A Beijing professor returns to his stomping grounds for a friend’s funeral. Reflecting on the past, he meets a tea shop owner who sparks feelings of love in a time of pain.

Renowned 70-year-old poet Lee Jeok-yo falls for a 17-year-old girl named Eun-gyo. Upon realizing his love for the teenager, the poet goes through emotional turmoil and self-destruction, while willing to give up his fame as one of the nation’s most respected literary figures. Involved in the love triangle is Lee’s student Seo Ji-woo, a novelist in his 30s who also becomes obsessed with the girl.