Gu Nianzhi has spent most of her life being told what she cannot do.

As an orphan raised under unusual circumstances, she learns early that relying on other people is rarely a good idea. Fortunately, she is smart enough to rely on herself. By the time she enters university, she has already earned a reputation for being one of the best students in her department, though that reputation tends to attract almost as much trouble as admiration.

The people around her are not always easy to deal with either.

Some see her as competition, some dislike her for reasons she does not understand, and some are simply waiting for an opportunity to see her fail. What should have been an ordinary student life quickly becomes complicated by family disputes, social rivalries, and situations that never seem as straightforward as they first appear.

Gu Nianzhi is not particularly interested in playing those games, but trouble has a habit of finding her anyway.

Whenever she gets dragged into a difficult situation, her first instinct is usually to argue, investigate, or prove that somebody else is wrong. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it creates even bigger problems.

Then there is Huo Shaoheng.

To most people, he is the sort of man who seems completely out of reach. His position, reputation, and personality make him difficult to approach, let alone understand. Gu Nianzhi, however, has known him for years, which only makes things more complicated.

The novel mixes romance with plenty of courtroom disputes, family conflicts, social maneuvering, and mystery. While Gu Nianzhi often finds herself surrounded by influential people and complicated situations, she never stops acting like herself, stubborn when challenged, curious when something feels suspicious, and more than willing to fight back when someone tries to push her around.

For better or worse, that personality tends to change the lives of everyone around her.