In an otherwise unremarkable working class neighborhood in a modern Chinese city, high school dropout and wannabe gangster Deng Fei meets the local gang boss and is given the assignment to collect protection money from local shop owners. He is nervous and unsure when he makes the first collection from a street wise girl who smirks and asks if he will protect her if she pays. He is not sure what to say but stammers yes. He is smitten and goes back to her shop later when he witnesses through the window the girl fending off unwanted advances by an older man. Who is this man? Can he protect her?