The series is about two sixteen-year-old boys, Bai Luoyin (Timmy Xu) and Gu Hai (Huang Jingyu), who fall in love despite their different backgrounds.

The series developed a cult following in Asia, propelled its two leading actors to fame, and marked the official ban of LGBTQ content in mainland China’s film and television industry.

At times, over the course of the series some friends mention that an abbreviated combination of the boys names Hai and Luoyin sound like "Heroin".

Unfortunately, the cold medicine Luo Yin took in the morning had already expired and that combined with the sleeping pills knocked him out unconscious in class.

However, some jealous prat from another class (Wu Fang) barges in the room and starts insulting Luo Yin's mom, calling her a prostitute.

The next morning Luo Yin wakes up with Gu Hai's hand on his crotch, and realizes that during the night he has assembled the two beds together.

Luo Yin, puzzled by the revelation, hastily leaves the restaurant with the suspicion that Gu Hai already knew but had not revealed it for his own intention.

At home, Luo Yin has a conversation with Han Qi who learns about his dispute with Gu Hai and reproaches him for his attitude.

Gu Hai, who did not expect such a reaction, thinks that it is a ruse to escape, but after speaking on the phone with Han Qi, he discovers that Luo Yin has told him the truth.

The vice-monitor ends up receiving a punch from Gu Hai who blames him for having ruined the plan to become more physically intimate with Luo Yin.

To encourage Gu Hai, Luo Yin tells him that if he does not master the subject, he will end up sleeping in his father's room.

The next day, on the way to school, Gu Hai admits that his savings have dramatically dwindled by not wanting to accept money from his father.

Luo Yin, alarmed, because he does not want Yang Meng to know that he sleeps together with Gu Hai, wakes up in a hurry to avoid having to explain.

In the afternoon Gu Hai and Luo Yin walk along the river and observe Han Qi chatting animatedly with aunt Chou.

Luo Yin then playfully locks himself in the bedroom but Gu Hai tricks him out of the room, carries him on his shoulders and throws him on the bed.

Right after finishing the conversation, Luo Yin carries Gu Hai in his arms, asleep, and takes him to the bed where they passionately kiss and have their first penetrative sex.

They return to the apartment and Luo Yin receives an expensive box of imported luxury gifts from Gu Hai.

On January 29, 2016, the series' first episode premiered on Tencent Video, iQIYI, and other video sites and garnered 10 million views in the span of 24 hours after its initial online release, setting the record of the highest number of views on the first day in China's streaming television history.

Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen interactions in backstage clips gained them a large number of fans who "shipped" them as a real life romantic couple.

[5] Despite the success, on February 23, 2016, all episodes of the drama were abruptly removed from all Chinese video streaming websites (three episodes before the season finale) by the order of SAPPRFT (now NRTA) due to "the gay and explicit content" and are no longer accessible to Chinese viewers,[1][6][7][8][9] much to the series viewers' outrage.

[10] The last three episodes of the first season were uploaded a few days later to the official YouTube channel of Huace Film & TV, accessible to viewers outside of mainland China.

The censorship of the series sparked criticisms, questions, and discussions about the taboo topic of homosexuality and the acceptance of LGBT community in authoritarian mainland China.

"[2] Chinese activist Li Maizi argued regarding the series' censorship: "The recent hit gay-themed Web dramas show that the LGBTQ market is broad.

[5] However on April 17, 2016, it was revealed that the planned second season of Addicted was permanently shelved, and China has unofficially banned the two actors from appearing on television or any event together.

[1][9][14] Their filmed appearances on Chinese television variety shows such as Happy Camp, Run for Time, and Avenue of Stars subsequently never aired.

[15] As of April 2024[update], the series' episodes on Huace Film & TV YouTube channel has a total of 34 million views.

[17] The series has developed an active cult following in boys' love genre fandom and casual fans since its cancellation, both locally and internationally.

[1] The term "eight-year promise" is used by the series' fans to wait for the day Huang and Xu are "able to share the stage together, to be photographed together, once more."

[5] On June 21, 2019, Ji Dan posted pictures on Weibo and responded to user's questions by saying that filming for "Addicted 2" has started in Taiwan.

On July 7, 2023, a Taiwanese remake of Addicted titled Stay With Me, directed by Su You Chen and written by Ji Dan, was released.