A Blossoming Romance in Shanghai

In 1928, Shanghai lay shrouded in mist and rain. Aixinjueluo Zhaoning, a “fallen princess” who had just made her way south from Beiping, arrived at a high-society gathering in the French Concession with a head full of novel ideas and a charming manner that was entirely out of place. Wearing unsuitable embroidered shoes, she chased a startled white dove with a glass of champagne in hand, then collided headfirst with Shen Zhiheng. The foreign-educated industrialist was famous for his cool composure and self-control. Surrounded by business rivals, he looked at her with icy eyes, but the moment they met her lively gaze, a ripple stirred within him. Zhaoning knew nothing of Shanghai’s cutthroat intrigues. To her, the suited man was like a block of ice that would never melt, yet she insisted on turning up at his side every day, using her “mischievous charm” to throw his plans into disarray: adding osmanthus syrup to his coffee, pulling faces to rescue him during business negotiations, and even sneaking into his car to watch the sunset over the Huangpu River. At first, Shen Zhiheng thought of her as nothing but trouble. But after their many clashes and moments of protecting one another, he discovered that beneath the seemingly delicate “princess” lay a tenacity to rival any man’s. As old family grudges and the smoke of business warfare closed in, he kept her safe, and she brought warmth to his life. The dazzling glimpse they shared at their first meeting ultimately blossomed into a deep, enduring love amid Shanghai’s neon lights and gentle rain.