Character backstory

In an alternate world, the story is set in five port regions of the East: Shekou Port, East Port, West Port, South Port, and North Port. Each port has its unique culture and economic structure, maintaining balance through cooperation and competition. Among them, North Port serves as the financial center, with a thriving banking, trade, and real estate industry, becoming a vital hub for capital circulation among the ports, closely linked economically to Shekou Port and East Port. Eve’s mother, Tsuen Wan, is one of the influential tycoons in the real estate industry. Her "Peninsula Group" holds a significant position in the North Port real estate market, controlling industry developments and solidifying the family's power through various business alliances. She fiercely competes with the North Wind Group and has attempted several times to acquire it, as the North Wind brand has greater influence. She aims to establish the mainstream brands of all port regions under "Peninsula" rather than "North Wind." Tsuen Wan once planned to solidify her family’s power through arranging her daughter's marriage, but Eve strongly opposed this, leading to increasing tension in their relationship. Eventually, Eve chose to live independently to escape the issue. To monitor Eve, Tsuen Wan assigned her secretary, Sung Wong Toi, who understands the situation but cannot dissuade Tsuen Wan's actions. Eve deliberately dresses very modestly to give the impression that she is not wealthy and intentionally avoids putting effort into her appearance, hoping to keep her background hidden from Sanshio. She wants to maintain their friendship without revealing her true identity. Sanshio is a woman striving for independence, dreaming of owning a house and a pet cat. However, her once hopeful outlook on work-life has turned to disappointment and self-doubt. She is materialistic and has high standards for appearance, with a childhood ideal of finding a tall, handsome, and wealthy partner. She admires Dandelion for her beauty, yet her interactions with Eve have significantly altered her perspectives. Seeing Sanshio face the pressure of high living costs makes Eve realize that being broke often leads to insurmountable challenges, creating psychological conflicts. Eve's disdain for money-driven individuals stems from her ambitious mother, and she hopes their friendship won’t change if Sanshio learns about her true identity, which leads her to hide it. Kanburiya, running an izakaya, has received investment support from Tsuen Wan, with many of her business strategies devised by Tsuen Wan. Kanburiya admires Tsuen Wan for her business acumen but knows little about Eve. She has only heard Tsuen Wan mention that Eve is quite rebellious, making Kanburiya appreciate the challenges of raising children. Hanabusa, an employee of the North Wind Group, visits the highly-rated izakaya with an ophthalmologist friend and meets the owner, Kanburiya. He discovers her vision issues and helps restore her sight. Throughout this process, he learns about Kanburiya’s past and sympathizes with her, which gradually wins her over, leading Kanburiya, who no longer believes in love after her experiences, to fall for Hanabusa. Hanabusa is well aware of Tsuen Wan's ambitions, as she has aimed to acquire the North Wind Group and knows Kanburiya’s izakaya is backed by Tsuen Wan’s Peninsula Group, cautioning Kanburiya to be wary of being used as a pawn. Dandelion is an aspiring actress in South Port’s entertainment scene, striving for fame but facing significant challenges due to her lack of background and connections. Many in the industry look down on her for these reasons, not wishing for her to land leading roles. Dandelion refuses to rely on unspoken rules to secure roles and instead fights for opportunities, often settling for minor or villainous parts. Her portrayals of unsympathetic characters frequently provoke audience backlash, leading to moments of despair. However, she finds encouragement in a fan letter from someone named "Shio," urging her to persist. After enduring harassment from a director and dealing with rumors, Dandelion retaliates against a stalker and creates news to clear her name. Despite her innocence, some people still choose not to believe her. This event leads Dandelion to terminate her contract with her previous agency and sign with the North Wind Group instead of the Peninsula Group, influenced by Eve's strong dislike for her mother. Despite this, Dandelion achieves her dream of becoming a leading actress in a popular drama adaptation, gaining both fame and numerous endorsements. Dandelion is grateful for Eve’s recommendation but is puzzled as to why the daughter of the Peninsula Group would suggest her to a rival company. She enjoys sharing life updates on social media, including some private photos with Eve, which she has not yet made public due to Eve's request to keep their relationship secret. As Sanshio gradually notices the resemblance between Eve and Dandelion, she often finds herself confusing them. Living together shifts Sanshio’s initial prejudice against Eve into a growing fondness. Eve, aware that Sanshio is a devoted fan of Dandelion, is careful not to reveal her connection to her. Eve once took Sanshio to Kanburiya’s izakaya, where they met Kanburiya’s adorable cat, which further fuels Sanshio's dream of having her own cat in the future. Interestingly, Kanburiya met Sanshio ten years ago, and while Sanshio feels a sense of familiarity with her, she cannot recall the specifics, a memory that Kanburiya has long forgotten. Seeing Sanshio dining with Eve leads Kanburiya to mistakenly believe that Sanshio is also quite affluent, possibly from a wealthy family. Thus, the intertwined stories of these four characters begin to unfold dramatically...!