One Candy, Entwined With You for a Lifetime

Ling Yue is the only daughter of a provincial-level government official and lives a privileged life as a wealthy heiress. During the summer, her father takes her to Ying’en Mountain to participate in charity work following a severe landslide. The environment is harsh, with scorching sun, cracked earth, and poor living conditions that contrast sharply with her pampered upbringing in the city. Her mother refuses to join them, leaving Ling Yue to endure the discomfort alongside her father, who works tirelessly to distribute aid and manage local affairs. Despite her complaints and initial disdain for the rustic setting, Ling Yue accompanies her father out of filial duty, watching him labor in the dust and heat.

While in the mountains, Ling Yue becomes aware of a silent observer. A boy named Jiang Muchen, who wears a faded school uniform and an old, cracked hearing aid, frequently watches her from the shadows of ruined walls and distant corners. He is an orphan whose parents died in the landslide, and he is known to be deaf. Ling Yue initially views his gaze with irritation and disgust, referring to him as a "filthy rat" and tossing a water bottle at him to drive him away. However, her bodyguard reveals Jiang Muchen’s tragic background, prompting Ling Yue to approach him directly. She learns his name and discovers he is holding onto a piece of imported fruit candy she had given him, clutching it tightly rather than eating it. This moment reveals a vulnerable side to the boy, though his obsession with her remains palpable and unsettling.

The dynamic shifts when Ling Yue’s father forces her to apologize for calling Jiang Muchen dirty and compels her to walk with him to learn humility. During their walk, Jiang Muchen reveals that his hearing loss resulted from a childhood fever. He leads her to a hilltop with a view of the village, where Ling Yue demands to know why he stares at her so intensely. Before he can answer, Jiang Muchen lunges at her, pinning her against a rock wall in a secluded kiln cave. He kisses her aggressively, displaying a predatory dominance that terrifies Ling Yue. When he releases her, he calmly states, "I like you," revealing that his fixation stems from an immediate and intense attraction upon seeing her. Ling Yue is left trembling and humiliated, screaming at him to stay away.

After the assault, Ling Yue attempts to leave the cave, but Jiang Muchen blocks her exit. When she cries that she thinks he is dirty, his expression darkens with a mix of inferiority and rage. He repeats her insult before declaring, "Then let’s be dirty together," and forces another violent kiss upon her. Ling Yue struggles but is overpowered by his strength. She eventually breaks free and runs down the hill, intending to report the incident to her father. However, upon reaching the aid distribution site, she sees her father exhausted and struggling to maintain peace among the villagers. She realizes that exposing Jiang Muchen’s actions would destroy her father’s reputation and career, which depend on his integrity and public image in the region. Unable to speak out, Ling Yue suppresses her trauma and shoves Jiang Muchen when he appears behind her, cursing him before fleeing into a tent.

Jiang Muchen interprets her silence and her refusal to tell her father as a sign of affection. He believes she is protecting him, which fuels his obsession rather than deterring it. He begins to harbor delusions of marriage and family with her, viewing her fear and resistance as part of a twisted romantic narrative. The story establishes a dangerous power imbalance, with Ling Yue trapped between her privileged but constrained life and a stalker whose mental instability is only deepening. The narrative sets the stage for a psychological thriller where the protagonist must navigate the threats posed by Jiang Muchen while maintaining the facade required by her family’s social standing.