A Taiwanese live-action television drama produced in 2002 adapts the story of a high school girl whose appearance constantly works against her. The protagonist, Momo Adachi, has tanned skin and reddish hair, the unintended results of her time on the swim team. Her classmates mistake her looks for a lifestyle, spreading rumors that she is promiscuous and treating her as an outcast. In contrast, her only friend, Sae Kashiwagi, has a fair and innocent appearance that makes everyone trust her. Behind this facade, Sae is deeply jealous of Momo and is the one secretly responsible for the malicious gossip that makes Momo’s life miserable.

The central conflict begins with a long-held crush. Momo has loved Toji, a quiet and honest baseball player, since middle school. However, Sae also wants Toji for herself and uses her manipulative skills to try and tear them apart. As Momo and Toji begin a relationship, Sae devises increasingly cruel schemes to sabotage them. Complicating matters is the arrival of Kairi, a popular and carefree playboy. Kairi is openly interested in Momo, having remembered that she once saved him from drowning. His relentless teasing and forward behavior annoy Momo at first, but he also proves to be the only person who can see through Sae’s lies.

The story unfolds across their high school setting as Sae’s manipulations drive a wedge between Momo and Toji. Using blackmail and false rumors, Sae forces Toji to break up with Momo to protect her from public humiliation. Heartbroken and unaware of the real reason for the breakup, Momo finds herself growing closer to Kairi, who offers her support and begins to show his own hidden vulnerabilities. A major turning point occurs when Toji finally reveals the truth about Sae’s blackmail, leaving Momo torn between her first love and the boy who stood by her when no one else would. Key narrative arcs include Sae’s escalating plots, which range from social sabotage to more dangerous schemes, and Kairi’s struggle with his own past feelings for the school nurse, which he must resolve before he can fully commit to Momo. The drama follows this intense love triangle as the characters navigate betrayal, insecurity, and the difficult choice between a safe, familiar love and a passionate, unpredictable one.