**Qi Si / Cao Si (齐思 / 曹思, often called Si Si or 思思) love story arc (primarily from the novel *Jin Lin* / 近邻 by Han Shi San, source of *In My Prime* / 生逢其时).**
Note: Sources sometimes mix the names “Qi Si” and “Cao Si” because of the baby-switch plot between the Qi and Cao families. The core arc belongs to the eldest sister raised in the Cao household (Cao Si), who has a long-standing connection with Qi Zhi (齐智, from the Qi family). Details can vary slightly across summaries, and the drama (still airing as of September 2026) may soften or alter some elements.
### Early feelings / childhood sweetheart Cao Si grows up as the responsible eldest daughter in the Cao family. She is self-sacrificing from a young age (giving preferential treatment/resources to her younger brother). She develops mutual feelings with **Qi Zhi** (齐智), the Qi family’s son—they are childhood friends/neighbors with a quiet, long-standing affection. Qi Zhi is protective and steady.
### The sacrificial marriage A major family crisis hits (most commonly Huo Qinglian’s gastric cancer requiring expensive surgery, or in some versions Cao Dongfang’s serious illness). The family cannot afford the huge medical costs.
Zhou Xuanyu (周轩宇), the spoiled son of the powerful mine manager (Zhou Changsheng / 周矿长), has long pursued Cao Si. He (or his family) offers to cover all medical expenses in exchange for the marriage.
Cao Si reluctantly agrees, breaking things off with Qi Zhi to save her family. She marries Zhou in a relatively quick/arranged way. Younger relatives protest (e.g., one sister tries to disrupt the wedding), but it proceeds. This is framed as a pure sacrifice—she trades her happiness for her mother’s (or father’s) life.
### Abusive marriage Before the wedding Zhou pretends to be gentle, attentive, and caring. After marriage (sometimes within weeks) his true nature appears: - Cheating / womanizing. - Emotional coldness, temper, control. - Escalating domestic violence (hitting, pushing).
Cao Si endures for a time, has a son with him, and tries to make it work out of duty and residual hope. The abuse worsens; one severe incident (being shoved into a table/corner, serious head injury and bleeding) becomes the breaking point. While recovering in the hospital she realizes she cannot continue.
### Divorce and aftermath She insists on divorce despite family pressure and social gossip. Zhou resists, demands money, or becomes more unstable.
A confrontation escalates: Zhou climbs onto a roof (or causes a violent scene) and tries to harm or force Cao Si (in some accounts threatening mutual destruction or later attempting to drag her into drugs). A male relative (commonly Cao Yi / 曹义 or Qi Zhi) intervenes, a struggle occurs, and Zhou is injured (e.g., falls and breaks an arm). The protector is arrested for causing injury and serves jail time (around 16 months in novel accounts).
The families (Qi + Cao, setting aside old grudges) pool money (around 300,000 yuan in some versions, from selling assets like car washes) to secure Zhou’s agreement to divorce and drop further claims. Zhou takes the money and disappears for a while. Cao Si leaves with almost nothing (net-body divorce / 净身出户), takes her young son, rents a tiny place, and works basic jobs (e.g., sales) while raising the child alone.
### Zhou’s downfall Zhou’s father (the mine manager) later falls from power (investigated/arrested). Without protection or money, Zhou spirals: alcoholism, more violence, drugs, debt. He reappears later in a degraded state (one account has him trying to force Cao Si to use drugs with him). He is eventually found frozen to death on the street after a drug-related decline; no one claims him.
### Second chance and happy ending During Cao Si’s lowest period (struggling alone with her son), **Qi Zhi** re-enters her life steadily and supportively. He has quietly cared for her for years, shows no judgment of her past or situation, helps with practical matters (housework, childcare, emotional support), and remains reliable.
After Qi Zhi’s release from prison (or once circumstances settle), Cao Si marries him. It is a low-key, practical remarriage (zero bride price in some accounts). They raise her son together, later have a daughter, and live a stable, ordinary, warm life. The two families fully reconcile. Cao Si finally lives for herself after a lifetime of sacrifice.
**Overall tone**: Her arc is one of the more tragic and realistic in the story—duty and family pressure lead to a hellish first marriage, followed by hard-won agency, survival, and eventual quiet happiness with the person who was always right for her. It contrasts with the main couple (Qi Shi & Cao Xin)’s more romantic path.
The drama has only aired a portion of its episodes so far, so these are primarily novel-based details; the adaptation may change severity or specific events.
**Qi Si / Cao Si (齐思 / 曹思, often called Si Si or 思思) love story arc (primarily from the novel *Jin Lin* / 近邻 by Han Shi San, source of *In My Prime* / 生逢其时).**
Note: Sources sometimes mix the names “Qi Si” and “Cao Si” because of the baby-switch plot between the Qi and Cao families. The core arc belongs to the eldest sister raised in the Cao household (Cao Si), who has a long-standing connection with Qi Zhi (齐智, from the Qi family). Details can vary slightly across summaries, and the drama (still airing as of September 2026) may soften or alter some elements.
### Early feelings / childhood sweetheart
Cao Si grows up as the responsible eldest daughter in the Cao family. She is self-sacrificing from a young age (giving preferential treatment/resources to her younger brother). She develops mutual feelings with **Qi Zhi** (齐智), the Qi family’s son—they are childhood friends/neighbors with a quiet, long-standing affection. Qi Zhi is protective and steady.
### The sacrificial marriage
A major family crisis hits (most commonly Huo Qinglian’s gastric cancer requiring expensive surgery, or in some versions Cao Dongfang’s serious illness). The family cannot afford the huge medical costs.
Zhou Xuanyu (周轩宇), the spoiled son of the powerful mine manager (Zhou Changsheng / 周矿长), has long pursued Cao Si. He (or his family) offers to cover all medical expenses in exchange for the marriage.
Cao Si reluctantly agrees, breaking things off with Qi Zhi to save her family. She marries Zhou in a relatively quick/arranged way. Younger relatives protest (e.g., one sister tries to disrupt the wedding), but it proceeds. This is framed as a pure sacrifice—she trades her happiness for her mother’s (or father’s) life.
### Abusive marriage
Before the wedding Zhou pretends to be gentle, attentive, and caring. After marriage (sometimes within weeks) his true nature appears:
- Cheating / womanizing.
- Emotional coldness, temper, control.
- Escalating domestic violence (hitting, pushing).
Cao Si endures for a time, has a son with him, and tries to make it work out of duty and residual hope. The abuse worsens; one severe incident (being shoved into a table/corner, serious head injury and bleeding) becomes the breaking point. While recovering in the hospital she realizes she cannot continue.
### Divorce and aftermath
She insists on divorce despite family pressure and social gossip. Zhou resists, demands money, or becomes more unstable.
A confrontation escalates: Zhou climbs onto a roof (or causes a violent scene) and tries to harm or force Cao Si (in some accounts threatening mutual destruction or later attempting to drag her into drugs). A male relative (commonly Cao Yi / 曹义 or Qi Zhi) intervenes, a struggle occurs, and Zhou is injured (e.g., falls and breaks an arm). The protector is arrested for causing injury and serves jail time (around 16 months in novel accounts).
The families (Qi + Cao, setting aside old grudges) pool money (around 300,000 yuan in some versions, from selling assets like car washes) to secure Zhou’s agreement to divorce and drop further claims. Zhou takes the money and disappears for a while. Cao Si leaves with almost nothing (net-body divorce / 净身出户), takes her young son, rents a tiny place, and works basic jobs (e.g., sales) while raising the child alone.
### Zhou’s downfall
Zhou’s father (the mine manager) later falls from power (investigated/arrested). Without protection or money, Zhou spirals: alcoholism, more violence, drugs, debt. He reappears later in a degraded state (one account has him trying to force Cao Si to use drugs with him). He is eventually found frozen to death on the street after a drug-related decline; no one claims him.
### Second chance and happy ending
During Cao Si’s lowest period (struggling alone with her son), **Qi Zhi** re-enters her life steadily and supportively. He has quietly cared for her for years, shows no judgment of her past or situation, helps with practical matters (housework, childcare, emotional support), and remains reliable.
After Qi Zhi’s release from prison (or once circumstances settle), Cao Si marries him. It is a low-key, practical remarriage (zero bride price in some accounts). They raise her son together, later have a daughter, and live a stable, ordinary, warm life. The two families fully reconcile. Cao Si finally lives for herself after a lifetime of sacrifice.
**Overall tone**: Her arc is one of the more tragic and realistic in the story—duty and family pressure lead to a hellish first marriage, followed by hard-won agency, survival, and eventual quiet happiness with the person who was always right for her. It contrasts with the main couple (Qi Shi & Cao Xin)’s more romantic path.
The drama has only aired a portion of its episodes so far, so these are primarily novel-based details; the adaptation may change severity or specific events.