In pursuit of new ideas, independent new woman Yang Zhihua (played by Dong Jie) left home to study sociology at Shanghai University, where many progressive young people gathered. She met Cai Hesen and his wife Xiang Jingyu. Qu Qiubai (played by Dou Xiao), who was the director of the Department of Sociology at Shanghai University at the time, was very prestigious. Yang Zhihua felt deep concern for the country from his lectures. Yang Zhihua's husband Shen Jianlong in her hometown often went to Shanghai to visit her, but the deepening differences made the two feel that they had become alienated from each other. Yang Zhihua increasingly appreciated the latter's personality charm and knowledge in her contact with Qu Qiubai. Soon, Qu Qiubai's wife died of illness, and Yang Zhihua also joined the party through Xiang Jingyu. When her father arrived in Shanghai to visit, Yang Zhihua proposed a divorce plan, but in the severe situation of the revolutionary struggle, Yang Zhihua had no chance to confess to Qu Qiubai. Soon Qu Qiubai was forced to resign due to the situation and accompanied Yang Zhihua back to his hometown to meet Shen Jianlong...