Love Between Lines (2026)

26-year-old Hu Xiu is publicly dumped at her engagement party, the most humiliating experience of her life. To cheer her up, her childhood friend, Zhao Xiaorou, drags her to the popular immersive VR murder mystery game club, Midnight Express. The train pulls into a virtual world set in the Republic of China era.

The drive to win spurs Hu Xiu to enter the murder mystery game again, only to find that Qin Xiaoyi is played by someone else. She is full of curiosity about the Qin Xiaoyi that she had met.

Hu Xiu accidentally triggers a terrifying haunted house scenario. Just as she is about to despair, Qin Xiaoyi leads her out of the scary scene. 

Hu Xiu confirms that her tenant is actually Xiao Zhiyu. Feeling like she was tricked again, she decides to get back at him.

Hu Xiu goes to an interview at Dynamism and discovers that the boss is none other than Xiao Yu, her tenant who plays Qin Xiaoyi in the role-playing game.

Xiao Zhiyu attends the wedding of Mr. Wang's daughter and invites Hu Xiu along. At the wedding, Hu Xiu encounters someone she knows. 

Xiao Zhiyu learns that Hu Xiu is Zhang Qiran's ex-girlfriend. He encourages her to face the situation head-on, helping her to let go of the past once and for all. 

Pei Zhen gives Hu Xiu a ride home. Out of curiosity, he asks her why she chose Dynamism over Forma. Xiao Zhiyu swiftly arrives to take Hu Xiu away. Pei Zhen realizes that this woman is special to Xiao Zhiyi. 

Xiao Zhiyu injures his right hand while protecting Hu Xiu. To make it up to him, she brings him meals and drives him around. Xiao Zhiyu has always kept others at a distance, but he welcomes Hu Xiu's presence and the warmth she brings into his life. 

Hu Ding suddenly comes by for a visit and learns that Hu Xiu has gone back to working in the field of architecture. He is beyond furious and gets into a fiery argument with Hu Xiu. Xiao Zhiyu can only stand by and watch silently. 

For years, Xiao Zhiyu has been secretly investigating the Xincheng Stadium collapse that occurred 20 years ago. Chen Junhao, the supplier of the steel that was used in the incident, had already passed away long ago. Xiao Zhiyu decides to start looking into the people who were connected to Chen Junhao.

Pei Zhen deliberately adopts Xiao Zhiyu's design concept, so Xiao Zhiyu cannot use it in the Lyman design competition. Hu Xiu takes Xiao Zhiyu to the rooftop and shows him everyday life in the lanes and alleyways. As the two grow closer, Xiao Zhiyu gains new design ideas too.

Pei Zhen reveals a shocking secret. Xiao Zhiyu is his brother. At a meal with the Pei family, Xiao Zhiyu feels out of place. When he returns to the lane house, Hu Xiu gives him warmth and care. She sympathizes with his difficult life growing up in someone else's home, bringing solace Xiao Zhiyu.

The fateful connection between Hu Xiu and Xiao Zhiyu is revealed. Hu Ding's leg was injured in the Xincheng Stadium collapse 20 years ago. And the main liable party was the project's chief architect, Qin Yuze, none other than Xiao Zhiyu's father. 

Xiao Zhiyu announces shocking news. Dynamism and Forma Group have reached a collaboration agreement. Xiao Zhiyu is certain that Hu Xiu wouldn't understand, but she instead expresses her trust in him. In that moment, Xiao Zhiyu falls completely in love with Hu Xiu.

Xiao Zhiyu believes that he can't give Hu Xiu stability in life, nor can he reveal his true identity. Hu Xiu takes the initiative to express her feelings, but Xiao Zhiyu dodges her kiss and terminates his lease.

Xiao Zhiyu is waiting for Hu Xiu at the entrance of Forma Group. Faced with two men offering to give her a ride home, she chooses to leave with Xiao Zhiyu. In the car, she asks him why he cares about her interactions with Pei Zhen, leaving him speechless.

Pei Zhen learns that the company has been having financial problems for a long time, but he had been kept in the dark. Hu Xiu happens to pass by and encourages him to choose the life that he wants. Pei Zhen is touched by Hu Xiu's actions and words.

Hu Xiu has an emotional outburst and declares that she no longer likes Xiao Zhiyu, who can't face his true feelings. As she is leaving Rongcheng, Xiao Zhiyu pulls her into a hidden corner and reveals how he feels with a passionate kiss.

Xiao Zhiyu goes back to the lane house to see Hu Xiu. Gong Huaicong and Zhao Xiaorou suddenly drop in, interrupting their sweet moment. Although annoyed at being kept in the dark, they are both happy for their friends for having found true love.