astrophysics, had the deep professional expertise, making this complex problem Ye Wenjie's to solve. For half a year, Ye Wenjie's research progressed slowly, showing no glimmer of hope. Within the Red Coast's observation range, the Sun's radiation was erratic, and many phenomena defied explanation based on her current knowledge, leaving her research at a standstill.

Yang Weining found her struggling, and Ye Wenjie expressed her frustration, stating she couldn't understand why solar radiation exhibited sudden fluctuations without corresponding violent surface activity. She likened it to water rippling violently without wind or a stone being thrown. She considered if the radiation might originate from the Sun's core, but shortwave and microwave radiation could not penetrate the hundreds of thousands of kilometers to the surface.

This implied the activity must be on the surface, yet their monitoring detected no such corresponding disturbance when the fluctuations occurred within narrow frequency bands. Yang Weining then questioned what could be causing such sudden changes in narrow frequency bands.

Episode 24 Recap

Despite encouragement from Yang Weining and Lei Zhicheng to continue her research, Ye Wenjie felt her project had reached a dead end and prepared a final report acknowledging her inability to make further breakthroughs. However, she overheard Lei Zhicheng persuading Yang Weining to provide her with ample conditions to continue, arguing that such a highly theoretical study marked a researcher's expertise and could bring them credit if she achieved a breakthrough.

Listening to their conversation, Ye Wenjie decided not to submit her report, realizing that ending the research would mean losing access to invaluable astrophysics resources and foreign language journals. This decision unexpectedly led her to a surprising discovery. While officially continuing her research on solar interference, Ye Wenjie was actually refining her mathematical model of the sun. After completing complex matrix calculations, she came across a journal paper about Jupiter by Dr. Harry Peterson.

He had published data from June 12th and July 2nd, revealing accidental detections of strong electromagnetic radiation from Jupiter itself, lasting 81 and 76 seconds respectively, during his observations of Jupiter's rotational oscillation caused by planetary gravity. Ye Wenjie vividly remembered these dates because the Red Coast Monitoring System had experienced strong solar interference then. Crucially, these solar interference events occurred exactly 16 minutes and 42 seconds after the Jovian radio outbursts reached Earth.

She contacted the National Astronomical Observatories for Jupiter's and Earth's coordinates on those dates. Her calculations confirmed that the time difference between direct travel from Jupiter to Earth and travel from Jupiter to the sun and then to Earth was precisely 16 minutes and 42 seconds. This finding supported Ye Wenjie's conjecture: the sun amplified electromagnetic radiation.

She explained that her solar structure mathematical model indicated that as radiation passed through different frequencies within the sun, it encountered distinct boundaries, or "energy mirrors." These mirrors not only reflected lower-frequency radiation but also amplified it, a phenomenon she termed "gain reflectivity." She theorized that mysterious sudden fluctuations in narrow frequency bands observed previously were amplified cosmic radiation.

She also explained that the sun's convection zone acted as a shield, requiring incoming radio waves to exceed a certain power threshold to reach the radiation zone and be amplified. While most Earth-based radio sources fell below this threshold, Jupiter's electromagnetic radiation and Red Coast's maximum transmission power both exceeded it.

This implied an exciting possibility: humanity could use the sun as a super-antenna to broadcast radio waves to the universe with stellar-level energy, potentially achieving Kardashev Type II civilization transmission capabilities, with a power nearly a hundred million times stronger than anything Earth could produce. She proposed comparing the Jovian radio outburst waveforms with Red Coast's solar interference waveforms to confirm her theory.

Yang Weining was excited by the possibility but noted the significant difficulty and potential political risk ("colluding with foreign powers") in contacting Dr. Harry Peterson to obtain his waveform records. Ye Wenjie then proposed a simpler, more direct method: transmitting radio waves directly to the sun using Red Coast's system at a power exceeding the threshold. Yang Weining was hesitant, knowing Political Commissar Lei would never agree.

Ye Wenjie suggested framing it as a solar research experiment, using Red Coast's system as a solar exploration radar to analyze echoes, citing precedents in Western research. Although Yang Weining attempted to persuade Lei Zhicheng, arguing the experiment was technically simple, would only take minutes, and involved minimal workload, Lei strongly opposed the idea. He cited the extreme uncertainty and immense risks involved, insisting Ye Wenjie continue with solar interference research and abandon thoughts of such an experiment.

Disappointed but undeterred, Ye Wenjie refused to let her rekindled hope be extinguished and resolved to find an opportunity to conduct the experiment. An opportunity arose due to the Red Coast transmitter's high fault rate and frequent test transmissions after maintenance. During one such test, Ye Wenjie seized the moment, setting the transmission power just above the theoretical threshold for the sun's gain reflectivity and the frequency to one most likely to be amplified.

Under the pretext of testing the antenna's mechanical performance, she aimed it at the setting sun and initiated a transmission identical to the usual test content. Immediately after she pressed the button, a massive alarm blared. Ye Wenjie rushed to find Yang Weining, urging him to have the base station receive on the 12,000 MHz channel.

Yang Weining quickly took action, instructing the radio operators to monitor the specified frequency and report any findings, although he expressed doubt about receiving anything due to the expected weakness of any echo. Realizing she had used Red Coast to send a signal to the sun, Yang Weining sternly warned her never to tell anyone and that this must not happen again. Initially, Yang Weining reported that nothing had been received, deeply disappointing Ye Wenjie.

However, he then presented her with a surprising reply from Dr. Harry Peterson, expressing his interest in collaborating with a fellow researcher in China. The letter included complete records of the two Jovian radio outburst waveforms. Ye Wenjie eagerly laid them out, hoping for a match with the solar interference waveforms to confirm her theory. But halfway through the comparison, she lost all hope, knowing the familiar solar interference waveforms would not align.

She dismissed it as a dream that had ended. Unbeknownst to her at the time, that moment marked the first detectable cry from Earth civilization into space. Amplified by the sun to stellar power, the strong radio wave had already passed Jupiter's orbit, spreading through the universe at the speed of light. On the 12,000 MHz band, the sun became the brightest star in the entire Milky Way, effectively broadcasting humanity's message.

That call was heard, and a response came from the Trisolarans: "Your call to the universe let Lord finally hear us! Eliminate human tyranny! The world belongs to Trisolaris!" At the time, Ye Wenjie couldn't fathom these profound consequences. The transmission seemed like a fleeting, beautiful bubble, bursting and returning her life to peace. The Red Coast Project had completed its experimental phase, and technical problems dwindled.

Four years after she arrived at the base, Yang Weining married her, sacrificing his career prospects. They remained at the base as ordinary technicians. As her work and life became routine, Ye Wenjie found a newfound tranquility. This inner peace allowed memories suppressed by tension and fear to resurface, leading her to rationally confront the madness and prejudice that had harmed her, and to acknowledge humanity's darker side.

She immersed herself in foreign philosophy and history, their insights leading her to the core of human nature. In reality, human madness continued unabated, with rampant deforestation, expanding wastelands, and the Cold War reaching its terrifying peak, pushing humanity's insanity to a historical zenith. Confronted by such madness, rationality seemed powerless. As an idealist, Ye Wenjie felt a profound loss of purpose, believing her past efforts were meaningless and that no meaningful pursuit lay ahead.

However, on November 21, 1979, everything changed. While on night duty at Red Coast, monitoring cosmic radio waves and meaningless noise, Ye Wenjie, with her deep familiarity with cosmic noise waveforms, realized that the moving wave in front of her was intelligently modulated. Red Coast had never received a signal with a recognition level exceeding 'C', but this one registered as 'AAAAA'. This extreme rating signified that the received information used the same coding language as Red Coast's outbound transmission. She decoded the chilling message: "Do not answer."

Episode 25 Recap

That night, the wave pattern on the screen was profoundly different. Ye Wenjie, intimately familiar with the universe's noise waveforms, realized the pattern was intelligently modulated, a stark contrast to the usual C-level signals. This particular signal registered an unprecedented AAAAA rating, indicating it used the very language Red Coast had used for its outbound transmissions. Her deciphering revealed a clear, urgent warning: "Do not answer."

The message continued, explaining that it came from a pacifist in that distant world, who considered it fortunate that their civilization had received the message first. The warning was explicit: "Do not answer. There are tens of millions of stars in your direction. As long as you do not answer, this world will not be able to ascertain the source of your transmission. But if you do answer, the source will be located right away.

Your stellar system will be invaded. Your world will be conquered." Ye Wenjie deduced the source was approximately four light-years away, originating from Alpha Centauri, the closest extra-solar stellar system. In the four hours that followed, she first learned of the existence of another world, Trisolaris, a civilization that had been reborn again and again, and understood their clear intention to migrate to the stars.

Without anyone's knowledge, she transferred all the received information to a multiply-encrypted, invisible subdirectory, replacing the original five hours of data with older noise. She then proceeded to the main control room of transmission, where, in an act of profound defiance, she sent a new message into the cosmos: "Come here. I will help you conquer this world. Our civilization is no longer capable of solving its own problems. We need your force to intervene." Soon after, Ye Wenjie collapsed.

When she regained consciousness, her husband, Yang Weining, was deeply concerned, asking why she had hidden something from him. Believing he had discovered her secret transmission, she cautiously asked if he knew everything. To her surprise, Yang Weining’s worry was about her pregnancy, a fact she had only just learned herself.

She recalled the day she became a mother to her daughter, Yang Dong, musing that it might have been a coincidence, but from that day forward, both her life and the history of human civilization embarked on a fresh start. Later, Ye Wenjie explained to Wang Miao why the Lord sought to eliminate nanomaterial technology.

She revealed that this technology could enable humanity to escape Earth's gravity and expand into space on a massive scale, specifically mentioning the potential for space elevators. She detailed how the mass production of ultrastrong nanomaterials could provide the technical foundation for building space elevators from Earth's surface directly to geostationary orbit. Such a development would allow humans to easily access near-Earth space and construct large-scale defensive structures, which would significantly impede the Lord's advent.

Therefore, this technology had to be suppressed. She acknowledged that while applied research like this might be completed by others, confusing the researchers' minds was the most effective method, leading to the kind of countdown Wang Miao had experienced. Ultimately, Ye Wenjie concluded that all evidence pointed to a grim truth: physics had never truly existed and would never exist. Though she knew her actions were irresponsible, she felt she had no other choice.

Wang Miao, deeply troubled, pressed her for answers about Yang Dong's death. Meanwhile, Shi Qiang, with a large contingent of forces, arrived at the Earth Trisolaran Organization (ETO) gathering point. After securing the perimeter, Chang Weisi gave the order to commence the action. Power was cut, and special forces stormed the building. In the ensuing chaos, Xu Bingbing quickly led Wang Miao away.

Inside, Chen Xue and two others were discovered holding what they declared to be three nuclear bombs, each with a yield of approximately 1. 5 kilotons. They threatened to detonate them, holding a detonator, demanding the release of their "Commander," Ye Wenjie. Ye Wenjie, however, declared her intention to stay with her comrades. Shi Qiang attempted to de-escalate the situation, initially dismissing the bombs as mere balls.

As snipers sought a clear shot, it was determined that directly shooting the spherical objects would only trigger the conventional explosives, not a nuclear blast. Shi Qiang then engaged Chen Xue, attempting to gain her trust by claiming to have found her mother and her letter. As Chen Xue hesitated, reaching for the purported letter, Shi Qiang yelled "Radiation!" as a distraction.

A sniper took the shot, hitting the device in Chen Xue's hand, causing a conventional explosion and scattering the crowd. Amid the confusion and warnings of radiation, Xu Bingbing swiftly escorted Wang Miao out. Shi Qiang, though injured, downplayed his wounds as superficial, joking with Wang Miao that taking on a nuclear bomb with a pistol was enough to brag about for a lifetime, even as he acknowledged the more dangerous threat of radiation.

He shrugged off the risk, stating that if something was meant to be, a smile would let it go. Ye Wenjie, who had put down her weapon, was then apprehended. Chang Weisi began the interrogation of Ye Wenjie. After confirming her identity and background, he informed her that the initial phase of the investigation would focus on ordinary criminal charges, specifically murder, and not delve into higher-level matters. Ye Wenjie stated she understood and would cooperate.

She confessed to killing two people: Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng and her husband, Chief Engineer Yang Weining, both on the afternoon of October 21, 1979. She recounted how, eight years after she had sent her initial signal to the sun, she received the Trisolaran message that day. In the hours following her reception and secret reply, Lei Zhicheng called her to his office. There, she learned that he had also seen the message.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Lei Zhicheng had been secretly running a program on the main computer, creating backups of all Red Coast's sent and received messages, and it was through this hidden archive that he discovered the extraterrestrial transmission. Lei Zhicheng confronted Ye Wenjie, accusing her of deleting or hiding the message for eight hours and planning to reply, which he believed would ruin human civilization.

Ye Wenjie realized he was unaware she had already sent her reply, having bypassed his monitoring program by not using the regular file interface when placing the answer into the transmission buffer. She tried to think of a way to deceive him and cover up her actions.

Lei Zhicheng expressed his lack of pity for her, yet stated he couldn't bear to see Yang Weining and their unborn child ruined by her actions, just as Ye Wenjie herself had been implicated by her father. He urged her to cooperate, suggesting that only he and she knew about the message, and that he would take care of the rest to minimize the impact.

Ye Wenjie then understood his true motive: Lei Zhicheng wished to be the first person to discover extraterrestrial intelligence, a chance to achieve historical renown. She recognized that if he reported the discovery, her reply would soon be found, and humanity would use all its technological and military might to prevent the Trisolarans' arrival. She feigned agreement, but in that moment, she had already made her own final decision.

Episode 26 Recap

Lei Zhicheng, driven by the ambition to be the first to discover extraterrestrial intelligence and secure his place in history, approached Ye Wenjie. Ye Wenjie, understanding his intent to report her activities and secure his own fame, agreed to his request. However, she had already made her own decision, knowing that if he reported her reply, humanity would attempt to stop the Trisolarans.

Unnoticed by others due to her frequent equipment checks, she had already loosened a bolt securing the ground wire to the main cabinet in the equipment closet, creating a subtle malfunction. She knew this specific issue would be hard to trace, as most ground wire problems occurred on the cliff.

When the ground wire malfunction was reported, Lei Zhicheng, known for his dedication and willingness to undertake dangerous and exhausting tasks like ground wire emergency maintenance, volunteered to descend the cliff to find the fault. He first instructed a comrade guarding the listening post to remain there and report to base command if monitoring was affected.

Later, while already on the cliff, he dismissed a comrade who was assisting him, sending him back to the main control room to check other machines, noting that the comrade was new and would not be blamed. Ye Wenjie planned to cut the rope with a hacksaw she had broken into three pieces to disguise the cut. Unexpectedly, Yang Weining arrived, saw Lei Zhicheng struggling alone, and insisted on going down to help him.

Yang Weining initially dismissed the need for an additional rope, stating the single rope could support both of them, having supported three people in the past to save time. However, Ye Wenjie firmly insisted on following maintenance rules, requiring a second rope. Yang Weining reluctantly agreed for her to retrieve another rope while he waited.

But when Ye Wenjie returned, Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining had already completed their inspection and were ascending on the single rope, with Yang Weining above Lei Zhicheng. Realizing this was her last chance, Ye Wenjie calmly and dispassionately took out her hacksaw and cut the rope. She believed she had found a life's purpose and was indifferent to any cost, whether to herself or others, convinced that this was a small beginning to an unprecedented sacrifice for all humanity.

She heard two or three short cries, followed by the sound of bodies hitting the rocks. A moment later, she saw the stream below the cliff turn red, though she later wondered if the color was merely an illusion, given the low water flow at that time of year. After hearing Ye Wenjie's confession, Wang Miao visited Shi Qiang in the hospital, where Shi Qiang was undergoing a full examination.

Wang Miao clarified that he had not found Ye Wenxue, but stated his experience of over twenty years in the field gave him insight into how to handle such individuals. Shi Qiang pressed Wang Miao for updates on Ye Wenjie's interrogation, which had begun that morning. He instructed Wang Miao to return and closely monitor the interrogation, reporting every detail. He also told Xu Bingbing to ensure Professor Wang left, as he had his own tasks.

Xu Bingbing reassured Wang Miao that she would care for Shi Qiang and requested to be informed of his examination report promptly. Later, after Wang Miao left, Xu Bingbing presented Shi Qiang's examination report, noting his abnormal indicators. Shi Qiang acknowledged his understanding of the results but firmly instructed Xu Bingbing to keep the information from Wang Miao, fearing Wang Miao would become overly emotional and cry if he knew.

He then sarcastically remarked on his own condition, asking for a cigarette, which Xu Bingbing denied due to hospital policy. During her interrogation, Chang Weisi asked Ye Wenjie if she ever regretted her actions. She firmly denied it, though she conceded "perhaps… for a small while."

She recounted that the deaths of Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining were officially ruled as accidents, and given the general perception that she and Yang Weining were a happy couple at the base, no one harbored suspicions towards her. Her life at the base resumed its quiet routine, even with the arrival of a new commissar. This changed one day when the guard, Zhang, informed her that children from Qijiatun village wanted to meet her.

They had heard of the educated individuals at Radar Peak and sought help with their studies for the upcoming National College Entrance Exam, which they now confirmed anyone could take without a referral letter. Ye Wenjie was surprised by their presence, but Zhang explained that the base's security had been lowered, and local villagers were now allowed near the perimeter.

With the base leadership's approval, Ye Wenjie began holding classes in her room, using a small blackboard to teach the children about physics concepts like inertia. On New Year's Eve, after a lesson, the children eagerly invited her to their homes for dumplings. She politely declined, opting to spend the festive night alone. However, later that evening, Zhang, who was on duty, accompanied three of the children who had braved the cold and snow to her room.

They brought homemade dumplings, explaining they came to keep her company since she couldn't go down the mountain. What she expected to be a cold and lonely New Year's Eve turned out to be unexpectedly warm. In June, Ye Wenjie gave birth to her daughter, Yang Dong. Due to malpresentation and her fragile health, the base's clinic couldn't handle the delivery, so she was rushed to the nearest town hospital.

During the journey, she experienced a severe hemorrhage, which she perceived as the deserved punishment for her betrayal. The situation was critical, with insufficient blood at the hospital. Dozens of Qijiatun villagers, including many she had tutored or who had only heard of her, stepped forward to donate blood, ultimately saving her life. She lost over two thousand milliliters of blood, and acknowledged she would have died without their help.

After Yang Dong's birth, Ye Wenjie remained too weak to care for her baby. Once again, the Qijiatun villagers, notably an elderly man named Qi, came to her aid, requesting the base leaders' permission to take Ye Wenjie and Yang Dong into their own home for care. During this time, Yang Dong was fed by many women in the village and was cherished by everyone for her apparent intelligence, and the house became a common gathering place for the villagers.

This period of her life felt like a dream, like fragments of someone else's life that had somehow become intertwined with her own. She vividly recalled nights spent with a woman named Da Feng, sitting by an oil lamp in their home, as Qijiatun had no electricity, caring for the children. She questioned if this happy time truly belonged to her. This brief, happy interlude, however, was fleeting.

Two years after Yang Dong’s birth, Ye Wenjie and her father's case was fully rehabilitated. She received a letter from her university offering her old position back, along with a significant sum of back pay for her father. At base meetings, she was finally addressed as "Comrade Ye Wenjie." Yet, she knew in her heart that she could never truly be their comrade again, remembering the message she had sent to Trisolaris two years prior.

After leaving the base, she no longer had the means to receive any further messages, though she knew a reply would take at least eight years. She found it challenging to adapt to the changed society where people now valued technology, science, and practical effort. She often questioned if the "madness" had truly ended and if rationality was returning.

As time passed, her memories of the Red Coast Base, and the monumental act she had secretly performed, began to feel surreal, like a hallucination or a dream. She even doubted if the sun could truly amplify radio signals, if she really used it to send humanity's message, or if she received an alien reply, and the reality of Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining's deaths. Despite the surreal feeling, she acknowledged these events were real.

She tried to numb herself with work to forget the past, which provided a sense of safety. She found it difficult to truly forget, attempting to understand and forgive those who had harmed her, hoping they too could find peace. The passage of time after Ye Wenjie left the base led her to question the reality of the Red Coast Base and her "super betrayal," as society had shifted to embrace science and reason.

She found it difficult to forget the past and the people who had harmed her, noting their lack of remorse. She identified her mother, Shao Lin, and the leaders of her father's interrogation as those who caused her pain. Shao Lin, after her father's death, had quickly recovered and adapted, marrying a previously dismissed high-level cadre from the Ministry of Education in 1977.

This proved to be a shrewd decision, as her husband's position was partially restored before the end of the revolution and he rapidly climbed the ranks after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh CPC Central Committee. As a result, Shao Lin herself was promoted to vice president of another prestigious university. During a visit, Shao Lin affectionately interacted with Yang Dong, bought her new clothes, and expressed sympathy for Ye Wenjie's past sufferings.

After dinner, Shao Lin's husband walked them a long way. He advised Ye Wenjie not to dwell on "old historical debts" concerning her father's death, asserting that Shao Lin was a victim who bore no responsibility. He then criticized Ye Wenjie's father for his "obsessive" and "perverted" adherence to his beliefs, claiming it led him to abandon his family responsibilities and cause suffering to his wife and daughter.

Ye Wenjie sharply rebuffed him, stating he had no right to discuss her father, as it was a private matter between her and her mother. Shao Lin's husband then revealed that he was merely relaying her mother's sentiments.

Episode 27 Recap

Ye Wenjie reflected on her daughter Yang Dong’s relationship with her mother, Shao Lin. While Ye Wenjie never forbade Yang Dong from seeing Shao Lin, Yang Dong seemed to intuitively avoid mentioning her grandmother. Ye Wenjie revealed that she had long despaired of human civilization and harbored no intention of seeking revenge for her father's death; rather, she felt she had already exacted her revenge on all of humanity, including those responsible, on the morning at the Red Coast Base.

Her unwavering ideal had become to introduce a higher civilization to the human world. She clarified that it was not she who first contacted the Trisolaran Civilization. Half a year after returning to university, Ye Wenjie embarked on a major project to design a large radio astronomy observatory. This led her and her team to a remote mountainous area in the Northwest, chosen for its optimal electromagnetic environment.

There, they encountered locals who offered them water and spoke of a peculiar foreigner they called “Bethune,” who had been planting trees on the back hill for nearly three years, supposedly to save a dying species of bird. The villagers found his actions baffling, even suspicious. Ye Wenjie soon met the man, Mike Evans. Due to his meager living conditions, he couldn’t even offer them coffee.

When asked by a villager what he was doing there, Evans declared his purpose was "Saving lives." He quickly clarified he was not saving local human lives, but rather a specific subspecies of the Northwest Brown Swallow, whose ancient migration routes were imperiled by disappearing vegetation, pushing them toward extinction.

He explained that he was creating an “Eden” by planting trees to provide them habitat, stating that saving other species was as significant as saving humans, who he felt lived “much better than they deserve.” He observed that while his swallows weren’t as charismatic as pandas, countless unnoticed species went extinct daily. Though he had initially hired locals, he ran out of funds for saplings and irrigation.

When the villagers conveyed the county’s desire to reward him for his efforts, Evans simply asked if the reward included "some hands to help plant some trees," baffling the villagers. Ye Wenjie was drawn not by the swallows, but by Evans's underlying reasons for his actions. Mike Evans, the son of a multinational oil company president, seemed far removed from his billionaire background.

He shared with Ye Wenjie a pivotal event from his childhood: his father's explanation of why human civilization prioritized oil over the lives of seabirds, even in the face of accelerating mass extinctions. His father asserted that ensuring human survival and comfort was paramount, with all else being secondary. In Evans's view, all humans, including his father, were "executioners." Ye Wenjie, having her own complex relationship with her father's ideals, understood Evans's sentiment.

Evans recounted how the eyes of those dying seabirds haunted him, shaping his life. At thirteen, he declared his desire to be a "savior," not for humanity, but for any endangered species, no matter how insignificant. He later studied biology, specializing in birds and insects, firmly believing that saving any species was no different from saving a human being.

This conviction formed the basis of his self-founded doctrine: "species egalitarianism," which posits that all living species on Earth are born equal. While Ye Wenjie admired Evans’s purity and self-awareness, she recognized him as a "paranoid idealist," especially as he stated that humanity’s selfishness and hypocrisy would forever prevent the realization of species egalitarianism. Although she did not fully agree, she envied his unyielding dedication.

Ye Wenjie clarified that she did not share information about the Trisolaran Civilization with him at that time. Her observatory project was not approved, and she returned to Beijing. Three years later, she received an urgent postcard from Evans, imploring her to "Come here, and tell me how to live," prompting her return to the remote Northwest village. Evans, visibly driven, told her he couldn't stop planting trees or he would collapse.

He revealed his father had died two months prior, leaving him an unexpected inheritance of $4. 5 billion, excluding real estate, while his siblings received only $5 million each. He interpreted this as a sign that his father, deep down, valued him and his ideals.

Evans shared his profound disillusionment, explaining that his extensive global efforts to plant trees in areas with high deforestation rates had been largely destroyed, with over 70% of his trees cut down in the past two years. He could use his vast capital to stop the deforestation or even compel reforestation, but he deemed such actions meaningless, as human nature—whether driven by poverty or the wealthy nations’ practice of outsourcing pollution—remained inherently destructive.

He lamented that all non-human species, including his beloved Northwest Brown Swallow, would inevitably face extinction if civilization continued on its current path. He had come to China believing the idea of species egalitarianism might have originated in the ancient East, specifically referencing Buddhism's principle of saving all lives, in contrast to Christianity's human-centric focus. However, he now found the problem was universal, and even Buddhism couldn't resolve his crisis.

Despite his immense wealth, he felt his life’s pillars had crumbled, concluding that human efforts and massive investments to save endangered species or the environment were futile against humanity’s inherent madness. He speculated that humans might be beyond self-correction and questioned if there were "other forces outside of humans." In a moment charged with destiny, Ye Wenjie, recalling her own past encounter, interjected, "Do not answer. Do not answer. Do not answer. Yes, there are other forces."

She then fully recounted the story of the Red Coast Base and the Trisolaran world, vividly recalling every detail, even the temperature of the sun on her face on that pivotal day. Evans, though initially finding her story "amazing" and hard to believe, recognized that he possessed the resources to verify her claims. With this realization, he declared, "If what you said is true, then we are comrades."

Following their alliance, Mike Evans vanished for three years, leaving Ye Wenjie uncertain of his activities or how he was confirming her claims. Then, in the winter three years later, Ye Wenjie received an invitation to be a visiting scholar at an unknown university in Western Europe. Upon her arrival at the airport, a young man greeted her and led her to the tarmac, where they boarded a helicopter. He informed her their destination was the Second Red Coast Base.

Inside, Evans confirmed that, using the coordinates and frequencies Ye Wenjie had provided, they had successfully received messages from Trisolaris, validating all her assertions. He announced that the great Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet had already set sail, targeting the solar system, with an expected arrival in 450 years.

Evans introduced Ye Wenjie to the first members of the newly formed Earth-Trisolaris Movement (ETO), explaining their ideal: to invite the Trisolaran Civilization to transform human civilization, curbing its madness and evil, and thereby making Earth a harmonious, prosperous, and sinless world once more. He revealed their organization was rapidly expanding with members worldwide.

When Ye Wenjie inquired about her role, Evans declared her the Supreme Commander of the Earth-Trisolaris Movement, a designation unanimously recognized by all the ETO warriors, who chanted, "Eliminate human tyranny! World belongs to Trisolaris!" Ye Wenjie clarified that this was the full extent of her knowledge regarding the ETO's establishment.

She admitted to a premonition that the ETO would eventually "deteriorate," but at the time, she was unable to make definitive judgments, and despite her misgivings, she voluntarily joined with the hope of steering their course. However, she ultimately found her power to be minimal, unable to make any significant changes. She had once held great expectations for the Trisolarans, but now felt disappointed.

She recounted that a quote from Mike Evans, stating that while they knew humanity, they did not know what extraterrestrial intelligence looked like, had become the motto of the Adventists, one of the ETO's internal factions. Ye Wenjie confirmed that the Adventists had indeed intercepted messages from Trisolaris, but due to their highly organized structure, she never learned the content of those messages.

She revealed that she later attempted to establish a Third Red Coast Base to re-establish contact after the Adventists monopolized communications, but this effort only completed the receiving portion before construction ceased and the base was dismantled, as no more messages were coming from the direction of Alpha Centauri. She speculated that the Trisolarans might have changed their communication methods, a possibility Evans never denied.

When asked if Evans had deceived her, Ye Wenjie clarified that he had never confided his true innermost thoughts, only expressing his profound sense of mission toward other Earth species. She had not foreseen that this sense of mission would morph into such extreme hatred for humanity, to the point where he considered the destruction of human civilization his ultimate ideal. She agreed that Evans had exploited the Trisolaran Civilization.

She explained the ETO's internal factions: the Adventists, led by Evans, who sought to annihilate humanity with alien power; the Redemptionists, who worshipped the aliens as divine beings; and the Survivors, who sought to betray their fellow humans for self-preservation. Ye Wenjie lamented that this reality was completely inconsistent with her initial ideal of using an advanced alien civilization to transform humanity.

She had "lit the fire, but I couldn't control it," believing that a high civilization would embody a high morality capable of saving Earth. When questioned about her desire to eliminate the Adventists and why she didn't directly attack their vessel, the Judgment Day, despite the Redemptionists' loyalty to her, Ye Wenjie revealed a critical obstacle: the Trisolaran messages, which she referred to as the "Lord's messages," were stored on one of the Judgment Day’s computers.

If attacked, the Adventists would destroy these vital messages, which she considered as crucial as sacred religious texts. Therefore, she concluded, the Adventists were holding the Lord's messages hostage, rendering them powerless to act against the Judgment Day. She declined to offer any suggestions, and dismissed the question of whether her use of "Lord" for Trisolaris indicated religious conversion, stating it was "just a habit" she did not wish to discuss further. She also deemed it unlikely that the Trisolarans had provided the Adventists with advanced technology, fearing it would fall into human hands.

Episode 28 Recap

General Chang Weisi pressed Ye Wenjie for the final and most crucial piece of information: whether Trisolaris had only sent radio waves to Earth. Ye Wenjie conceded it was "almost" true. She explained that while the current Trisolaran civilization was capable of space travel at one-tenth the speed of light, a technological leap achieved decades ago, their massive interstellar fleet accelerated very slowly.

This meant that despite their potential maximum speed, they could only cruise at it for short periods before decelerating. Therefore, the journey to the solar system, which would take a smaller probe 40 years, would require 400 years for the full fleet. She also revealed that the fleet's propulsion relied on matter-antimatter annihilation, requiring a funnel-shaped magnetic field at the front of each ship to slowly collect antimatter particles from space.

Wang Miao and Ding Yi, after quick calculations, confirmed the 400-year estimate. Wang Miao then inquired about Ye Wenjie's "almost" comment. She clarified that their discussion of speed was within a specific context, implying that outside this context, even humans could accelerate certain objects to near light speed. Ding Yi interjected, suggesting she meant the macroscopic scale, as humans already accelerate microscopic particles to near light speed in high-energy accelerators. Ye Wenjie confirmed that they were indeed discussing micro-particles.

She revealed that six years prior, Trisolaris had accelerated two hydrogen nuclei, or protons, to near light speed from their triple star system, launching them towards the solar system. These two protons arrived at Earth two years ago. General Chang Weisi, astonished, questioned the purpose of sending only two seemingly insignificant protons, given that even a bacterium's cilium contained billions.

Ye Wenjie gravely declared that they were a "lock," designed to halt the progress of human science for the four and a half centuries until the Trisolaran Fleet's arrival. She reiterated Evans's previous statement that the day the protons arrived would mark the death of human science.

Chang Weisi angrily confronted her, asking why she hadn't revealed this to Yang Dong earlier, especially since Professor David of Gadayork University had committed suicide and the field of physics seemed to be collapsing. Ye Wenjie countered, questioning if everything she knew was truly the absolute truth. Following this revelation, Ding Yi stormed out, and General Chang Weisi concluded the interrogation. Later, Wang Miao visited Ye Wenjie, seeking answers about Yang Dong's death.

Ye Wenjie admitted she still had a question to answer for him regarding her daughter. She explained that Yang Dong, who avoided news, held a fundamental belief that despite the world's ugliness, harmony and perfection existed at the extremes of the micro and macro scales. The everyday world was merely foam on a perfect ocean.

However, the protons' interference with the accelerator experiments shattered this faith, making the everyday world appear beautiful while the micro and macro realms it encompassed might be chaotic and ugly. Though Yang Dong knew she could live without physics, her core belief collapsed, destroying half of her life. Wang Miao mentioned Shen Yufei's observation that Yang Dong tried to change, perhaps as a form of self-salvation, but still chose to end her life.

Ye Wenjie sorrowfully confessed that she had destroyed the other half of Yang Dong's life. She believed Yang Dong had accidentally seen her undeleted computer files, discovering the secret of her communication with Trisolaris. Yang Dong could never have imagined that her mother, with whom she had lived in such close companionship, was actually "another person," someone she couldn't even believe could exist.

Ye Wenjie concluded that these two revelations, which were essentially one catastrophic truth, constituted Yang Dong's entire life, and that she was, in essence, the one who destroyed it. She admitted that the outcome, where physics never truly existed, was irresponsible, yet she felt she had no other choice. Wang Miao then met with Ding Yi to discuss Yang Dong's death. Ding Yi acknowledged the many lingering doubts, including his own.

He found it illogical that Yang Dong, upon learning about the Trisolaran data and the protons interfering with experiments, would choose suicide, as this knowledge should have offered a new sense of hope or explanation for the anomalies in theoretical physics. He mused that Yang Dong must have seen something far beyond what they currently understood, but couldn't fathom what or how.

Wang Miao questioned the credibility of the two protons, fired from four light-years away, precisely locking down Earth's science, likening it to hitting a mosquito from Pluto. Ding Yi admitted he didn't know the full implications. He then shared his perspective on micro-particles, explaining that they resemble points but possess complex structures, similar to how a cigarette filter or activated charcoal, though three-dimensional, possesses a vast two-dimensional adsorbent surface area due to microscopic pores.

He elaborated that while God only granted the macroscopic universe three dimensions, eight higher dimensions are confined within the micro scale, existing as an eleven-dimensional space-time within fundamental particles. Ding Yi suggested that the true mark of a civilization's technological advancement in the universe lies in its ability to control and utilize these micro-dimensions. He posited that humanity, despite its progress from fire to computers and nanotechnology, still only manipulates micro-particles at a one-dimensional level.

This, he concluded, was why the Trisolarans viewed humans as "turkeys." Wang Miao pressed him on the relevance of this to the two protons, which seemed insignificant in terms of energy. Ding Yi, feigning ignorance and adopting the "turkey" persona, refused to elaborate further, telling Wang Miao that if he knew the full truth, he "wouldn't be able to sleep" and should instead "learn from Shi Qiang" and focus on his own responsibilities.

Back home, Wang Miao found himself staring blankly at a cigarette filter, lost in thought from Ding Yi's earlier analogy. His daughter, Doudou, repeatedly asked him to tell her a story, which he eventually did, about a magician defeating a dragon. Meanwhile, Shi Qiang, who had been exposed to significant radiation and was suffering from inexplicable nosebleeds, arrived at Wang Miao's home shortly after being discharged from the hospital.

He assured Wang Miao that he was fine, having been thoroughly decontaminated. Shi Qiang, having reviewed Ye Wenjie's interrogation records, admitted his confusion about the two protons and the Trisolarans' intentions. Wang Miao briefly explained their function. Shi Qiang observed a profound anxiety among everyone at the Battle Command Center, a feeling that human civilization had suddenly aged.

At the military meeting in the Battle Command Center, Shi Qiang revealed that he had insisted on bringing Wang Miao and Ding Yi along, believing Wang Miao to be potentially "a good knife for murder." General Chang Weisi confirmed that the war with the alien invaders had already begun. He clarified that while their immediate opponents were human "traitors" within the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO), these could be seen as external enemies, and humanity had never faced such an adversary before.

Their urgent objective was to seize critical Trisolaran messages stored on the vessel "Judgment Day". The ship, an old oil tanker repurposed with complex internal structures and passages, was tracked legally sailing the Atlantic and was scheduled to pass through the Panama Canal in four days, presenting a unique opportunity.

The core challenge of the mission was to capture the ship and its data without allowing the enemy to destroy the information, a process that could take less than ten seconds for them to accomplish by simply firing at a hard drive. They had no inside agents or maps of the ship's interior.

Various conventional methods were proposed and dismissed: ball lightning (might be shielded, too slow), neutron bombs (not instantly fatal), nerve gas (too slow to spread), and concussion bombs (too small or too destructive). Shi Qiang, growing impatient and feeling ignored, was then challenged by Colonel Stanton, a seasoned special operations expert, regarding his qualifications.

Shi Qiang passionately defended his capabilities, drawing on his past military experience in reconnaissance and his current role as a criminal detective, asserting that for a delicate operation like this, an "out-of-the-box" approach was needed, one that criminals, as masters of such thinking, excelled at. Shi Qiang then presented his audacious "out-of-the-box" plan: two pillars would be erected on the banks of the Panama Canal, between which many parallel, thin filaments of Wang Miao's "Flying Blade" nanomaterial would be strung.

This material, Wang Miao explained, was a silk-like structure, one-tenth the thickness of a human hair, capable of cutting through iron. Wang Miao confirmed that existing supplies would likely suffice for the canal's narrowest point (150 meters wide) and the "Judgment Day"'s height (31 meters above water, 8 meters draft). He assured the group that even if hard drives or optical disks were sliced, the clean cuts made by the filaments would likely allow for data recovery.

With no other viable options, this plan was deemed the most feasible. The discussion then moved to the plan's details. Wang Miao suggested using flat sheets of nanomaterial as pads to protect the pillars where the incredibly thin, almost invisible Flying Blade filaments would be attached, also proposing fluorescent markers for visibility under special lights.

He noted that placing the filaments underwater would be difficult and possibly unnecessary, as the ship's lower sections contained engines, fuel, and ballast, not likely computer centers. He suggested a tighter net above the waterline would be more effective. The team considered placing the trap at one of the canal's three locks, which would perfectly accommodate the Panamax-sized "Judgment Day", allowing for shorter filaments and easier installation.

However, the locks were complex, and the ship's slow movement, pulled by electric locomotives on rails, meant heightened crew vigilance and a high risk of discovery. An alternative was the Bridge of the Americas outside the Miraflores Locks, using its abutments as pillars, but this would require an impractical amount of Flying Blade material, too much to manufacture in the limited time. Shi Qiang then suggested the narrowest point of the Gaillard Cut, about 150 meters wide.

Wang Miao calculated that with current nanomaterials, the minimum gap between filaments would be 50 centimeters. Shi Qiang then explained that the operation must occur during the day. When asked why, he reasoned that at night, sleeping crew members lying or crouching down could easily pass through the 50-centimeter gaps undetected, whereas during the day, whether standing, squatting, or sitting, the gaps would effectively slice them. His chilling logic prompted someone to call him a "devil."

Episode 29 Recap

A critical meeting was held to finalize the plan for Operation Zither. Discussions focused on the precise deployment of existing nanomaterials, specifically the requirement for a minimum 50-centimeter gap between two fine filaments, necessitating the target ship, Judgment Day, to traverse the canal during daylight hours. This timing was crucial, as it accounted for crew members potentially lying down or crawling at night, which would render a 50-centimeter gap too large.

The team devised a method to ensure the safety of other vessels: each nanowire would be connected to a standard steel wire on the shore, with one end of each pillar linked to a movable winch. This setup would allow the nanowires to sink to the riverbed via attached weights. Once the final ship passed before Judgment Day, the steel wires would be retrieved, and the nanomaterials would then be fixed to the pillars, which would finally be erected.

This ingenious solution was hailed as the most effective approach. Calculations indicated that Judgment Day would reach the Gaillard Channel in approximately 96 hours, marking the precise window for preparation. General Chang emphasized the critical moment for humanity to unite and then outlined the operational assignments. The Asian Combat Zone was designated as the overall commander-in-chief, responsible for comprehensive dispatch. The European Combat Zone would oversee engineering construction on both sides of the Gaillard Channel.

Following the operation, the Global Joint Operations Center would handle search efforts, with Colonel Stanton commanding the front line. The Oceanian Combat Zone was tasked with post-operation recovery, including ensuring future ship passage, disaster prevention and rescue, and civilian migration, all to minimize disruption to the local populace around the Panama Canal. Professor Wang Miao and his Nanomaterial Center were appointed to provide full technical support for the operation, which was officially named Operation Zither. Operation Zither officially commenced.

Professor Wang Miao joined Colonel Stanton, who remarked on the absence of Shi Qiang, explaining that General Chang deemed Shi Qiang's presence more critical elsewhere. Professor Wang voiced his deep concern about potential innocent casualties among the crew of Judgment Day, who might be unaware of the ship's true purpose.

Colonel Stanton, however, revealed a shocking investigation into the crew list, stating that the ship was a "devil's cage," filled with the "worst criminals in the world," including terrorists, serial murderers, and pirates. Among them was Enzo, a man Colonel Stanton knew from a past anti-terrorism operation.

Enzo had escaped prison, then stalked Colonel Stanton's home, brutally murdering his seven-year-old son by slitting him from throat to belly and hanging him on the front gate, leaving a note claiming it was "for my salvation." Onboard Judgment Day, Enzo demonstrated his depravity by killing a crew member who wished to go ashore, fearing exposure.

Enzo's justification was the need for survival and the long time since they had "had some meat," chillingly adding, "His death is for your salvation." Meanwhile, observers noted that people on the ship were "going crazy, killing each other every day," routinely throwing comrades' corpses overboard "like they were trash," a behavior one character grimly identified as "human nature."

As the ship approached the Gaillard Channel, the awe-inspiring convergence of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was noted, but a stark reminder was given: despite human intelligence, it was currently under threat, leaving no room for complacency. Judgment Day soon entered surveillance range. As Judgment Day progressed towards the Gaillard Channel, the team prepared. Professor Wang Miao recalled his unimpressive visit to Panama in 1990, where a Jackson song played, which Colonel Stanton revealed was his own idea.

The operation's name, "Guzheng," refers to a Chinese traditional instrument—a rectangular wooden base with numerous strings and pillars, each producing a single note. The nanomaterial "Guzheng" was deployed, sinking into position and confirmed set after the final ship passed and the waterway was cleared. The "Guzheng" was then raised, forming a "deadly trap" with Professor Wang's "miraculous" nano Flying Blades, appearing as nothing but ready to strike.

General Chang reflected on his 1999 visit for the canal's handover, recognizing the insignificance of past historical events in the face of an impending alien invasion. He mused on how human civilization would have developed if aware of such a threat millennia ago, a thought Professor Wang couldn't fully conceptualize. General Chang hailed Professor Wang as the "Gaillard of the new era," likening his space elevator to a new canal connecting Earth and space.

As Judgment Day entered the Gaillard Channel from Gatun Lake, the tension mounted. A twenty-second countdown began. Professor Wang, visibly nervous, was reassured by General Chang that everything would pass quickly. As the countdown concluded, Judgment Day began its passage through the "Guzheng." The operation was swiftly completed; the ship was sliced and dismembered, with fire breaking out onboard. The Oceanian Combat Zone immediately began its post-operation work, awaiting Colonel Stanton's orders to search for information about the Trisolaran Civilization.

General Chang then extended his hand to Professor Wang, promising to one day listen to a genuine Guzheng musical performance, acknowledging the profound success of the operation. Teams quickly moved in to secure the site and search for the crucial hard drive. After the operation, the focus shifted to the recovered Trisolaran information.

Professor Ye Wenjie admitted that her knowledge of the true Trisolaran Civilization was limited; only core members of the Adventists, who had intercepted the intelligence, possessed its full and accurate details. General Chang questioned why she held such high expectations for the Trisolarans, believing they could transform human society. Professor Ye explained that their ability to traverse interstellar space indicated highly advanced science, suggesting a society with superior civilization and morality, though she acknowledged this conclusion was not scientifically proven.

The recovered data from Evans amounted to a staggering 28 gigabytes. Professor Ye initially found this impossible, given the low efficiency of interstellar ultra-long-distance communication. However, it was confirmed to be true, and the "Three-Body" game itself was a client within this data, created by the Earth Trisolaran Organization (ETO) based on human imagination. General Chang then encouraged scientists like Professor Wang to delve into the "Three-Body" game, hoping for further discoveries.

Professor Wang Miao and Shi Qiang entered the virtual world. Inside, they encountered the ETO's imagined depiction of a Trisolaran, who identified himself as a monitor. This monitor explained that his kind had thousands of listening posts across their world, diligently searching for intelligent civilizations. He revealed that he had received the message sent from Earth in 1971, which, due to the four-light-year travel time, reached their world in 1975 by Earth time.

Realizing that his government would likely respond, he defied his civilization and transmitted a warning back to Earth: "Do not answer! Do not answer! Do not answer!" He explained that as long as Earth remained silent, its location could not be pinpointed.

His act of betrayal stemmed from a desire to give meaning to his humble, isolated life in the listening post, knowing that his own civilization had become relentlessly expansionist, bent on destroying other civilizations to secure more living space. He revealed the Trisolaran fleet's intention to occupy Earth and strictly forbid human procreation, which would mean total destruction for humanity. He rejected this future, cherishing the distant, beautiful Earth as his only hope, even if it meant facing trial.

During his subsequent trial, the monitor was accused of being the worst criminal in Trisolaran history for potentially sacrificing his own civilization's chance at survival for Earth's. Surprisingly, he was acquitted, not as a reward, but as a greater punishment: he was left alive to witness Earth's inevitable downfall, an even more cruel fate than dehydration and incineration.

Following this, the Commander of the Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet declared his intent to ask the Council of Archons to immediately approve and launch the fleet towards Earth, acknowledging the risk of imprecise directional positioning at such a receiving frequency.

Episode 30 (Ending) Recap

A pacifist monitor in the Trisolaran world intercepted Earth's message, warning the human sender not to reply to prevent Earth's location from being locked by Trisolaris. Meanwhile, the Trisolaran leadership, having established a policy where Earthlings could continue to live as before but with procreation permanently forbidden after their fleet occupied the solar system, ordered the fleet to launch. This launch occurred 20,000 Trisolaran hours (approximately 4. 5 million Earth hours) before Earth's message was widely received by their civilization.

They understood that if they waited, Earth civilization's technology would far surpass their own, rendering their fleet vulnerable. Furthermore, Trisolaris's location had already been exposed, risking their extinction by Earthlings before their sun consumed their planet. To prevent this, they decided the only way to disarm Earth was to kill its science. It became clear from the game that Trisolaris had never imparted any technology more advanced than Earth's.

Their communication method, electromagnetic waves, was similar to Earth's, though their science was far superior. Earth's researchers were baffled why they had received no prior messages from Trisolaris, despite the Trisolarans' desperate search for new homes. It was revealed that the three suns of Centaurus were shrouded by a colossal plasmatic atmosphere, creating a high threshold for electromagnetic waves and making direct solar transmission impossible.

All the details witnessed in the Trisolaran game were, at that point, based on the Earth-Trisolaran Organization members' imagination, requiring careful verification. Ding Yi speculated that Trisolarans lacked emotions like fear, sorrow, happiness, and beauty appreciation, as these elements would destabilize their spiritual world. He deduced that only civilizations rooted in calmness and numbness could survive the relentless cycles of destruction their world endured.

This made the enemy as cold and ruthless as steel, capable of devising plans such as forbidding human procreation and, more critically, locking down humanity's scientific progress. To achieve this, the Trisolarans formulated three plans. The first, code-named "Coloring," aimed to generate public aversion and fear towards science by highlighting its negative side effects, a strategy implemented on Earth by Pan Han.

The second plan, "Miracle," involved demonstrating supernatural phenomena to make unscientific thinking dominate, thus collapsing Earth's entire scientific framework. However, these two plans could only interfere with Earth's scientific development. The decisive action to utterly suffocate Earth's science involved preventing humanity from exploring the deep structure of matter, thereby halting fundamental science and any major technological breakthroughs.

This ambitious undertaking, known as Project Sophon, required the cancellation of their second space fleet construction to divert all resources to building a massive particle accelerator. Within the game, Wang Miao and Shi Qiang observed the Sophon's construction. The Trisolaran scientists, capable of manipulating nine of eleven micro-scale dimensions, proceeded with the two-dimensional unfolding of a proton.

Despite an initial failed attempt that resulted in the destruction of an entire micro-universe within the proton—an event the Trisolaran leader viewed as commonplace in the universe's history of scientific progress—the unfolding succeeded, creating a vast, geometrically flat mirror that enveloped their entire planet. This "gargantuan membrane" reflected all sunlight back into space, plunging Trisolaris into its darkest night and forcing its inhabitants to dehydrate and be stored to endure the plummeting temperatures.

On this colossal two-dimensional proton surface, spaceships began etching integrated circuits, transforming it into Sophon, a superintelligent computer. Four Sophons were constructed. Sophons One and Two were launched towards Earth, traveling as high-energy particles at near light speed. Upon arrival, their primary mission was to locate and infiltrate high-energy particle accelerators used for physics research, sabotaging experiments by replacing target particles and yielding incorrect and chaotic results.

This was the reason for the lack of breakthroughs in fundamental physics on Earth in recent years, including Yang Dong's experiments failing to produce any reasonable results. Humanity's science was completely locked down, destined to remain in a primitive state. Sophons also possessed the terrifying ability to project information directly onto films or even human retinas, causing the cosmic background radiation in their eyes to flicker.

Sophons Three and Four remained on Trisolaris, receiving real-time information from their counterparts on Earth, thus enabling constant, live monitoring of humanity. The Trisolarans, who feared Earth's humanistic ideas as a dangerous, potentially destructive force to their own civilization, strictly controlled the flow of information from Earth to their populace, especially cultural content. This starkly revealed that while humans feared them, the Trisolarans were equally, if not more, afraid of humanity.

During a meeting, General Chang Weisi warned his comrades that their every action was likely being monitored by Sophons, meaning no secrets could exist anymore. Suddenly, the words "You are bugs" appeared floating in the air, a persistent and unnerving presence to all. Even after reviewing all twenty-eight gigabytes of data retrieved from the "Judgment Day" vessel, Ye Wenjie remained calm, only requesting to revisit the Red Coast Base.

The reality of Trisolaran technology, particularly the Sophons' ability to unfold and re-contract dimensions, was incomprehensible to human science, which could not reverse the low-dimensional unfolding of atoms. Wang Miao and Ding Yi, frustrated by their inability to advance science due to the Sophons' interference, drank heavily. Ding Yi lamented that while an ancient kingdom might invent sharper blades or better crossbows, they could never build satellites or missiles without understanding matter's deep structure, a pursuit now impossible for humanity.

Shi Qiang, disgusted by their despair, pulled them up, declaring that they were acting like "cowards" and dragging them to a place that was "lively." Ye Wenjie, sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, returned to the Red Coast Base under escort. Standing atop the mountain, she observed the sunset, her final judgment on humanity. Shi Qiang took Wang Miao and Ding Yi to a field plagued by locusts.

He challenged them to consider which technological gap was greater: between humans and Trisolarans, or between humans and these insects. He pointed out humanity's relentless, ages-long war against bugs, using every means from poisons and aerial sprays to genetic modification and fire, yet the bugs had never been truly eradicated. They still thrived, their numbers undiminished. He concluded that the Trisolarans, who saw humans as mere bugs, had forgotten a crucial fact: bugs have never truly been defeated.