An unnamed Chinese man adopts his friend’s daughter, Beina, upon his friend’s death. When she turns 23 and still has not dated, he grows worried that she will never find a husband. All of a sudden, one of the most handsome men known by all the women in the community proposes to Beina. The father agrees to the marriage but has some reservations. He questions Baowen’s motive for marriage as he and other members of the community note that Beina is not particularly attractive. Other women try to ruin their marriage and seduce Baowen. The father grows worried that Baowen will leave Beina, especially when they do not immediately have a child. One day, Beina reveals that Baowen has left and has not returned.

Looking for Baowen, the father receives a call from the city’s Public Security Bureau, notifying him that Baowen has committed a crime. At the Public Security Bureau, he finds out that Baowen is facing charges for being homosexual. The father learns that a group of men had created a club called Men’s World where men could be openly affectionate with each other while discussing their interests and hobbies. Baowen is a new member of this club.

Baowen confirms to Beina’s father that he is interested in men. He has never felt anything towards women. Angered, the father asks if Baowen proposed to Beina to ridicule her. Baowen reveals that he had told Beina about how he was not interested in women and having children. Beina agreed, only wanting a husband. To Baowen and Beina, the marriage was an agreement where the two could avoid being speculated by society while being themselves.

Beina’s father, despite being disgusted with Baowen, begrudgingly decides to “help” him. He decides on his own that he will claim that Baowen had nothing to do with the club. He will also claim that Baowen is a sick person in hopes that he would receive medical treatment instead of a prison term.

Beina’s father goes to apologize to Beina but finds that she is not upset at all. In fact, she tells him that Baowen is better than the normal man. Her father is incredulous that she is satisfied with Baowen, especially since they haven’t had sex together. To him, the idea of a good husband is one who performs sexually. Beina, on the other hand, is not interested in sex. When her father explains to his wife his disbelief, his wife agrees with Beina, saying that Baowen is better than most men.

When the father visits Baowen at the hospital, he learns that Baowen has been receiving electric baths as treatment. At the hospital, the electric bath is the least severe of all the other treatments conducted. The father watches Baowen take a bath and notes that he shows little pain.

At home, everyone in the factory where Beina works at begins treating her better after they find out Baowen is gay. They feel sorry for her and believe she is the victim in the relationship.

The father soon visits Baowen again and goes to express his thanks to Doctor Mai. Doctor Mai reveals to the father that homosexuality is not an illness. He tells the father that homosexuality is simply a sexual preference—there is no “cure”. The hospital only conducts the electric bath and other “treatments” because of the Department of Public Health regulations.

As Baowen nears the end of his time at the hospital, he is discovered to be having a secret relationship with a male nurse. Baowen gets sent to prison and the Public Security Bureau notifies Beina’s father. Believing that Baowen has ruined his family’s reputation, Beina’s father urges Beina to divorce Baowen. She refuses and claims that she will wait for Baowen to be released from prison. In response to Beina’s choice to stay with Baowen, the father leaves and tells her to never contact him again.