Character Relationship Map: A or B

Characters

• 钟小年 (played by Xu Zheng) — protagonist

  A powerful businessman and the central figure of the story, he becomes entangled in stock manipulation, tax evasion, and money laundering. A blackmailer forces him through repeated A-or-B choices, the...

• 魏思蒙 (played by Wang Likun) — supporting

  The wife of the protagonist, whose marriage is already breaking down when she decides to leave him. Her disappearance from the hospital after her pregnancy is revealed increases the pressure surroundi...

• 唐万元 (played by Wang Yanhui) — supporting

  A former associate of the protagonist and of the older financial scheme, he once worked under the central antagonist and helped expose market manipulation and money laundering. Later, he directly conf...

• 曾广文 (played by Simon Yam) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• 钟小年 → 唐万元 (Professional Former Coworkers) — They share a professional history and participated in exposing financial misconduct.

  The plot states that 唐万元 and 钟小年 once worked under 曾广文 and helped expose his market manipulation and money laundering.

• 唐万元 → 曾广文 (Professional Former Subordinate) — Their earlier professional hierarchy becomes important to the later financial conflict.

  The plot states that 唐万元 and 钟小年 once worked under 曾广文.

• 钟小年 → 魏思蒙 (Romantic Estranged Spouses) — Their marriage is deteriorating under financial secrets and personal distrust.

  The plot states that 钟小年 and 魏思蒙 are in a collapsing relationship and that she wants to leave him. Her disappearance is also connected to the re...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• 魏思蒙 → 曾广文 (Unknown Conspiracy Link) — The plot connects Wei Simeng to physical evidence in a conspiracy ultimately linked to Zeng Guangwen.

  Investigators examine a custom-made bed connected to 魏思蒙 and trace the conspiracy back to 曾广文, who is revealed to be alive.

• 钟小年 → 曾广文 (Conflict Adversaries) — Their conflict centers on financial wrongdoing, deception, and an alleged murder.

  钟小年 is forced to admit responsibility for 曾广文's apparent death, while the later investigation traces the conspiracy back to 曾广文, who is still...

Story Analysis

A financial thriller about coercive choices, hidden crimes, betrayal, and the uncertain boundary between truth and manipulation.

Plot Progression

1. The Choice Behind Wealth — A Song dynasty parable introduces the story’s theme of controlling scarce information for profit. The metaphor shifts to Zhong Xiaonian and his suspicious financial success.
2. Five Mornings of Threats — A mysterious caller forces Zhong Xiaonian into repeated A-or-B decisions involving his divorce, crimes, private money, and Zeng Guangwen’s alleged death. Suspicion falls on Wei Simeng as their marriag...
3. Hostage and False Death — Zhong Xiaonian is kidnapped and pressured to reveal hidden funds and trading secrets. A manipulated report then portrays him as the murderer of Zeng Guangwen.
4. The Survivor in Hiding — The apparent death is exposed as staged, and evidence connected to Wei Simeng leads back to Zeng Guangwen. The financial history of market manipulation and money laundering becomes clear.
5. Money and Betrayal — Tang Wanyuan confronts Zeng Guangwen over the stolen money and betrayal while police surround the meeting. The money’s final fate remains uncertain, and Zhong Xiaonian publicly reappears.