Blind Massage

Sha Fuming and Zhang Zongqi establish a blind massage clinic in Nanjing, forging a space where skilled blind therapists can practice with dignity. Their partnership anchors the story and sets the tone for the intertwining lives that follow. The clinic becomes the central hub for the community and its emotional dramas.

Sha is charming and expressive, fond of poetry and dance, but his blindness repeatedly sabotages arranged dates. The personal disappointments reveal social barriers he faces as a blind man seeking companionship. These struggles mirror the clinic's own quest to be seen and valued.

Dr. Wang and Xiao Kong join the clinic as a blind couple and friends of Sha, bringing a blend of medical insight and intimate chemistry. Their presence deepens the clinic's emotional landscape, linking professional care with personal longing. The pair help shape the evolving dynamic among staff and clients.

Xiao Ma, who lost his sight in a childhood car accident and once attempted suicide, lives largely in a dream world. He fixates on Xiao Kong, calling her Sister-in-law, and longs for a closeness that remains out of reach. His fixation adds a tension between fantasy and reality within the clinic.

Zhang Yiguang introduces Xiao Ma to a nearby hair salon to redirect his desires. There he meets Xiao Man, a young prostitute, and slowly begins to fall in love. This encounter marks a turning point in Xiao Ma's struggle with longing and attachment.

Du Hong, a proud and beautiful therapist, continues to attract repeat clients, drawing attention from the others. Sha falls for her, but she rejects him, saying he is in love with a concept rather than a real connection. The moment exposes the limits of idealized desire within the clinic.

Jin Yan and Xu Taihe are lovers whose relationship remains unspoken as Taihe struggles to express his feelings openly. The unrevealed tension contributes to a sense of heartbreak and adds emotional complexity to the clinic's daily life. Their dynamic underscores the theme of communication and concealment.

Dr. Wang faces threats from loan sharks over his brother's debts, pushing him toward a desperate choice. He considers using his wedding savings to repay them, risking his future with Xiao Kong. In a climactic moment of resolve, he injures himself with a kitchen knife as an act of resistance to protect his relationship.

Xiao Ma is beaten in a confrontation with a customer over Xiao Man, yet he miraculously regains partial vision. This violent incident becomes a catalyst for his decision to seek a new path. The brush with danger also tests the loyalty and limits of those around him.

Following the altercation, Xiao Ma and Xiao Man flee together to an unknown destination. Their disappearance leaves the remaining staff unsettled and marks a turning point for the community they built. The act severs the original network of relationships at the heart of the clinic.

Du Hong suffers a thumb injury during the turmoil and receives donations from colleagues for treatment. After recovering, she resigns from the clinic, believing she has burdened the others. Her departure signals the dissolution of the unit’s former cohesion.

With Du Hong gone, the clinic dissolves. Dr. Wang and Xiao Kong move to Shenzhen, Sha retires early, and Xiao Ma opens his own massage parlor with Xiao Man by his side. The closing chapter settles the fates of the characters in separate, new directions.