Li Huanhuan is a twenty-six-year-old video blogger who lives a quiet, introverted life in City C. On her twentieth birthday, she experienced a sudden awakening, realizing that she exists as a background character within a novel centered on Qin Shi, a genius esports player. Rather than attempting to alter her fate or pursue the protagonist, she chose to accept her role as an NPC, focusing on her career, her pet cat, and maintaining a low profile. Her primary motivation is protecting her mother, whom she knows will fall gravely ill in two years, a secret she learned from the original storyline. She endures frequent blind dates arranged by her family solely to keep her mother at peace, despite her deep aversion to social interaction.
The narrative begins when Huanhuan attends a blind date arranged by a relative, only to discover that the match is actually Qin Shi himself, who is dining at the same restaurant with his teammates. The encounter is awkward and brief; Huanhuan attempts to leave immediately, citing a prior engagement involving cat food, which Qin Shi accepts with cold indifference. Shortly after, she encounters Zhang Canyang, known in the novel as Fox, the antagonist and rival of Qin Shi. Zhang Canyang presents a deceptive persona, appearing as a warm, angelic figure who is caring toward stray cats. However, Huanhuan learns from Qin Shi’s teammates that Zhang Canyang has a reputation for manipulating relationships and playing dirty in professional matches.
Tensions escalate when Qin Shi, suspicious of Huanhuan’s interactions with Zhang Canyang, confronts her. He accuses her of two-timing after seeing photos of her with Zhang Canyang, misinterpreting her kindness as romantic interest. Huanhuan denies the allegations, but the misunderstanding deepens when Qin Shi’s jealousy leads to a heated argument. Despite the conflict, Qin Shi insists on maintaining a public relationship with Huanhuan to satisfy their mothers and protect his own reputation, forcing her into a reluctant partnership. Huanhuan attempts to distance herself, agreeing to a new blind date with a man named Yang Shantai, a coach at the Sirius esports club. However, Qin Shi interrupts this date, demanding she choose between him and Zhang Canyang, revealing his possessive and unstable emotional state.
As the story progresses, Huanhuan begins to suspect that Zhang Canyang may be the childhood neighbor she once knew as Little Sun, a boy who suffered abuse and disappeared years ago. This connection complicates her view of him, blurring the lines between the villainous figure described in the novel and the vulnerable child she remembers. Meanwhile, Qin Shi’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic, oscillating between cold hostility and desperate attempts to keep Huanhuan close. The professional rivalry between Qin Shi and Zhang Canyang intensifies, with both players preparing for crucial matches that threaten to spill over into their personal lives. Huanhuan finds herself trapped between the protagonist and the antagonist, her desire for a quiet existence constantly disrupted by their conflicts. The narrative explores the tension between her awareness of the fictional world and the unpredictable reality of the characters around her, as she navigates a web of misunderstandings, familial pressure, and unresolved past connections.
