Control is a story set in a fictional time and space. Time is broad, the city is virtual—what we care about at its core is simply playing with the idea of 'manipulation.'
— Daniel Wu (actor)

It's easy to feel when a person controls another person, but institutional control is harder to sense. We are shaped by systems without even realizing it.
— Leon Dai (director, actor, racing driver)

★ Written by Lv Xu, screenwriter and producer of the 375-million-yuan box office hit "Go Brother!" and literary planner of the 684-million-yuan hit "Adoring," as well as planner on "Home Coming" and "Lost in the Stars."
★ The original novel behind the psychological suspense film "Control," starring Daniel Wu and Yao Chen, with an all-star cast. Hailed as "The Truman Show meets suspense."
★ While the film was constrained by its runtime, the novel delves deeper into character details and human nature, with a tightly paced plot and brilliant twists.
★ "The world is a scam. Life is a show." A psychological suspense novel centered on "control" and "being controlled," weaving together three characters shaped by fate, three seemingly unrelated events, and three timelines across different eras—interlacing to gradually unveil the truth.

The story unfolds in a fictional metropolis set in an alternate reality. The protagonist, Mark, is an ordinary employee at an insurance company. To protect his mother's interests, he commits perjury on behalf of the company.
Before long, a mysterious figure seizes upon his secret and blackmails him into robbing a bank of a massive sum. When Mark arrives at the bank, he discovers that the bank manager is none other than his first love. The two rekindle their romance after their unexpected reunion, and after enduring numerous hardships, they find their way back to each other.
Yet the mysterious figure continues to control Mark's every move, making it impossible for him to break free.
Under the influence of his first love, Mark resolves to escape the mysterious figure's grip, expose his true identity, and reclaim control over his own life. But the path to revenge proves far more dangerous than he imagined—not only does he fail to break free, but he ends up pushing himself to the very edge of life and death.

Lv Xu
Lu Xu
Writer, screenwriter, and film producer. He studied film screenwriting at the Beijing Film Academy. His screenplay "The Dan Boy" won the Perfect World "China Good Story Award." He has participated in the development, writing, and production of multiple film projects, including "The Breakup Contract," "20 Once Again," "But Always," "The Crossing," and "Catch the Wind." He served as screenwriter and producer on "Go Brother!" (375 million yuan box office), literary planner on "Adoring" (684 million yuan box office), and executive producer on "Father and Son." He also served as planner on "Home Coming" and "Lost in the Stars." He is currently the founder and content director of Yuanqi Entertainment.

His published novels include "Control," "The Vanishing Witness," and "When 24 Meets 14." In 2025, he published the official novelization of the film "Wild Child."

Wedge
Now
1. Mark
2. Li Ke
3．DEVIL
Three years ago
1. Mark
2. Li Ke
3．DEVIL
Ten years ago
1. Mark
2. Li Ke
3．DEVIL
Now