[Immigrant Life + Workplace Ups and Downs + Making a Life Abroad + Personal Growth] Wang Qian immigrated from China to Vancouver in 2000 and became an editor at a local Chinese-language newspaper, the Chinese Canadian Times, living a nine-to-five life. She rents a room in the Bao family’s home and becomes good friends with her landlords. The Baos have two sons and a daughter. Their eldest daughter, Elisa, falls in love with Yu Hang, the head chef at the family’s restaurant. Yu Hang is divorced and has a daughter, leaving the Baos worried about their daughter’s relationship. The eldest son, Kaixuan, is kind and generous, enjoys making friends and drinking, and has caused several serious traffic accidents by driving drunk. Later, Kaixuan falls in with the wrong crowd, ultimately leading to tragedy.
Wang Qian’s career and love life are no smoother. First she is fired from the Chinese Canadian Times, then takes a job at Dongfang Trading Company, only to leave that too. For a time, disheartened, she considers returning to China to find a new career path.
Through work, Wang Qian meets Jian Xi, a divorced advertising professional. She admires his talent and secretly falls for him, but Jian Xi sees her only as a therapist and confidante, and their relationship goes no further than dates spent talking. After ending things with Jian Xi, Wang Qian meets Lu You, a married accountant. Because Wang Qian looks so much like Lu You’s first love, he falls deeply for her. Unable to resist Lu You’s care and affection, Wang Qian nonetheless becomes mired in inner conflict. After witnessing Lu You’s divided affections, she resolves to cut off her feelings for him once and for all.
After disaster strikes the Bao family, they sell their house and return to China. Wang Qian moves out and meets Andy, a local man of Chinese descent she got to know on a dating website, determined to start a new life.
