Lin Xiao Cao has experienced numerous hardships in her life, including her boyfriend's (later husband) infidelity and the calculated plotting of her sister-in-law. However, she still maintains a healthy outlook on life while taking care of her mother-in-law and the son her husband had with another woman. She also tries her best to help others and still believes that there is true love in this world. She has a remarkable way of connecting with people and diffusing conflict, including the vengeful wrath of a man named Liu Shui. After Liu Shui learns that he's actually been pouring salt into an already wounded soul, he falls in love with Xiao Cao and begins to pursue her. However, Xiao Cao tries to convince herself that it's impossible for such an accomplished man to truly be in love with her and tries to evade Liu Shui's advances.

This drama takes place during the turbulent Spring and Autumn Period and tells the well-known story of the downfall and revival of Gou Jian, King of Yue. After his defeat, Gou Jian was captured and enslaved by King Fu Chai of Wu. Faking submission and loyalty while secretly planning revenge during his imprisonment, Gou Jian is eventually allowed to return to his native Yue. Upon his return to rule, Gou Jian strengthens the kingdom with the help of talented advisors and politicians like Fan Li and Wen Zhong while weakening Wu internally through bribery and strategic diplomatic dealings. "Wo Xin Chang Dan" is a phrase coined to depict Gou Jian's perseverance and self-imposed hardships designed to constantly remind himself of the humiliations he withstood while serving Wu.

Troubled high school student Makoto arrives in Tokyo to exact revenge from a past incident. He then falls in love at first sight with Ai (Emi Takei), a daughter raised in a wholesome family. Around Makoto and Ai are Iwashimizu (Takumi Saito), who has feelings for Ai and Gamuko (Sakura Ando), a gang member who eyes Makoto.

Ooka Echizen is a town magistrate based in Edo, appointed by Shogun Yoshimune in 1717. Often preferring to wander among commoners in disguise, he actively keeps the peace in Edo and helps clear corruption out of local politics. From the...

Decades later the story centers around Cheng Yuan, the fourth generation heir to the rich and powerful Cheng family based in Southeast Asia. After pursuing studies in the United States, Yuan is on his way back home to attend his father's funeral and to make plans for his own marriage, when he meets a couple of Chinese travelers. The man, Li Ke Jin, is wrongly arrested for possession of marijuana, and the woman, Wu Yue, pleads with Yuan to save him. Already deep in the chaos and conflicts of his family and the future of their empire following the death of his father, Yuan agrees under some conditions. He will help Wu Yue free Li Ke Jin if she helps him avoid marriage by pretending to be his girlfriend. However, as the two play the happy couple, Wu Yue becomes a target for the feuding family and two things are propelled into danger... their hearts and their lives.

A story about the lives of people between the night PM to morning AM.