The Daily Lives of Hong Kong’s Elite Couples [The ’90s]

Qiao Yitong is a failed novelist who has been reincarnated into the world of a romance novel she wrote in her past life. She awakens in 1992 Hong Kong as a member of the wealthy Qiao family, a clan with significant social standing and business empire. Her eldest brother, Qiao Xudong, the heir to the family, lies in a coma following a car accident. The family patriarch, Old Master Qiao, seeks a "lucky marriage" to ward off misfortune and revive his grandson. He recalls a past marriage agreement with his old friend, Old Master Zhu. However, the Zhu family, fearing that their eldest daughter Zhu Jiaojiao would become a living widow, substitutes her with the second daughter, Zhu Shanshan. Zhu Shanshan, neglected and mistreated by her own parents who favor her sister and younger brother, is forced into this arrangement. She demands a dowry, including a small apartment, before agreeing to marry into the Qiao family.

Qiao Yitong, aware of the original plot, recognizes Zhu Shanshan as the female lead destined to marry her comatose brother. Unlike the original story where Qiao Yitong was a naive and weak character, the reincarnated Qiao Yitong uses her knowledge of the novel to navigate family politics. She understands that her branch of the family, while wealthy, relies on connections and is viewed as freeloaders by other relatives. Qiao Yitong decides to take a proactive approach, building a relationship with Zhu Shanshan to secure her own position within the family. She anticipates that if Zhu Shanshan bears a child, that child will inherit company shares, potentially diminishing Qiao Yitong's own inheritance. Consequently, she aims to establish her own independence and financial security.

Simultaneously, Qiao Yitong deals with Murong Yuchen, a powerful and wealthy heir with a split personality. In the novel, Murong Yuchen is a major male lead with a gentle primary personality and a volatile, possessive secondary personality. Qiao Yitong had previously kissed him while drunk, seeking his help to save her brother. This incident creates tension and an awkward dynamic between them. Murong Yuchen, who has harbored feelings for Qiao Yitong, uses his secondary personality to confront her about the kiss, demanding she take responsibility. Qiao Yitong attempts to manage this dangerous relationship while maintaining her facade of a carefree rich girl.

The story introduces other family members and their romantic entanglements. Qiao Xunan, the second cousin, is obsessed with his "white moonlight," Shi Zhuojing, who returns from abroad. He treats his current girlfriend, Jiang Wan'er, as a stand-in. Qiao Yitong observes these dynamics, recognizing the tropes from her writing career. She advises Xunan but also warns him about Shi Zhuojing's true intentions. Meanwhile, Zhu Shanshan settles into the Qiao residence, facing hostility from Lady Qiao, the matriarch who dislikes the Zhu family's motives. Old Master Qiao, however, supports Zhu Shanshan, insisting she be treated with respect.

Qiao Yitong begins to establish her own career, planning to open a relationship counseling business. She leverages her understanding of human psychology and romantic tropes to offer advice to the elite. She also explores business opportunities in the emerging computer industry, planning to use pop-up advertisements to promote her services. Her actions demonstrate her desire for autonomy and financial independence, distinguishing her from the passive female characters in her original novels. The narrative follows the unfolding of these relationships, the potential awakening of Qiao Xudong, and the complex interplay between the Qiao and Murong families, setting the stage for romantic resolutions and family power struggles.