Don’t Be Too Good-Looking

Fang Shimian works as a surveillance room intern in an upscale residential complex called Yunjin No. 1. He is a quiet, unassuming young man who prefers the dim, stagnant air of the basement over social interaction. His only close companion is Xu Long, a burly security guard who acts as his protective older brother figure. Fang Shimian’s life is defined by his desire for invisibility and routine, a stark contrast to his past, which he keeps carefully hidden. He does not speak of his family or his reasons for avoiding higher education, choosing instead to live a modest existence in a small rented room nearby.

The narrative shifts when a car vandalism incident occurs in the underground parking lot. Ming Ke, the son of a property owner, arrives with Manager Yang to review the footage. Fang Shimian is forced to operate the surveillance system under pressure. The footage reveals a group of intoxicated young men, led by He Yao, destroying a Mercedes. Standing quietly among them is a man in a white down jacket whose gaze meets the camera with arrogant provocation. Ming Ke recognizes the man and privately contacts someone named Mr. Huo, requesting that He Yao never appear in Hengshi Group again. This introduces the powerful Huo family and their corporate empire into the story.

A significant turning point occurs when Zhu Ze, a high-ranking executive at Hengshi Group and Ming Ke’s associate, arrives at the surveillance room. Zhu Ze is a man Fang Shimian knows from his childhood. Their reunion is tense; Fang Shimian addresses him formally as "Mr. Zhu," creating distance, while Zhu Ze insists on the affectionate "Brother Zhu" and "Xiao Mian." Zhu Ze discovers Fang Shimian has a high fever and insists on taking him to Anhe Hospital, the most expensive private hospital in the city. During the car ride, Zhu Ze reveals he has been searching for Fang Shimian since they lost contact years ago. Fang Shimian feels trapped, sensing Zhu Ze’s intense, almost obsessive affection, which he interprets as a threat to his fragile independence.

At the hospital, Zhu Ze’s care is meticulous, but Fang Shimian remains guarded. Afterward, Zhu Ze takes Fang Shimian to his office in the Hengshi Building. There, Fang Shimian accidentally encounters Huo Zhongshan, the formidable head of Hengshi Group. Huo Zhongshan’s cold, scrutinizing gaze unsettles Fang Shimian, who feels a primal fear in the presence of such absolute authority. Zhu Ze introduces Fang Shimian as his "little brother" to deflect suspicion, but the encounter leaves Fang Shimian anxious about his entanglement with these powerful figures.

Zhu Ze forces Fang Shimian into a social event, a banquet celebrating the first birthday of Shen Jiang’s daughter. Fang Shimian is dressed in an expensive white suit and treated like an ornament. He feels like an outsider, hiding in corners to eat, unaware that Huo Zhongshan and his cousin Huo Jun are watching him from a VIP section. Huo Jun refers to Fang Shimian as a "clean rabbit" fallen into the hands of a "hypocrite," suggesting a predatory interest in Fang Shimian’s vulnerability. During the banquet, a child wanders near a champagne tower. Fang Shimian instinctively shields the child from falling glass, sustaining minor cuts. This act of selflessness draws the gratitude of the Shen family, who offer him a job at Maoshu Group.

While recovering in a suite at the banquet venue, Fang Shimian steps onto a terrace and calls Xu Long. He notices a cigarette glow on the adjacent dark terrace, realizing Huo Zhongshan has been watching him from the shadows. The incident highlights Fang Shimian’s precarious position: he is caught between Zhu Ze’s possessive care and the silent, looming presence of the Huo family. Fang Shimian returns to his mundane life, trying to resume his routine, but the connections he has made with Zhu Ze and the Huos continue to exert pressure on his isolated existence. He deletes Zhu Ze’s message about their next meeting, asserting a small measure of control, yet the web of relationships tightens around him.

The story also introduces Fang Shimian’s connection to the Zhao family, elderly former colleagues from his tutoring days. He visits them regularly, finding warmth and normalcy in their home. This contrast emphasizes his desire for a simple, grounded life, far removed from the corporate intrigue and dangerous allure of the elite circles he has inadvertently entered. As Fang Shimian navigates these conflicting worlds, the core tension revolves around his struggle to maintain his anonymity against the encroaching interests of Zhu Ze and the Huo family, who see him as something precious to possess or protect.