Cigarettes and Strong Liquor Can’t Compare to Her One Hot Kiss

Chi Mi, a thirty-five-year-old Harvard-trained medical doctor, returns to her home city of An City after a decade abroad, only to be met with immediate personal and familial catastrophe. Upon arrival at the airport, she witnesses her boyfriend of two years, Yang Siquan, publicly kissing another woman. Rather than engaging in a dramatic confrontation, Chi Mi records the incident as evidence, slaps Yang Siquan, and ends the relationship on the spot. Her decision is driven by both her moral boundaries and a severe germaphobia that makes the thought of his infidelity physically repulsive. Yang Siquan, realizing that Chi Mi is the daughter of the wealthy Chi family, attempts to manipulate her by revealing that her family’s company, Chi An Group, is on the verge of bankruptcy due to her younger brother’s incompetence. He offers financial support in exchange for reconciliation, but Chi Mi rejects him and heads to the company headquarters.

At Chi An Group, Chi Mi discovers the extent of the crisis. Her brother, Chi An, has mismanaged the company for less than a year, resulting in a broken capital chain and halted projects. The CEO’s office is empty, and Chi An is found drunk in a bar, weeping over a romantic rejection. Chi Mi physically disciplines him, dragging him home where she confronts her parents. The family dynamic is strained; her parents favor Chi An and suggest that Chi Mi marry into a wealthy family to save the company. When Yang Siquan arrives at the Chi family home demanding she reconcile, Chi An physically assaults him, leading to a permanent breakup. Chi Mi’s parents then propose arranging blind dates for her, but she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Chi Mi’s friend, Xing Chun, introduces her to Ye Zhuohuai, the wealthiest and most powerful young man in An City. Ye Zhuohuai is known for his devastating handsomeness and his cruel, arrogant rejection of all romantic pursuers. Despite warnings that he is impossible to please, Chi Mi decides to target him, viewing him as the most viable solution to her family’s financial ruin. She waits outside his favorite club and successfully gains an audience with him. During their first private conversation, she is direct about her intentions: she wants to be his girlfriend in exchange for saving her family’s company. Ye Zhuohuai, who had been watching her from afar with growing interest, agrees to the arrangement, though he insists on a romantic relationship rather than a mere transaction.

The relationship develops rapidly. Ye Zhuohuai becomes possessive and jealous, particularly when he learns of Yang Siquan’s slanderous rumors about Chi Mi’s reputation. He confronts Yang Siquan and asserts his dominance, declaring Chi Mi his girlfriend. Chi Mi, in turn, gifts him a custom-engraved watch with the initials M&Y, which Ye Zhuohuai misinterprets as a sign of long-standing affection, further cementing his interest. He introduces her to his social circle via a group chat, labeling her as his future wife, which shocks his friends but secures his public claim on her. Meanwhile, Chi An’s friend, Tang Zhan, expresses interest in marrying Chi Mi, adding a subplot of romantic competition.

As Ye Zhuohuai injects funds into Chi An Group, the family’s financial crisis is averted. However, the arrangement creates tension between Chi Mi’s professional life and her new personal life. Ye Zhuohuai demands more intimacy and attention, while Chi Mi struggles with her germaphobia and her initial lack of romantic experience. The story follows their navigation of this unconventional relationship, with Ye Zhuohuai gradually revealing deeper feelings beneath his arrogant exterior, and Chi Mi learning to trust him despite her pragmatic motivations. The narrative sets the stage for further conflicts involving Yang Siquan’s resentment, the complexities of blending business and romance, and the evolving dynamics within the Chi family.