In the turbulent years of the Republic of China, Shanghai's foreign concessions are glittering on the surface, but roiling with hidden currents beneath.
Gu Qingzhou is the young master of the Gu family, carefree and unruly in public, secretive and stealthy behind the scenes.
He moves among the powerful, hiding intelligence inside his cigarette holder.
Shen Zhiyi returns from abroad to open a qipao shop, each stitch carrying a secret message.
Cheng Wanran saves lives with her scalpel, then steps into the storm with an umbrella in hand.
Lu Chengyu is trapped in his family's quagmire, forced to tread the line between the underworld and the law.
The factions vie for power, and betrayal is hard to distinguish from loyalty.
An operation fails, a companion is captured, and the trail goes cold.
At the critical moment... A pipe can conceal microfilm and carry top-secret orders.
Patterns woven into a qipao can encode a list of names, and a stethoscope can be used to eavesdrop.
He poses as a man of the demimonde, but in truth, every step is carefully planned.
While others struggle in the open, he controls the game from the shadows.
The once-spoiled playboy has become the sharpest blade behind enemy lines.
He will tear away the mask of hypocrisy and kindle the first sparks of a blazing fire.
When the turmoil finally ends, peace will return to the land.
