Jiang Ning, the twenty-four-year-old daughter of Harbor City’s most powerful family, returns home after six years of studying abroad, burdened by severe depression that her father had sent her away to manage. Her return coincides with the homecoming banquet where she is publicly humiliated by her father’s attempt to arrange a blind date with Zhou Ran, a man chosen to secure family business interests. Jiang Ning’s demeanor is listless and detached, revealing her mental illness bluntly to shut down her father’s plans, though she remains financially controlled and dependent. Prior to the banquet, she had a drunken encounter with Xi Yue, the man she dumped six years ago when he was perceived as a poor student, unaware that he was actually the heir to the wealthy Xi family. The encounter leaves her confused, wondering if he was a hallucination brought on by her condition.
Xi Yue, now a top-tier celebrity and the heir to the Xi family, has returned to Harbor City with intentions of reeling Jiang Ning back in. He confronts her after she flees their initial encounter, revealing that he has been watching her and has acquired her hotel room security to enter at will. Their dynamic is charged with unresolved tension; Jiang Ning views Xi Yue as an ex-boyfriend she discarded, while Xi Yue feels betrayed by her sudden departure and subsequent indifference. He discovers her medication and learns of her depression, but she deflects his concerns, claiming she ended the relationship because she was tired of pretending to be normal. Xi Yue, refusing to accept her dismissal, inserts himself into her life, forcing his way into her routine and managing her public image to protect her from online harassment.
The core conflict escalates when Jiang Ning joins a low-budget variety show to earn money, only to find Xi Yue is the headlining guest. Paparazzi photos of him carrying her to her hotel room spark a scandal, with netizens accusing her of using his fame for a comeback. Xi Yue publicly clarifies the situation by revealing dashcam footage and claiming Jiang Ning as his junior under his agency, effectively binding her to him in the public eye. Jiang Ning attempts to distance herself, but Xi Yue manipulates the situation, insisting that their proximity is necessary for her career and their past. He forces her to interact with him during the show’s filming, particularly in a haunted house segment where they are paired together, creating moments of forced intimacy that confuse Jiang Ning and entertain the audience.
As the variety show progresses, the public begins to warm to Jiang Ning’s authentic and unpretentious personality, contrasting sharply with Xi Yue’s arrogant yet protective behavior. The narrative explores the power imbalance between them; Jiang Ning is trapped by her financial dependence on her father and her career ambitions, while Xi Yue holds the keys to her professional survival. He challenges her to explain the truth behind their breakup, threatening to expose their relationship if she quits the show. Jiang Ning remains guarded, hiding the depth of her illness and her feelings of unworthiness, while Xi Yue struggles with his inability to penetrate her emotional walls. The story sets the stage for a complex romance where both characters must confront their past traumas and the societal pressures surrounding mental health and family expectations.
| Date | Group | Release |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c11 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c10 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c9 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c8 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c7 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c6 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c5 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c4 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c3 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c2 |
| 2026-08-11 | shanghai fantasy | c1 |