Shang Xirui (Yin Zheng), an exceptional Peking opera performer, has overcome lifelong challenges to pursue his artistic passion. When wealthy businessman Cheng Fengtai (Huang Xiao Ming) discovers Xirui's talent, they form a deep friendship rooted in their shared love for traditional opera. Together, they restore a local theater and train a new generation of performers, creating a sanctuary for their beloved art form. However, their world is dramatically altered in the summer of 1937 when the Japanese army invades Beijing, forcing Xirui and Fengtai to defend their dreams and cultural heritage. This is a 2020 Chinese period drama directed by Hui Kai Dong, based on the novel by Shui Ru Tian Er.