Marry the protagonist’s stubborn uncle

Shi Yin was a third-tier actress who, after finishing a tragic romance novel, posted a comment wishing the author could experience the heroine's suffering. She then transmigrated into the body of the novel's female lead, who shares her name. In the story, the original heroine was a naive woman obsessed with Zhou Siyang, a wealthy heir who eventually betrayed her for his first love, leading to the heroine's pregnancy and suicide. Shi Yin, aware of the plot, refused to repeat the same fate.

At a family dinner arranged to discuss her engagement to Zhou Siyang, Shi Yin made a shocking declaration. She claimed she had never loved Siyang and had only pretended to be close to him to get near his uncle, Zhou Chengyuan. Zhou Chengyuan was the Zhou family's second son, a man in a wheelchair suffering from a mysterious terminal illness with only months to live. Shi Yin proposed marrying Zhou Chengyuan instead, arguing that the marriage alliance would still benefit both families while allowing her to escape her doomed romance with Siyang. Her father, facing financial ruin, agreed on the condition that the marriage remain secret to protect her career and future.

Zhou Chengyuan, who had remained silent throughout the negotiation, surprisingly agreed to the marriage. He gave Shi Yin one last chance to back out, but she refused, insisting she would not marry anyone else. The engagement was set for three days later. During this time, Shi Yin continued her acting career, preparing for a variety show called "Tomorrow's Star" that would take her to Qingyang. She also navigated interactions with Zhou Siyang, who was increasingly confused and irritated by her sudden change in attitude. Siyang had grown accustomed to her attention and felt a strange sense of loss now that she was pursuing his uncle instead.

Shi Yin's selfie, which accidentally captured Zhou Chengyuan in the background, went viral and sparked online speculation about her relationships. She texted Zhou Chengyuan to apologize, and he replied with a possessive yet indulgent message. When Shi Yin visited the Zhou mansion, she found Zhou Chengyuan in the garden. She playfully drew on his face while he pretended to sleep, and he later revealed he had known all along. Their interaction grew increasingly intimate, with Zhou Chengyuan giving her an expensive pink diamond as an engagement gift and making ambiguous remarks about their future relationship.

The wedding took place without ceremony, but civil affairs officers came to the Zhou home to register the marriage. Shi Yin became legally Zhou Chengyuan's wife and Zhou Siyang's aunt. On their wedding night, Zhou Chengyuan revealed he had arranged for their honeymoon to take place in Qingyang, the same location where Shi Yin would be filming "Tomorrow's Star." He had carefully planned this to ensure they would spend time together despite her busy schedule. Shi Yin realized she had miscalculated; instead of avoiding intimacy, she was now trapped in a marriage with a man who seemed to want more than just a convenient alliance.

As the story progressed, Zhou Chengyuan's behavior became increasingly possessive and calculating. He watched Shi Yin get into Zhou Siyang's car from his balcony and made it clear he expected loyalty. Despite his frail appearance, he displayed a commanding presence and a willingness to manipulate situations to his advantage. Shi Yin, meanwhile, continued to play the role of a devoted wife while internally planning her escape once he died. However, she began to notice inconsistencies in Zhou Chengyuan's condition and behavior that did not match the novel's description of a man on his deathbed.

The core tension of the story revolves around Shi Yin's attempt to survive by marrying a dying man, only to find herself entangled with someone who may not be as helpless as he appears. Zhou Chengyuan's true intentions remain unclear, and his growing attachment to Shi Yin complicates her carefully laid plans. Meanwhile, Zhou Siyang's jealousy and confusion create additional conflict, as he struggles to understand why the woman who once worshipped him now belongs to his family in a way he never expected.