Cheng Youyi is a nineteen-year-old university student who serves as the sacrificial pawn for her family's business alliance. Her grandfather arranged a childhood engagement between her and Gong Qianyu to secure the future of the Cheng Group and her younger brother's prospects. Youyi has never wanted this marriage and plans to formally break it off, but her family refuses to listen, viewing her personal desires as secondary to the clan's survival and status.
The story begins at Grandpa Gong's birthday banquet, where Gong Qianyu's mother publicly humiliates Youyi, calling her lowborn and unworthy of her son. Gong Qianyu fails to defend her, instead urging her to tolerate the abuse for the sake of family harmony. Enraged and humiliated, Youyi publicly announces the termination of the engagement and storms out into a torrential rainstorm. Vulnerable and soaked, she is approached by Gong Ming, the wealthy and formidable uncle of her former fiancé. Despite her fear and hesitation, Gong Ming offers her a ride, but his intentions are far from charitable. Under the influence of a drug secretly administered by Gong Qianyu earlier that evening, Youyi loses control, and the two share an intimate encounter in his car. Gong Ming carries her to his private residence, where she wakes up in a state of confusion and panic.
Gong Ming, a man of power and influence in the underworld, is captivated by Youyi's resilience and beauty. He proposes a deal: he will help her break off the engagement with Gong Qianyu and secure her family's future, provided she agrees to marry him. Youyi initially refuses, viewing him as an elder and a dangerous figure, but she is trapped by her family's expectations and Gong Qianyu's threats. Gong Ming persists, visiting her home and subtly manipulating the situation to keep her close. He reveals that he is aware of her family's true motives and offers to shield her from their pressure.
As Gong Ming continues his pursuit, he faces opposition from Youyi's brother, Cheng Youheng, who suspects her of infidelity and tries to expose her. However, Gong Ming outmaneuvers him, winning over the younger brother with gifts and influence. Meanwhile, Gong Qianyu, enraged by Youyi's rejection and her alliance with his uncle, vows to ruin her reputation. The conflict escalates as Gong Ming takes decisive action to protect Youyi, using his resources to dismantle the obstacles in their path. He secures a position as a professor at her university, ensuring their paths will cross regularly, and begins to weave a net of control around her life.
Youyi finds herself caught between her desire for independence and the overwhelming power of the Gong family. Gong Ming's interest in her is not merely romantic but strategic; he sees in her a kindred spirit who, like him, is bound by family obligations yet yearns for freedom. As the story progresses, the lines between manipulation and genuine affection blur. Gong Ming's methods are coercive, yet he consistently acts as her protector against the threats posed by her own family and her former fiancé. The narrative sets the stage for a complex relationship where power dynamics, family duty, and personal desire intersect, leaving Youyi to navigate a dangerous game with a man who holds all the cards.
