Dream of Golden Years resumo, enredo, sinopse

Sinopse de Dream of Golden Years

Modern corporate executive Xia Xiaolan finds herself in a desperate situation when her company collapses and she is forced to take the blame. In a haze of despair, she unexpectedly travels through time and becomes an 18-year-old beautiful village girl. With no money, no power, and no support, she still possesses youth, charm, and her mother by her side. Her quick mind allows her to create miracles even in the most desperate circumstances.

Step by step, Xia Xiaolan moves forward. Determined to pursue education, she firmly believes that knowledge is the timeless path to changing one’s fate. Through her own efforts, she overcomes countless obstacles and is admitted to the university she has long dreamed of attending. At the same time, she begins her entrepreneurial journey, starting with small, cost-free businesses like selling duck eggs and fried pancakes, then moving on to reselling clothing and eventually entering the real estate market, quickly developing a keen sense for business.

Balancing her studies with her growing ventures, she also experiences a love that is both sweet and tangy, like chilled bayberries in summer. In this timeline, Xia Xiaolan sheds her former timidity and hesitation, choosing instead to embrace her destiny. By her side is the man she loves, behind her stand her family and friends, as well as elders and mentors who cherish her even without blood ties. She also gains a career she is passionate about, wealth earned through hard work, and a heartfelt desire to give back to society.

Xia Xiaolan’s rebirth becomes a complete transformation—a phoenix rising from the ashes. It is an adventurous journey through the business world, filled with triumphs and rivalries. After experiencing the tides of changing times and the ups and downs of fate, she comes to understand that, whether in the past or the present, true “golden advantages” lie only in determination and courage. Fearless in the face of challenges, she moves forward with confidence and ultimately achieves the life she desires.

Resumos de Dream of Golden Years

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• 25
• 26
• 27
• 28
• 29
• 30
• 31
• 32
• 33
• 34
• 35
• 36

On New Year’s Day 2026, Xia Xiaolan sat alone in her apartment, drinking and clutching an old alarm clock given to her by her late parents. As she drifted off, the clock fell and its hands began to spin at an impossible speed. When she awoke, she found herself in a dilapidated room in 1983, with a woman named Liu Fen tearfully calling her "daughter."

Confused, Xiaolan’s consciousness flickered back to 2026, where she remembered the source of her recent despair: her boss, Mr. Wang, had berated her over a catastrophic contract error and threatened her with a career-ending lawsuit. These memories of her previous life faded as she realized she had officially transmigrated into the body of another Xia Xiaolan. In this new reality, Xiaolan faced immediate hostility.

Her grandmother and her aunts, Zhang Cui and Wang Jingui, were hurling insults at her, accusing her of being a "shameless" girl who had seduced her sister Xia Ziyu’s boyfriend and consorted with a local thug named Zhang Erlai. While Liu Fen knelt in the dirt, begging the grandmother to stop the abuse, the modern Xiaolan refused to be a victim. She stood her ground, calling the villagers "trolls" and lashing out at her relatives for their foul behavior.

Realizing the Xia family home was a "den of monsters," she fled toward the edge of the village. As she ran, a car carrying a young man named Zhou Cheng passed by. Struck by the sight of Xiaolan in distress, Zhou Cheng intentionally stopped his car in the middle of the road, blocking the pursuing villagers and giving her time to escape. Shortly after, Xiaolan’s uncle, Liu Yong, arrived on his bicycle.

A protective and hardworking man, Liu Yong stood up to the aunts and took Xiaolan and Liu Fen away to his own home to recover. At her uncle’s house, Xiaolan began to adapt to the 1980s. She learned from her seven-year-old cousin, Tao, that she was now eighteen years old. She also observed the family dynamics: her uncle, a skilled bricklayer, was frustrated by Liu Fen’s submissive nature and urged her to be stronger for Xiaolan’s sake.

That evening, Xiaolan was deeply moved when Liu Fen prepared a special bowl of steamed egg custard just for her. Having grown up as an orphan in 2026, the simple warmth of a mother’s love began to change her perspective on this new life. However, Xiaolan was still determined to find a way back to 2026. Believing the bed in the Xia family home might be the portal that brought her here, she snuck back to the village.

She tried to bribe her sister, Xia Ziyu, with a dress to keep her presence a secret, but Ziyu betrayed her and alerted the family. When lying on the bed failed to trigger a return, Xiaolan accepted her fate. Before leaving for good, she defiantly kicked over the vegetables the grandmother had set out to dry, leaving the family stunned by her newfound boldness.

To support her mother and uncle, Xiaolan decided to sell the large quantity of duck eggs Liu Fen had collected. In the county town, she utilized modern marketing strategies to stand out in the crowded market. She negotiated for green onions on credit and offered them as a free gift for anyone who bought twenty-one eggs, using a "buy more, save more" approach.

Her strategy was a massive success, and she sold her entire stock quickly, even saving a few eggs for the vendor who had helped her. After her successful day of trading, Xiaolan stopped at a roadside stand for a bowl of bone broth noodles, paying with cash as she lacked food stamps. While she ate, Zhou Cheng appeared again, having followed her to the shop. He approached her, noting that she didn't seem like a typical local girl.

Xiaolan, however, remembered him as the driver who had kicked up a cloud of dust on her the day before. She remained cold and unimpressed, dismissing him after they both agreed they were "even" for his earlier help. After getting directions to a watch shop, Xiaolan headed toward Anping Alley, unaware that three thugs were waiting in the shadows to intercept her.

In 2015, Xia Xiaolan achieved the title of sales champion for the second quarter, receiving a certificate and a bonus for her outstanding performance. However, her success sparked intense jealousy among her colleagues, who whispered that she only secured high-quality clients through an improper relationship with Mr. Gu. Xiaolan understood that rumors were born from envy, but she believed that backing down would only be seen as an admission of guilt.

The scene shifts back to 1983, where Xiaolan found herself cornered in a secluded alley by three thugs. They harassed her, calling her a "loose woman" from Dahe Village and mocking her supposed relationship with a man named Zhang Erlai. Just as the situation turned physical, Zhou Cheng intervened, making quick work of the men.

After being released from the police station, a grateful Xiaolan accompanied Zhou Cheng to a clock shop to buy an alarm clock, hoping it might trigger her return to her original time. However, she suddenly fainted. While unconscious, Xiaolan experienced memories of the body's past. She recalled suffering heatstroke in the fields and being cared for by Wang Jianhua, a young man from Beijing.

The original Xiaolan had developed a naive crush on him, a sentiment the modern Xiaolan found foolish. When she woke up in the hospital with Zhou Cheng by her side, she expressed her skepticism about "love at first sight." Despite her cold outlook on romance, she noted that Zhou Cheng was warm, considerate, and knew how to maintain proper boundaries. Zhou Cheng insisted on driving Xiaolan back to her village, using his headlights to illuminate her path home.

Her uncle, Liu Yong, initially mistook Zhou Cheng for a harasser and moved to confront him, but Xiaolan quickly cleared up the misunderstanding. To thank him, the family prepared dumplings, but Xiaolan’s family noticed she had seemingly forgotten how to wrap them, adding to the sense that she had changed significantly since her recent head injury. That night, Xiaolan set her new alarm clock, desperately hoping to return to 2026. Instead, the loud ringing only succeeded in waking her family.

Frustrated, she wondered if the timing was the issue, as she had originally arrived in the 1980s during the afternoon. The next day, she and Liu Yong met Zhou Cheng and his companion, Xiaowei, in town. After delivering the thank-you dumplings, they shared an elaborate "One Fish, Four Ways" meal at a restaurant. Zhou Cheng’s sophisticated knowledge and open admiration for Xiaolan’s "vitality" made Liu Yong uneasy.

Suspecting Zhou Cheng was a smuggler dealing in illegal goods, the uncle later warned Xiaolan not to be fooled by the young man's handsome face. Later, Zhou Cheng found Xiaolan selling duck eggs and was impressed by her unconventional business sense. She used modern sales strategies, such as bulk discounts and giving away small onions, and spoke of concepts like "primitive accumulation" and "market research."

During their conversation, Xiaolan noted that the malicious gossip following her was likely the work of her cousin, Xia Ziyu. Back in the village, the slander regarding Xiaolan’s reputation reached a breaking point, leaving her mother, Liu Fen, in tears. Refusing to hide, Xiaolan decided to fight back. She investigated the original body's belongings and realized the "scandal" with Zhang Erlai was a trap involving a forged note with mismatched handwriting.

Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng did his own investigating, using candy to gather information from local children about Zhang Erlai’s reputation as a notorious harasser. Determined to end the rumors, Xiaolan went to Shipozi Village to confront Zhang Erlai directly. She arrived to find her uncle, Liu Yong, already teaching the rogue a lesson. In front of a crowd of villagers, Xiaolan boldly stood her ground and exposed how she had been tricked. She argued that as an innocent victim, she had no reason to live in shame, effectively turning the tables on her accuser and the gossiping public.

Xia Xiaolan publicly confronted Zhang Erlai, forcing him to admit in front of the villagers that he had never actually "taken advantage" of her. As he inadvertently confessed to spreading malicious rumors, the tide of public opinion turned sharply against him. The police arrived shortly after, acting on reports of multiple harassment cases, and arrested Zhang Erlai on the spot.

Xiaolan stood tall, telling the crowd that the only way to stop a lie is to face it with the truth. Zhou Cheng was deeply impressed by Xiaolan’s bravery and independence. During their conversation, he noted that she seemed capable of handling anything without help. Xiaolan didn't deny her mysterious nature but focused on her immediate goals: making money to pay back her uncle, Liu Yong, and eventually achieving financial success.

Despite his growing feelings, Xiaolan remained guarded, explaining that her current life was too messy to include a romantic plan. Before departing for the capital following an urgent telegram, Zhou Cheng gave her a stun baton for self-defense, carefully teaching her how to use the safety and switch. He also left her his address, expressing a sincere hope that they could become pen pals.

Back at her uncle’s home, Xiaolan began winning over her extended family with her culinary skills and business mind. She prepared a "duck egg version of mock crab," explaining that giving customers a free taste was a "marketing strategy" to boost sales. While the family enjoyed the meal, Chen Qing, the village chief’s son and a student at the county's top high school, arrived to notify Liu Yong of a bricklaying job.

Observing the new bicycle and tricycle her uncle had bought, Xiaolan realized how profitable manual trade could be in this era. That night, Xiaolan shared a quiet moment with her mother, Liu Fen. Looking at the stars, Xiaolan recalled the pain of losing her parents in her previous life and decided to truly embrace her new reality. For the first time, she called Liu Fen "Mom" with genuine affection, leaning on her shoulder like a child.

Determined to secure their future, Xiaolan traveled to the city of Shangdu to find a lucrative business. She considered the clothing trade, but realized she lacked the 600 yuan capital needed for a trip to the fashion hub of Longcheng. Her perspective shifted when she saw "oil cakes"—the waste product from rapeseed oil.

Knowing rural farmers needed them to fatten their pigs, she decided on a reverse strategy: instead of just selling village goods to the city, she would bring city resources back to the countryside. By transporting hundreds of catties on her uncle’s tricycle, she aimed for rapid "initial capital accumulation." While Xiaolan’s new life flourished, the Xia family was in chaos.

A sudden rainstorm soaked their uncollected grain, leading the bitter Xia Old Lady to blame Xiaolan and Liu Fen for "slacking off" at their relative's house during the busy harvest. Hongxia added fuel to the fire by reporting she had seen Xiaolan in town with a handsome man. Seeking to control Xiaolan and secure a bride price to support Xia Ziyu’s expensive life in the capital, Ziyu’s parents schemed to marry Xiaolan off to Zhang Erlai, unaware of his arrest.

The following morning, Xia Dajun arrived at Qijing Village with his sisters-in-law to forcibly bring his wife and daughter back. The encounter was cold; Xiaolan addressed her father by his full name, showing no respect for a man who had never protected her from the rumors. She informed them that she had cleared her name and that Zhang Erlai was in custody.

When the Xia family tried to bully her into returning to apologize to Xia Ziyu, Xiaolan warned them that she knew all about Ziyu’s involvement with Wang Jianhua and would not be their "blood bag" any longer. As the argument escalated and Xia Dajun attempted to strike her, Liu Yong arrived with a wooden staff, backed by the protective villagers of Qijing. He chased the Xia family away, declaring that Xiaolan and Liu Fen were no longer theirs to abuse.

In a final act of defiance, Xiaolan announced her intention to take the college entrance exam to prove she was just as capable as their precious Ziyu. Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Zhou Cheng waited expectantly for a letter from his new pen pal.

In 2026, Xia Xiaolan’s dreams of retaking the college entrance exam are crushed by her family's financial constraints. Her parents, unwilling to fund another year of study, push her toward a sponsored training program or a teaching degree to ensure a quick path to a stable job. Despite her potential, they emphasize that once she graduates, she must be self-sufficient and stop asking for money.

Facing the reality that her parents prioritize immediate stability over her long-term ambitions, Xiaolan is forced to reconsider her future. In the 1980s, Zhou Cheng feels a lingering disappointment when a delivery of mail arrives without a letter from Xiaolan. His friend, Wei, tries to distract him with plans to continue their cigarette reselling business, but Zhou Cheng is torn between these lucrative "loopholes" and reporting for his official duty.

Ultimately, he decides to make one last trip to Anqing to wrap up their business affairs before starting his assigned job. Determined to change her destiny in this new timeline, Xiaolan decides to pursue a university education. She meets with Chen Qing, who provides her with high school textbooks and information regarding the transfer process at the No.1 High School. Since Xiaolan only has a middle school diploma, she must pass a qualification exam.

Chen Qing warns her that the English section has been added to the total score this year, making it more difficult. Xiaolan is unfazed; having worked in foreign trade for years, her English is excellent, and she prefers the science track, knowing that switching to liberal arts would be a disaster. Her uncle, Liu Yong, initially suspects she is only studying to compete with Xia Ziyu, but the rest of the family rallies behind her.

Liu Fen and her aunt take over all the household chores, encouraging Xiaolan to focus entirely on her books. On the day of the exam, Xiaolan finds the questions surprisingly simple compared to the standards of her original time. The English phonetics and basic math feel like free points, and she finishes the test with plenty of time to spare. As she leaves the school, she is spotted by Xia Ziyu’s parents.

Terrified that Xiaolan is trying to get into college to chase after Wang Jianhua, Ziyu’s mother immediately sends a telegram to warn her daughter. Early the next morning, Xiaolan accompanies Liu Yong as he prepares to leave for work. She confronts him about his "bricklayer" job, correctly guessing that he has been involved in the dangerous business of watching illicit goods.

She urges him to quit the smuggling trade for the sake of the family and proposes a partnership in a clothing business instead. Liu Yong, impressed by her foresight and admitting he lacks an "eye" for fashion, agrees that the clothing trade is a viable path. He uses his connections to secure a letter of introduction for her, which is essential for travel.

Before she can depart, five telegrams arrive from Zhou Cheng, stating that he has left the capital and hopes to meet her in Anqing. Meanwhile, at Capital Normal University, Xia Ziyu is troubled by the news of Xiaolan’s exam. Believing Xiaolan still has feelings for Wang Jianhua, Ziyu doubles her efforts to secure his affection. During lunch, she gives him all of her braised pork, claiming he needs the energy more than she does.

Jianhua expresses his deep gratitude, not just for the meal, but for Ziyu’s financial help that allowed his father to be reinstated at the Ministry of Education. Xiaolan eventually meets Zhou Cheng at the station before her trip to Longcheng. When she shares her plan to take the college entrance exam next year, Zhou Cheng is deeply moved by her courage and determination.

Her resolve to escape a predictable life through education inspires him so much that he considers pursuing a degree himself. Concerned for her safety during the thirty-hour journey, he exchanges her ticket for a sleeper berth and gives her a self-defense tool, insisting that being careful is a responsibility she owes to her family. On the train, a woman attempts to lure Xiaolan into a trap by offering her work down south.

Xiaolan immediately recognizes her as a human trafficker and publicly exposes the woman’s tactics. With the help of an older passenger who calls for the train police, the woman is forced to produce her identification, and Xiaolan’s sharp instincts keep her safe. When the train stops in Yuezhou, Xiaolan cannot resist stepping off to find her former home.

She visits the winery where her mother used to work and goes to her old residential compound, but the people there have no record of her parents, Liu Mei or Xia Weimin. Seeing a different family living in the apartment that should have been hers, Xiaolan realizes with a mix of sorrow and liberation that she has no roots in this timeline. She feels like a veteran player starting a new game with a fresh account, free to redefine herself.

Arriving in Longcheng, Xiaolan is immediately targeted by a group of local thugs at the station. Before they can intimidate her, a woman named Bai Zhenzhu intervenes. Using her martial arts training, Zhenzhu quickly dispatches the troublemakers and chases them away. Despite the rescue, Xiaolan remains guarded, only relaxing slightly when she later encounters Zhenzhu again at her fruit stall. Xiaolan visits the local clothing market, where she is amazed by the sheer volume of stock.

She avoids the cheap "street-stall" quality and selects stylish, high-end pieces, telling the vendors that even people in rural areas want to be fashionable. She later returns to Bai Zhenzhu’s stall to thank her properly. Zhenzhu laments that her family’s martial arts school has closed and that people no longer value the old ways. Xiaolan offers her a stylish garment as a token of thanks, but Zhenzhu refuses, insisting that Xiaolan needs the inventory to make a living. Xiaolan suggests that Zhenzhu consider a different trade, predicting that people will soon be willing to spend significant money on the very "fashionable" items Zhenzhu currently dismisses.

In 2020, Xia Xiaolan is a sharp-witted professional who refuses to be bullied. During a meeting, her manager, Ms. Qian, praises the performance of others while Xiaolan’s numbers lag. Xiaolan stands up and publicly confronts her colleague, Liu Yun, for sabotaging her schedule with menial tasks and stealing her clients. She makes it clear she has no patience for "green tea" manipulators before the scene shifts back to 1983. In Longcheng, Xiaolan prepares to head home.

She encourages Bai Zhenzhu to consider moving to the Shengcheng Special Zone, predicting that people will soon spend more money on fashionable "frills." Though the area is currently a messy construction site requiring a Border Permit, Xiaolan believes the business opportunities there will be immense. Bai Zhenzhu, grateful for Xiaolan's insight, helps her check in her heavy stock at the train station, promising they will meet again.

Back at home, Xiaolan’s aunt and mother, Liu Fen, are stunned by the vibrant, stylish clothes she brought back. Xiaolan sets up a stall near the local department store and government offices, targeting office workers who value aesthetics. She implements a "9. 9 yuan" psychological pricing strategy and convinces her mother to act as a "walking model" to showcase the outfits. Despite her mother’s initial shyness, Xiaolan encourages her to be confident, telling her that confidence makes her shine.

The strategy works perfectly; young women are immediately drawn to Liu Fen’s stylish look and flock to the stall. Xiaolan cleverly markets the clothes as machine-knitted export quality, offering a 10% discount for matching sets. The business is a massive success, bringing in over 500 yuan in a short time. However, this success draws the ire of a rival clothing store owner from across the street.

The competitor attempts to ruin Xiaolan’s reputation by calling her a "low-quality" street peddler and questioning her character. Xiaolan’s aunt fiercely defends her, but the argument is interrupted by the arrival of Principal Sun from No.1 High School and Teacher Qi. They publicly announce that Xiaolan passed her placement exam with an incredible score of 446—well above the university admission line.

Principal Sun is so impressed by her potential that he personally encourages her to enroll, promising she could get into a top-tier university with a year of revision. Xiaolan agrees to enroll but insists on a flexible study plan. She explains that her family’s financial situation requires her to keep running her business. She tells the principal that she will study at home and only report to school once a week for exams.

When Principal Sun hesitates, Xiaolan boldly threatens to take her high scores to No.2 High School instead. Fearing they will lose a star student, the principal quickly agrees to her terms. Xiaolan manages to secure her student ID and meal tickets, determined to balance both education and commerce. Meanwhile, in Beijing, Zhou Cheng is inspired by Xiaolan’s determination and returns to school as a "repeater" to prepare for the college entrance exam.

He sends Xiaolan a package of advanced study materials and a novel for "work-rest balance" through a local noodle shop owner to avoid causing her trouble in her village. Xiaolan, utilizing her "golden finger" of future knowledge, begins to recall the notoriously difficult 1984 math exam. She realizes that if she can master those specific "hell-mode" questions from her memory, her path to university is guaranteed.

By the time the Lunar New Year arrives, the family celebrates a warm holiday together. Xiaolan treats her mother and uncle’s family to a day at the fair, insisting that they spend the money she earned rather than letting it "mold" at home. At the fair, they run into Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua. Ziyu, noticing Xiaolan first, tries to play the role of a saintly, concerned sister.

She publicly "begs" Xiaolan to return to the Xia family home and reconcile with her father, implying that Xiaolan and her mother are only suffering by living with their uncle. Xiaolan sees right through Ziyu’s performance, calling her a "villain" who puts on too much of an act. When Jianhua tries to defend Ziyu and claims he doesn't regret his choice, Xiaolan shifts the focus to a more practical matter.

She demands that Jianhua repay the 35 yuan she spent on his travel, food, and lodging when they were together. To save face in front of the crowd and appear generous, Ziyu takes the money from her own pocket and pays Xiaolan on Jianhua's behalf. Xiaolan mockingly thanks her and tells her to have fun "supporting her man" before walking away to buy fish with the newly reclaimed money.

Zhou Cheng, who had traveled to find Xiaolan, arrives just in time to witness the confrontation and backs Xiaolan up, much to Ziyu and Jianhua's embarrassment. Xiaolan introduces him to her mother as her "study buddy," and the family invites him home for a New Year feast. Xiaolan prepares a modern "one fish, four dishes" meal, impressing everyone with her culinary skills and hospitality.

As a heavy rain begins to fall, Uncle Yong insists that Zhou Cheng stay the night, much to the young man's delight. Back at the Xia family home, the atmosphere is bitter as the grandmother fuming over the lost 35 yuan and blames Xiaolan for being an ungrateful wretch.

Xia Xiaolan returns home from a business trip, only to find her modern-day house quiet and empty. A message from her boss arrives, reminding her to submit a field study report by the following morning. As she reflects on how the concept of home can shift from a source of stability to a lesson in loss, the scene shifts back to 1983.

Wang Jianhua stands with Xia Ziyu, offering her comfort, but his mind drifts back to his very first meeting with Xia Xiaolan. At the time, he had been sent to the countryside by the county as an agriculture technical guide alongside colleagues Yang Jiancong and Tan Xihao. One night, unable to sleep due to the thunderous snoring of Liu Yong and young Tao, Xiaolan heads downstairs.

She finds Zhou Cheng sitting outside the door, acting as a self-appointed "door god" for the same reason. They fall into a deep conversation, and Xiaolan shares a letter Wang Jianhua had written to her three months into their acquaintance, where he spoke of fate and shared his innermost thoughts. Zhou Cheng observes that Jianhua’s early sincerity likely curdled into a craving for the ego boost Xiaolan provided.

He notes that Xiaolan’s past devotion only served to build up a mediocre man’s false confidence. Xiaolan admits she no longer wants to live in a fog; she wants to start over and live life to the fullest. Zhou Cheng, who plans to study law, urges her to remain calm regardless of how Xia Ziyu provokes her, advising her to trust the law rather than violence to protect her family.

By the spring of 1984, Xiaolan finally opens her own business, the Blue Phoenix Clothing Store. On the day of the grand opening, she launches a major sale, offering discounts for multiple purchases and gifting silk scarves to customers. The shop is immediately crowded. Xiaolan skillfully handles customers, such as a woman self-conscious about her legs, by recommending high-waisted jeans that offer a slimming effect.

Her mother, Liu Fen, is nervous about the bustling trade, but Xiaolan remains composed and encouraging. However, the store's success draws immediate envy. Two hoodlums, Zhao Yong and his partner, begin loitering at the entrance to harass and scare away potential female customers. Xiaolan takes a basin of water and deliberately splashes it over the area where they are squatting, claiming she is simply fulfilling her "Three Guarantees" responsibility to keep the storefront clean.

When the men threaten her, she remains unfazed, offering to wait for the police or the security patrol to discuss the issue of vagrants disturbing private businesses. Just as the hoodlums prepare to turn violent, a group of police officers passes by, causing the thugs to flee in terror. Li Fengmei worries about future retaliation, but Xiaolan realizes the men were merely paid hirelings.

She correctly guesses that the Xia family is behind the harassment, as they are the only ones who cannot stand to see her prosper. She reassures her mother and aunt that the Xia family will soon be too preoccupied with their own troubles to bother them. Meanwhile, Zhang Cui is struggling with her own business and considers letting their worker, Hongxia, go to save costs.

As they argue, the two hoodlums arrive at Zhang Cui's shop to demand payment for their "work" sabotaging Xiaolan's store. Having researched the family, the thugs reveal they know Zhang Cui and Xia Changzheng are the true owners. Xia Hongbing overhears this and returns home to expose their secret. The revelation that Zhang Cui has been hiding money and subsidizing her own natal family enrages the Xia household.

Wang Jingui complains to Grandma Xia, who is furious that the couple hasn't been contributing to the communal pot. When Xia Changzheng and Zhang Cui return, Grandma Xia commands that the shop be managed jointly by Zhang Cui and Wang Jingui. The couple tries to claim the business is failing and that they have no savings, even suggesting they need the money to send their son Junbao to school in the city.

Grandma Xia remains unmoved and demands they hand over all earnings to the family. Zhang Cui threatens to leave and return to her parents, but Xia Changzheng, losing his temper, strikes her, declaring that he is not a "coward" like his brother Xia Dajun. As Xiaolan’s business continues to thrive, her use of trendy stockings as gifts keeps the shop busy. Li Fengmei is deeply impressed by Xiaolan’s business acumen.

With the college entrance exams approaching, Liu Fen and Li Fengmei suggest closing the shop for three days to accompany Xiaolan to the tests. Xiaolan refuses to lose the revenue, suggesting that her mother and aunt stay to run the store while Liu Yong accompanies her instead. In the city, Wang Jianhua’s father is reinstated at the Ministry of Education.

Xia Ziyu is thrilled and asks to visit his parents, but Wang Jianhua dismisses the idea, telling her to focus on her studies instead. Xia Ziyu soon receives word from her mother that Xiaolan has placed first in the city’s preliminary exams and intends to apply for a university in the capital. This news fills Ziyu with bitterness, wondering if Xiaolan is still holding a flame for Wang Jianhua.

At Anqing No.1 High School, a mobilization meeting is held three days before the exams. Principal Sun announces that the top three students from the prelims will receive scholarships and grants. He suggests that the parents should take the stage to receive the awards. Liu Fen is hesitant, but Xiaolan encourages her to be confident. On stage, Liu Fen proudly introduces herself as Xiaolan's mother, much to the admiration of the other parents.

However, the peace is shattered when Xia Dajun arrives at the school gate, encouraged by his family to cause trouble. He tries to force his way in, claiming he is Xiaolan’s father and demanding she come home. Xiaolan confronts him, questioning where he was when she was suffering and accusing him of only wanting to reap the rewards of her hard work now. She realizes Xia Ziyu sent him and points out the Xia family's hypocrisy.

Liu Fen, hearing the commotion, finally finds the courage to stand up to Xia Dajun. In front of the crowd of teachers and students, she demands a divorce, stating that Xia Dajun does not deserve to be Xiaolan's father. Xia Dajun, humiliated and enraged, calls them names and attempts to strike Liu Fen. A chaotic scuffle breaks out as onlookers try to intervene. In the confusion, Xiaolan is pushed to the ground and someone steps heavily on her hand.

At the hospital, the doctor informs them that while there is no major fracture, Xiaolan has suffered a hairline fracture. Her hand must be placed in a cast and kept still, casting a dark shadow over her ability to sit for the crucial exams starting in just three days.

In 2003, high school students faced the immense pressure of the college entrance exam. Because Xia Xiaolan was known as a top-tier student, parents constantly urged their children to learn from her example, which only fueled jealousy and led to Xiaolan being bullied by her peers. However, the story shifts back to 1983, where the younger Xiaolan was recovering from a serious hand injury.

Despite having her hand in a cast and suffering from a fever, she was determined to take the exam that year. She knew the incident wasn't an accident but a deliberate attempt to sabotage her, and she refused to let her enemies succeed. While Xiaolan rested, the Xia family remained in turmoil. Xia Hongbing and his wife continued to manipulate Xia Dajun, questioning why Zhang Cui hadn't arrived to stir more trouble.

Dajun felt defeated, realizing Xiaolan no longer acknowledged him as her father. Seeing her daughter’s bandaged hand, Liu Fen was consumed by guilt, blaming herself for not divorcing Dajun sooner to protect her daughter. Encouraged by her brother, Liu Yong, who was nearly stopped from attacking the Xia family in a rage, Liu Fen finally finalized the divorce.

With the help of Uncle Wangda, the household registrations for Liu Fen and Xiaolan were moved back to the Liu family, and they were even allocated their own land by the village. The news left the Xia grandmother furious, calling Dajun a useless coward for losing both his wife and the family land. As the exam date approached, Xiaolan woke up in the hospital to find Zhou Cheng by her side.

She had been dreaming of a better future—a "dream of golden years"—where the tragedies of her past were finally over. Zhou Cheng confessed that he had won his own battle and was now looking toward an even more important one: winning her heart. Xiaolan, moved by his handsome face and sweet request, admitted she had dreamed of him too. Though she teased him that the results weren't out yet, she felt the beginning of a genuine romance.

She also encouraged Liu Yong to move away from risky business and look toward the special zones like Shengcheng, where the real estate and renovation industries were beginning to boom. On the day of the college entrance exam, the family gathered to cheer Xiaolan on. Despite the pain and the painkillers she had to take, she remained focused. After a particularly difficult math exam left many students in despair, Xiaolan encouraged her classmates to keep fighting for the remaining subjects.

Once the exams concluded, Xiaolan estimated her score at 584 points, despite losing marks in Politics due to her slow writing speed. Principal Sun and Ms. Qi were ecstatic, noting that 584 was the score of the previous year’s top provincial science student. Xiaolan decided to apply to the Architecture Department at Huaqing University, knowing that the skills she would learn there would be her gateway into the future real estate market.

Chen Qing’s mother was initially hesitant about her son moving far away, preferring he stay in Yunan for college. However, after consulting Xiaolan, she agreed to let him apply to a top university in the capital. Chen Qing clearly harbored feelings for Xiaolan, but she firmly rejected him, expressing her sincere hope that he would find someone who truly loved him once he reached the city.

Meanwhile, Xia Ziyu returned home alone, as Wang Jianhua was occupied with his father’s reinstatement. Zhang Cui worried that the Wang family, now that they were back in positions of power, would look down on them as country people. The tension reached a peak on the day the results were released. Ms. Qi waited at the Provincial Admissions Office as officials rechecked the top score, finding an unprecedented 45-point gap between the first and second-place candidates.

After a thorough review, the announcement was made: the top science student in the province was Xia Xiaolan from Anqing No. 1 High School, with a staggering 616 points. The school erupted in celebration, and local businesses even gave out free fried eggs to students to honor the achievement. As reporters arrived to interview the remarkably pretty and intelligent top scorer, Xiaolan realized that her true golden age was just beginning.

In the summer of 1998, a young Xia Xiaolan stood on a hospital rooftop, devastated by the loss of her parents and contemplating ending her life. Her aunt arrived just in time to pull her back from the edge, urging her to move forward and take control of her own future. Returning to the reality of 1983, the mood in Qijing Village was celebratory. Xiaolan and her friend Chen Qing were honored for their university admissions.

Xiaolan had achieved the top score in Yunan Province, while Chen Qing secured a spot at a capital university. Xiaolan’s uncle, Liu Yong, hosted a banquet for the village, where Liu Fen shared the quiet news that Xia Dajun had vanished immediately after their divorce. Later, Chen Qing’s mother brought word of a phone call from Zhou Cheng, who reached out to congratulate Xiaolan and tease her about a surprise gift for her upcoming birthday.

In the capital, Zhou Cheng’s mother, Director Guan, questioned him about his frequent trips to Yunan. Zhou Cheng spoke of Xiaolan with deep admiration, noting that her unique English study methods had significantly boosted his academic performance. He confessed his feelings for her, explaining how he respected her decision to rely on her own merit rather than his family's status. Director Guan was impressed to hear that the young woman had not only topped her province but ranked third nationally.

True to his word, Zhou Cheng visited the village with a birthday cake. The celebration was warm, filled with laughter and shared moments with Liu Yong and the family. Xiaolan reflected on her journey, wondering if the original owner of this body would be satisfied with the path she had forged. Soon after, a television interview featuring Xiaolan was broadcast.

During the interview, Xiaolan subtly addressed the wrist injury she had sustained before the exam, using the platform to encourage other students to remain resilient in the face of adversity. That evening, in a quiet moment on a swing, Xiaolan finally stopped running from her feelings and agreed to enter a relationship with Zhou Cheng. Justice also began to unfold.

Police informed Xiaolan that Sun Er-Mazi had confessed to being instigated by Xia Changzheng to sabotage her gaokao by injuring her hand. Xiaolan urged the police to investigate further, specifically mentioning her cousin Xia Ziyu’s suspicious involvement. Shortly after, news broke that Xia Ziyu had become a wanted fugitive for her role as the mastermind behind the harassment.

At her clothing store, Xiaolan faced questions from her family about her role in these events but remained composed, having successfully turned the tables on those who targeted her. Before leaving for university, she donated her study notes and methods to Principal Sun to assist future students. Xiaolan’s acceptance letter from Huaqing University arrived, confirming her admission to the School of Architecture.

Reflecting on the entrance exam, she realized that the questions differed from her past memories, signaling that her presence was indeed reshaping the timeline. By 1984, Xiaolan and her mother, Liu Fen, left for the capital. Life in the capital proved to be both rigorous and rewarding. By 1985, Xiaolan’s clothing store, "Blue Phoenix," had successfully expanded. By 1986, a museum project she designed with classmates earned a national award, allowing her the possibility of early graduation.

She was also warmly received by Zhou Cheng’s family during the Spring Festival. Investing in her future, she purchased a property in the capital, insisting her mother hold onto it as a vital asset. However, challenges persisted. In 1987, during a national English competition, Xiaolan was inexplicably snubbed by the press. Upon questioning, she discovered that the deliberate exclusion was orchestrated by Wang Guangping, the president of the English Association—who was none other than Wang Jianhua’s father.

The finals of the 12th Xiangsheng High School Debate Competition concluded with Yuezhou No.3 High School taking the championship. However, the title of Best Debater was awarded to Li Wenyue from Xianghu No.1 High School, a decision that left some questioning if strings had been pulled. Observing the scene, Xia Xiaolan reflected on the complexities of life—how variables like appearance, personality, and family background create a constant state of competition far more intricate than any debate topic.

Behind the scenes of the National College Student English Competition, the atmosphere was far more hostile. Wang Guangping, acting as the supervisor, gathered the judges to demand Xia Xiaolan’s disqualification. He presented her Huaqing University profile, arguing that her perfect score on the English entrance exam was impossible for a rural student who had dropped out for two years.

He brazenly insulted her family, citing her incarcerated relatives and her fugitive sister, Xia Ziyu, as proof that someone from her background was unfit for the finals. Despite her teacher from Huaqing vouching for her status as a top student who could communicate fluently with foreign architects, Wang remained adamant. Xia Xiaolan eventually confronted Wang directly in front of the judges. She pointed out that while Wang claimed to know her family well, he had never actually met her.

She revealed the dark truth behind the "fugitive sister" narrative: Xia Ziyu had instigated an attack on her to prevent her from taking the Gaokao. Furthermore, Xiaolan turned the tables by questioning Wang's own family character, noting that his son, Wang Jianhua, had illegally issued letters to help Ziyu escape. As Wang lost his composure, claiming his son was a victim of the sisters, Xiaolan exposed his actions as a desperate attempt at personal retaliation.

Professor Xu Guozhang, sensing the personal grudge, intervened. He agreed to let Xiaolan compete but challenged her to answer a question of his own choosing on stage to prove her integrity. During the finals, Professor Xu asked Xiaolan for her perspective on whether true fairness exists in the world. Speaking fluently in English, Xiaolan delivered a moving speech, describing fairness as a scale held within the heart, shaped by one’s cognition and experiences.

She acknowledged her fortune in having a public platform to prove her abilities, while noting that many are denied such opportunities by their background or fate. Her call for people to broaden their minds and set aside arrogance and prejudice earned her a resounding ovation and a winning score of 98. 2, securing first place.

Wang Guangping made a final attempt to sabotage her by refusing to sign off on the results, but his authority was checked by the sudden arrival of Minister Tang. The Minister rebuked Wang for abusing his power to settle personal vendettas, warning that such behavior would ruin the reputation of the competition. Even Zhou Cheng’s family stood among the crowd, defending Xiaolan’s hard-earned success.

Xiaolan accepted her championship trophy from the sponsor, Du Zhaohui of the Chengrong Group, who was visibly impressed by her wit and beauty. Following the ceremony, Du Zhaohui sought a private conversation with Xiaolan. He revealed a shocking connection: he was the man Xia Dajun had saved during a violent confrontation in the past.

In gratitude for her father's actions, Du offered to arrange a glamorous future for her in Hong Kong, suggesting she could join a beauty pageant and become a movie star. Xiaolan firmly rejected the offer, stating she had no contact with Xia Dajun and no interest in the life Du was proposing. She introduced Zhou Cheng as her boyfriend and declared her intention to build her own career in the developing special zones of the south.

Xiaolan soon traveled to Shengcheng with her mother, Liu Fen, accompanied by Zhou Cheng and his friend Kang Wei. They were greeted at the station by her uncle Liu Yong and her business associate Bai Zhenzhu. As the group posed for a commemorative photo, a pickpocket named Ah Fei slashed Kang Wei’s bag and made off with his wallet.

Bai Zhenzhu, familiar with the local criminal element from her days selling fruit at the station, immediately led Kang Wei to confront the thugs. They tracked the wallet to a gambling den run by Ke Yixiong. Though Ke Yixiong tried to act the part of a local "hero," Bai Zhenzhu saw through his posturing, calling him a disgrace who still relied on petty theft while others were moving into legitimate business.

She successfully retrieved the wallet, leaving Ke Yixiong curious about her connection to the "smart" friend who had helped her find success. Afterward, the group enjoyed a traditional breakfast of boat congee and dim sum. Bai Zhenzhu credited her thriving business reselling cheap trousers to Xiaolan’s strategic advice, which had saved her from a life of butchering pigs.

As they explored Shengcheng, Xiaolan shared her passion for architecture, explaining that the noisy, dusty construction sites were exactly the future she envisioned. She saw the rapid rise of the real estate industry as her greatest opportunity and hoped to one day design her own buildings. While walking along the coast, Liu Fen was mesmerized by the beauty of the sea.

Xiaolan promised her mother that after graduation, they would move to Shengcheng together to enjoy a life of fresh sea breezes and seafood. A sudden typhoon brought heavy rain, forcing the group to seek shelter. They encountered a man in distress whose car had broken down; his leader, Tang Hong'en, was suffering from an acute gastric attack. Zhou Cheng carried the ailing official to a nearby clinic, where they stayed to help.

Liu Fen took it upon herself to care for Tang Hong'en, even going out to find supplies to cook him a bland bowl of porridge so he could take his medicine. When Tang Hong'en woke, he was struck by Liu Fen’s kindness and gentle demeanor. As they spoke, they were surprised to discover they were both from the same region in Yunan.

As graduation season arrives at the university, the air is thick with discussions about the future, with many students eyeing prestigious foreign firms or positions that offer household registration. Amidst the nostalgia of the song "My Future Is Not a Dream" playing on the radio, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng visit the hospital to check on the recovering Tang Hong'en. During his stay, Tang Hong'en finds himself in deep conversation with Liu Fen.

Discovering they share roots in Yunan, they bond over memories of local delicacies like mutton soup and pan-fried buns. Tang Hong'en is particularly impressed when he learns that Xia Xiaolan is a university graduate, praising Liu Fen for raising such a capable daughter despite their humble background as farmers. When Xia Xiaolan enters the room, Tang Hong'en recognizes her immediately.

Their fates had crossed once before on a train during her first business trip, where he had helped her escape a group of human traffickers by calling for the police. Xia Xiaolan shares her ambitions for the future, explaining that while she lacks the capital for large-scale construction right now, she intends to utilize her architecture degree to start an interior finishing business in Shengcheng.

Tang Hong'en is struck by her resourcefulness, noting that her plan to build an professional network step-by-step is a wise approach in a city that is growing so rapidly. Later that evening, the group gathers at their hotel. Bai Zhenzhu mentions that Ke Yixiong, a local figure with a shady reputation, is looking to partner with Xia Xiaolan.

Unsurprisingly, Xia Xiaolan is repulsed by the idea, reminding the group of Ke Yixiong’s past criminal behavior, including his attempt to abduct her and rob Kang Wei. To shake off the stress, Xia Xiaolan dresses in a stunning gown that leaves Zhou Cheng completely mesmerized. They head to a vibrant 80s dance hall where the four friends take to the stage.

Their energetic performance and singing draw the attention of the entire crowd, marking a final celebration of their youth before they dive into the professional world. Zhou Cheng soon begins making his own moves, visiting his senior, Wu Hao, at a fledgling law firm. While Wu Hao points out the stability of government roles, Zhou Cheng is drawn to the free and dynamic atmosphere of the private firm, which mirrors the energy of Shengcheng.

When he discusses his future with Xia Xiaolan, she expresses concern that he might be sacrificing his own career path just to stay near her. She insists that neither of them should be a mere accessory to the other. Zhou Cheng admits that her pragmatic nature sometimes makes him feel pushed away, but he reaffirms that he wants to be part of her future by choice.

Moved by his honesty, Xia Xiaolan agrees to communicate more openly so they can move forward in sync. While exploring the wholesale clothing markets, Xia Xiaolan encounters a man named Chen Xiliang. To anyone else, he is just a shop owner dealing in foreign trade goods, but Xia Xiaolan recognizes him as a future clothing tycoon who, in her original timeline, met a tragic end at the hands of his second wife.

To confirm her suspicions, she asks Zhou Cheng to investigate his background. The details match perfectly, leading her to realize that her presence in this era is becoming increasingly intertwined with the lives of people she once only knew of as historical figures. Their market visit is interrupted by Ke Yixiong, who attempts to corner them at a tea house.

Xia Xiaolan introduces Zhou Cheng as her boyfriend and bodyguard, firmly rejecting Ke Yixiong's business offer while warning him that she has no interest in illegal dealings. The group eventually boards a train, where Xia Xiaolan's sharp eyes spot a familiar face—the female trafficker who had targeted her years earlier. The woman, now appearing as a harmless grandmother, is currently preying on a young girl named Ye Xiaoqiong.

Xia Xiaolan intervenes just as the woman is about to seize the girl’s ID card, using the trafficker's own old tactics to expose her in front of the other passengers. Although the police are called and the group is taken to the station, there is insufficient evidence to hold the woman.

Feeling for the stranded Ye Xiaoqiong, Xia Xiaolan gives her 100 yuan and her contact information, encouraging her to pay it back only after she has successfully found her family and secured a job. Back in the capital, Zhou Cheng faces a hurdle with his family. His parents and grandparents had already arranged a stable government position for him and a spot at a design institute for Xia Xiaolan.

However, Zhou Cheng delivers a passionate defense of his decision to go to Shengcheng. He speaks of his legal ideals and his desire to contribute to the nation's progress in the Special Economic Zone. His grandfather is moved by his ambition and sense of responsibility, eventually giving his blessing despite his mother's lingering worries. As graduation concludes, Chen Qing says his farewells to Xia Xiaolan before heading to the UK for a government-sponsored study abroad program.

Meanwhile, Tang Hong'en reaches out to Liu Fen under the guise of returning a forgotten watch, even asking her out for a meal to properly thank her for her care. The journey to Shengcheng begins with Zhou Cheng, Xia Xiaolan, and Kang Wei boarding a train to start their new lives. Kang Wei admits he left without his father’s permission, determined to prove himself in the new frontier.

Upon arrival, they manage to find a rental property owned by an eccentric woman named Granny Yu. Although she sets strict rules—including a ban on guests and a high semi-annual rent—Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen decide to stay, appreciating the clean courtyard and sensing that the old woman is more worldly than she appears.

To stay competitive in the fast-paced business environment, Xia Xiaolan insists on buying pagers for the group, emphasizing that staying connected is the first step toward seizing the opportunities that Shengcheng has to offer.

After moving into her new home, Xia Xiaolan spent time decorating the space to make it warm and inviting. To celebrate, she invited Kang Wei and Bai Zhenzhu over, and the group gathered on the rooftop to look out over the growing skyline of Shengcheng. As they shared drinks and looked at the bustling streets below, they spoke openly about their aspirations.

While Kang Wei enjoyed the freedom of being a street vendor with Bai Zhenzhu, Xia Xiaolan expressed her desire to lead a good life and build her capital quickly. Xia Xiaolan soon sought out Chen Xiliang to discuss business, but she also had a hidden agenda. Haunted by her knowledge of the future, she tested him by asking if he conducted trade in the Soviet Union and how he would handle potential "changes" there.

When Chen Xiliang appeared genuinely confused about what major changes could possibly happen, Xiaolan felt a sense of relief, concluding that he was not a fellow time traveler. She then turned the conversation to business strategy, suggesting he sponsor magazine publishers to elevate the status of his clothing. While Xiaolan focused on her ventures, her mother, Liu Fen, was busy helping Mayor Tang Hong'en.

Tang’s driver, Wang, had picked her up so she could prepare millet porridge and steamed buns for the Mayor, who was struggling with a persistent stomach ailment. During the visit, Wang confided in Liu Fen that Tang was lonely and divorced, with his ex-wife and children living in the United States.

When Liu Fen returned home and shared this with Xiaolan, her daughter encouraged her to follow her heart, noting that both she and the Mayor were single and that social status shouldn't be a barrier. Meanwhile, Chen Xiliang followed Xiaolan’s advice and attempted to negotiate with magazine editors. However, he returned dejected, explaining that despite treating them to wine and gifts, the editors looked down on him for being a self-employed stall vendor.

Xiaolan suggested that the real issue was his lack of a brand. She proposed they partner up to create a dedicated brand, eventually agreeing on a share split where Chen would handle operations while she managed marketing. They set an ambitious goal to open three shops simultaneously in Shengcheng and Longcheng to make a major impact on the market. Xiaolan also set her sights on a prime shop location on 27th Road, but the situation was complicated.

The property was co-owned by a food factory and a private individual who was notoriously difficult to deal with. Despite the factory manager, Mr. Yuan, being reluctant to get involved or even share the individual's identity, Xiaolan remained determined to secure the lease, believing that no success comes without addressing such troubles. In the professional sector, Zhou Cheng began his tenure at a law firm.

To ward off persistent matchmakers in the logistics department, he placed a photo of Xiaolan on his desk, proudly telling his colleagues how beautiful and excellent his girlfriend was. At the same time, Xiaolan’s uncle, Liu Yong, looked for ways to expand his home improvement business. He and Xiaolan decided to bid on the renovation of the Shengcheng Guesthouse.

Although it was a massive state-owned project, it had been partitioned into smaller segments, giving privately owned enterprises a rare chance to compete. During a site visit to the guesthouse, Xiaolan ran into Mr. Du, a wealthy businessman from Gangdao who was also competing for the tender. Mr. Du attempted to recruit Xiaolan to join his large corporation, Chengrong Tianchen, but she firmly declined, stating she preferred to stay where she saw a real future.

To give her uncle’s company an edge, Xiaolan hired Gong Yang, a talented art student, to create professional design renderings. Her strategy was to offer a comprehensive, unified design plan for the entire guesthouse for free, even though they only intended to bid on the smaller conference rooms and dining halls. Life as a vendor remained a struggle for the rest of the group.

At the market, Kang Wei faced a confrontation with a local thug who demanded a refund for a damaged item. Bai Zhenzhu stepped in to resolve the tension by giving the refund just to keep the peace and protect their business from further harassment. Reflecting on these challenges, Xiaolan often felt the urge to act as a "golden finger" for her friends, using her knowledge to guide them, though she remained cautious about revealing too much.

The day took a sudden turn for the worse when Liu Fen went to check on their landlady, Granny Yu. Finding the elderly woman unconscious in her room, Liu Fen and Xiaolan rushed her to the hospital. The nurse informed them that Granny Yu had gone into shock due to ketoacidosis resulting from diabetes. Realizing that the woman’s family was not around, Xiaolan and Liu Fen prepared to stay by her side, taking on the responsibility of her care during the emergency.

In 2010, after years of hard work, Xia Xiaolan had accumulated some capital and hoped to buy a home. However, when she visited a sales office, she was shocked to find that even the smallest layout required a down payment of 800,000 yuan. Ignored by the dismissive sales staff, she quietly left the building, overwhelmed by the harsh reality of the modern property market.

The story shifts back to the 1980s, where Xiaolan’s current life is focused on much more immediate concerns. Granny Yu remains hospitalized after her sudden collapse, and because the subdistrict office is unable to reach her family—her only son having moved abroad over twenty years ago—Xiaolan stays by her side. When Granny Yu finally regains consciousness, her first request is for dim sum.

Xiaolan immediately heads out to find a meal fitting for the elderly woman, who was once a lady from a prominent family and remains stubborn about her tastes. A neighboring patient mistakenly praises Xiaolan as a filial granddaughter, though Granny Yu quietly clarifies they aren't related. Xiaolan and her mother, Liu Fen, return to the hospital with a spread from Lan Kwai Restaurant, including shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns, Shumai, and red bean cake with orange peel.

At the hospital, they run into Tang Hong’en. The Mayor is surprised to see them in such a place and checked in on their well-being, offering to assist Xiaolan with any business hurdles she might face. While Granny Yu enjoys her breakfast, Xiaolan cleverly convinces her to prioritize her health by choosing high-protein eggs and soy milk over the sugary pastries to avoid a longer hospital stay. Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhu has successfully opened her own shop, Zhenzhu Building Materials.

Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng visit to celebrate the milestone, gifting her a landline telephone. In the 80s, such an installation was incredibly expensive and rare in the Renmin Bridge area. Xiaolan suggests that Zhenzhu could even generate income by charging others to use the phone. While Zhenzhu initially plans to sell a wide variety of goods like paint and tiles, Xiaolan nudges her to focus on a specialized category to stand out.

Zhenzhu quickly catches on, deciding that lighting fixtures should be her specialty. When it is time for Granny Yu to be discharged, she returns to a home that has been kept perfectly clean by Xiaolan and Liu Fen. Xiaolan had even arranged for a temporary substitute for Granny Yu’s street-cleaning job, ensuring she wouldn't lose her position or her meager wages while recovering.

The next morning, Liu Fen wakes up early to finish the cleaning for Granny Yu, only to be met by Liu Yong, who brings news about their search for a commercial space. Xiaolan, Liu Yong, and their associate Chen Xiliang visit Mr. Yuan at the food factory to discuss renting a prime shop on 27th Road. Mr. Yuan remains hesitant, claiming the co-owner of the property refuses to rent.

To their shock, the co-owner walks into the office at that moment—it is Granny Yu. Although Granny Yu is suspicious that Xiaolan only befriended her to get the shop, Xiaolan swears she had no idea about the property rights. Granny Yu sets a high price of 2,000 yuan per year, but Xiaolan not only agrees but insists on a ten-year lease with a 10% annual rent increase.

She also secures the right of first refusal should the shop ever be put up for sale. As Xiaolan prepares her boutique with high-end designs like transparent glass display windows and a temperature control system, others are taking riskier paths. Kang Wei, eager to prove himself to his uncle Kang Lianming, brings Zhenzhu a deal involving five hundred transistor radios.

These are quality control rejects from a factory that supposedly only need minor repairs to be sold for a high profit. Despite some hesitation, they head to the seaside containers to meet a seller named Mr. Qiao. Aware of a local smuggling case through his work at the law firm, Zhou Cheng grows concerned when he hears where the pair went. He and Xiaolan rush to the docks to find them.

At the container site, the situation turns volatile when a man claiming to be the "real boss" arrives, accusing the others of embezzling merchandise funds and offering to double the payment. Zhou Cheng intervenes, stalling the criminals just long enough for the police to arrive and arrest the smugglers. Meanwhile, Xiaolan’s estranged father, Xia Dajun, is working for a wealthy "Young Master" in Shengcheng.

With his mother, brother Hongbing, and the rest of the family now in the city and running out of money, Dajun asks for a salary advance. Because Dajun once saved his life, the Young Master grants the request and even offers Dajun a high-paying office position, despite Dajun being illiterate, simply to keep him close and out of trouble. After the chaos at the docks, the group returns to the city.

During a scuffle involving a fleeing thief at the police station, Zhenzhu is knocked down and suffers a dislocated shoulder. A handsome police officer steps in to set her arm back in place, leaving a deep impression on her. Later that night, during dinner, the group reflects on their near-miss with the law. Zhenzhu scolds Kang Wei for nearly turning them into accomplices in a smuggling ring, while Kang Wei expresses his frustration at being looked down upon.

Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng offer encouragement, reminding them that while the path of entrepreneurship is full of traps, they must not lose their courage or their edge as they fight to make their mark on the world.

In 1998, a young Xia Xiaolan was enjoying a trip with her parents. The car was filled with laughter and promises of future travels, but the joy was shattered by the sudden, piercing screech of brakes. This haunting memory of a car accident lingered as Xiaolan woke up years earlier in the 1980s.

The next morning, she noticed Kang Wei was finally up, and they shared a brief conversation about the new term "white-collar" to describe office workers like Zhou Cheng. Despite her own lingering shadows, Xiaolan encouraged Zhou Cheng to be ambitious. Following her advice, Zhou Cheng headed to Zhiyuan Law Firm. Though he had only been there a short time, he approached his senior to ask for a case.

Impressed by his initiative, the senior handed him the Radio Smuggling Case, suggesting he collaborate with Shi Kai. The goods had been found with local fishermen who claimed they simply found them at sea, and Zhou Cheng prepared to investigate both sides of the story. Meanwhile, Xiaolan was determined to help Bai Zhenzhu and Kang Wei snap out of their depression following their recent business failure. She bought them new clothes to signify a fresh start, but they remained lifeless.

Granny Yu, returning from her sweeping duties, observed the pair with a critical eye. She noted that without proper posture and spirit, even the finest clothes would look cheap. Granny Yu commanded Kang Wei to stand tall and criticized Bai Zhenzhu for her unrefined sitting habits. Under the old lady’s authoritative guidance, the two began to regain their confidence. Seeing how well Granny Yu handled them, Xiaolan took the opportunity to ask her to train the employees at Luna.

Xiaolan explained that as a national brand, Luna needed staff who were distinguished and professional. Granny Yu, who had seen the world as a daughter of a prestigious family with businesses across Southeast Asia, eventually agreed to help. At the Luna office, Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang surveyed the newly renovated space. Xiaolan suggested a bold move: getting performers for the Chinese New Year Gala to wear Luna’s clothing.

Though Chen Xiliang found the idea nearly impossible, he was inspired by Xiaolan’s conviction. For Xiaolan, Luna held a special significance; in her previous life, she had been an overlooked salesperson for the brand, watching it rise and fall. Now, as an entrepreneur, she was determined to claim the success she had once been too afraid to pursue. While they discussed business, Chen Xiliang’s wife called him, complaining about his move to Shengcheng.

It became clear that Chen Xiliang was using the business as an escape from his complicated family life, where his in-laws constantly pressured him for money. In another part of the city, Tang Hong'en accompanied Liu Fen to the wholesale market. Despite the chaos and crowds, Tang Hong'en enjoyed the bustling energy. However, the trip took an embarrassing turn when Tang Hong'en accidentally split his pants while trying to help Liu Fen.

To resolve the situation, Liu Fen helped him pick out a new outfit at the market. The vendor complimented Liu Fen’s taste, mistakenly assuming they were a married couple. The experience brought them closer, and when Tang Hong'en later walked her home, the two shared a quiet, tender moment. However, their interaction did not go unnoticed, as Liu Yong spotted them together. Back at the Yuanhui office, the team prepared their bidding documents for the Shengcheng Guesthouse renovation.

Xiaolan and Kang Wei set off to submit the bid, but their journey was interrupted when a motorcyclist working for Ke Yixiong tried to snatch the documents. The thief had been sent by Liu Tianquan, who wanted to rig the bid. Fortunately, Liu Yong was nearby in his car and managed to intercept the thief.

With the documents safe, Xiaolan successfully submitted the bid at the guesthouse office, reflecting on how life-changing events often happen in the blink of an eye. The day took a tragic turn when Du Zhaohui, furious at Liu Tianquan for interfering with the bid, drove recklessly through the city to find Xiaolan and explain himself. At a crossroads, his car collided violently with Xiaolan’s. The crash triggered Xiaolan’s childhood trauma, and she drifted into a daze of past and present.

When she came to, she saw a panicked Du Zhaohui trying to pull her from the wreckage. Xiaolan was more concerned for Kang Wei, who was unconscious, but Du Zhaohui insisted on taking her to the hospital immediately while his assistant handled Kang Wei. At the hospital, Xiaolan blamed Du Zhaohui’s reckless family tactics for the tragedy, while Du Zhaohui desperately tried to claim it was a misunderstanding born of his affection for her.

The tension escalated when Bai Zhenzhu arrived and, in a fit of rage, punched Du Zhaohui, knocking out one of his teeth. Kang Wei’s surgery for a head injury and fractured ribs was successful, but he remained in a coma. His mysterious and powerful uncle, Kang Lianming, arrived at the hospital. Kang Lianming met with Du Zhaohui and demonstrated that he knew everything about the Du family's internal power struggles and history.

He warned Du Zhaohui that the family would face severe consequences if anything happened to Kang Wei. Meanwhile, Kang Wei’s mother, Yun, was distraught and blamed Xiaolan for bringing her son into such a dangerous environment. She wanted to transfer him back to the capital immediately, but Bai Zhenzhu convinced her to wait until he was stable enough to travel, even promising to personally ensure he left Shengcheng once he recovered.

That night, Zhou Cheng sat by Xiaolan’s bed, but the nurse eventually forced him to leave because they weren't officially family. Alone in the dark, Xiaolan replayed the accident in her mind, realizing that Du Zhaohui’s panic seemed genuine and that it might have truly been an accident. However, Zhou Cheng quietly snuck back into the ward later that night, unable to leave her side.

They shared a deep, emotional embrace, with Zhou Cheng admitting how terrified he was of losing her. Outside, a kind girl assisted Kang Wei’s mother with her errands, bringing a momentary sense of peace to the grieving mother. The following morning, Zhou Cheng prepared to leave for the law firm. Xiaolan felt that he seemed different, perhaps weighed down by something she didn't yet understand.

When Zhou Cheng returned to the office, he learned from his senior that Shi Kai had been involved in a suspicious "accident" while following a lead on the smuggling case. The senior suggested it was no coincidence and urged Zhou Cheng to travel to Shi Kai’s hometown to deliver compensation to his family. It was clear that the case had become dangerous, and Zhou Cheng was told to stay away for a while to protect himself and his loved ones. Back at the hospital, Xiaolan sat in her bed, staring into space and wondering about the shadows currently haunting her life.

In the year 2010, Xia Xiaolan was working as a salesperson for the clothing brand Luna. While dining at a Xiangsheng cuisine restaurant with her colleague Li, she happened to run into the company’s head, Chen Xiliang. Despite his high status, Chen Xiliang remained approachable and kind, taking a moment to encourage her.

He told her that these were the best years of her life and urged her to work hard and learn as much as possible, a gesture that left Xia Xiaolan with a deep sense of respect for his character. Back in 1989, following the recent car accident, Xia Xiaolan was recovering in the hospital. Bai Zhenzhu visited her, noticing that Xiaolan seemed troubled. Although Bai Zhenzhu expressed her concern, Xiaolan kept her deeper worries to herself.

Meanwhile, in Gangdao, Du Zhaohui had returned to the family fold, sporting new teeth to replace the ones he had lost. His ambition for the family’s resources remained fierce, but he was frustrated to learn that Xia Dajun had been fired from the company for incompetence.

Viewing this as a missed opportunity, Du Zhaohui ordered his men to keep an eye on the man, hoping to use his connection as Xia Xiaolan's father to cause trouble for her and Zhou Cheng. Du Zhaohui’s return to the Chengrong Group was met with friction. When he arrived at the office, he was blocked by Du Zhaoji’s secretary, Xiaoqiong. Du Zhaohui didn't hesitate to mock her, calling her a clueless mainland girl.

Du Zhaoji eventually emerged to play the role of the peacemaker, claiming that family members were always welcome. Later, during a family dinner, the tension was palpable. Du Chengrong, the patriarch, shared the story of how he built the empire from nothing, starting by selling cured fish at the docks. He made it clear that only the most capable of his children would eventually take over the leadership of the group.

While Du Zhaoji played the dutiful son, wishing his father a long life, Du Zhaohui remained cynical. Even when Du Zhaoji later suggested they join forces to expand the group, Du Zhaohui dismissed it as a joke, calling his brother a brat and refusing to trust his overseas education and smooth words. When Xia Xiaolan was ready to be discharged from the hospital, she felt a wave of anxiety.

To spare Liu Fen from worrying, she had lied, claiming she had been away on a business trip. Zhou Cheng helped her maintain the facade, but the moment they returned home, Liu Fen noticed something was off. Even Granny Yu saw through the "white lie" and teased Zhou Cheng about deceiving his future mother-in-law. To smooth things over, Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng went to buy a roast goose with crispy skin for the elderly woman.

On the street, they encountered a young girl laughing freely. Watching her, Xiaolan felt a pang of envy for such carefree youth. Zhou Cheng, sensing her mood, comforted her by saying that the best time in life is whenever one lives to the fullest without regrets, adding that his own happiness would be complete if he could officially become her family. The day finally arrived for the bidding results of the guesthouse renovation.

Despite being a small firm, Xiaolan's company, Yuanhui, won the bid. Many established competitors were outraged, accusing the committee of favoritism. To silence the skeptics, Xiaolan agreed to show her design drawings. The level of detail and the innovative approach in her plans left the other contractors speechless, forcing them to accept their defeat. Du Zhaohui appeared at the site, attempting to celebrate her victory and offering a new car as compensation for the accident.

However, Xiaolan remained professional and cold, instructing him to deliver the replacement vehicle to her uncle at the construction site and keeping a firm distance from his advances. Kang Wei was also discharged from the hospital. His mother, who had been watching his interactions with Bai Zhenzhu, took a liking to the direct and honest girl. However, during a meal, Bai Zhenzhu clarified that they were merely friends and business partners, much to the disappointment of Kang Wei’s mother.

When Kang Wei's uncle, Kang Lianming, pressured him to return to a stable job, Kang Wei stood his ground. He explained that he didn't want to be a "loser" protected by his family. Inspired by the grit and drive shown by Xiaolan and Zhenzhu, he insisted on staying in Shengcheng to carve out his own path, claiming that even earning ten yuan on his own made him happier than a comfortable life of dependency.

As winter deepened in 1989, Du Zhaohui continued to pester Xiaolan. One day, as he tried to stop her on the street, a man suddenly intervened. This was Ge Jian, a skilled martial artist from the Bai family's school whom Zhou Cheng had hired to be Xiaolan’s driver and bodyguard. Ge Jian effortlessly handled Du Zhaohui's assistant, and Xiaolan took the opportunity to firmly tell Du Zhaohui to stay away.

Later, during a mutton hotpot dinner with Zhou Cheng, Kang Wei, and Bai Zhenzhu, Xiaolan proposed a grand new vision: building a dedicated building materials center in Shengcheng. She argued that as the city developed, they should seize the market demand before others did. During the conversation, Kang Wei accidentally mentioned Zhou Cheng's recent trip to the capital.

Though Xiaolan was surprised to learn he had gone there in secret, she didn't press him for answers in front of the others, even as Zhou Cheng apologized for the suddenness of the trip. However, the secrecy bothered Xiaolan. She eventually traveled to the capital herself to investigate and was shocked to see Zhou Cheng with a woman and a child.

Though she didn't believe they were his family, the fact that he was hiding something from her caused her great distress. She chose not to confront him immediately, wanting to wait for him to tell her the truth himself. As the New Year approached, the family gathered to prepare for the festivities. Liu Fen and Liu Yong prepared to head back to their village with an abundance of gifts.

After much persuasion, they managed to convince Granny Yu to join them for the holiday, as they didn't want her to be alone. While the family was busy making barbecue pork buns and preparing dried abalone, Chen’s mother stopped by. She praised Xiaolan’s success and beauty before pulling Xiaolan aside to ask a delicate question. She wanted to know if Xiaolan would support Liu Fen remarrying if a suitable match were found.

Xiaolan replied that her mother's happiness was the only thing that mattered, and the choice ultimately belonged to Liu Fen alone. Though the family teased Liu Fen about the potential matchmakers who might soon come knocking, they remained focused on enjoying their time together.

After returning to her hometown for the New Year, Liu Fen finds herself the target of persistent and unwanted matchmaking attempts. Fellow villagers, hoping to profit from her success in Shengcheng, try to push unsuitable men upon her. Ms. Tian is particularly aggressive, attempting to match Liu Fen with her brother-in-law, a notorious alcoholic who beat his former wife. Granny Yu, losing her patience with the harassment, splashes a basin of water over the pests to drive them away.

Xiaolan steps in to politely but firmly inform the neighbors that they have settled in Shengcheng and no longer require the village's help in such matters. To give back to the community, Liu Yong works with the village chief to recruit workers for his renovation team.

During a gathering at the Liu home, he explains that while the work is hard, the pay is fair, ranging from ten to eighteen yuan a day depending on skill level, with train tickets provided. The village chief, grateful for the opportunity Yong is providing, promises to keep the meddling matchmakers at bay so the family can enjoy a peaceful holiday. As the family prepares a large meal for the potential recruits, Xiaolan notices Granny Yu repeatedly checking her watch.

Her wait ends when Tang Hong'en arrives unannounced. The village chief immediately recognizes him and becomes exceptionally deferential, addressing him as Mayor Tang, though Tang insists on being called "Comrade Tang" to keep the atmosphere casual. He joins the family for the meal, gratefully accepting the mutton soup Granny Yu had specifically prepared for his arrival. Granny Yu later reveals to Xiaolan that she invited Tang Hong'en specifically to silence the villagers.

By showing them a man of his stature and character, she intended to raise the bar so high that no one would dare suggest a mediocre match for Liu Fen again. After the villagers depart, Tang Hong'en is characteristically direct with Liu Fen. He points out that they are both single and compatible in age and personality, proposing that they begin dating with the serious intention of marriage.

Liu Fen, feeling the weight of their social and educational differences, asks to speak with him alone during a walk. She expresses her gratitude for his care but admits her deep-seated insecurities as a divorced woman from the countryside. When she nears a point of rejection, Tang Hong'en cleverly fakes a coughing fit, claiming the cold air is getting to him.

His tactic works, as Liu Fen’s resolve melts into genuine concern for his health, and she tenderly helps him button his coat. Meanwhile, Xiaolan remains focused on the business front, communicating via landline with Chen Xiliang, the General Manager of Luna. Chen has managed to sneak backstage at the Chinese New Year Gala as a costume assistant, but he is discouraged because all the performers' outfits are already finalized.

Xiaolan urges him not to give up, suggesting he target the artists from Gangdao who have more autonomy over their wardrobe. She specifically mentions the singer Wu Kaili. Chen Xiliang finds his opening when he overhears Wu Kaili’s team complaining that her dress matches the stage background too closely, which would make her disappear on camera. Seizing the moment, he offers her a sample from Luna’s unreleased collection.

The plan is a triumph; Wu Kaili performs in the Luna dress, giving the brand massive national exposure. Xiaolan is thrilled, praising Chen Xiliang’s courage and initiative, realizing that his willingness to "burn his bridges" is exactly what will make the brand skyrocket. As the New Year's bell rings, the family gathers for a festive dinner of dumplings. The following day, Liu Fen and her family head to the outskirts of the village for ancestor worship.

Tang Hong'en insists on joining them, even carrying the shovel to help clear the gravesites. Standing before the graves of Liu Fen’s parents, he introduces himself and solemnly promises the deceased couple that he will ensure Liu Fen and Xiaolan have an even better future. Xiaolan is deeply moved by his bravery and sincerity.

Back at the house, Tang Hong'en continues to win over the family by helping with chores, even though his attempt to light the kitchen stove fills the room with smoke. During a family photo session, he boldly asks for a private photo with Liu Fen as a keepsake, leaning in close as Xiaolan snaps the picture. The celebration is interrupted by the sound of fireworks at the gate. Xiaolan rushes out to find Zhou Cheng standing there.

Overwhelmed with joy, she throws herself into his arms. After a large group photo with the whole family, Zhou Cheng pulls Xiaolan aside to apologize for his recent secrecy. He explains that the woman and child she saw in Beijing were the family of his late friend, Shi Kai. On the day of Xiaolan’s accident, Zhou Cheng and Shi Kai had been investigating a construction site for evidence.

A massive stone slab fell from above; while Zhou Cheng narrowly escaped, Shi Kai did not survive. Zhou Cheng admits he struggled to find the words to tell her the truth while she was still recovering in the hospital.

Zhou Cheng admitted he should have been braver sooner. He explained that he had originally intended to tell Xia Xiaolan about the tragedy at the construction site on the very day it happened. However, when he arrived at the hospital and saw that she and Kang Wei had also been in a car crash, he found the truth too cruel to speak.

Although he performed several checks to see if there was a connection between the falling stone slab and Xiaolan’s accident, he confirmed that her crash was a genuine, unfortunate accident. Xiaolan, however, was struck by a deeper worry. She wondered if her presence as a time traveler was the true "accident" that was inadvertently bringing misfortune to those around her. As the business continued to flourish, Xiaolan celebrated by purchasing a new car.

After the New Year holiday, she and Bai Zhenzhu distributed red envelopes to their employees to boost morale for the upcoming season. The festive mood shifted when Xiaolan returned to the office and noticed bruises on Chen Xiliang’s face. Before he could explain, his wife, Lin Meijuan, burst in and caused a scene, loudly accusing Xiaolan and Chen of having an illicit affair.

Frustrated by her lack of trust and the public humiliation, Chen Xiliang demanded a divorce, declaring he would leave her all their cash just to retain control of the Luna brand. The confrontation left Xiaolan deeply unsettled. In her memories of the original timeline, Chen Xiliang had once been ruined by a scandalous second wife who started as his mistress, and she feared that this world was twisting to make her the "mistress" in that narrative.

Seeing her distress, Granny Yu offered words of wisdom, explaining that fate is not a fixed script and that everyone is simply pushed forward by time. She encouraged Xiaolan to stop overthinking the irreversible and focus on living well each day. Later, Chen Xiliang approached Xiaolan to confirm he had finalized the divorce and surrendered his assets to Lin Meijuan. He pleaded with Xiaolan not to withdraw her investment, as Luna was now his only remaining hope.

Understanding his situation, Xiaolan decided to move forward. She began using her modern knowledge to implement "native advertising," subtly placing Luna’s brand story within magazine articles. Following the exposure gained from a celebrity wearing Luna on the Chinese New Year Gala, they scheduled the official grand opening of the store for the Lantern Festival. In preparation for the launch, Xiaolan arranged for the staff to undergo rigorous training.

Granny Yu served as the etiquette instructor, teaching the employees how to maintain a perfect posture and a welcoming smile. Xiaolan also encouraged the staff to learn basic English and Cantonese to better serve international customers and visitors from Gangdao. On the eve of the opening, Zhou Cheng finally returned. He told Xiaolan that he had learned to help Shi Kai’s family with proper boundaries, encouraging them toward independence.

In a show of absolute commitment, he handed over a passbook containing over 60,000 yuan—his entire life savings—for Xiaolan to keep. The grand opening on the Lantern Festival was a massive success, marked by crowds of customers and an array of celebratory flower baskets sent by Du Zhaohui. By 1990, as the Asian Games approached, Xiaolan’s ambitions grew.

She planned to open two more branch stores and designed a special collection that integrated sporty elements to match the spirit of the Games. She decided to use a hunger marketing strategy, strictly limiting the daily sales of these limited-edition items to just ten pieces per store to maintain high demand and prestige. Meanwhile, Liu Yong’s reputation in the renovation industry had grown significantly, with many customers seeking out Yuanhui’s services.

Xiaolan began planning a large-scale building materials center called Happy Home Materials and invited Liu Yong, Kang Wei, and Bai Zhenzhu to join as shareholders. They scouted a location with wide roads and ample storage space, aiming to create a one-stop shop that prioritized service and convenience. In his professional life, Zhou Cheng’s mentor assigned him a complex legal case involving a trading company to help him advance his career.

During a group dinner, the friends discussed how Du Zhaohui had reported his own family’s illegal dance halls to the authorities to prove his "upright" character for his business dealings in Shengcheng. While eating, they were surprised to run into Pan Baohua, the man who had previously helped Bai Zhenzhu. He revealed he was a former seaman who had settled down to run the restaurant with a friend. As they celebrated their progress, Xiaolan’s attention was drawn to the shop across the street, which had just been rented out by Chen Xiliang's ex-wife, Lin Meijuan.

On New Year's Day, Xia Xiaolan finds herself alone, lighting a single candle to celebrate a birthday that belongs to her original soul. In this quiet moment, she reflects on how a birthday falling on the first of the year is often overshadowed by the world's revelry, leaving the individual forgotten amidst the global celebration. Soon after, Xia Xiaolan joins her mother, Liu Fen, and Tang Hong'en for a meal at a Western restaurant.

The atmosphere is interrupted by the arrival of Ji Ya, a sophisticated woman accompanied by a foreign partner named George. Ji Ya, who is Tang Hong'en's ex-wife and a designer recently returned from the United States, immediately targets Liu Fen with condescending remarks. She mocks Liu Fen’s unfamiliarity with Western etiquette, specifically questioning if she knows how to handle a knife and fork or if she will treat them like tools for chopping pig feed.

Xia Xiaolan refuses to let the insult slide. she retorts that in the era of Reform and Opening-up, it is embarrassing to see people posturing as "fake foreigners." She argues that using a knife and fork is a choice to respect another culture, but it shouldn’t be a requirement, prompting Tang Hong'en to support her by requesting a pair of chopsticks for the table.

To Ji Ya’s surprise, Liu Fen handles the Western utensils with unexpected grace, having practiced in secret to avoid embarrassing her daughter. Tang Hong'en makes his stance clear by holding Liu Fen’s hand, later explaining to Xiaolan that he had already rejected Ji Ya’s attempts to reconcile by telling her he had found someone he wished to spend the rest of his life with. Leaving the couple to have some private time, Xiaolan heads off to meet Bai Zhenzhu.

During their walk, Tang Hong'en apologizes to Liu Fen for the encounter, but the incident reinforces Liu Fen's insecurities about the social gap between a mayor and a woman from the countryside. Tang Hong'en reassures her that no such gap exists in his eyes and that any public perception is a problem for him to solve, promising to give her all the time she needs to feel comfortable in their relationship.

The business landscape becomes complicated when Chen Xiliang discovers that the new women's clothing store opening directly across from them belongs to Ji Ya. Xiaolan realizes Ji Ya is likely seeking revenge through business competition. The rivalry turns aggressive when a fabric supplier, Mr. Huang, abruptly cancels a deal with Chen Xiliang after receiving a higher offer from Ji Ya. Despite the setback and Ji Ya's talent for design, Xiaolan remains undeterred.

She plans to gather information on Ji Ya’s past works while employing a strategy of "brightly lighting the way while crossing the path in secret." She decides to act as a decoy to draw Ji Ya's fire while her team secures partnerships behind the scenes. Meanwhile, a subplot involves You Li, a young woman who has been pursuing Kang Wei.

Suspicious of her motives, Kang Wei asks Bai Zhenzhu to pretend to be his girlfriend to make You Li lose interest, as he fears she is merely a gold digger targeting his family wealth. However, Xiaolan observes You Li at the clothing store and sees a different side of her.

You Li has transformed herself, learning both English and Cantonese to assist foreign customers with impressive professionalism, making Xiaolan wonder if there is more to the girl than Kang Wei suspects. When the birthday of Xiaolan’s current body arrives, her friends throw a surprise party to celebrate her turning twenty-five. During the festivities, Xiaolan gets uncharacteristically drunk and engages in a long, rambling conversation with Zhou Cheng on the rooftop.

In her stupor, she speaks in metaphors about "game preferences" and "custom-made lovers," expressing a deep fear that if she ever leaves this world, she will lose him forever. Zhou Cheng, though puzzled by her strange words, promises to stay by her side regardless of where the future takes them. The next morning, the haze of alcohol leaves Xiaolan feeling a sense of loss regarding her original identity.

Realizing she is beginning to forget the details of her past life, such as her original birthday, she begins recording significant memories in a notebook. She notes the 1998 car accident that claimed her parents' lives but eventually concludes that her past has little worth remembering. Instead, she resolves to cherish her present life and fully embrace her identity as the "new" Xia Xiaolan.

Trouble arrives at the clothing store when Xia Hongxia, Xiaolan's cousin, throws a stone through the window. Zhou Cheng catches her in the act. Unabashed, Xia Hongxia demands money, blaming Xiaolan for being "unfilial" while their family struggles. Xiaolan firmly rebuffs her, pointing out that the Xia family’s poverty stems from their constant reliance on others rather than hard work.

Instead of giving her money, Xiaolan tells her to take the scrap cardboard from the warehouse to sell, telling her that if she wants money, she must earn it herself in a city full of opportunities. Xia Hongxia returns home empty-handed and angry, leading to a confrontation with her grandmother, who is only interested in whether she managed to squeeze any money out of Xiaolan.

When the girl lashes out at her grandmother’s history of bullying the women in the family, Xia Dajun finally intervenes. Tired of the constant schemes, he tells his family to stop provoking Xiaolan. Amidst these personal distractions, Xiaolan’s new venture, Happy Home Materials, officially opens its doors. The one-stop-service model for home renovation proves to be a massive success, with orders and deposits pouring in on the very first day, bringing Xiaolan significantly closer to her financial goals.

Xia Xiaolan achieved first place in the recent essay competition, an honor that sparked immediate resentment among her classmates. As she returned to her desk, she found that someone had maliciously tampered with her seat, a petty act of sabotage that did little to dampen her spirits. During math class, the teacher remarked that jealousy is a knife that often cuts the one holding it, a sentiment that resonated as Xiaolan moved forward with her ambitious plans.

The atmosphere in the city was charged with excitement for the upcoming Asian Games. Xiaolan discussed business strategy with Chen Xiliang, noting that while the 2008 Olympics were still nearly two decades away, the Asian Games represented a massive immediate opportunity for their brand, Luna. While other businesses like Happy Home offered souvenirs for large purchases and lottery tickets were sold on every corner, Xiaolan looked for a larger stage.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiliang reported that their rival, Ji Ya, had halted production for her brand, Elegance. Despite having finished a bulk order at the Longcheng Garment Factory, Ji Ya was dissatisfied with the quality of the buttons and had ordered custom replacements from abroad. Xiaolan criticized this move as impractical, noting that such perfectionism ignored the current national economic reality and would only force customers to pay for costs they didn't value.

One evening, Xiaolan gathered with Zhou Cheng, Kang Wei, Pan Baohua, and You Li at Pan Baohua's street stall. As the news broadcast ended on a nearby television, Xiaolan pointed to the screen and proposed a daring idea: buying an advertisement slot immediately following the national news on Hua TV. While Kang Wei and the others thought she was being wildly imaginative and unrealistic, Zhou Cheng supported her.

He recalled that his mother’s classmate, Ms. Zhan, had connections at the station and offered to help arrange a meeting. Xiaolan also decided to put You Li in charge of print media promotions for their new brand ambassador, partly to give her professional experience and partly to observe her burgeoning relationship with Kang Wei.

Xiaolan traveled back to the capital with Zhou Cheng to meet his mother, who was pleasantly surprised by Xiaolan’s business growth and the audacity of her marketing plan. During this stay in the capital, Xiaolan also visited her aunt, Li Fengmei. She shared her vision that once the television ads aired and Luna’s sales skyrocketed, she would have enough capital to buy land and build a house.

This would finally resolve the residency and schooling issues for her cousin, Tao, before he reached high school. In Shengcheng, Liu Fen’s life was also transforming. As she handled her business at the bank, she was escorted by Chief Ma of the local police station, who took it upon himself to protect her from potential thieves in the rough neighborhood. Tang Hong'en watched from a distance, feeling the pressure of having such capable rivals for Liu Fen's affection.

When they later spoke, Liu Fen admitted she had already rejected Chief Ma’s romantic advances, though they remained on friendly terms. Tang Hong'en expressed his admiration for how much Liu Fen had grown, promising to wait patiently for her as she navigated her new independence. The meeting with Director Min at Hua TV proved to be a reality check. He explained that the post-news slot was usually reserved for massive brands selling bicycles, watches, and heavy appliances.

He warned that the content would be strictly reviewed and the cost would be a staggering one million yuan per year. Despite the high price and the skepticism of others, Xiaolan remained resolute, insisting on the very first slot after the news broadcast. Disaster struck just as the advertisement production was set to begin. Chen Xiliang informed Xiaolan that their intended star, Wu Kaili, had breached her contract.

Ji Ya had poached her for Elegance, offering a better deal to spite Xiaolan. While walking past a restaurant, Xiaolan spotted a poster of the actress Teresa Li. Recognizing that Teresa was an rising star who would become an international icon in the coming years, Xiaolan decided to pivot. She borrowed a brick phone from Du Zhaohui to contact Chen Xiliang, instructing him to book Teresa Li immediately before her fame made her unaffordable.

The production was a success, as Teresa Li was impressed by Xiaolan’s beauty and vision. Teresa agreed to the ad, viewing the frequent television exposure as a win-win for her own career. However, the pressure remained high as Ji Ya prepared a lavish fashion show at Louvre Square to launch Elegance, inviting designers from Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States.

Ji Ya even sent VIP invitations to Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang, a move Xiaolan interpreted as a challenge to witness "true fashion." On the day of the Elegance fashion show, the venue was packed with media and socialites. Xiaolan and Chen Xiliang arrived with Teresa Li, who was purposefully dressed in Luna’s upcoming autumn collection. The strategy worked perfectly; before the show could even begin, the press ignored the Elegance models and swarmed Teresa.

When a reporter named Liu Xuan questioned her about her salary, Teresa, following Xiaolan's script, admitted she was paid 10,000 yuan—a sum so large it made her lose sleep. The reporters were initially outraged, accusing the actress and the brand of capitalist excess at a time when most workers earned only dozens of yuan a month.

Chen Xiliang stepped in to manage the crisis, explaining that while Teresa Li was an elite talent, she had actually requested her fee be used to produce school uniforms for children in rural areas. He further announced that for every garment Luna sold, the company would donate one yuan to rural education. This brilliant PR pivot completely neutralized Ji Ya’s high-budget spectacle, turning the Elegance launch into a platform for Luna’s brand values and social responsibility.

Reporters cornered Wu Kaili backstage, demanding to know if her endorsement fee for Elegance was truly 100,000 yuan, as rumored, compared to the 10,000 yuan paid to Teresa Li. Ji Ya, sensing the growing PR disaster, hurriedly escorted the actress away under the pretense of preparing small gifts for the press. However, the journalists were far from satisfied, remaining uninterested in the bribes and shouting for a clear explanation regarding the massive pay gap.

After the event, Xia Xiaolan and her team gathered to celebrate. Chen Xiliang was full of admiration for Xiaolan, noting that her strategy—including her last-minute decision to step in as the event host when the original host fell ill—had completely overshadowed Ji Ya and Wu Kaili. During the meal, Teresa Li admitted that seeing the crowd’s fervor for a superstar like Wu Kaili made her realize the gap she still had to bridge.

Xiaolan reassured her that once their commercial aired, she would be a superstar in her own right. Later, Chen Xiliang saw Teresa off to her taxi, watching the car pull away with a lingering look of longing. Xiaolan teased him for his obvious affection but reminded him they had more work to do, specifically regarding the school uniform donation in Longcheng, which would serve as a public shield for Teresa’s reputation.

In the following days, Ji Ya was incensed to find that newspaper coverage was focused on Teresa Li’s charitable acts and the scandalous fee rumors rather than her own fashion show. When her assistant suggested Teresa might be faking the donation, Ji Ya dismissed the idea, knowing Xiaolan was too meticulous to leave such an opening. Her anxiety shifted to the news of Luna’s upcoming TV advertisement.

On the night of the broadcast, Ji Ya sat with George, her foreign boyfriend, and watched as the advertisement flashed onto the screen immediately following the news broadcast. The ad featured Teresa Li and prominently displayed the franchise hotline, 0577-688888, along with a bold promise: Luna would donate one yuan for every garment sold. The impact of the commercial was explosive. Crowds swarmed Luna stores, and Chen Xiliang was soon overwhelmed by a non-stop stream of calls from prospective franchisees.

During an interview with Mr. Liu of the Jingcheng Evening News, Chen admitted that his initial motivation for entering the clothing business was purely profit, even buying a luxury cell phone with his first earnings. However, he claimed he was inspired by Teresa Li’s selflessness and vowed that Luna’s donations would continue as long as the brand existed, even dreaming of the day they could donate millions annually.

Despite the skyrocketing demand, Xiaolan remained composed, deciding to raise the franchise fee from 50,000 to 80,000 yuan to capitalize on the brand’s newfound prestige. Ji Ya’s own investigation into the matter yielded a shocking result: Xiaolan had not used personal connections to get onto the television station. Instead, she had simply signed a standard contract and paid a staggering 1,000,000 yuan upfront.

Stunned that Xiaolan could command such significant capital, Ji Ya decided to shift her strategy to a direct-sales model, vowing to open an Elegance branch wherever a Luna store appeared to reclaim her market share. Amidst the business success, Xiaolan visited Granny Yu to return the money she had borrowed for the advertising fees.

Granny Yu took the opportunity to share a long-held secret, showing Xiaolan a photograph of her son, Xu Zhongyi, who had left for Nanyang twenty years ago with two crates of antiques and never returned. Believing her son was still alive but trapped by some misfortune, Granny Yu had stayed in the same house all these years waiting for him.

Xiaolan promised to help, planning to use her contacts in the antique and auction world to track the movement of the items Xu Zhongyi had taken with him. The search for antiques caught the attention of Du Zhaohui, who called Xiaolan to brag about his information network and lured her to a meeting with the promise of a "huge surprise." The gift turned out to be the capture of the traitorous agent Yuefeng and the actress Wu Kaili.

Du Zhaohui forced them to slap themselves in front of Xiaolan as punishment for their betrayal, but Xiaolan was disgusted by his illegal and violent methods, ordering them to stop immediately. She told Du Zhaohui that she preferred to strike back at her competitors through legitimate business means.

When Du questioned why she chose a "small-time attorney" like Zhou Cheng over someone wealthy and powerful like himself, Xiaolan explained that Zhou Cheng respected her for who she was, regardless of whether she was a village girl or a successful entrepreneur, whereas Du only sought to mold her into a version he liked. Focusing on her long-term goals, Xiaolan rented an entire floor of an office building to house Yuanhui and her future real estate ventures.

That evening, she and Zhou Cheng stood on the rooftop, reflecting on the two years that had passed since their first meeting in Dahe Village. Xiaolan admitted her fear that everything they had built could one day vanish, but Zhou Cheng promised to always be her anchor, making her feel brave enough to reach for a broader future.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xiaolan told Zhou Cheng that once she handed the daily operations of Luna over to Chen Xiliang, she wanted the two of them to get married. Six months later, the sound of celebratory music filled the air as a wedding ceremony began, and the happy couple prepared to make their grand entrance to the applause of their gathered friends and family.

Following the high spirits of their recent success, Xia Xiaolan and her friends gather for a celebration. While the atmosphere is lively, Xiaolan remains modest, even declining to sing when the group playfully pressures her. This festive mood carries over into the long-awaited wedding of Chen Xiliang and Teresa Li. The ceremony is a grand affair in the spring of 1991, where the couple makes a glamorous entrance to the cheers of their families and colleagues.

Bai Zhenzhu, looking stunning in an elegant outfit, receives high praise for her sophisticated yet capable appearance. Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng arrive slightly late to the banquet, having spent time securing a special wedding gift. During the toasts, both Chen Xiliang and Teresa Li express their profound gratitude to Xiaolan. They acknowledge that without her foresight in hiring Teresa for the Luna commercials, their paths might never have crossed, and the brand would not have achieved such rapid success.

Xiaolan, ever humble, insists that their happiness and Luna’s growth were products of their own hard work. As a surprise, she presents Chen Xiliang with the keys to a new car for business use and a formal equity transfer agreement. With her focus shifting elsewhere, Xiaolan officially hands over her shares in Luna to him.

Moved by the gesture, Chen Xiliang promises that regardless of his own future status, he will always be ready to help Xiaolan with whatever she needs. As Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng leave the hotel after the wedding, they encounter Ji Ya and her American boyfriend. Ji Ya, appearing bitter, assumes they have come to mock her. The tension escalates when Chen Xiliang rushes out to share the latest industry news: Ji Ya’s brand, Elegance, is being auctioned off.

Its aggressive expansion had outpaced its actual sales, leading the American investor to withdraw his capital. Despite their rivalry, Xiaolan does not gloat. Instead, she offers Ji Ya a candid observation, noting that while Ji Ya is a talented designer, her arrogance and focus on old grudges eventually led to this downfall. Meanwhile, a major business opportunity arises for Yuanhui in the form of the Haihua Hotel, Shengcheng's first five-star international venture.

Since the Hong Kong-based shareholders are locked in a management dispute with the mainland firm, Dongfeng Holdings, the latter is looking for new design proposals to gain leverage. Xiaolan, her uncle Liu Yong, and their designer Gong Yang meet with Mr. Huo, an executive from Dongfeng. Mr. Huo is impressed by Yuanhui’s previous work on a guesthouse and offers them a quarter of the hotel project if their designs are adopted.

However, they soon discover that the original plans were drawn by the legendary reclusive master, Mao Kangshan. Modifying a master's work is a delicate matter; Xiaolan realizes that while Mao is "the master of the south," his rival Ning Yanfan has gained more recent prestige, and any failure on Yuanhui’s part could ruin their reputation in the architecture circle.

In the midst of these professional developments, Zhou Cheng remains preoccupied with his private investigation into the death of his comrade, Shi Kai. He visits the police and meets with a female prosecutor named Jiang Yan, an old classmate from Hushi. Both are determined to uncover the truth behind the "accident" from two years ago, particularly regarding a suspicious temp worker who vanished.

Zhou Cheng’s senior at the law firm, Hao, worries that Zhou Cheng is becoming too emotionally involved and tries to steer him away from the case by sending him on a business trip to Hangcheng. Xiaolan, sensing Zhou Cheng’s stress, decides to accompany him to Hangcheng to help him relax and to pursue her own goal of meeting Mao Kangshan.

Upon arriving in Hangcheng, Xiaolan’s initial attempt to meet Mao Kangshan at the design institute is flatly rejected due to the lack of an appointment. Undeterred, she and Zhou Cheng track him down to the provincial institute’s family quarters. There, they encounter Mao’s daughter-in-law, Zheng Shuqin, who is known for her greed.

Xiaolan learns that Zheng Shuqin forced the elderly Mao to live in a small apartment on the sixth floor so she could occupy the spacious third-floor unit meant for him. Xiaolan does not hold back, calling Zheng Shuqin thick-skinned for mistreating the old man. The commotion draws Mao Kangshan out, and Xiaolan finally secures ten minutes of his time.

She pitches her dream of starting an architectural firm in Shengcheng that would serve as a cradle for the next generation of architects, inviting him to be the pillar of the company. Mao is skeptical of her "big talk," but he is intrigued by her ambition. Back in the city, Bai Zhenzhu and Kang Wei deal with a crisis at Happy Home Materials.

They notice a string of suspicious returns and discover that an employee named Shao has been colluding with a relative to run a fraudulent operation. Shao would fake order cancellations and then produce shoddy, imitation goods at a private factory, selling them under the Happy Home name. Bai Zhenzhu and Kang Wei track them to the factory, where a confrontation turns into a brawl.

Fortunately, Bai Zhenzhu had the foresight to call for backup, and the police arrive just in time to arrest the culprits. While in Hangcheng, Xiaolan revisits a watch shop she once frequented with her parents as a child, finding the same imported clocks that had fascinated her years ago. Later, while walking along the West Lake and discussing the legend of the Leifeng Pagoda, Zhou Cheng proposes to Xiaolan.

He reminds her of their agreement to marry once Luna reached fifty stores. Xiaolan happily accepts, though she asks to wait until she has completely finished the handover of Luna’s business to Chen Xiliang. Before they depart Hangcheng, Mao Kangshan makes a surprising appearance at the airport. Despite his grumbling about the travel procedures, he decides to follow Xiaolan to Shengcheng to see the city's rapid development for himself.

Upon returning to the law firm, Zhou Cheng brings Dingsheng cakes for his colleagues and presents his senior with a breakthrough in his investigation: a report on the missing worker, Wang Qiang.

In 2006, Xia Xiaolan returns home carrying an architectural design model she created for a competition. Her aunt is immediately dismissive, viewing the project as a mere toy and a distraction from her studies. She insists that Xiaolan, now a high school senior, should focus solely on her exams to secure a good college and a stable job. Xiaolan firmly corrects her, explaining that the model represents a serious architectural pursuit, not a childhood game.

Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng’s senior from Zhiyuan provides a significant lead regarding Shi Kai. It is revealed that the missing worker, Wang Qiang, has fled to Nanyang. The senior admits he had been hesitant to share this information because Nanyang is a dangerous and chaotic region, and he feared Zhou Cheng’s bold, uncompromising nature would lead him into a trap. Zhou Cheng remains resolute, prompting his senior to finally support his investigation.

They share Dingsheng cakes, with the senior noting that Zhou Cheng’s drive was the very reason he invited him to leave his stable job in Jingcheng to work in Shengcheng. Xia Xiaolan takes Mao Kangshan to visit the office of Yuanhui Decoration. She introduces him to her uncle, Liu Yong, the general manager who started the company as a small renovation team years ago.

Xiaolan leads Mao through the studio, introducing him to her team, which includes an oil painting graduate named Gong Yang and a former design institute employee named Hou Qi. Though Mao initially finds their design work rough and unpolished, he is moved by Xiaolan's vision of the studio as a place of opportunity for young talent. He admits he only followed her to Shengcheng to ensure his original design for the Haihua Hotel wasn't ruined by reckless modifications.

However, after reviewing Xiaolan’s plan to shift the hotel’s style toward a more comfortable, leisure-oriented aesthetic, he recognizes her deep research into international cases and agrees to oversee the technical execution. Elsewhere, Bai Zhenzhu and Kang Wei host a dinner to thank Pan Baohua for his help during a recent confrontation at a factory. They officially invite Pan to join their team, noting that while their building materials business is risky, they are stronger together.

During the gathering, the group discusses Zhou Cheng and Xiaolan’s upcoming plans to visit the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage once the hotel bidding is settled. Du Zhaohui faces mounting pressure when his brother, Du Zhaoji, arrives in Shengcheng. Their meeting is cold, with Du Zhaoji claiming their father sent him to monitor the progress of a shoe and clothing factory project.

Sensing his brother is there to undermine him, Du Zhaohui looks for a short-term success to solidify his standing and turns his attention to the Haihua Hotel interior decoration. He learns from Mr. Tang that the current mainland proposals are failing to impress the foreign shareholders because they lack a five-star luxury perspective, and he begins refining his own strategy to seize the contract.

As Zhou Cheng and Xiaolan walk home together, they notice the unspoken feelings between Bai Zhenzhu and Pan Baohua. Zhou Cheng surprises Xiaolan by giving her the alarm clock she had previously admired in a shop. While the gift makes Xiaolan uneasy—feeling as though the clock is a countdown to her eventual departure from this world—Zhou Cheng uses a childhood superstition to ease her mind.

He asks her to give him one yuan, effectively "buying" the clock from him to wash away any perceived bad luck. Xiaolan accepts, hoping only that her time in this world will be long enough to stay by his side. The pressure intensifies as the deadline for the Haihua Hotel design proposals arrives. Xiaolan’s team works through the night to finalize a dual-proposal strategy.

At the bidding meeting, Xiaolan surprises the committee by presenting not only the requested 16-million-budget plan but also a visionary 30-million-budget version. She argues that Shengcheng needs a landmark, not just a guesthouse. Her proposal features a revolutionary infinity pool designed to blend into the sea horizon. Despite claims that the pool is technically impossible, Mao Kangshan stands by the design, confirming its feasibility. Xiaolan’s boldness pays off, and Yuanhui Decoration, in partnership with Dongfeng Holdings, wins the bid.

Following the victory, Xiaolan kowtows to Mao Kangshan, who finally agrees to take her on as his formal apprentice. The triumph is quickly overshadowed by tragedy. On the day they are meant to register their marriage, Zhou Cheng fails to appear at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Kang Wei arrives with the news that Zhou Cheng has been hospitalized following a severe car accident. Zhou Cheng had been investigating a lead with Jiang Yan when their vehicle crashed and caught fire.

While Zhou Cheng managed to escape, Jiang Yan suffered critical burns. At the hospital, a distraught Zhou Cheng blames himself for the accidents that seem to follow those who help him. Xiaolan comforts him, though she secretly fears that her presence in this timeline is what truly disrupted the balance of space and time. As visiting hours end, the two are left to face a long and uncertain recovery.

In 1998, a young Xia Xiaolan travels with her parents, but a sense of profound unease begins to settle over her. She realizes that her memories are slowly dissolving—the people she once knew and the events she experienced are slipping away. This fading of her past makes her feel as if her very existence is beginning to vanish, leaving her to wonder how much time she truly has left before the person she once was disappears entirely.

Upon returning from the hospital, Xia Xiaolan’s mother, Liu Fen, and Granny Yu are deeply concerned for her. Despite the weight on her heart, Xia Xiaolan suppresses her own depression and forces a smile to keep them from worrying. However, the wise Granny Yu sees through the act, recognizing that she is merely being strong for the sake of others. She gently encourages Xiaolan to release her pent-up emotions rather than shouldering everything alone.

That night, Xiaolan reflects on the recent accidents involving those close to her. She wonders if her sudden arrival in this world has inadvertently triggered these misfortunes, questioning whether she should pull away from Zhou Cheng to protect him. The success of the Haihua Hotel project has brought a surge of new business to Yuanhui. The office is bustling, and Gong Yang works late to handle the influx of inquiries while Mao Kangshan watches Xia Xiaolan with growing concern.

He finds her to be too unyielding and worries that her refusal to slow down, even after Zhou Cheng's injury, will eventually lead to a breaking point. Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’s parents confront Zhou Cheng at the hospital, demanding that he take full responsibility for their daughter’s injuries since she was hurt while assisting him on a case. Kang Wei attempts to mediate, explaining that Zhou Cheng tried to save her, but the parents remain hostile.

When Xia Xiaolan arrives, she calmly identifies herself as Zhou Cheng's girlfriend, which puts Jiang Yan’s mother on the defensive. While Xia Xiaolan is tending to Zhou Cheng, she receives a call from Du Zhaohui. He presents her with a massive business proposition: he has 20 million Hong Kong dollars and wants Xiaolan to help him turn it into the greatest possible profit within a year.

Du Zhaohui admits he is locked in a succession battle; whoever makes the most money will secure a 5% stake in the Chengrong Group and earn his father's favor. To entice her, he reveals a shocking secret. Her cousin, Xia Ziyu, fled to Hong Kong, underwent plastic surgery, and is now Vivi, the new favorite mistress of Du Zhaohui’s father, Du Chengrong. Du Zhaohui offers to hand Xia Ziyu over to her in exchange for her cooperation.

Xia Xiaolan discusses this development with Zhou Cheng, specifically seeking legal advice on how to bring Xia Ziyu to justice if she remains in Hong Kong. They discuss the possibility of using DNA identification technology to prove Vivi’s true identity. Zhou Cheng, however, is wary of the Du family.

He warns Xiaolan that the family is still deeply entrenched in smuggling and that Du Chengrong is a ruthless man who would not hesitate to turn against his own son if his interests were threatened. Despite the danger, Xia Xiaolan is determined to find a way to settle the scores regarding both the smuggling case and Xia Ziyu. Recognizing her own workload and her fading memories, Xia Xiaolan decides she needs a reliable assistant.

She sets her sights on You Li, a veteran employee who is hardworking and has become remarkably fluent in English. To Xiaolan’s surprise, You Li flatly refuses the promotion despite the career-best opportunity. Kang Wei, sensing there is more to the story, takes You Li out for a meal to uncover her hesitation.

You Li eventually confesses her past shame, admitting she had once tried to get close to Kang Wei and his mother just to secure money for her own mother's medical bills. Kang Wei encourages her to put the past behind her and take the job, but You Li remains fearful. The true reason for You Li's reluctance is her domestic situation. When she returns home, she finds her father drunk and violent.

Having learned from her mother that You Li intended to better her life and potentially leave, he flies into a rage, accusing her of being an ungrateful child and threatening to break her legs. He begins to brutally assault You Li's mother. Kang Wei, who had dropped You Li off nearby, hears the screams and rushes to the house. Inside, the chaos reaches a climax as You Li, desperate to protect her mother and herself, struggles with her father.

In the frantic push and pull, she shoves him to the ground, where he sustains a serious injury. Though You Li is hesitant to help the man who has tormented them, Kang Wei insists they take both her mother and her father to the hospital, warning her that regardless of his actions, leaving him to die could lead to a charge of intentional homicide.

Following the chaotic confrontation at her home, You Li was taken to the hospital, where she sat trembling in a chair, visibly shaken by the ordeal. Bai Zhenzhu explained the situation to Zhou Cheng, clarifying that the man involved was You Li’s stepfather, Chen Gang. He had been a constant source of misery, frequently abusing You Li and her paralyzed mother.

You Li had been secretly saving money to escape Shengcheng with her mother, a plan that was nearly derailed by the violence. Fortunately, it was revealed that You Li had not actually stabbed him; during their struggle, the intoxicated Chen Gang had simply fallen onto a broken beer bottle.

When the police arrived to investigate Chen Gang's claim of attempted murder, Zhou Cheng utilized his legal expertise to explain the circumstances, and the officers ultimately decided not to detain You Li after learning about the history of domestic abuse. Despite the narrow escape, You Li’s mother remained in a coma. Xia Xiaolan, seeing the girl’s desperation, offered to have the company prepay the medical expenses as a loan to be deducted from future wages.

Deeply moved by this gesture and the promise of a brighter future, You Li finally accepted the position as Xia Xiaolan's assistant. Later that night, while looking out over the growing city lights of Shengcheng, Xia Xiaolan reflected on her own struggles, feeling a kinship with You Li’s resilience. Zhou Cheng comforted her, noting that while life was a relentless journey with few easy paths, it was the fleeting moments of happiness that made the struggle worthwhile.

Business at the construction site continued under the watchful eye of Mao Kangshan, who grumbled about Xia Xiaolan’s frequent absences. He pointed to Du Zhaohui as an example of dedication, as the young man had been acting as a diligent supervisor every day. Du Zhaohui, having sold his luxury assets to invest in the new electronics mall, tried to use information about Granny Yu’s missing antiques to gain Xia Xiaolan’s favor.

He even invited her to the grand opening of the Qingyue Lake Resort, but she flatly refused, stating she already had plans. Xia Xiaolan instead spent her time with Zhou Cheng at an amusement park, though the outing was as much about business as it was about leisure. While waiting for him, she was harassed by a local man named Luo Yaozong, who attempted to stage a scam by claiming she had injured his leg.

Zhou Cheng intervened just as the situation escalated, and with the timely arrival of Bai Zhenzhu and Liu Yong, they managed to drive off Luo Yaozong and his group. Xia Xiaolan realized that Luo Yaozong was the son of the local village chief, which became relevant as she surveyed a nearby plot of land.

The land, currently a "stinking ditch" located between the American resort and a planned golf course, struck Xia Xiaolan as a hidden gem—a pearl caught between two dragons. She calculated that with roughly three million yuan, she could acquire the twenty-mu plot. To fund the construction, she proposed a high-stakes strategy: using the land as collateral for a mortgage loan to build a model building, then selling off-plan apartments to Gangdao businesspeople who were already familiar with the concept.

Zhou Cheng voiced his concerns about the fragility of such a cash flow chain, but Xia Xiaolan was determined not to let this rare opportunity slip away, feeling a strange urgency to achieve her goals as quickly as possible. As they moved forward with the paperwork for Qi Hang Property, Ge Jian discovered that the village chief had intentionally hidden this plot of land during the government's initial land acquisition, meaning the American developers never even knew it was available.

Xia Xiaolan later cornered the drunken Luo Yaozong and threatened him with the "woman with the knife"—referring to Bai Zhenzhu—to get information out of his father. They learned the chief had kept the land because of an old family legend: a belief that the area was a "gold-bearing sand" treasure site. Xia Xiaolan officially signed the land lease agreement as the sole director of Qi Hang Property, marking a major milestone in her career.

During a celebratory dinner with her team, she thanked everyone for their financial support. While the group toasted to their "big money" future, Zhou Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that Xia Xiaolan was rushing her life’s work, as if she were racing against time. The project soon hit its first roadblock when the Ganquan Village chief led a group of protesters to the site, claiming the developers had swindled them out of their ancestral feng shui treasure.

Xia Xiaolan handled the situation by calling in the subdistrict office. Director Wang arrived to disperse the crowd, reminding the villagers that the land belonged to the state and that they had already received fair compensation. Knowing the villagers wouldn't give up easily, Xia Xiaolan decided to flip the narrative. She planned to use the legend of the "gold-bearing sand" to market the development as the "Golden Sands Pool," turning the stinking ditch into a site of mystical prosperity.

Construction finally began with a massive effort to clear the silt. As the workers dug into the earth, they suddenly began shouting about finding gold. Luo Yaozong, who had been watching from the sidelines, saw the shimmering fragments and immediately ran to find his grandfather, convinced that the family legend had finally come true.

Xia Xiaolan and Ge Jian watched the commotion, knowing that the "gold" was likely just mica fragments, but the spectacle was exactly the kind of "good omen" they needed to ensure the success of their new venture.

The discovery of gold at the construction site spreads like wildfire, drawing both the police and television reporters to the scene. As Xia Xiaolan is interviewed, the local villagers rush the site, desperate to claim a share of the wealth. Among them is the father of the village chief, who becomes so hysterical claiming the gold belongs to the Luo family that he collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Despite the chaos, the publicity serves Xia Xiaolan’s true purpose.

Although the news reports that 627 grams of gold were recovered, Xiaolan secretly knows she had buried exactly one kilogram in the pit. The discrepancy confirms that some of the gold was stolen by those on-site, but the loss is a small price to pay for the reputation her project has gained. To the public and potential investors, the Golden Sands Pool is now seen as a legendary, auspicious "treasure land."

The news reaches the American developers of the neighboring golf course and resort, who are furious at themselves for missing out on such a valuable plot. Real estate companies begin flooding Xiaolan’s office with offers, with the highest bid coming from Wilson of the American Wilson Group. While the industry is in a frenzy, Xia Ziyu correctly suspects that the gold was a calculated stunt planted by Xiaolan herself. Xiaolan agrees to meet with Wilson to discuss a potential sale.

During their meeting, Wilson tries to use the proximity of his resort as leverage to buy the land at a bargain, but Xiaolan remains sharp and witty, refusing to be intimidated. The negotiation is suddenly interrupted by Du Zhaohui, who makes a grand entrance and ostentatiously bids 18 million dollars for the site. Insulted by this aggressive price-gouging, Wilson storms out of the meeting.

After Wilson leaves, Du Zhaohui admits his arrival was a staged performance to help Xiaolan drive up the valuation. He realizes her true intention is not to sell the land, but to use the inflated market value to secure a massive loan from the bank. Beyond business, Du Zhaohui provides a crucial lead on the Yu family antiques. He has traced the blue-and-white porcelain to a mysterious dealer in Gangdao known as Mr. Qiu.

With the site’s value verified by the high competitive bids, Xiaolan successfully secures a 15-million-dollar loan from the bank. While she celebrates the victory with her team, Du Zhaohui feels a sting of disappointment upon realizing he wasn't invited to the party, especially knowing that Zhou Cheng is by her side. Back at the village, the Luo family refuses to let the matter rest.

The elder Luo fakes a worsening illness to pressure Xiaolan for compensation, eventually demanding a management position for his grandson, Luo Yaozong. Xiaolan holds her ground, offering Yaozong nothing more than a job as a security guard. During the standoff, the grandfather reveals the history of the land, recounting how he saved a man surnamed Qiu on that spot twenty years ago.

The man had later sent a porcelain vase as a gift, confirming Xiaolan’s suspicion that this lead is connected to Granny Yu’s missing son. Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’s mother continues to pressure Zhou Cheng, urging him to marry her daughter as a form of responsibility for her injuries. Zhou Cheng remains firm, showing respect for the elder but reminding her that he already has a girlfriend.

When Jiang Yan is eventually discharged, she confesses her long-standing feelings for him but makes it clear she will not participate in her mother’s attempts at moral kidnapping. Driven by the new leads, Xiaolan prepares to travel to Gangdao. Zhou Cheng offers to accompany her, but she insists he stay behind for his own safety, fearing that his involvement in the previous smuggling case would make him a target.

In Gangdao, Du Zhaohui takes charge of her security, yet they quickly notice a mysterious car tailing them through the city. Du Zhaohui leads Xiaolan to meet the elusive Mr. Qiu. Upon meeting him, Xiaolan directly addresses him by his true name: Xu Zhongyi. He admits his identity, revealing that he has secretly returned to check on his mother, Granny Yu, several times but was too ashamed to face her.

He recounts the tragedy of 1967, explaining how a man he trusted betrayed him during his escape to the South Seas. His wife and child were murdered in the ambush, and he barely survived. Since then, he has lived under a false name, building his wealth as an antique dealer while waiting for the chance to take his revenge.

Xiaolan criticizes his obsession with vengeance, pointing out that it is the 1990s and he is wasting his life and his mother’s time on an outdated vendetta. To learn more about his operations, she attends one of his high-end auctions. There, she spots Du Zhaoji and is surprised to see Ye Xiaoqiong, a woman she once rescued from human traffickers on a train, working as his assistant.

Later that night, Ye Xiaoqiong finds Xiaolan to express her deep gratitude, explaining that the money Xiaolan lent her years ago gave her the hope to build a new, successful life in Gangdao.

During the New Year festivities, Kang Wei shared a bottle with Zhou Cheng and confessed his growing feelings for You Li. While he initially thought he only pitied her because of her difficult life, he realized it was actually deep admiration for how she maintained her conscience and worked tirelessly despite her hardships. Zhou Cheng listened, but his mind was on Xia Xiaolan.

He noted that she had been acting strangely—anxious, racing against time, and occasionally appearing forgetful as if she were a different person entirely. Although he felt something was off, he hesitated to pry while she continued to mask her distress. Meanwhile, Xia Xiaolan met with Ye Xiaoqiong, who revealed her new role as Du Zhaoji’s special assistant. Finding themselves in opposing camps, Ye Xiaoqiong made a desperate plea for Xiaolan to let Du Zhaoji win.

She recounted her harrowing past, explaining how she had fled her ex-husband after he cheated her out of her assets and caused the loss of her five-month-old child. Now fueled by a need for revenge and money, she felt she could not lose her job. Though sympathetic to the tragedy, Xiaolan refused to compromise, questioning what she would have to lose if she threw the competition.

Later, Du Zhaohui warned Xiaolan against trusting Ye Xiaoqiong too deeply, fearing she might sell her soul for the right price. As Xiaolan prepared to leave the hotel, she encountered Xia Ziyu, who was lurking in the shadows. Xiaolan failed to recognize her cousin due to her extensive plastic surgery, and Du Zhaohui intentionally kept the truth hidden. Afterward, Du Zhaohui confronted Ziyu, questioning her motives and warning her to stay away from Xiaolan.

Ziyu, however, realized that if Du Zhaohui and Xiaolan won their business battle, she would likely be handed over to Xiaolan as a sacrificial lamb. Desperate to survive, she decided she could no longer sit idly by. Before departing, Xiaolan met with Mr. Wu regarding a building project and attempted to convince Xu Zhongyi to return to Shengcheng with her.

Xu Zhongyi refused, leaving her with a note explaining that he was too ashamed to return home with his vengeance unfulfilled. On her way out, Xiaolan overheard Zhou Cheng and Prosecutor Jiang Yan discussing a smuggling investigation. They were tracing a case involving Ke Yixiong and Nanyang, which eventually led back to the Du family. Despite the breakthrough, Jiang Yan insisted on following protocol rather than letting civilians take risks.

Upon returning home, Xiaolan handed Xu Zhongyi’s note to Granny Yu and finally told her the truth about what had happened twenty years ago. She explained that her son was alive but had been forced to flee to Gangdao after being set up. Granny Yu remained stoic, having rehearsed this moment in her mind for decades, but she admitted to feeling a sense of exhaustion now that the mystery was solved.

She encouraged Xiaolan to love and experience everything to the fullest while she was still young. That night, Xiaolan reflected on the pain of love and parting, realizing that the deeper the love, the more agonizing the inevitable separation. The following day, Xiaolan traveled to Jiangcheng with Mao Kangshan and Gong Yang for the modern architecture creation symposium.

Gong Yang was incredibly nervous, feeling out of place among industry masters, but Xiaolan reminded him that working under Mao Kangshan was credential enough. At the event, they met Ning Yanfan, a legendary figure in the field known as "Northern Ning." However, the atmosphere soured when Nie Weiguo, the petty deputy dean of the Jiangcheng Design Institute, began insulting Xiaolan. He mocked her for having no established work unit or papers, accusing Mao Kangshan of nepotism.

During the symposium's opening session, Nie Weiguo publicly challenged Xiaolan’s qualifications, arguing that allowing a newcomer with no representative works to attend turned the event into a joke. Ning Yanfan defended the symposium’s goal of breaking conventions and invited Xiaolan to the stage. Xiaolan rose to the occasion, acknowledging Nie Weiguo as a senior from her own alma mater before presenting her design for the Haihua Hotel.

Mao Kangshan clarified that while he designed the structure, Xiaolan was responsible for the brilliant interior renovation, specifically the groundbreaking infinity pool. Xiaolan presented her concept with confidence, explaining that the infinity pool was a necessary gimmick to make the hotel a landmark in a rapidly developing international metropolis like Shengcheng. Despite Nie Weiguo's attempts to dismiss it as a mere "paper plan" that was impossible to build, Xiaolan countered with rigorous data and model tests.

She sarcastically invited him to stay at the hotel once it opened next year, offering him a discount. Her professional poise and the sheer scale of the 30-million-yuan project won over the audience, forcing Nie Weiguo to concede her qualifications. That evening, Xiaolan called Zhou Cheng from her hotel to share her victory.

While they talked about the recent whirlwind of events—from the Golden Sands Pool project to finding Granny Yu's son—Xiaolan still felt the weight of the secrets she was keeping. She wondered how much longer she could hide her strange behavior and the true nature of the "Nanyang" connection from him. As the symposium concluded with a group photo, Xiaolan bid a final, sharp farewell to Nie Weiguo, thanking him for providing the stage that allowed her to shine.

Xia Xiaolan’s public profile rises significantly after a televised interview where she uses the Golden Sands Pool project to showcase her design vision. While she enjoys this success, her cousin, Xia Hongxia, is living a vastly different life. Working a grueling job at a construction site serving meals, Hongxia feels a deep sense of resentment as she watches Xiaolan’s fame grow. Frustrated and desperate, she begins loitering outside Xiaolan’s company, Qihang. Zhou Cheng catches Hongxia acting suspiciously outside the office.

Though she initially tries to act tough, she quickly breaks down, admitting that she has been miserably oppressed by her grandmother. Calling Xiaolan "Sister," she tearfully apologizes for the past and begs for a job. Xiaolan, moved by her cousin's apparent sincerity, decides to give her a chance to earn an independent living. Xiaolan and Bai Zhenzhu take Hongxia to a small food stall being vacated by a family returning to their hometown.

Xiaolan reminds Hongxia that she and Zhenzhu also started from humble beginnings—Zhenzhu sold fruit, while Xiaolan sold eggs and oil cakes. She tells Hongxia that while the work isn't glamorous, it will ensure she never starves as long as she remains diligent and refuses to be a "parasite" on the family. Hongxia’s decision to leave meets immediate resistance at home. Her grandmother, unwilling to lose the income Hongxia provides, tries to stop her.

However, Hongxia stands her ground, pointing out how the family’s situation has deteriorated because of the grandmother's bitterness and her past mistreatment of Liu Fen and Xiaolan. Determined to change her life, Hongxia leaves for good. Meanwhile, Ke Yixiong’s business is failing. Many construction sites have abandoned him to work with Bai Zhenzhu’s fleet, which is staffed by skilled martial arts disciples. Ke is forced to retreat to his Mahjong parlor, which barely earns enough to sustain his men.

He seethes with hatred, blaming Xiaolan and Zhenzhu for his downfall. During a dinner hosted by Jiang Yan, the atmosphere is surprisingly frank. Jiang Yan apologizes for her mother’s past interference and thanks Xiaolan for saving Zhou Cheng during the fire. She openly admits she still has feelings for Zhou Cheng and believes she has a chance as long as they aren't married. Xiaolan finds herself respecting Jiang Yan’s candor.

Fearing her own uncertain future, Xiaolan secretly wonders if Jiang Yan might be a suitable person to look after Zhou Cheng if she were ever to disappear. At the Golden Sands Pool site, Xiaolan consults with Mr. Wu Daonan. He suggests moving piles of steel bars and replacing them with sand to prevent construction accidents. He also expresses interest in purchasing an apartment there, noting that the serene environment is far better than the bustle of Hong Kong.

Later, the group gathers to celebrate Bai Zhenzhu’s birthday. The mood is interrupted when Ke Yixiong crashes the party with his thugs, demanding a "slice of the cake" in the business. Pan San intervenes, effortlessly taking down Ke’s men. Defeated, Ke leaves with a warning that they will settle their score in the business arena. After the confrontation, Xiaolan appears dazed and confesses to Zhou Cheng that she briefly failed to recognize Ke Yixiong.

Her sense of detachment grows as she realizes her memories of the future are beginning to slip away. Zhou Cheng later discovers Xiaolan’s diary, which contains dates ranging from the 1980s to 2026. Confused and concerned, he confronts her about the secret she is hiding. Xiaolan finally confesses the truth: she is from the future. To her surprise, Zhou Cheng accepts this revelation.

He tells her that he loves the person standing before him, regardless of where or when she came from. He promises that even if her own memories fade, he will remember every detail of their time together and recount their story to her for as long as it takes. With a renewed sense of urgency, Xiaolan focuses on securing her family's future.

At the office, Bai Zhenzhu joyfully practices with the signed Bruce Lee nunchucks Xiaolan brought back from Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Tang Hong'en receives an invitation to his ex-wife Ji Ya’s farewell banquet before she returns to America. He asks Liu Fen to accompany him, hoping to officially go public with their relationship. To bolster Liu Fen's confidence, Chen Xiliang creates a custom suit for her, which Xiaolan describes as "Haute Couture."

Granny Yu also gifts Liu Fen a precious jade bracelet from her private collection. Transformed and looking elegant, Liu Fen finally finds the courage to say yes. As Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng walk later that evening, she shares her vision of a future filled with skyscrapers and mobile phones. Zhou Cheng listens intently, only concerned with one thing: whether the two of them were together in that distant time.

Zhou Cheng remains haunted by the mystery of Xia Xiaolan’s diaries and the impossible timeline she seems to belong to. He is desperate to know if they could ever be together in that other world, but Xiaolan gently teases him, calculating that in her original time, he would be a sixty-year-old man while she would be a woman in her prime at thirty-six.

Beneath the jokes, she confirms a bittersweet truth: she doesn't exist in this timeline, and he doesn't exist in hers. This realization only strengthens Zhou Cheng’s resolve to cherish their current life, vowing that if he ever finds himself in her world, he will find her again just as he did when they first met. Preparations for Ji Ya’s farewell banquet are underway.

Xiaolan spends the afternoon meticulously styling her mother, choosing a pair of elegant pearl earrings to complement Liu Fen’s custom gown. While Liu Fen worries that spending so much effort to "prove a point" to Ji Ya is wasteful, Xiaolan reminds her that this isn't for Ji Ya—it’s for themselves. She wants her mother to feel the confidence that comes from spending her own honestly earned money.

When Tang Hong'en arrives, he is stunned by Liu Fen’s transformation, and Granny Yu adds a final touch by lending Liu Fen a precious jade bracelet. At the banquet, Ji Ya is in high spirits, introducing her fiancé, George, and flaunting her plan to return to America. She purposefully invited Tang Hong'en, hoping to make him regret losing her by showing off her new life. However, the atmosphere shifts dramatically when Tang Hong'en enters with Liu Fen on his arm.

The guests are surprised by the Mayor’s public appearance with a partner, and Ji Ya is consumed by a silent, burning rage. The tension boils over when Ji Ya loses her composure and lashes out, calling Liu Fen a "shady woman from a village" who must have used shameful methods to seduce the Mayor. Liu Fen, no longer the timid woman she once was, stands her ground.

She tells Ji Ya that coming from a village does not make her inferior; instead, the countryside taught her diligence and the strength to defy those who look down on her. She proudly states that every penny she and Xiaolan have earned is clean, and after years of hard work, she is no less than Ji Ya.

Tang Hong'en firmly supports her, reminding the crowd that he also comes from the countryside, before leading Liu Fen away to a quiet tea restaurant. In the restaurant, Tang Hong'en apologizes for the embarrassment but admits he had a selfish motive: he wanted to make their relationship public among his old acquaintances. Deeply moved by Liu Fen’s independence and kindness, he confesses that he almost proposed to her on the spot.

He promises to wait for her to be ready and vows to turn over all his future earnings to her. Liu Fen, while asserting she can earn her own money, finally accepts him into her heart. Meanwhile, back at the banquet, Ji Ya’s family is mortified by her loss of control, and George tells her that for their future in America to work, she must truly forget Tang Hong'en.

Business rivalries also reach a turning point as Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng confront Ms. Yu, the nominal manager of the brand "Elegance." Xiaolan reveals she knows that Vivi is the true boss and that Elegance has been systematically plagiarizing Luna’s designs. She presents evidence of the theft and the sabotage Vivi’s associates carried out at Luna’s construction sites.

Acting with Zhou Cheng as her legal counsel, Xiaolan gives them three days to pull all copied merchandise from their shelves, threatening to sue them into bankruptcy if they refuse. As the Lunar New Year approaches, Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng visit the flower market to buy mandarin orange trees and lucky bamboo for the office. There, they run into Ke Yixiong, whose business is suffering as workers defect to the Bai family's more successful materials business.

Ke Yixiong tries to intimidate Xiaolan, warning her to tell Bai Zhenzhu not to take things too far. Xiaolan remains unfazed, telling him that success is based on ability and that if he wants peace, he needs to show a better attitude. Zhou Cheng observes that Ke Yixiong is desperate because his thugs cannot beat the disciplined brothers of the Bai Martial Arts School in a fair fight.

The holiday brings the family together at Granny Yu’s house for a warm celebration. Liu Fen’s brother and his family arrive, and their son Tao prepares to move to Shengcheng for high school. Zhou Cheng’s mother, Guan Hui'e, also travels down from the north to experience a southern New Year. Amidst the laughter and the smell of New Year buns, Tang Hong'en arrives late after visiting the community.

He is welcomed as part of the family, even drinking a penalty toast to acknowledge his new status. Looking at her loved ones, Xiaolan feels a profound sense of happiness that needs no definition. However, the peace is short-lived. On a rainy night after the festivities, Ke Yixiong finally retaliates. A group of thugs ambushes Bai Zhenzhu as she is closing her shop. Though she fights back, she is outnumbered and sustains several injuries.

By the time Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng arrive, the attackers have fled, but Pan San is missing. Consumed by fury, Pan San has headed straight for Ke Yixiong’s mahjong parlor, vowing to inflict the same injuries on Ke that Zhenzhu suffered. Fearing a violent escalation that could land Pan San in prison, Zhou Cheng rushes out to find him.

Xiaolan stays behind to comfort the injured Zhenzhu, urging her to report the crime to the police, insisting that legal action is the only way to truly dismantle Ke Yixiong’s criminal hold on the city.

Pan Baohua scouted Boss Ke’s territory from a nearby restaurant, planning his next move. He ordered sampan porridge and braised meat, but when he tried to add a beer and a dozen oysters to his meal, Zhou Cheng arrived and intervened. Zhou Cheng told the waiter to bring herbal tea instead, reminding Pan Baohua that he shouldn’t be drinking while driving.

Pan Baohua initially thought Zhou Cheng had come to help him settle the score with Ke Yixiong, but Zhou Cheng was there to persuade him to stand down. Pan Baohua argued that if Xiaolan had been the one beaten, Zhou Cheng wouldn't remain calm. Zhou Cheng admitted he would be just as angry but refused to walk blindly into a trap on Ke Yixiong’s home turf.

He warned Pan Baohua that while he might be willing to risk jail time, such an impulsive act would create a permanent rift between him and Bai Zhenzhu. At the police station, Bai Zhenzhu took Xiaolan’s advice and officially reported the assault. She provided clear descriptions of her attackers, specifically identifying a man named A Qiang who had dyed yellow hair and a tattoo on his arm, as well as another man with a scarred face.

Pan Baohua arrived later, deeply apologetic for his impulsive behavior and for nearly making things worse. Afterward, the group gathered at a restaurant to support Zhenzhu. Kang Wei was particularly attentive, ordering light, salt-free food and chrysanthemum tea to help her recover. Meanwhile, Ke Yixiong remained arrogant. He dismissed the news of the police report, confident that his alibis from a karaoke bar and a restaurant would protect him from any legal consequences.

Zhenzhu realized that she had been too caught up in the thrill of rivalry lately and apologized for nearly leading her friends into a dangerous situation. She vowed to lead her fellow disciples toward legitimate business rather than street fights. As the group ate, they teased Pan Baohua about his motivations.

When pushed to explain why he was so invested in a conflict that didn't involve his own business, Pan Baohua finally admitted that he couldn't bear the thought of never seeing Zhenzhu again if he ended up in prison. He gathered his courage and confessed his feelings directly to her. Zhenzhu admitted she liked him too, officially beginning their relationship. Later, during a medical check-up, the nurse teased Pan Baohua for failing to protect his girlfriend better.

Zhenzhu told him that while she didn't need a traditional protector, she wanted a partner for the quiet days and a comrade to fight by her side during times of danger. In another part of the city, Kang Wei brought a nutritious meal to You Li at the hospital, encouraging her to eat well so she would have the strength to care for her mother.

You Li was deeply grateful for Xiaolan’s financial support for her mother's treatment and expressed her hope to hire a caregiver soon so she could return to work and repay the debt. Meanwhile, Liu Fen and Tang Hong'en celebrated their marriage with a simple dinner at Granny Yu’s house. Tang Hong'en joked that from now on, his wife would call the shots at home.

Liu Fen gave an emotional speech, thanking her brother and sister-in-law for taking her and Xiaolan in when they were at their lowest. She also thanked Mr. Chen for his trust in her at the store and Granny Yu for treating her like family. Finally, she praised Xiaolan as the best daughter in the world, noting how her life felt like a dream come true.

As the couple left the celebration, Xia Dajun, who was working as a delivery driver, recognized Liu Fen. He watched in silence as his ex-wife got into a car with a prominent man, feeling a surge of bitterness before being snapped back to reality by his shouting boss. At the same time, Zhou Cheng updated Xiaolan on the smuggling investigation.

He noted that while the Du family was deeply involved in illegal trade, Du Zhaohui appeared to be staying clear of those dealings lately. He remarked that the Du family’s internal affairs, filled with multiple wives and illegitimate children, were far more chaotic than they appeared on the surface. In Hong Kong, Du Zhaohui spotted his brother, Du Zhaoji, leaving a building where Mr. Chen’s company was located.

He suspected Zhaoji was meeting with Xia Ziyu and felt a sense of triumph, believing this connection would play into his own plans to defeat his brother. Back in Shengcheng, Ye Xiaoqiong invited Xiaolan to a farewell dinner featuring lotus root soup. She expressed her profound gratitude to Xiaolan for her past help, promising to repay the debt one day despite her current position as Du Zhaoji’s subordinate.

Xiaolan noticed that Ye Xiaoqiong was no longer the simple person she once knew, having developed the sharp instincts needed to survive in the Du family’s inner circle. The Electronics City project was nearing completion, and the pre-sale of stalls was an overwhelming success, with annual rents projected to reach seven million yuan. Du Zhaohui was reveling in the success until news arrived that the project’s design was being accused of plagiarism.

Nie Weiguo, a deputy director from Jiangcheng, sent a lawyer's letter claiming the design was stolen from his unpublished work. The lead designer, Hou Qi, was horrified, explaining that Nie was a scoundrel who had previously harassed her and stolen her labor, which was why she had left Jiangcheng. Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng suspected that this was a coordinated attack by Xia Ziyu and Du Zhaoji to ruin Xiaolan’s reputation.

They feared that someone close to them was acting as a mole, providing detailed information about Hou Qi’s past to their enemies. Meanwhile, Liu Yong went to the Haihua Hotel to collect the final payment for his work, but the manager, Mr. Huo, used minor issues with unpruned trees as an excuse to withhold the funds.

The situation grew even more dire when Xiaolan learned that Director Pan, who had authorized their bank loan for the Jinsha City project, was being questioned by authorities. This placed their project at risk of an early loan recall, threatening the financial stability of the entire company.

The plagiarism scandal surrounding the project sent shockwaves through the construction site, leading to a full-scale strike by the workers. Xia Xiaolan immediately sensed that someone was pulling the strings from the shadows to sabotage her. While her business partners and mentors, including Mao Kangshan and Bai Zhenzhu, were quick to offer their personal savings and company funds—totaling over a million yuan—to help her through the crisis, Xiaolan refused to take their money.

She viewed them as her "backup path" and insisted on resolving the issue herself rather than risking their financial stability. When Tang Hong'en learned of the situation, he reached out to Xiaolan to offer his support. He reminded her that as family, they must face these trials together.

He advised her to remain calm, pointing out that the bank loan issues and payment delays from the Haihua Hotel were directly tied to the plagiarism allegations; once the legal battle was resolved, the financial pressure would naturally ease. Tang Hong'en encouraged her to focus on the court case, promising to provide guidance as a family member whenever she needed it. Xia Xiaolan and her colleagues spent the following day meticulously gathering evidence.

While they were working, a television interview with Nie Weiguo aired. He played the part of a righteous victim, claiming he was only trying to pull two "young children" back onto the right path. He attacked Xiaolan personally, suggesting that young, beautiful women often try to take shortcuts in the industry, and questioned how someone with so little experience could land such a massive project.

Despite his inflammatory remarks, Xiaolan remained composed, even finding a silver lining in the fact that the scandal was providing the Electronics City with an unprecedented amount of free publicity. On the day of the trial, Nie Weiguo arrived at the court feeling smug and victorious. However, Xia Xiaolan made a grand entrance, arriving on a bus with a group of women all wearing matching shirts that read, "The Truth is Only One."

Before entering the courtroom, she distributed printed portfolios to the waiting media. She had printed her own works alongside Nie Weiguo's past designs without names, challenging the public and the press to guess which ones were the true original masterpieces based on quality and style alone. As the proceedings began, the plaintiff's lawyer attempted to trap Hou Qi, asking if she had access to Nie Weiguo’s drafts during her time as his assistant at the Jiangcheng Design Institute.

When the lawyer suggested that Xiaolan had exploited technical limitations to steal Nie’s work through Hou Qi, Xiaolan's team objected. Xiaolan argued that the entire premise was flawed because Nie Weiguo simply lacked the talent to design something as sophisticated as the Electronics City in the first place. To prove her point, Xiaolan called upon Professor Ning, a legendary figure in the architectural world.

Although he and Mao Kangshan were long-time rivals known as "Northern Ning and Southern Mao," they shared a deep mutual respect for each other’s professionalism. Professor Ning testified that while forensic techniques might struggle to distinguish a copy from an original, a true expert could see the difference clearly. He concluded that Xia Xiaolan was undoubtedly the original author of the design. The court dismissed the case, and a panicked Nie Weiguo tried to flee the scene.

Xiaolan stopped him in his tracks, revealing a group of former colleagues and students he had suppressed over the years. With the media watching, she presented a collective complaint signed by his victims, exposing his history of stealing designs and harassing female coworkers. Ruined and humiliated, Nie Weiguo was forced to retreat as his reputation crumbled.

Meanwhile, Du Zhaoji tracked down Vivi and confronted her at gunpoint, demanding to know the truth behind her actions and her secret alliance against Du Zhaohui. Vivi, who was actually Xia Ziyu, desperately tried to save herself by claiming she was a victim of Xiaolan’s framing.

She proposed an alliance with Du Zhaoji to take down Du Zhaohui, but the wary Du Zhaoji remained skeptical of her words, wondering how much truth could come from a woman whose name and face were both fabrications. With the legal battle won, the Haihua Hotel finally settled its outstanding balance, and the bank released the necessary loans. The Electronics City was ready for its grand debut.

On the eve of the opening, Du Zhaohui was a bundle of nerves and excitement, unable to sleep as he contemplated the future of his massive investment. He arrived at the mall early the next morning, sternly reminding his staff to treat every customer like royalty, warning that any complaints would result in fines. To ensure a successful launch, Du Zhaohui organized a massive raffle for anyone who spent over a hundred yuan.

The prizes were extravagant, ranging from laundry detergent to motorcycles and even a brand-new car. As the crowds gathered outside, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng watched the promotional frenzy. They discussed the clever marketing tactics used to drive up sales, noting how customers would be tempted to buy more just to get another ticket. With everything finally in place, the doors to the Electronics City swung open to welcome a sea of eager shoppers.

Xia Xiaolan returned to her duties, where she immediately found herself at odds with a senior colleague, Ms. Liu. When Ms. Liu brought a rush contract for the Finance Department to stamp, Xiaolan refused to process it, noting that the Legal Department had not yet completed its mandatory three-day review. Despite Ms. Liu’s accusations that Xiaolan was being too rigid for a former sales champion, Xiaolan stood her ground, prioritizing protocol over speed.

The grand opening of Chengrong Electronics City soon became a massive public spectacle. Du Zhaohui used a high-stakes lottery to drive sales, offering prizes such as Wenquxing electronic dictionaries, motorcycles, and a luxury car for purchases over 100 yuan. Xiaolan, an original shareholder of Wenquxing, used the event to successfully promote the electronic dictionaries as essential tools for English learners. The first day was a triumph, with sales reaching 1. 71 million yuan.

However, this success fueled the rivalry within the Du family. While Zhaohui bragged to his father, Du Zhengrong, his brother Du Zhaoji obtained the sales data and began plotting to sabotage the momentum. By the second day, sales climbed even higher to 1. 86 million yuan, and the crowds remained immense. Xiaolan’s cousin, Hongxia, and her mother capitalized on the event by selling hot lunches outside, which sold out instantly.

Despite the success, Xiaolan remained uneasy, anticipating a move from Du Zhaoji. Her instincts were proven right when a couple disrupted the event, screaming that a radio purchased from the mall had exploded and mutilated the husband's hand. Xiaolan and Du Zhaohui moved quickly to implement a pre-arranged "good cop, bad cop" strategy.

Xiaolan played the stern "white face," questioning the couple’s lack of a receipt, while Du Zhaohui played the compassionate "red face," insisting they be rushed to the hospital. At the hospital, the doctor confirmed it was a crush injury caused by a heavy stone, not an explosion. Under police pressure, the couple confessed they had been bribed to stage the incident because they needed money for their sick child.

In a calculated move to bolster his public image, Du Zhaohui paid for the child’s medical bills, turning a potential disaster into a demonstration of his benevolence. The sabotage attempts continued as another group arrived with banners accusing the mall of selling dangerous products, but Zhou Cheng and the security team intercepted them. Simultaneously, the announcement of the first-prize car winner diverted the crowd's attention.

Du Zhaohui reported the incidents to the police, framing the sabotage as a coordinated attack on his business and demanding that the mastermind be found. As the three-day event concluded, Xiaolan received an invitation to Du Zhengrong’s birthday banquet in Hong Kong. Tang Hong'en explained that the patriarch wanted Xiaolan to act as a bridge to resolve the government's block on his mainland investments. Before leaving, Xiaolan dealt with internal matters at her firm.

Gong Yang offered his resignation, admitting he had inadvertently leaked information that fueled the recent plagiarism scandal while trying to sell his paintings in Hong Kong. Xiaolan, recognizing his genuine remorse and his efforts to make amends, told him to keep his resignation for now and promised a final decision after her trip.

Xiaolan traveled to Hong Kong under the protection of Du Zhaohui’s men, accompanied by Zhou Cheng, who was following leads regarding the smuggling ring and the murder of Shi Kai. At the Du family estate, Du Zhengrong praised Zhaoji’s business prowess in Thailand but remained non-committal about the official results of the brothers' competition.

At the banquet, Du Zhengrong broke tradition by seating Xiaolan at the main VIP table with powerful directors, much to the shock of the Du family members relegated to side tables. Vivi, the pregnant mistress, attempted to assert herself by toasting Xiaolan on Du Zhengrong's behalf, but the patriarch sharply dismissed her and told her to return to the family table.

To stir further trouble, Du Zhaohui publicly revealed Vivi’s pregnancy, intentionally breaking the tradition of keeping such news secret for the first three months. This revelation sparked immediate resentment among the other wives and siblings, who now saw Vivi’s child as a new threat to the family fortune. Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng and Pan San located Xiao Jianyong in a derelict building on the outskirts of the city.

Xiao Jianyong, the man who had facilitated the hiring of the temporary worker Wang Qiang, finally broke his silence. He revealed that Wang Qiang was an associate of Liu Tianquan and was the one responsible for killing Shi Kai. He confessed that he had been lured to Hong Kong with promises of wealth but was forced into hiding to avoid being murdered like Wang Qiang. Just as Zhou Cheng and Pan San prepared to escort their witness back, they were surrounded by Liu Tianquan’s armed men.

At the lavish birthday banquet for Du Zhengrong, he publicly bestowed a five percent stake in the Chengrong Group upon Du Zhaohui. Du Zhaoji, while deeply stunned by this unexpected defeat, masked his fury behind a smile and offered feigned congratulations. Meanwhile, Zhou Cheng and Pan Baohua successfully secured the witness Xiao Jianyong in Hong Kong, narrowly escaping an ambush orchestrated by Liu Tianquan, who sought to silence him. Xiao Jianyong handed over a ledger documenting Liu Tianquan’s smuggling operations.

After ensuring Pan Baohua departed safely with the evidence, Zhou Cheng arrived at the banquet to support Xia Xiaolan. Following the event, Du Zhengrong invited Xia Xiaolan for a private conversation, pledging to end his smuggling operations and foster legitimate business ties with the mainland.

Xia Xiaolan acknowledged his gesture but noted it was merely a baseline for ethical conduct; she observed that his support for Du Zhaohui was a strategic choice, as Du Zhaoji’s unscrupulous methods were ill-suited for the evolving times. At the residence, Vivi (who Du Zhengrong knew was actually the fugitive Xia Ziyu) attempted to slander Xia Xiaolan, but Du Zhengrong dismissed her, advising her to cherish her current position rather than engaging in petty schemes.

Meanwhile, Du Zhaoji erupted in private, cursing his father and vowing to reclaim his perceived birthright. Two months later, the Golden Sands Pool showroom was completed. While Du Zhaohui often found himself distracted by thoughts of Xia Xiaolan, she remained focused on business, encouraging Gong Yang, who had previously leaked a design, by entrusting him with vital responsibilities to help him redeem his professional reputation.

At the opening ceremony of the Oriental Green Golf Club, Vivi arrived in a boastful manner, which led Xia Xiaolan to believe Du Zhengrong had resolved the legal issues surrounding her identity. Xia Xiaolan's aunt and Bai Zhenzhu were disgusted to learn that Vivi was the infamous Xia Ziyu.

Later, Du Zhaohui confessed to Xia Xiaolan that he had rescued Xia Ziyu, arranged for her plastic surgery, and planted her near his father as a pawn to disrupt the family succession. Though she had already deduced this, Xia Xiaolan accepted his sincere apology. That night, Xia Xiaolan was haunted by visions of fire and traumatic memories of a 1990s news report about a residential development that was abandoned following a catastrophic opening-day explosion.

Terrified that the Golden Sands Pool might suffer a similar fate, she sought comfort from Zhou Cheng, who reassured her while initiating a rigorous safety inspection of the project. On the eve of the project's launch, Ke Yixiong and his gang conspired to sabotage the event. The following day, a security guard named Luo Yaozong was found critically injured after falling from the building during a commotion involving the theft of steel rebars.

Zhou Cheng reported the incident to the police, who immediately flagged the event as highly suspicious. When villagers from Ganquan Village arrived at the site to protest, Xia Xiaolan quickly identified the two agitators inciting the crowd. She instructed Zhou Cheng and Pan Baohua to watch them, then defused the tension by revealing that Luo Yaozong was still alive. Police investigators soon concluded that the accident was a staged setup.

Xia Xiaolan identified Ke Yixiong and Xia Ziyu as the primary suspects. Determined to expose the perpetrators, she and the police decided to proceed with the scheduled launch, hoping the saboteurs would reveal themselves if they attempted further interference.

The grand opening of the Golden Sands project finally arrived. Having spent an anxious night in her car to ensure the site’s security, Xia Xiaolan oversaw the preparations as the morning sun rose. The event proceeded smoothly, with eager buyers lining up to select their homes. Amidst the success, Xiaolan gifted an apartment to her mentor, Mao Kangshan, firmly urging him to prioritize his own well-being over his ungrateful relatives.

That evening, the team gathered for a celebratory dinner, where Xiaolan proposed a future team-building trip to reward their hard work. Observing Pan Baohua’s diligent efforts in delivering food to the wounded during the recent crisis, Xiaolan saw a business opportunity and encouraged him to launch a professional food delivery service to meet growing market demand. The investigation into recent sabotage also reached a turning point.

Luo Yaozong regained consciousness in the hospital and testified that he had been intoxicated before being pushed off the building by Zhang Bing and Zhang Tao. While the perpetrators were apprehended, they refused to implicate Ke Yixiong, their true mastermind. Meanwhile, Luo’s grandfather visited Xiaolan to confess that they had been bribed to disrupt the construction site; though he remained unaware of the ultimate culprit, he expressed deep gratitude for Xiaolan’s kindness during the crisis.

Additionally, with the testimony of Xiao Jianyong, Liu Tianquan was successfully arrested, bringing closure to the case of Shi Kai’s death. As time passed, the food delivery business thrived and the Luna Clothing company continued to flourish. During a gathering, when asked about her next venture, Xiaolan remained mysterious. Meanwhile, Kang Wei felt despondent while watching his friends in their happy relationships, still struggling with his unrequited feelings for You Li.

Seeking solace in the past, Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng visited their favorite rooftop spot, where Xiaolan felt it was time to discuss marriage and their future together. The following day, hope emerged at the hospital as You Li’s mother showed signs of recovery. Touched by You Li’s dedication, Kang Wei made a heartfelt vow to support her forever, and the two finally acknowledged their mutual affection.

The episode concluded on a note of both achievement and mystery: Xiaolan received an invitation to Hong Kong to accept an award for her design work. However, a sudden, familiar alarm rang in her mind, leaving her with an unsettling premonition that she might soon be returning to the modern world she had left behind.

Xiaolan experiences a disorienting dream of her former modern life, where a boss named Mr. Wang scolds her for her lack of vision during a meeting about Xingmin Technology. Shaking off the vision, she prepares for her trip to Hong Kong. Before leaving, she visits Granny Yu, who gives her a toy tiger to deliver to her son, Xu Zhongyi.

The tiger is a precious childhood memento, and a contact in Hong Kong later notes that Granny Yu is perhaps the only one left who remembers Xu Zhongyi was born in the Year of the Tiger. In Hong Kong, the power struggle within the Du family remains tense. Du Zhaoji visits Vivi, jealous of his brother Du Zhaohui’s success.

He warns Vivi that their father, Du Zhengrong, only truly cares for his eldest son and might "keep the child but discard the mother" if she continues her manipulations. Desperate to secure her status, Vivi attends a high-profile banquet at the Jockey Club. However, she is snubbed from the opening ceremony and overheard Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Li mocking her as a mere "dancing girl."

Vivi fires back with insults about their own husbands’ infidelities, but her composure shatters when she sees Xiaolan on stage winning second prize for the Xinghe Theater project. Vivi is actually Xiaolan’s cousin, Xia Ziyu, who still harbors a deep grudge over Xiaolan's past success and her relationship with Wang Jianhua. Consumed by hatred, Vivi attempts to rush the stage to humiliate Xiaolan but is accidentally knocked down by a bystander. The accident causes a miscarriage.

In the hospital, Du Zhengrong remains emotionally distant, and Du Zhaohui later visits to mock her. He tells her she was a fool to risk her future as a Du family mistress just to settle a score, and now that the child is gone, she has lost all her leverage. Justice is finally served in court as Liu Tianquan and his associates face sentencing for the murder of Shi Kai and their smuggling operations.

Liu Tianquan is sentenced to death, a fifteen-year prison term, and a heavy fine. Du Zhaohui informs Xiaolan that the Du family is officially cutting ties with its shady past to focus on legal enterprises. He warns her to stay vigilant against Xia Ziyu, who is now desperate. Despite his own complicated feelings, Du Zhaohui prepares a wedding gift for Xiaolan after learning she is heading to Anqing to establish a scholarship before finally registering her marriage with Zhou Cheng.

Back home, the family celebrates the legal victory. Tang Hong’en, acting as a protective father figure, playfully tests Zhou Cheng by making him handle domestic chores, including kneading dough for buns. During a family dinner, Zhou Cheng expresses his deep commitment, admitting that because Xiaolan is so exceptional, he feels an urgency to officially marry her so they can face the future’s challenges as partners.

Xiaolan also shares a tender moment with her mother, Liu Fen, reflecting on how her mother’s unconditional love allowed her to become a braver version of herself. Xiaolan returns to Anqing No. 1 High School as a top provincial scorer to great fanfare. During the establishment of her scholarship, she delivers an inspiring speech, telling students that success is a prize found during the journey of self-discovery and urging them not to let social conventions limit their dreams.

Meanwhile, the Xia family in the village continues to fracture. Xia Hongxia refuses her grandmother’s demands to use her savings for a larger house, pointing out that their current situation is already better than most. The tension peaks when Xia Dajun returns home, battered and broken. He reveals that he caught his wife, Fan Yu, with another man, and the encounter ended with him being beaten and losing custody of his son. Furious at his incompetence and the loss of her grandson, the grandmother berates him until she collapses from a sudden stroke.

Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng celebrated their marriage in a minimalist ceremony. Departing from traditional, lavish weddings, the couple chose an open-air venue decorated simply with flowers. Xiaolan’s elegant white gown drew admiration from all guests, including Pan Baohua. The event, while modern and intimate, served as a poignant milestone for Xiaolan, symbolizing the fulfillment of her journey. The joy was interrupted when guests, including Granny Yu, fell violently ill shortly after the reception.

While older guests were largely unaffected, Xiaolan suspected that the imported red wine—which the younger generation had consumed—was tampered with. She alerted the authorities, who arrived to secure food samples and seal the venue. While Granny Yu was hospitalized, Xiaolan’s mother and Tang Hong'en were also affected but recovered with medical attention, while others remained under observation. In Gangdao, the Du family faced a crisis.

Du Chengrong, the family patriarch, was left in a coma following a severe accident involving an antique deal. As chaos gripped the company, the legal counsel informed Du Zhaohui that he was the only successor with sufficient shareholding to stabilize the group. Presenting a power of attorney drafted by Du Chengrong, the counsel named Zhaohui the acting chairman. Zhaohui swiftly asserted his authority, silencing board members who questioned the document's validity and focusing instead on maintaining order.

Meanwhile, Vivi attempted to manipulate the situation by staging a public display of grief at the hospital, but her behavior was dismissed as performative. Xiaolan later received a letter from Ye Xiaoqiong, who had fled Gangdao after settling her personal scores. The letter provided a crucial lead, suggesting that the wine tampering was orchestrated by Vivi’s associates.

Additionally, when Xu Zhongyi’s assistant visited the hospital to offer gifts to Granny Yu, Xiaolan confronted him, refusing the gesture and insisting that Xu’s physical presence was the only thing his mother truly required. That evening, as the chaos of the day subsided, Xiaolan sought comfort in Zhou Cheng’s presence. Reflecting on her journey and the recent trauma, she confessed her fears of losing the happiness she had fought so hard to build.

Zhou Cheng reassured her of his unwavering support, promising that he would always be there to protect her. Behind the scenes, Zhaohui remained convinced that his father's accident was a targeted attack involving his brother Du Zhaoji and Vivi, signaling that a deeper, more dangerous power struggle was just beginning.

Du Chengrong remained in a coma, his life hanging by a thread. Though harboring deep-seated resentment toward his father, Du Zhaohui was still distressed by his critical condition. In a fit of temper, he threatened to sell off the entire Chengrong Group. Meanwhile, Du Zhaoji’s mother attempted to garner public sympathy by threatening to jump from the hospital rooftop. Du Zhaohui, quickly seeing through her ruse, dispersed the surrounding media, forcing her to abandon the stunt in fear.

In the hospital room, Vivi vented her frustration over the immense sacrifices she had made to attain her current status. Feeling trapped and desperate, she attempted to smother Du Chengrong with a towel, spitefully remarking that he had enjoyed her youth long enough. Miraculously, Du Chengrong woke up mid-attempt, locking eyes with her as he realized her true, malicious nature.

Du Zhaohui returned to the hospital upon hearing of his father’s recovery, leaving his stepmother in despair as her schemes fell apart. During his convalescence, Du Chengrong realized that Du Zhaohui—whom he had long underestimated—was the only one who truly cared for him. Outside, a terrified Vivi waited in anxiety, while Du Zhaoji, realizing his plot had failed, attempted to flee by boat. He was quickly intercepted and arrested by the police, following a tip-off from Xu Zhongyi.

It was revealed that Du Zhaoji had discovered how his father built his empire by plundering Xu Zhongyi’s family antiques. Seeking to leverage this for his own gain, Du Zhaoji aligned with Xu to take down Du Chengrong. During a confrontation in the outskirts, Du Chengrong—who had arrived for an antique trade—found himself cornered by Du Zhaoji and Xu Zhongyi, the sole survivor of the family he had destroyed decades ago.

In a cunning display of self-preservation, Du Chengrong used his subordinates as shields and escaped by diving into the sea. Back home, Xia Xiaolan opened a gift left by the assistant of Granny Yu’s son. It reminded her of the hospital, where she had realized that Xu Zhongyi was watching over his mother from the shadows, waiting until his vengeance was complete before reuniting with her.

The package contained photographs the son had secretly taken of his mother over the years, accompanied by heartfelt messages. Granny Yu was moved to tears, filled with renewed hope for her son’s return. Upon his discharge, Du Chengrong was met by a kneeling, pleading Vivi, who claimed she had only sided with Du Zhaoji under duress.

Now indifferent toward her, Du Chengrong dismissed her pleas, though she remained desperate to find a fake will hidden by Du Zhaoji to secure her future. Meanwhile, Xia Xiaolan resolved to expose Xia Ziyu’s past, determined to make her face the consequences of her actions. Xia Ziyu arrived in Shengcheng, where she encountered her father, who was begging on the streets and failed to recognize her. She also spotted her mother working as a street vendor.

While attempting to escape these painful encounters, she bumped into Wang Jianhua, triggering a panic that sent her running to a bank to retrieve her hidden belongings. Among them was an old love letter Wang Jianhua had written to Xia Xiaolan. Reading it, she recalled their time in the countryside—a moment of awakening where she had first developed feelings for him, feelings that had now curdled into a bitter obsession to steal what was once meant for Xiaolan.

Vivi leaves the bank in a panic after realizing Xia Xiaolan is nearby, frantically screaming for her to appear. She eventually retreats to the derelict building where she once lived while saving money for her planned escape to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Du Zhaohui confirms he has located Xia Ziyu’s parents, though her brother, Xia Junbao, remains elusive.

Xia Xiaolan confronts Xia Ziyu, revealing that she has already ensured the well-being of Ziyu’s family, offering them a chance at a normal life if they choose to follow the right path. Ziyu, consumed by resentment, blames Xiaolan for all her failures. Xiaolan coldly rebukes her, noting that despite her intelligence, Ziyu has wasted her potential by always manipulating others.

Unbeknownst to Xiaolan, Vivi has used Xia Junbao to lure Liu Fen into a trap, with Ke Yixiong acting as the kidnapper to leverage Xiaolan. Vivi unrepentantly confesses to poisoning the wine at the wedding, driven by a obsessive need to destroy Xiaolan. Unbeknownst to Vivi, Pan Baohua had long anticipated the kidnapping. Having gathered evidence of the innocent lives taken by Du Chengrong, Pan makes it clear that Vivi will not evade justice.

Ke Yixiong, realizing that he is merely a disposable pawn in the escalating conflict, decides to turn the tables. He orchestrates a fake kidnapping of Liu Fen, which leads Vivi to believe she has the upper hand. However, Ke Yixiong suddenly reveals his betrayal, releases Liu Fen, and escapes with a large sum of money provided by Xiaolan, leaving behind a recording of Vivi’s confession as ironclad evidence of her crimes.

Police quickly arrest Xia Ziyu and Xia Junbao, while Ke Yixiong is apprehended at the shoreline while attempting to flee by sea. Authorities also discover further incriminating evidence at Ziyu’s rental property. With the crisis resolved, Du Zhaohui arrives in a rush to check on Xiaolan’s safety; seeing she is unharmed, he leaves with a sense of relief. That evening, Granny Yu prepares a grand dinner, blissfully unaware of the day's events.

The group avoids distressing her, instead presenting her with a letter from Xu Zhongyi, which brings her long-awaited peace. Elsewhere, the paralyzed Grandmother Xia is cared for by Xia Hongxia, who urges her brother, Xia Junbao, to change his ways. Days later, Gong Yang gathers the courage to confess his feelings to Hou Qi. As the New Year approaches, Ye Xiaoqiong sends word that she has settled safely. While their friends celebrate, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng watch the fireworks.

As a clock alarm rings in her ear, Xiaolan experiences a premonition that her time in this reality is drawing to a close, and she shares a heartfelt goodbye kiss with Zhou Cheng. Waking in the modern era, Xia Xiaolan turns her experiences into a novel. Remembering her promise to Zhou Cheng, she investigates a suspicious contract and discovers that Mr. Wang was behind its manipulation.

No longer the timid person she once was, she presents the evidence to Mr. Chen. Mr. Wang is arrested, and as Xiaolan reflects on her growth, Zhou Cheng suddenly appears before her, and they share a knowing smile.