At State-Owned Cotton Mill No. 3, Lin Su has consistently placed second in the technical skills competition, with Zhao Jianjun taking first place year after year. When the factory announces two paid study-leave positions, awarded according to the rankings, Zhao Jianjun demands that his girlfriend, Zhou Xiaoyan, be allowed to study alongside him. He even tears up Lin Su's application form, threatening to give up his own place unless his demand is met. The workshop director seizes the opportunity and awards Lin Su the vacant position instead. After completing her studies, Lin Su achieves top marks in all three subjects, while Zhao Jianjun ranks 127th in the entire factory. Seven years later, Lin Su becomes the technical department chief of the Municipal Textile Company. Her newly developed blended-fabric technology is promoted throughout the province, and she finds love with Gu Mingyuan, a man who understands and respects her. Meanwhile, Zhao Jianjun falls on hard times and repeatedly tries to bother her, only to have his true intentions exposed before shamefully returning to his hometown to farm. At last, Lin Su makes peace with the past, realizing that missing out on first place back then was actually fate's greatest gift to her.