Prescription for the Crack

To maintain the appearance of perfection, Shen Jin becomes a prisoner of the drug Stardust under the control of his father, Shen Chongshan. He navigates relationships with four highly accomplished women, each with her own appeal, treating them as either “antidotes” or pawns for different occasions: Su Manqing is his business-marriage prospect; Ye Zhenzhen offers artistic solace; Qin Yi controls public opinion; and Gu Zhao handles legal troubles. One day, Stardust takes hold of Shen Jin in a poor neighborhood. Lin Sui eases his symptoms with acupuncture and takes him in. Lin Sui's ordinary warmth and reverence for life bring Shen Jin a peace he has never known, and give his hidden vulnerability an unexpected outlet. Shen Chongshan realizes his son is slipping out of his control and begins plotting to suppress Lin Sui, using the other four women to sow discord. Drawn into the maelstrom because of Shen Jin, the five women struggle with desire, jealousy, self-interest, and conscience. The four women each bring their own strengths to a battle of palace intrigue and business warfare, but their flaws, coldness, fragility, cunning, and fiery tempers, are turned against them by Shen Chongshan, leaving them in dire straits. With steadiness and resilience, Lin Sui quietly protects Shen Jin, using the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine to help him fight his addiction and her streetwise resourcefulness to defuse one crisis after another. Finally, when Shen Chongshan launches his fatal blow, exposing Shen Jin's addiction and destroying Jinhai, Lin Sui unites everyone with her compassion. She joins forces with a remorseful Gu Zhao to obtain crucial evidence, while Qin Yi changes sides and manipulates public opinion to expose Shen Chongshan's crimes. Su Manqing provides crucial financial data, and Ye Zhenzhen uses her influence to stir public sympathy. Shen Jin gets clean and is reborn. He gives up Jinhai and chooses Lin Sui and an ordinary life. Shen Chongshan is brought to justice. Lin Sui's Chinese medicine clinic becomes a beacon of hope and healing.