On April 14, 2013, the young Yang Xiaoning happened upon an old man selling hawthorn saplings. The little tree he planted on a whim unexpectedly sparked a deep bond that would span his youth and the rest of his life.
Yang Xiaoning is refined and accomplished in both letters and arms. He can charge into danger to defend what is right and has a host of remarkable skills. From a schoolboy, he grows into a pillar of strength. Loyal and principled, he is imposing outside the home, but at home he willingly bends to the wishes of just one person. Only when he meets Xu Xiaomeng does his steady heart fall completely, and from then on, all his tenderness and affection are hers alone.
From their youthful school days to the bustling city, they meet, fall in love, and build a life together beneath the hawthorn tree. Yet misunderstandings, harsh realities, and the schemes of others bring separation and heartache. The support of friends, the ties of family, the trials posed by villains, and the challenges of getting along with in-laws make their relationship sweet with a touch of pain, warm with tears. Their friends Chen Yuhang, Li Xiaoxiao, Lin Xiaoshang, and others each experience their own journeys of love and growth. Some are bickering sweethearts, some quietly stand guard, and some make the clear-eyed choice to walk away, together painting a vivid portrait of youth.
The hawthorn tree grows from a frail sapling into a tree laden with fruit, witnessing Yang Xiaoning and Xu Xiaomeng go from young love to a lifelong commitment. They overcome misunderstandings, stay true to their original intentions, and hold fast to their principles. Tested by human nature and morality, they redeem each other, and turn everyday life into a sweet-and-sour happiness.
This is a romantic love story bound by hawthorn, and a healing journey of growth. Beneath the hawthorn tree, happiness stays by their side. Every hardship eventually becomes a thing of the past, and every tender moment...
