Lu Henqin is a wealthy heir and nominal head of a major medical and commercial conglomerate, haunted by severe psychological trauma and self-destructive tendencies stemming from a tragic event three years prior. His childhood friend, Dr. Bai Haoying, serves as his personal physician, constantly monitoring Lu Henqin’s mental health after multiple suicide attempts, including a recent poisoning incident. Lu Henqin lives in isolation in a stark, minimalist mansion, maintaining a cold and detached demeanor while secretly struggling with insomnia and hallucinations. His life is upended when Xia Tingchan, his former girlfriend whom he believed to be dead, unexpectedly appears at his home during a violent rainstorm. She has returned from hiding abroad because her identity was exposed, and she is now being hunted by political rivals seeking to discredit the Social Democratic Party, which Xia Tingchan supported through her public persona.
Xia Tingchan’s return triggers a volatile rekindling of their complex history. Lu Henqin harbors deep resentment and hatred toward her, believing she betrayed him and manipulated his family for political gain. Despite his outward hostility and attempts to drive her away, he cannot bring himself to harm her. He allows her to stay in his guest room, ostensibly for her safety but effectively placing her under his surveillance. He provides her with a new phone, a credit card, and a driver, all while monitoring her movements and ensuring she remains hidden from public view. Their interactions are marked by sharp exchanges, unspoken tensions, and lingering memories of their past romance, including a flashback to Lu Henqin’s confession to her by the sea.
As Xia Tingchan settles into Lu Henqin’s home, she navigates his erratic behavior and the oppressive atmosphere of his mansion. Lu Henqin oscillates between cruelty and protectiveness, at one point threatening her with a gun in the dead of night but ultimately unable to pull the trigger. He reveals that he has been keeping mementos of her in a secret basement storage room, including her handwritten self-criticism essays and personal items, indicating his obsessive attachment despite his claimed hatred. The political stakes escalate as Zhong Liqun, a key political figure connected to both Lu Henqin and Xia Tingchan, becomes a target of assassination attempts and public scandal. Xia Tingchan is drawn back into this dangerous political orbit, forced to confront the lies and manipulations that tore them apart.
The story delves into the mystery surrounding Xia Tingchan’s presumed death and the true events that led to their breakup. Lu Henqin’s family, particularly his late father Lu Wencheng, was deeply involved in the political machinations that exploited Xia Tingchan’s orphanage background. As Xia Tingchan begins to uncover the truth about her past and Lu Henqin’s role in it, the power dynamic between them shifts. Lu Henqin’s protective instincts clash with his desire for revenge, creating a tense atmosphere where trust is scarce and danger is imminent. The narrative explores themes of trauma, manipulation, and the blurred lines between love and hate, as both characters grapple with their shared history and the threats looming over their lives.
