What makes you think I’ll always like you?

Chen Lu is a law student at a university in Hangzhou who has spent seven years pursuing Mo Yuqing, a beautiful and wealthy classmate he has known since childhood. Despite his unwavering devotion, which includes giving up his dreams to attend the same university, learning to cook her favorite dishes, and handling all her daily errands, Mo Yuqing treats him with indifference, accepting his gifts and help while explicitly rejecting his romantic advances. The story begins with Chen Lu making a final public confession, hoping for closure rather than a relationship. Mo Yuqing coldly rejects him again, stating that if he persists, they will not even remain friends. Instead of begging for another chance, Chen Lu calmly accepts the rejection, realizing that his seven years of effort were merely sunk costs. He deletes her contact information and ends their relationship, marking a decisive turning point in his life.

Following the rejection, Chen Lu encounters Liang Zhirou, a shy and hardworking accounting student who is working a part-time job distributing flyers. Liang Zhirou comes from a poor background and lives off-campus to care for her mother, who suffers from a neurological disease requiring expensive surgery. Chen Lu helps her after she is harassed by a drunk student and later tends to a burn on her arm. Their interaction is gentle and respectful, contrasting sharply with Chen Lu’s previous dynamic with Mo Yuqing. Liang Zhirou, who harbors a secret childhood connection to Chen Lu, is deeply moved by his kindness. She waits for him in the rain for nearly two hours to repay a favor, a gesture that stirs genuine emotion in Chen Lu. They begin to spend time together, sharing meals and conversations, and Chen Lu finds himself healing from his heartbreak through her sincere and uncomplicated affection.

Mo Yuqing, initially confident that Chen Lu will eventually return to his role as her devoted helper, becomes increasingly unsettled when he does not respond to her calls or messages. She attempts to assert control by confronting Chen Lu while he is having lunch with Liang Zhirou. However, Chen Lu remains cold and detached, listing the emotional toll her behavior has taken on him. He reveals that he is no longer willing to be treated as an option or a servant. Mo Yuqing is left confused and hurt, experiencing for the first time the pain of rejection and loss. Her best friend, Liu Yan, observes that Mo Yuqing has taken Chen Lu’s support for granted and warns her that she will regret losing him when she faces the world alone.

As Chen Lu continues to build a connection with Liang Zhirou, he learns more about her difficult circumstances. Liang Zhirou’s mother expresses guilt over being a burden and suggests returning to their hometown, but Liang Zhirou refuses, determined to save enough money for her mother’s surgery. Chen Lu’s growing care for Liang Zhirou is evident as he supports her emotionally and practically. Meanwhile, Mo Yuqing struggles to adapt to her new independence, finding that tasks Chen Lu previously handled, such as managing class affairs and running errands, are difficult and exhausting. She realizes too late that Chen Lu’s presence was essential to her comfortable life, but his indifference signals that their past dynamic is irreversibly broken.

The narrative explores themes of self-worth, the dangers of taking someone for granted, and the possibility of new beginnings. Chen Lu’s journey from a devoted pursuer to a man who values himself allows him to form a genuine connection with Liang Zhirou, who appreciates him for who he is rather than what he can provide. Mo Yuqing’s realization of her loss serves as a consequence of her arrogance and emotional immaturity. The story concludes with Chen Lu moving forward, leaving his past behind, and embracing a future where he is treated with respect and reciprocity.