Lin Mufan returns to her hometown of Dongchuan after a three-year absence, accompanied by her young daughter, Rose. Her reentry into the community is immediate and jarring. While shopping in the New Year market, she is physically bumped into by Zhou Jiuxi, a man whose voice she recognizes instantly from the traumatic end of their marriage. Zhou Jiuxi belongs to a wealthy, influential family, and his demeanor remains as cold and commanding as it was when he publicly humiliated her and ordered her to leave Dongchuan forever, threatening her life if she ever returned. Lin Mufan, having endured significant hardship during her exile, chooses to avoid confrontation. She adjusts Rose’s hat and disappears into the crowd, leaving Zhou Jiuxi unaware of her presence in that specific moment.
The history between Lin Mufan and Zhou Jiuxi is complicated by the presence of Yi Zhizhi, Zhou Jiuxi’s childhood sweetheart and the woman his family approves of as a daughter-in-law. Lin Mufan’s brief marriage to Zhou Jiuxi disrupted these established plans, leading to a divorce that was both ugly and humiliating. During the market encounter, Zhou Jiuxi’s attention drifts away from Yi Zhizhi and his cousin, Zhou Xia, toward the crowd. Yi Zhizhi mentions seeing someone who resembled Lin Mufan, noting the distinctive down jacket the woman was wearing. However, she dismisses the possibility, assuming Lin Mufan would not still be wearing clothes from three years ago and would have moved on to a brighter future elsewhere. Zhou Jiuxi, meanwhile, remains distant and impatient, eventually leaving the group abruptly after giving a terse response to his cousin’s request for help choosing decorations.
Lin Mufan’s day continues with a routine errand at a local bank. She takes Rose to withdraw cash, but the child accidentally enters the wrong PIN, causing the bank card to be swallowed by the ATM. While waiting in the crowded lobby for customer service to retrieve the card, Lin Mufan is approached by an old friend, Yan Yue. Yan Yue is effusive and warm, expressing shock at Lin Mufan’s disappearance and noting that Lin Mufan had invited everyone to her wedding before vanishing. Yan Yue insists on taking Rose to play with her own daughter, scooping the child up before Lin Mufan can refuse. Lin Mufan, having little money, withdraws an additional two thousand yuan to buy a gift for Yan Yue’s child, highlighting her precarious financial situation.
Just as Lin Mufan prepares to rejoin Yan Yue and Rose, she notices Zhou Jiuxi entering the bank. The lobby manager greets him with deference, addressing him as Young Master Zhou. Zhou Jiuxi is there to collect a large sum of cash, one hundred thousand yuan, prepared by his grandfather for New Year red envelopes for the family children. Lin Mufan hides behind an ATM, catching only a glimpse of his back through the leaves of a potted plant. The sight triggers a vivid memory of Zhou Jiuxi’s past affection, a time when he was playful and attentive, contrasting sharply with his current cruel demeanor. She recalls his threat to kill her if she ever returned, a warning that has kept her in exile. The memory serves as a stark reminder of the danger she faces. She realizes that her fear is not unfounded; Zhou Jiuxi threw himself into their relationship with destructive intensity, and she became the fire that shattered him. Now, separated by the ATM and the passage of time, she remains hidden, afraid that if he were to discover she is back, his threat might finally be carried out.
The narrative establishes a tense atmosphere of avoidance and hidden history. Lin Mufan is trying to rebuild a quiet life for herself and Rose, but her past with Zhou Jiuxi is inescapable. The coincidence of their encounters in Dongchuan suggests that her attempt at anonymity is failing. Zhou Jiuxi’s indifference to Yi Zhizhi and his sudden departure from the market hint at a lingering, perhaps unconscious, pull toward Lin Mufan, even if he does not yet know she is present. Meanwhile, Lin Mufan’s financial struggles and her reliance on old friends like Yan Yue underscore her vulnerability. The story moves toward an inevitable collision between Lin Mufan and Zhou Jiuxi, as the secrets of their marriage and the reasons for her forced departure begin to surface through these chance meetings.
