Fu Cen, a former artist who lost the use of his hands to tenosynovitis after years of overwork, transmigrates into the body of a malicious supporting character in a melodramatic novel. The original host was a notorious idol who retired in disgrace, accused of bullying his teammates, and subsequently married into the wealthy Shen family as a contractual spouse to President Shen Wufeng. The marriage was purely transactional: the original host sought status, while Shen Wufeng required a nominal wife to help raise his five-year-old son, Shen Sigu, into a well-behaved academic prodigy. Upon waking in the mansion after a suspicious fall, Fu Cen discovers he has inherited not only the beautiful but despised body but also a high-risk, zero-hour contract job with a cold, domineering CEO and a traumatized child.
The core conflict arises from Fu Cen’s desire to escape versus his immediate need for financial survival. Initially planning to resign and flee, his social anxiety and lack of funds force him to remain. His first act as the new occupant of the role is to reverse the original host’s cruelty. When he learns that Shen Sigu has been punished to stand in the freezing snow all day for waking up late, Fu Cen rescues the child, who is hiding and playing with other servants' children. Instead of continuing the abuse, Fu Cen comforts the terrified boy, feeds him leftovers, and later secretly makes him hand-pulled noodles. This sudden kindness confuses Shen Sigu, who expects further torment, but gradually begins to trust his stepfather.
A key turning point occurs when Fu Cen sneaks out of the mansion at night, intending to leave permanently. He encounters Shen Sigu, who is also trying to escape to find food. The two bond over street snacks in the city, and Fu Cen, rediscovering his artistic passion while painting a clay figurine for the child, becomes a viral sensation online. The video of his ethereal appearance and skilled artistry spreads across the internet, drawing public attention. Meanwhile, Shen Wufeng, returning unexpectedly to the mansion, is notified by police that his family member is missing. He arrives to collect them, encountering Fu Cen and the child in the back of his Bentley. Struck by Fu Cen’s genuine admiration for his appearance rather than his wealth or power, Shen Wufeng’s suspicion and cold demeanor begin to crack.
Back at the mansion, Fu Cen attempts to retrieve a resignation letter he had slipped under Shen Wufeng’s door, but is caught. Shen Wufeng, initially believing it to be a spy’s message from family rivals, reads the humorous resignation letter instead. Rather than firing him, he offers a raise and reimbursement for expenses, recognizing Fu Cen’s utility in managing the household and the child. Fu Cen accepts the money, realizing he cannot leave without financial stability. He also discovers the online bullying accusations against his former idol career were fabricated and decides to hire a lawyer to clear his name. The story moves forward with Fu Cen navigating his new life as a contractual husband and stepfather, balancing his artistic ambitions with the demands of the Shen family, while Shen Wufeng grows increasingly intrigued by the transformed man who refuses to play the role of the subservient spouse.
