Song Ruannin was once the pampered daughter of Song Sixun, a high-ranking official in Yancheng. Her life changed drastically when her father was implicated in corruption and bribery, leading to his death in a suspicious car accident. Ruannin was forced to drop out of university, where she had been a prominent figure, and vanished from public view. Six years later, she struggles to make ends meet as a single mother raising her six-year-old daughter, Song Ziyan. Her sister, Song Zhirou, lies in a coma in the hospital following a car accident that occurred while picking Ruannin up from the airport. Ruannin works as a receptionist at an influencer company called Yunmeng, run by her childhood friend Shen Yi, who supported her during her darkest times. She is determined to clear her father's name and believes the Yao family, who held power over her father's position, orchestrated his downfall.
The story begins with an unexpected reunion at a private room gathering. Ruannin arrives to pick up Shen Yi, who is drunk, only to encounter Zhai Yu, the man she once loved and threatened into a relationship during their university days. Zhai Yu, now the heir to the wealthy Zhai family after being recognized as their lost son, returns to Yancheng with an icy demeanor. He dismisses their past relationship, claiming it was merely an act to vent his desires, and expresses disdain for Ruannin's current落魄 state. Bai Yuwei, Zhai Yu's foster sister and a rival from their university days, harbors deep resentment toward Ruannin, believing she stole Zhai Yu away through blackmail.
Zhai Yu's return disrupts Ruannin's fragile peace. He becomes the largest shareholder of Yunmeng, giving him power over her employment. Their interactions are fraught with tension and hostility. Zhai Yu mocks Ruannin's living conditions and questions the paternity of her daughter, though Ruannin clarifies that Ziyan is the child of her husband, He Yanxing, who has since fled abroad. Despite his cruel words, Zhai Yu occasionally intervenes in Ruannin's life, such as when he drives her and her feverish daughter to the hospital. These moments reveal a complex undercurrent beneath his cold exterior, though he quickly masks it with sarcasm.
Bai Yuwei escalates her harassment, physically assaulting Ruannin at the office and accusing her of betrayal. Zhai Yu intervenes, not out of kindness, but to settle the matter privately, transferring ten million yuan to Ruannin to suppress the incident and protect Bai Yuwei's reputation. This transaction further complicates their dynamic, leaving Ruannin feeling used and despised. Meanwhile, Lin Qianyu, the daughter of the university president and a former admirer of Zhai Yu, reappears, signaling a potential romantic interest from Zhai Yu's family, which Ruannin coldly dismisses.
The narrative takes a turn when Zhai Yu disappears during a company outing in the rain. Ruannin, despite her fear and resentment, searches for him on the treacherous mountain path. She finds him in a pavilion, where he admits to being cold. In a moment of vulnerability, he asks her to hug him for warmth, revealing a crack in his armor. This incident hints at deeper emotional wounds and unresolved feelings between them. Ruannin continues her efforts to investigate her father's case, gathering evidence against Yao Lei, the current mayor's secretary and a member of the Yao family. The story sets the stage for a confrontation with the powerful Yao family, while Ruannin navigates her complicated past with Zhai Yu, who seems torn between his hatred and an inexplicable pull toward her.
