Chen Zui, a gifted taster, loses his sense of taste in a bizarre tasting accident. At the Wangchuan Bar, he uses memories and skill to craft drinks that capture the human heart. A cocktail called “Childhood Meadow” catches the attention of painter Su Ran and journalist Lin Fengqi.
When old photos from the accident three years ago and mysterious clues about his missing best friend Qin Lan come to light, the three uncover the Taste God Group's plot to monopolize flavor and distort its true nature with capital and technology. Chen Zui's loss of taste was their doing.
From a feast at the Liuli Pavilion to a hidden laboratory in South America, they face threats and pursuit. Chen Zui develops a “non-gustatory tasting method” and transforms into a “Perceiver”; Su Ran records the truth with her paintbrush; Qin Lan goes undercover in enemy territory to fight back; and Jin Buhuan, the bar's owner, protects them from behind the scenes. Together, they form an alliance to take on “Illusory Flavor.”
They witness the customs and human stories, the joys and sorrows, behind every flavor, and come to understand that flavor is a vessel for memory, a bond between people, and a cultural root. At last, with a hermit's guidance, Chen Zui lets go of his obsession, regains his sense of taste and his original aspirations, and exposes the Taste God Group's conspiracy.
The lights at Wangchuan Bar still glow warmly. Chen Zui remains there, alongside Su Ran, Qin Lan, and Lin Fengqi. Through their steadfast commitment to authenticity and their loyalty to one another, they create the most precious warmth and hope of everyday life. This journey in search of flavor is also a path to resisting the restless world and returning to one's true self.
