Double Helix (双程)

The story begins in high school, where Lu Feng—a wealthy, rebellious, and domineering heir—falls in love with Cheng Yichen, a gentle, introverted top student. What starts as an innocent, blossoming romance between two young men quickly unravels when a secretly taken photograph exposes their relationship. Under immense pressure from both family and school, the two are forcibly separated. Lu Feng‘s wealthy father sends him abroad against his will, while Cheng Yichen is forced to transfer schools. Misunderstandings, planted by Lu Feng’s family, and lost letters sever all contact between them. Years later, the two reunite under unexpected circumstances. Cheng Yichen discovers that his new boss is none other than Lu Feng, who has since become a powerful tech mogul and heir to the Lu Corporation. The man Cheng Yichen once loved has transformed into a cold, obsessive, and ruthless executive. Lu Feng approaches Cheng Yichen with an almost possessive determination to reclaim the love he once lost, vowing to never let him go again. What follows is a harrowing descent into a dark and toxic relationship. Old misunderstandings resurface alongside new betrayals. Domestic tragedy strikes: upon discovering the truth about her sons, Cheng Yichen‘s mother suffers a fatal heart attack, and his younger brother, Cheng Yichen, is left paralyzed following a violent altercation involving Lu Feng. Bereaved and broken, Cheng Yichen finally reaches his breaking point. He cuts ties with Lu Feng and sends him a wedding invitation—Cheng Yichen is marrying Zhuo Lan (卓藍), a wealthy heiress and his long-time female friend. Heartbroken and furious, Lu Feng channels his pain into building his business empire, swearing to make Cheng Yichen pay for what he sees as betrayal. Five years later, Lu Feng returns. Now more powerful than ever, he seeks revenge. He tricks Cheng Yichen into traveling to South Korea and drugs him, holding him captive. What follows is a story of obsession, power imbalance, and cycles of hurt—where love and control become dangerously entangled. The story ultimately builds toward a shattering climax: Cheng Yichen takes a bullet meant for Lu Feng, falling into a coma. And just as Lu Feng publicly confesses his love at a press conference, the helicopter carrying him toward the hospital crashes under mysterious circumstances, leaving his fate unknown.

*Note: The 2016 films are structured around two parts (A Round Trip to Love and A Round Trip to Love Part 2). The 2026 remake expands this narrative into a 12-episode series. The following story arcs are synthesized from the original narrative and are applicable to both adaptations.*

Arc 1: Beginnings — The Innocent Blossoming of First Love (High School / College)

The story opens with Lu Feng and Cheng Yichen‘s first encounter. Lu Feng, a bold and rebellious heir, becomes instantly drawn to the quiet and bookish Cheng Yichen. They become classmates and later roommates in college. As they spend increasing amounts of time together, their bond deepens from friendship into an unspoken mutual affection. Lu Feng’s love is fiery and direct, while Cheng Yichen‘s is hesitant and cautious—he considers himself straight and struggles to understand his own feelings. Their relationship officially begins when Lu Feng travels to Cheng Yichen’s hometown, and Cheng Yichen finally allows himself to reciprocate. However, when their secret is exposed by a rival classmate attempting to assault Cheng Yichen, Lu Feng beats him severely. The news spreads across campus. Their same-sex relationship is discovered by authorities, leading to immediate condemnation from both the school and their families.

Arc 2: Separation — The Cruel Hand of Fate (Family Intervention / Forced Distance)

Facing public shame and familial pressure, the young lovers are forcibly separated. Lu Feng‘s powerful father arranges for him to be sent to the United States (or Hong Kong, in earlier versions) to protect the family reputation. Meanwhile, Cheng Yichen is forced to transfer schools. Lu Feng desperately tries to maintain contact, but his family intercepts his letters and sows seeds of doubt. Cheng Yichen receives only word of Lu Feng‘s engagement, believing he has been abandoned. Years pass with no contact. The wound never truly heals.

Arc 3: Reunion — The Price of Obsession (Workplace Reencounter / Domestic Tragedy)

Lu Feng returns as the new CEO of Lu Corporation. Cheng Yichen, now working at the company, is shocked to find that his cold and calculating boss is the boy he once loved—now a man driven by obsession and a thirst for retribution. Lu Feng pursues Cheng Yichen relentlessly, demanding they pick up where they left off. However, Cheng Yichen, haunted by the past and aware of Lu Feng‘s existing engagement, repeatedly refuses. The tension escalates dramatically on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Lu Feng appears uninvited at Cheng Yichen‘s family home, leading to a violent confrontation. In the ensuing chaos, Cheng Yichen’s younger brother, Cheng Yichen, is accidentally injured and left permanently paralyzed. The shock triggers Cheng Yichen‘s mother‘s fatal heart attack. Devastated by the loss of his family, Cheng Yichen breaks completely. He cuts all ties with Lu Feng and sends him a wedding invitation—announcing his marriage to Zhuo Lan, the wealthy female friend who has loved him for years.

Arc 4: Revenge — The Darkest Descent (Imprisonment / Power Imbalance)

Five years pass. Lu Feng, now completely estranged from his own father, has built an empire from scratch. But he has never forgotten Cheng Yichen—or the perceived betrayal. He returns not for love, but for revenge. He tricks Cheng Yichen into traveling to South Korea on false business pretenses. Upon arrival, Cheng Yichen is drugged and imprisoned in a secluded villa. Lu Feng becomes his captor. Over the course of his imprisonment, Cheng Yichen is coerced and abused. This arc represents the story‘s darkest exploration of toxic love: where obsession, power, and trauma become inseparable from the remnants of genuine affection.

Arc 5: Climax — Bullet, Confession, and Disappearance (The Ultimate Sacrifice / Open Ending)

The conflict reaches its breaking point when Zhuo Lan, armed with a gun, arrives at Lu Feng’s villa to rescue Cheng Yichen. In the violent confrontation that follows, Cheng Yichen—even after everything—throws himself in front of Lu Feng, taking a bullet meant for him. Cheng Yichen falls into a months-long coma. As he hovers between life and death, Lu Feng is forced to confront the full weight of his actions. At a press conference, he publicly declares his love for Cheng Yichen, renounces his control over the company, and vows to wait for him no matter how long it takes. But fate delivers one final blow. On his way to the hospital where Cheng Yichen lies unconscious, Lu Feng‘s helicopter crashes. As news broadcasts report the crash, Cheng Yichen—having just regained consciousness in his hospital bed—can only watch in horror. The story ends ambiguously: Lu Feng’s fate is never confirmed.