Qi Ming and Yi Yao are neighbours who live in the same alley. As an older brother, Qi Ming is always helping and protecting Yi Yao. Qi Ming plants a tree for Yi Yao, in the backyard of the alley, and wishes that he's able to give Yi Yao her dream family and the warmth that she wants. As time passes, Qi Ming helps Yi Yao through a misdiagnosed illness, emergency operation and various obstacles, but what could not be prevented was the troubles of love and entering the workforce. After graduating college and moving out of the alley, Qi Ming and Yi Yao finally overcame all odds and got together. But the two had no choice but to break up again due to their careers. Youth is beautiful, but it also has regrets, Qi Ming, Yi Yao, Shen Xi, Shen Xiang, each of them chased their dreams and came to their own realization, everyone worked hard to lead a better life.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]