Shanghai - the city of endless lights. Streets sparkled with neon signs, dumpling stalls filled the air with mouth-watering aromas, and the river reflected skyscrapers like a giant mirror. Somewhere I think busy city lived Li Mei, a girl who leaked fragile but carried storms in her laughter.
"Li Mei! Are you still in bed?" her mother's voice echoed thought the house. Madam Liu Fang could talk for hours without kaking a breath. She barged into her daughter's room, holding a ladle in her hand like a weapon. "The sun is out, the neighbors are working, and you're still snoring like a pig!"
From under the blanket came a muffled protest. "Mom, successful people wake up late. It's called creativity. "
Her father, Liu Qiang, peeked over his newspaper and smirked. "If laziness could pay the bills, our family would be the richest in Shanghai." His rare comments always landed like perfect timed jokes.
Before Li Mei could roll back to sleep, her younger sister Li Na stormed in. "Annie! You promised to take me shopping. Don't act like those unfaithful drama boyfriend!" She crossed her arms dramatically.
Li Mei sat up and ruffled her sister's hair. "Little brat, don't copy my favorite dramas against me!"
Peeking shyly from the door, her younger brother Li Jun added softly, "Can we stop fighting in the morning? Neighbors think we're auditioning for a wrestling show." His innocent face made everyone laugh, except Li Na, who now wanted to fight all three at once.
This was the Liu household - noisy, funny, but stitched together with love.
Later that afternoon, Li Mei rushed to meet her best friends at a cozy cafe. Lin Xia, the mischievous one, greeted her with a sly grin. "Guess what? Phoenix Media Solution is hiring!"
Li Mei almost spilled her tea. "Phoenix Media? The top company in Shanghai? They'd laugh me out of the building."
"You miss all the chance you don't take, " Zhao Rui, the strict and serious one, lectured, adjusting her glasses.
"Exactly," added Wang Lan, the fashionable diva. "Maybe you'll meet a rich prince." She winked dramatically.
Chennai Yu, Li Mei's childhood friend, cleared his throat. "She doesn't need a prince. She already has us." His words made the girls giggle while Li Mei rolled her eyes. "I don't need a prince or a pauper. I just need a job!"
For across the city, towering glass walls of Phoenix Media Solution glistened under the sunlight. Inside, Zhang Wei, the young CEO, walked with confident strides. His suit was sharp, his expression, half in fear.
"Boss, your schedule today is crazy," said Hao Chen, his assistant, running to catch up. Loyal yet cheeky, Hao Chen was always ready with a joke.
"Cancel what's useless," Zhang Wei replied, not slowing down. His presence filled the entire corridor.
He wasn't alone in life. His father, Zhang Jian, loved making jokes at the dinner table, while his mother, Madam An Rong, was strict and elegant, forever scolding her husband's carefree nature. His spoiled sister Zhang Xinyi demanded the world on a silver plate, while his younger brother Zhang Lei stirred trouble just to make people lough.
And then there ware his three closest friends. Dr. Meng Yichen, Calm and sarcastic and full of humor. And Qin Yue, beautiful and graceful, who had quietly loved Zhang Wei for years though he only saw her as a friend.
Phoenix Media wasn't just a company, it was an empire. The lobby sparkled like a palace, it was a dream. For insiders, it was Zhang Wei's battlefield.
At the other end of Shanghai, Li Mei sat at her desk, frustrated after yet another rejection email. "Maybe I should just open a dumpling stall," she groaned dramatically. But when she refreshed the job portal, her eyes landed on a glowing post: Phoenix Media Solution - Hiring fresh talents.
Her heart raced. She bit her lip,hesitated for a long minute, then whispered, "Why not? Let's shake their palace." With a mischievous grin, she clicked Apply.
Meanwhile, Zhang Wei sat in his office, scanning resumes. One caught his attention. A girl's picture stared back at him - crooked smile, eyes full of mischief.
"What kind of resume photo is this?" He murmured. "Is she applying for a job or auditioning for a comedy show? "
Hao Chen peeked over and laughed out loud. "Boss, maybe this one will finally make the office less boring!"
For the first time in months,Zhang Wei allowed a faint smirk. Something about this strange girl amused him.
That night, as Shanghai prepared for the Lantern Fastival, Li Mei held a small lantern and whispered her wish. "Please, let tomorrow be different."
On the other side of the city, Zhang Wei stared at the same glowing lanterns from his penthouse window, unaware that girl who had just applied to his company would soon turn his perfect, orderly world upside down.
Two lives, two words - destined to collide.
💫End Note (Episode 1)
The comedy-filled chaos of Li Mei's family meets the sharp elegance of Zhang Wei's empire. Their first connection is fate disgusted as a job application. The storm is about to begin.