Xia Ruining, who is as stubborn as a "steel bean", is accepted to the School of Archeology and Museology at Xiling University. There she meets a pair of brothers from the Ye clan, Ye Ling and Ye Miao. The Ye clan houses a rich trove of ancient writings, paintings, and books. She also meets Shen Zhen, a "Cinderella" who is also the daughter of the housekeeper. The lives of the four interweave into an intricate web of destiny in which they find it impossible to break free. In the end, they all find fulfillment in the restoration of an ancient painting.