In a modern city where data surveillance is omnipresent, cybersecurity expert Jiang Lin is drawn into a series of death threats orchestrated by the mysterious hacker group "Ghost" after exposing the dark secrets of the powerful. At the same time, Xie Wei, a police negotiator, senses a sophisticated chain of psychological manipulation behind a wealthy man's kidnapping. Forced to work together on the case, the two discover that every bizarre crime points to the founder of the Zhiqing Future Foundation. This seemingly mild-mannered tech guru is using "social emotion maps" and the "Hive" algorithm to weave an invisible web that can manipulate the minds of millions.
Jiang Lin's hacking skills and Xie Wei's ability to read microexpressions make a deadly combination, but their partnership plunges them into an abyss of mistrust. Xie Wei's hidden past turns out to share the scars of experimental modification with the leader of Ghost. Behind Jiang Lin's unwavering pursuit of justice lies the blood and tears of a loved one brought down by online abuse. As AI algorithms begin sorting humanity into the "unfit" and the rest, and smart communities become accomplices to perfect crimes, the two must hold on to the faint glimmer of humanity amid the flood of data, piecing together their broken selves to forge a blade that can break the deadlock.
The ultimate battle over technological ethics and free will is about to begin. Their clasped hands are both a weapon against the darkness and the only beacon of warmth and redemption. Are you ready to see the light beyond the data prison?
