Lost in Beijing

Liu Pingguo and her husband An Kun leave their home in northeastern China in search of better opportunities. The couple arrives in Beijing, filled with hopes for a brighter future despite the challenges they anticipate.

Settling into a rundown apartment, Pingguo and An Kun face the harsh realities of life in the city. Both take on low-wage jobs, with An Kun working as a window washer and Pingguo as a foot masseuse at a local massage parlor.

Pingguo begins her job at Golden Basin Massage Parlor, managed by the wealthy and unscrupulous Lin Dong. This place becomes central to the couple’s lives, intertwining their fates with Lin’s complicated personal life.

Pingguo’s best friend, Xiao Mei, faces a crisis when she is fired after attacking a customer in frustration. Understanding her friend’s pain, Pingguo invites her out for drinks in a bid to lift her spirits.

After their night out, Pingguo passes out at the parlor, drawing the attention of Lin Dong. This leads to a violent assault witnessed by An Kun who is outside, prompting him to seek vengeance on Lin for what he’s seen.

In a fit of rage, An Kun begins a campaign of vengeance against Lin Dong. He vandalizes Lin's luxury car and strategizes a blackmail plan, seeking ¥20,000 to confront the businessman’s actions.

Amid tensions, An Kun confronts Lin Dong's wife, Wang Mei, who is dealing with her own struggles related to infertility. This encounter takes a surprising turn, as An Kun and Wang Mei share a moment of unexpected connection.

As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Pingguo is pregnant, leading to uncertainty about the child’s paternity. Both An Kun and Lin Dong become embroiled in a convoluted scheme regarding the baby's future.

The couple agrees on a plan concerning the child's paternity: An Kun will initially receive ¥20,000, and if the baby shares Lin Dong's blood type, he would take the child. However, their motivations are clouded by greed and desperation.

In the midst of turmoil, Pingguo grapples with the difficult decision of whether to have an abortion. Ultimately, she decides to keep the child, a choice that complicates her situation with both men.

When the baby is born, An Kun discovers that he is indeed the father. However, driven by envy and greed, he manipulates Lin into believing he is the father, pocketing a considerable sum of money in the process.

An Kun becomes increasingly jealous of Lin Dong's happiness with the baby and ultimately resorts to kidnapping the child. This act lands him in trouble with the authorities, resulting in his arrest.

After his arrest, An Kun is released from custody, possibly due to Wang Mei's intervention as she chooses to separate from Lin Dong. This release sets An Kun on a path of confrontation and reclaiming his daughter.

After giving birth, Pingguo moves in with Lin Dong, finding assistance from a nursemaid. Ultimately, she decides to leave with her child, taking the money An Kun tried to return despite the emotional turmoil.

The movie culminates with both An Kun and Lin Dong pursuing Pingguo down a congested Beijing highway. The breakdown they face symbolizes the shattered lives and chaos arising from their tumultuous decisions.