In the famous Chinese drama series, "Burning Years," which received high praise from tens of thousands of viewers, the story revolves around five brothers, with only Hua Zi remaining in the end. Unfortunately, Hua Zi became the target of disdain and criticism from the audience. Particularly, the scene where Hua Zi apprehends Wang Lei stands out: Wang Lei manages to escape from Hua Zi's handcuffs, and in the heat of the moment, Hua Zi fires a shot at him from behind.

The death of Wang Lei and An Fei Ya at the train station further exacerbates the audience's dislike for Hua Zi, whom they consider the "most detested character." Sun Dui shares the backstory of Lao Hou with Hua Zi and hands him a photo of Lao Hou, leading to a brief conversation that resolves the emotional distance between them. Hua Zi and Lao Hou become partners at work, and despite being colleagues, their bond surpasses that of mentor and apprentice.

Lao Hou takes good care of Hua Zi at work, showing concern and occasionally offering advice on matters of love without explicitly revealing his own feelings. Throughout their investigation, Hua Zi develops a deep respect for Lao Hou, akin to a father-son relationship. Unexpectedly, during the Diao Yu case involving drug trafficking, Kun Ge discovers Lao Hou's true identity and threatens Wang Lei to kill Lao Hou.

When Wang Lei accidentally encounters Hua Zi while trying to kill Lao Hou, Hua Zi catches a glimpse of Wang Lei still being alive, triggering memories from the past. Hua Zi had hoped that Wang Lei was alive and wished for him to live a good life. However, his closest brother ended up killing the highly respected captain of the criminal investigation team, causing Hua Zi's heart to shatter completely. In the hospital, as Lao Hou lies on his deathbed, he entrusts Hua Zi with the responsibility of dismantling the entire drug trafficking organization and capturing Wang Lei, seeking justice for the team.

Even without Hua Zi's shot, Wang Lei would have most likely perished in the face of the drug traffickers. However, the audience views Hua Zi's action as a betrayal. Few can understand the immense pain in Hua Zi's heart, torn between duty, brotherly loyalty, and his genuine desire for Wang Lei to stop.