Romance and Scenery in Hong Kong Island

Shen Tang is an adopted daughter in the declining Shen family, brought to Hong Kong at age twelve because a feng shui master claimed her birth chart was auspicious. She endures years of bullying from her biological sister, Shen Shiying, and serves as a pawn in her father’s business schemes. To escape her oppressive home life, Shen Tang works as an intern reporter while secretly planning to save money, pursue graduate studies at Columbia University, and leave the Shen family forever. Her only current tether to stability is her engagement to Wen Qi, a wealthy, arrogant race car driver from the powerful Wen family. The marriage is a transaction arranged by their grandparents to help the Shens recover financially, but Wen Qi remains deeply in love with his first love, Qin Shuran, and frequently humiliates Shen Tang through neglect and scandal.

The story begins during a torrential rainstorm in Hong Kong. Shen Tang is involved in a minor car accident after her taxi is rear-ended by a black Rolls-Royce. Inside the luxury vehicle, she meets Wen Hezhi, the reclusive and ruthless CEO of Wen Corporation, known in business circles as the "Jade-Faced Asura." Wen Hezhi is Wen Qi’s uncle and the true power behind the family empire. He treats Shen Tang with polite but distant courtesy, offering her a cashmere blanket and driving her home. Unbeknownst to her, Wen Hezhi has been watching her with growing interest, referring to her internally as a "stray cat." Meanwhile, Shen Tang discovers that Wen Qi’s recent scandal with a third-rate actress was caused by his obsession with Qin Shuran, deepening her resolve to end the engagement when possible.

The central conflict escalates during Wen Qi’s birthday banquet, which doubles as the official engagement announcement. Shen Tang attends wearing a pale green dress, deliberately rejecting the luxurious gown Wen Qi bought her as a symbol of her independence. During the event, Wen Qi abandons the press conference to reunite with Qin Shuran, who has returned to Hong Kong. Chaos erupts as media swarms the estate. Shen Tang climbs the stairs to confront him, only to find Wen Hezhi waiting in the corridor. He prevents her from entering, sensing the danger and emotional turmoil ahead. Later, when Wen Qi’s friend Xiang Hao attempts to harass Shen Tang in a secluded corridor, Wen Hezhi intervenes, saving her and asserting his dominance over the family’s younger generation.

A key turning point occurs when Shen Tang, seizing an opportunity while alone with Wen Hezhi, requests an interview with him for her journalism internship. Instead of directing her to his assistant, Wen Hezhi invites her to add him directly on WeChat, revealing a subtle shift in his attitude from detached observer to active participant. He watches her leave with a sense of satisfaction, noting that the crabapple trees he has been nurturing are finally ready to bloom. The narrative establishes a complex dynamic where Shen Tang is trapped between a loveless engagement and a dangerous, powerful man who sees her not as a family obligation, but as a prize worth pursuing.

The story direction points toward Shen Tang’s gradual emancipation from the Shen family’s control and her complicated entanglement with Wen Hezhi. While she continues to play the role of the obedient fiancée to buy time for her escape plan, Wen Hezhi’s presence disrupts the status quo. His interest in her is possessive and calculated, contrasting with Wen Qi’s careless neglect. The engagement date is set for September 6th, creating a ticking clock for Shen Tang’s freedom. As Wen Hezhi begins to insert himself into her life, the power dynamics shift, suggesting that her path to Columbia University may become intertwined with the Wen family’s inner turmoil rather than a simple exit.