The novel focuses on Lin Chen, a young man from a small town who is extremely handsome and drifts to Beijing with his dream of acting. He started out in a dark basement, squeezed the subway to submit his resume, was ignored by the director, and worked part-time to supplement his livelihood. With his solid acting skills and handsome appearance, he finally transformed from a bit player to a slightly famous actor, and he and his girlfriend Su Xiao sketched a future in a rental house.
However, his outstanding appearance attracted the covetation of Zhao Manli, the female boss who controls film and television resources. Zhao Manli first lured her with top-notch resources, but after being rejected, she suppressed her career and threatened Su Xiao's safety. Lin Chen was forced to sign an "exclusive agreement" to protect his lover, and fell into a humiliating whirlpool of control. After being forcibly violated by Zhao Manli, the desperate Lin Chen chose to commit suicide by jumping off the building on the set, leaving a suicide note detailing the experience, using his life as a torch to try to illuminate the darkness of the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry.
His death triggered an earthquake in public opinion. After the suicide note was exposed, public protests, artists spoke out, and the police intervened in the investigation. A cry at the cost of life finally promoted the liquidation of the industry's shady industry and also questioned the boundaries between law and justice.
