Uh-oh! The Pretty Little Fool Angers the Gloomy Big Boss Again

Jiang Mian is a nineteen-year-old boy who has spent his entire life confined to a dark basement within the Jiang family estate. Abandoned as an infant and adopted by Jiang Linming, he is treated as an outcast by his father, stepmother Qian Fang, and half-siblings Jiang Feng and Jiang Xi. The only kindness he receives comes from a servant named Aunt Lin, who secretly brings him food and blankets. Lacking basic social skills and suffering from a stutter due to extreme isolation, Jiang Mian is considered a fool by his family. When the Jiang family faces financial difficulties and seeks a business partnership with the powerful Dingsheng International, Jiang Linming devises a scheme to offer his son as a gift to Shi Jinnian, the ruthless and wealthy heir of the Shi family. Jiang Linming believes that if Jiang Mian can please Shi Jinnian, the Jiang family will secure a vital alliance, but he secretly hopes the boy will either die or be rejected, thereby eliminating a burden.

Shi Jinnian is a cold, dominant figure who despises manipulation and scheming. When Jiang Mian arrives at the Shi mansion, he stands awkwardly in the living room, terrified and confused. Shi Jinnian, expecting a calculated seduction, is met with a trembling, naive boy who does not understand the nature of the arrangement. When Jiang Mian attempts to please his new master by hugging him, Shi Jinnian kicks him and orders him thrown out. Left outside in the freezing night, Jiang Mian refuses to leave, fearing death at the hands of his father. He sleeps by the gate, catching a severe fever. The next morning, Shi Jinnian discovers the shivering boy and, despite his initial disdain, orders him brought inside and treated by a doctor. Jiang Mian remains unconscious for three days, during which time Shi Jinnian learns the truth about the boy's miserable upbringing.

Upon waking, Jiang Mian desperately begs to stay, promising to learn how to serve. Moved by a complex mix of pity and curiosity, Shi Jinnian allows him to remain, though he maintains a cold and distant demeanor. He assigns Jiang Mian menial tasks and monitors his eating habits, knowing the boy's starvation has left him with no concept of portion control. Their relationship evolves from master and servant to a fragile coexistence, with Shi Jinnian subtly protecting Jiang Mian from the dangers of the outside world while Jiang Mian finds a sense of belonging he never had. Meanwhile, the Jiang family grows impatient, sending Jiang Feng to investigate and potentially replace Jiang Mian as a tool for manipulation.

The central conflict intensifies when Jiang Feng arrives at the Shi estate. He mocks and physically abuses Jiang Mian, stepping on his hand while Shi Jinnian watches. Jiang Mian instinctively clings to Shi Jinnian for protection, triggering the young master's anger and disgust. However, Shi Jinnian's hostility is not directed at Jiang Mian's weakness but at the violation of his space by others. He reveals to Jiang Feng that Jiang Mian is not a biological member of the Jiang family, dismissing him as unworthy of such attention. This incident marks a turning point, as Shi Jinnian begins to assert ownership over Jiang Mian, shielding him from his abusive family. The story follows Jiang Mian's gradual integration into the Shi household, where he learns to navigate a world beyond the basement, while Shi Jinnian confronts his own growing attachment to the fragile boy who sees him as his only savior.