Shen Qingyou arrives at the Yan family courtyard in the bitter cold of the twelfth lunar month, carrying an old rattan suitcase. Orphaned and fifteen years old, she has traveled from the countryside to live under the guardianship of Yan Tingxu, her father’s late friend. In her previous life, she spent three years in this same courtyard, living in constant fear and subservience. Yan Tingxu, known as Third Master Yan, was a powerful and respected figure in Beijing’s business world. After his death, Shen Qingyou was left vulnerable and was eventually married off to his nephew, Yan Hao. That marriage proved to be a nightmare; Yan Hao revealed himself to be a drunkard and gambler who abused her physically. She endured five years of torment until she died at twenty-three, bedridden and alone.
However, Shen Qingyou opens her eyes to find herself back at fifteen, standing in the courtyard on the very day she first arrived. The pain of the cold air confirms she is not dreaming. Determined to change her fate, she resolves to protect Yan Tingxu and ensure he survives the accident that killed him in her past life. Her demeanor shifts from timid to firm. When Yan Tingxu appears, she greets him with respect, calling him Third Uncle. He is initially reserved, noting her frailty and rural plainness, but he provides her with food, money, and a place to stay. He hands her the envelope containing the inheritance her father left, a sum she was too afraid to claim in her previous life. She accepts it, vowing to use it wisely.
The next morning, Yan Tingxu takes her to a state-run restaurant for breakfast. He orders a generous meal for her, including meat buns and an egg, while he drinks only plain water. There, they encounter Yan Hao, who is cheerful and overly familiar. In her past life, Shen Qingyou was fooled by his kindness, but now she sees his true nature. She maintains a polite distance, and Yan Tingxu, observing her wariness, warns her to keep her distance from his nephew, suspecting Yan Hao’s lack of discipline.
After school registration at Red Star Middle School, Shen Qingyou and Yan Tingxu walk home along the river. They witness a thief stealing a factory payroll. Yan Tingxu swiftly apprehends the man, displaying combat skills that surprise Shen Qingyou. During the struggle, he cuts his hand. Back at the courtyard, she tends to his wound with iodine and gauze, her hands trembling with genuine fear for his safety. This moment of vulnerability deepens their bond; Yan Tingxu is struck by her sincere concern, a feeling he has never experienced from others. He promises to be more careful.
Shen Qingyou begins to integrate into Yan Tingxu’s life, cooking for him and managing the household. She excels in school, no longer held back by fear. When a classmate, Zhao Xiuying, mocks her for relying on charity, Shen Qingyou responds with sharp wit, asserting her independence. Yan Tingxu notices her transformation and the growing respect she commands. He continues to provide for her, buying her warm winter clothes and a red scarf, acts of kindness he performs silently without seeking acknowledgment.
As winter progresses, Shen Qingyou decides to learn how to ride a bicycle to avoid burdening Yan Tingxu with daily pickups. He agrees to teach her, and their interactions grow more comfortable. She also begins to notice the small, quiet ways he cares for her, such as retrieving her laundry from the wind at night. The story establishes a new dynamic where Shen Qingyou is no longer a passive victim but an active participant in her life, determined to safeguard Yan Tingxu and rewrite the tragic ending of her past.
