He stared, bewitched, at Ch’in Ching standing in the storm waiting for him.
A deep-seated sense of fulfillment blossomed in his heart,
With the haziness of what the French would call déjà vu
– A man holding an umbrella.
The wet ends of his cheongsam.
The rainy music from an old dream.

Set in early-20th century China, this story takes off in the port city of Tientsin (Tianjin) that is divided into lands called concessions and owned by several foreign powers. Shen Liangsheng is a charismatic and cunning playboy, a son of a rich businessman, who has profits as his top priority. He meets Ch'in Ching, an average school teacher who appears mild but actually holds a patriotic heart for his home. The two cross paths and sparks fly. But will their love hold strong through the imminent forces that will tear the country apart...?