Summary
of MG2 Episode 25:
San Cai and Ye Sha are sitting at the bowling alley together.
Ye Sha: “San Cai, we really understand each other. I was just going to call you and your phone call came through.”
San Cai: “It could be that the two of us always think about the same things.”
Ye Sha: “You go play first.”
San Cai: “You first. I don’t even know how to play.”
Ye Sha: “Ok then.”
She gets up from her seat and goes over to pick up a bowling ball.
San Cai (calling out to her): “Play seriously, Ye Sha!”
Ye Sha looks back at San Cai, smiles and nods her head. Then she walks over to the lane and after rolling the ball and knocking the pins down, there was still two left. She looks at the two left over pins with a sigh and then goes back to sit down next to San Cai.
San Cai (looks over at the pins): “You are still so good, Ye Sha.”
Ye Sha: “Not really. Only knocked down eight.”
Then she gets up again after the two left over pins are put back in place. She rolls out another bowling ball to knock the left over pins but it was still a miss.
Ye Sha (sitting down again): “Even if I play again, it is still going to be like this. (smiling at San Cai) But you are not the same. It could be that you have improved greatly. Your turn.”
San Cai (smiling back): “Orh.”
She picks up a bowling ball and rolls it out, but the ball rolled onto the side and didn’t knock down any pins at all. Ye Sha looked on with a sad expression on her face but then she quickly covers it up.
Ye Sha (calling out): “San Cai, jia you!”
San Cai rolls three more times and all three times, the bowling ball rolls off to the side and misses the pins. Finally, in her fourth try, Ye Sha gets up from her seat and walks over to San Cai.
Ye Sha: “San Cai!”
San Cai turns around with the bowling ball in her hands and looks at Ye Sha.
Ye Sha (standing next to San Cai): “When you roll the ball out, your body has to be a bit lower. Your arm has to be straight. Don’t move your wrist. Your head can’t be lowered. (pointing to the pins ahead) Stare straight ahead at that pin over there.”
San Cai nods her head.
Ye Sha (stepping aside): “Go!”
San Cai rolls the ball out and finally knocks down 3 of the pins. Ye Sha giggles in happiness and San Cai looks on with a very happy look on her face. She turns back to look at Ye Sha.
Ye Sha (smiling): “Very good!”
San Cai runs back to where Ye Sha is standing.
Ye Sha: “Do you want to try again?”
San Cai: “Ok.”
Ye Sha (sitting back down, calls out): “San Cai, jia you!”
San Cai turns to face the lane, bowling ball in her hands and a smile on her face. With a look of determination on her face, she knocks down another 3 pins. San Cai looks on with happiness then runs back to where Ye Sha is sitting.
Ye Sha: “See? I told you, you would improve!”
San Cai: “I’m trying my best! No, should say that I’m doing the best I can. Doing the best I can to play and get my highest points. But I still lost to you.”
The smile disappears from Ye Sha face and San Cai sits back down.
San Cai (looking at the screen with the scores, smiles): “I only have 25 points.”
Ye Sha (looking at her): “San Cai.”
She looks over at Ye Sha for a brief moment before turning back to the screen.
Ye Sha (quietly): “I’ve fallen in love with Ah Sing.”
San Cai’s smile falters and she looks down at her thumb.
San Cai: “I know. (pause) Actually, I should say that I knew it long ago. Ever since, without a care for your own life, you jumped into the water to save Dao Ming Si. Ever since, you said that in your past life, you are a dolphin yearning to travel around the world but until now, you still haven’t left. Even as far as when we first met each other, you were constantly complaining so much that your forehead is all wrinkled up, but your eyes would still grow brightly, when you talk about your homeless dog… I knew it then already. But, it’s just that I didn’t dare face it.”
San Cai gets up from her seat and walks over to the other seat to get her backpack.
Ye Sha (follows San Cai’s movement with her eyes): “Why aren’t you scolding me? (San Cai picks up her backpack and sits back down.) Scold me for opening my eyes and speaking false words. (San Cai searches in her backpack.) Scold me for saying stuff that I don’t mean. Scold me for not being loyal. For not being a good friend. (San Cai takes a package of band aids.) Scold me for lying to you all this time. (pause) San Cai… if you don’t want to care about me anymore, then there is nothing I can say.”
San Cai (finally looking up from what she was doing): “Ye Sha, love is suppose to be selfish. (She goes back to peeling the paper off the band aid.) When I was working very hard for Dao Ming Si, aren’t you feeling very hurt?”
Ye Sha takes the band aid out of San Cai’s hand and they both looked at each other.
San Cai: “Actually, I don’t blame you for even a bit, Ye Sha. Instead, I want to thank you. If it wasn’t you who have been constantly encouraging me, (She holds out her thumb, and Ye Sha puts the band aid on for her.) giving me a chance to work hard, then I wouldn’t be like this now and accept life as it is… so calmly… give up.”
Ye Sha: “San Cai. It’s not because I’m telling you the truth that you…”
San Cai (interrupts her): “Didn’t you say that the two of us really understand each other? (pause) Actually, I was looking for you to tell you that… the two of us… there’s only suppose to be one person that can stay by Dao Ming Si’s side. (pause) That person is not me. It’s you.”
Ye Sha: “But you are already improving! You’ve been constantly improving. Ah Si is also improving. (pause) When he regains his memories, he will surely love you all over again.”
San Cai (quietly, without looking at her): “Are you afraid of that day, Ye Sha?
Ye Sha (thinks for some time before answering): “I’m afraid.”
San Cai: “Then do you want to keep waiting for this day?”
Ye Sha doesn’t answer and just looks over at San Cai.
Like last time, at the same place where Ye Sha decided to leave, she and San Cai are standing next to each other on a bridge somewhere and staring out to the scenery of the night.
Ye Sha (turns to face San Cai, smiling lightly): “Still the same old rule?”
San Cai (nods her head): “We should still depart here.”
Ye Sha: “San Cai. You must take care. (She turns to the side so that San Cai only sees her side view and starts crying.) You have to jia you!”
San Cai: “You too. (laughing lightly) Dao Ming Si is the most difficult to handle. Why am I worrying for you? You must have a way of handling him.”
Ye Sha wipes her tears from her face with her hand.
San Cai: “Don’t be like this, Ye Sha. You can’t cry. Isn’t it the same old rule? (pause) You go that way. I’ll go this way. Don’t look back. Don’t feel bad.”
Ye Sha (turns to face San Cai again): “Right. We can only be happy for each other.”
San Cai (nods her head): “Then I’ll count one, two, three and then we turn around.”
Ye Sha: “You didn’t turn around last time. This time you can’t.”
San Cai (nods her head, and starts counting): “One, two, three.”
She turns around first and then Ye Sha also slowly turns around. This time no one turned around as they both walked further and further away from each other.
San Cai is back home and sitting on her bed facing the window.
San Cai (thinking to herself): “I really want to cheer myself for my own courage. But I know that actually I’m not prepared to face this decision. So I can only run away… the farther away the better.”
San Cai leaves a letter on top of her pillow for her parents and prepares to pack away a few pieces of clothing.
Letter: “Pa, Ma. I’ve suddenly decided to visit a friend in the countryside and also to take a few days of vacation as to award myself for all the hard work.”
After packing her things, San Cai takes a train off to the countryside. In the middle of her ride, she picks up her bag and walks down the aisle toward the door of the train. As she nears the door, a guy opens the door from the other side and in the process, pushes San Cai aside causing her to drop her backpack to the floor. The guy picks up her backpack and hands it back to San Cai before walking over to his seat. After a few minutes, San Cai comes back into the car of the train and walks back to her seat while searching in her backpack. She sits down and searches around some more, but couldn’t find what she was looking for. At this moment, the train stops and pulls into a station. San Cai looks up and sees the guy that pushed her before, getting up and leaving. She suddenly grabs her bags and runs after the guy in a rush. She follows him off the train.
San Cai (running and calling after the guy): “Hey, don’t leave!”
She catches up with him and grabs his hand to stop him from walking.
San Cai: “You stole my wallet, right?”
Guy: “What are you talking about?”
San Cai: “You purposely ran into me on the train so that you can steal my wallet, is that right?”
Guy (throws San Cai’s hand off): “Are you crazy?! You said I stole your wallet, then I stole your wallet?”
San Cai (grabbing hold of his arm again): “I’m warning you! Give me back my wallet!”
Guy (points to San Cai’s hand that is holding his arm): “You better let go of my arm. Or else I’ll flatten you, I tell you.”
He throws off her hand again.
San Cai: “I’m calling the police! (grabs his arm again) Hurry up and return my wallet to me! (He throws her hand away.) Where did you hide it!”
San Cai grabs his arm once again.
Guy: “Don’t think that you are a girl and can act like this.”
He starts walking and San Cai follows him since she’s holding onto his arm.
San Cai: “Don’t think that girls are easy to bully! Where exactly are you hiding it! Give it back to me!”
Guy (throws her hand off again): “Let go, you!”
He turns to walk away and San Cai grabs onto his shirt.
San Cai: “Hurry up and return it to me!”
Guy (trying to get San Cai’s hand off his shirt): “Hey, watch what you are doing!”
San Cai: “You thief! I’m going to start yelling. I’ll yell for everyone to come and look! You return it to me right now!”
At this moment, a girl with two braids rapidly walks over to San Cai and the guy.
Guy: “Can you please get it straight? I really didn’t take your wallet! You crazy…”
San Cai: “Return it to me! Where is it?”
The girl runs up to the guy and slaps him on the face.
Girl: “Go home!”
Guy: “What are you doing?”
Girl (looks at San Cai): “You leave too!”
San Cai: “Who are you?”
The girl doesn’t answer and just looks slowly back over to the guy.
Girl (meanly): “Go home!”
Guy: “I didn’t do anything wrong! (points to San Cai) It’s her…”
Girl (interrupts): “Go home!”
The guy stops explaining and turns around in a huff and walks away. San Cai starts to go after him.
San Cai: “Hey, you come back!”
Girl (grabs San Cai): “Hey! Did you hear? Stop bothering him! Go back to your home!”
San Cai: “What are you talking about?! He stole my wallet! (turns around to go over the guy) Hey, come back!”
Girl (stops San Cai again): “HEY! What right do you have to criticize my brother?! Is the previous money that he gave you not enough? Turning a good person into this. If you still have a conscience, then stop confusing him. Or else I’ll bash you until you are looking all over the floor for your teeth!”
San Cai: “Miss, I think you must be mistaking me for someone else.”
Girl: “Mistaking who? My eyes are very sharp. All fox spirits [vixens] look like you!”
San Cai (out of patience): “Fox spirit is not me! Before I even got on the train today, I’ve never met him before!”
The girl stares at San Cai for a few seconds before grabbing San Cai’s hand and dragging her along.
At a small shop, the guy that San Cai excuse of stealing her wallet is rummaging around. Two guys sitting on a table outside is looking over at the guy and talking among themselves.
Guy A: “Who’s he?”
Guy B: “Ah Mei’s big brother maybe.”
Another guy rides up on his bicycle and leaves it on the side before walking over to the other two guys that are sitting at the table.
Guy B: “You’re just coming now?”
Guy A: “Aren’t you a little too slow?”
Guy C: “Sorry. Sorry. (looks at Ah Mei’s brother, and sits down at the table) Who’s that person?”
Guy B: “Ah Mei’s big brother maybe.”
Guy C: “Ah Mei’s big brother? Why didn’t we ever hear of him before?”
Guy B: “Ah De.”
Ah De (looking over at the three guys): “Hey, do you guys have any problems?”
Three guys (laughs nervously): “No, no. Nothing.”
Guy C: “Then can we still eat ice today?”
Guy B (nods his head): “Yes, yes, yes.”
Guy C (gets up): “Then let’s go help ourselves.”
The other two follow suit and the three of them walks into the shop. Ah De is sitting at a table and eating his own bowl of ice. The three guys walks up to him and stands behind Ah De, surrounding him on all sides.
Guy B: “Hello. I want to ask if you are really Ah Mei’s big brother.”
Guy A: “But then, we never heard Ah Mei mention anything about a big brother.”
Ah De: “That’s because you guys don’t know her well enough.”
Guy C: “Who says that we don’t know her well? Our Da Da comes to the ice shop everyday because of her.”
Guy B: “Right.”
Ah De: “What Da Da [Chinese character for big], Xiao Xiao [Chinese character for small]?”
Guy A / Guy C (points to B): “Him.”
Da Da: “Hi, big brother. I am Da Da. Nice to meet you.”
At this moment, Ah Mei walks back into the shop, dragging an out of breath San Cai along.
Da Da: “Ah Mei.”
Ah Mei walks up to Ah De and pushes him on the head, causing Ah De to almost fall over from his chair.
Ah Mei (grabbing Da Da and pulling him toward the front of the shop): “Go out!”
She goes to push Guy A and Guy C, calling out, “Go out! Go out!”
Guy C: “But we’re here to eat ice.”
Ah Mei (pushing Guy C): “Eat what ice? You guys like eating ice so much? Go! Go!”
After pushing the three guys out of the shop, Ah Mei walks back angrily to where Ah De is standing.
Ah De: “Why did you hit me for?”
Ah Mei: “Why did you steal other’s wallet? Give her back the wallet!”
Ah De: “I didn’t take her wallet! How many times have I said that!”
Ah Mei: “You want to lie to me too? Every time you come back, I would find other people’s wallet by the garbage can. If you weren’t stealing her wallet then why did you knock into her on the train?”
Ah De: “I’m telling you I didn’t do it!”
The three guys starts to slowly walk into the shop again.
Ah De (turns to San Cai): “Eh, you are very weird. Why are you continuously falsely accusing me?”
Ah Mei (turning to the three guys sneaking back in, shouts): “What are you looking at?!”
Ah De (stilling talking to San Cai): “Are you scheming something? You want to give me trouble, is that it?”
San Cai: “You have a wishful thinking illness? I don’t even know you, why would I give you trouble?”
Ah De: “You’re not…”
Ah Mei (grabs him and pushes him aside): “Stop talking nonsense! Take out her wallet!”
Ah De: “I don’t have the wallet!”
Ah Mei (searching his pant pockets): “Where’s the wallet?”
Ah De: “I said I don’t have it. Why would I lie to you?”
Ah Mei walks over to Ah De’s backpack and searches in it.
Ah De: “Look all you want. (She throws the bag at him after not finding anything.) Told you I don’t have it. Don’t have it.”
Ah Mei (stands in front of Ah De again): “Where did you throw the wallet to?”
Ah De (exasperated): “I don’t have any money on me. Why would I take her wallet and take her money?”
Ah Mei: “Did you use all the money already?”
Ah De (with an incredulous tone): “How can I be that quick?! I just came…”
San Cai (interrupting): “Stop arguing already! The important point is what to do know.”
Ah Mei (looks at San Cai): “Sorry. I misunderstood you before.”
San Cai: “That’s not important.”
Ah Mei: “Then what are we going to do?”
San Cai: “I’m saying that I don’t even know what this place is. Moreover, I don’t even have one dime on me now.”
Ah De (to San Cai): “Is it any of our business that you don’t have any money? What? You want to pretend to be pitiful and ask us for money?”
Ah Mei (yelling at the three guys again): “What are you looking at?!”
Ah De (to San Cai): “I’m telling you. You think you can just invite yourself here?”
Ah Mei (walks over to the guys and pushes them away again): “Go! (walks back to Ah De) Eh, go tidy up your room.”
Ah De: “It’s ok. I’m a man so I can sleep anywhere. If I tidy it up today, it’ll become messy again tomorrow.”
Ah Mei: “Tidy it up for her to sleep in! Who wants to let you sleep?”
She pushes him to get moving.
Ah De: “Who am I letting to sleep?”
Ah Mei (pushing): “You’re letting her sleep! (She walks back to where San Cai and the three guys are standing and yells at the guys again.) Hey, what are you looking at? Never seen anything before?! (She pushes them out of the shop again.) Go! Go! (She walks back to San Cai, looking back at Da Da standing in front of the shop.) Still looking!!!”
Da Da quickly walks away and gets on his bike. Ah Mei takes San Cai by the arm and leads her to sit down near a table.
Ah Mei (sitting down): “Sorry. What is your name?”
San Cai: “San Cai.”
Ah Mei: “San Cai. (pause) Since my brother stole your wallet, and we can’t let you live outside, so before your friends find you, I think, you should stay here, ok?”
San Cai looks over at Ah Mei and then gives a very big annoyed sigh.
Later, San Cai is in Ah De’s room and she is looking around when there comes a knock on the door.
Ah Mei (through the door): “San Cai.”
San Cai (sitting down on the floor and leaning back on the bed): “Who is it?”
Ah Mei (through the door): “Ah Mei.”
San Cai: “Orh. (She starts to open up her bag that’s on the floor.) Come in.”
Ah Mei opens the door and sits down next to San Cai.
Ah Mei: “San Cai, dinner is ready. Do you want to come down and eat?”
San Cai: “Orh, thank you. But I’m not hungry. Why don’t you eat first?”
Ah Mei: “Then I’ll save some food for you.”
San Cai (nods her head and smiles): “Thank you.”
Ah Mei (looks at the things that are stuffed in the crack between the wall and the bed): “How can this Ah De be so dirty? (She gets up to pick up some of the things that are lying around.) Sorry.”
Ah Mei tidies up the room while San Cai sits there and continues to unpack her things. Then Ah Mei takes out a piece of paper from her pockets.
Ah Mei (hands San Cai the paper): “San Cai, this is our address and telephone number. If your friend can’t find it, then tell him to call over here.”
San Cai (taking the paper): “Thank you.”
Ah Mei: “Can you stop thanking me back and forth? I don’t know how to respond to that. (pause) If there is anything that you need, then you can tell me. Don’t need to say thank you.”
San Cai nods her head and smiles at Ah Mei.
Ah Mei (standing up): “Hurry up and come down to eat.”
San Cai nods her head again and Ah Mei leaves the room. San Cai sat there on the floor looking at the sheet of paper before putting it on the bed and continuing to unpack. After unpacking, San Cai takes out a book and sat on the bed reading. In the middle of reading, she gazes out the window and sees a passing train. So she puts down her book and walks over to sit by the window and stares out. After sitting there for God knows how long, she gets up and walks around the room again, staring at a map of Taiwan. Then she notices the piece of paper that Ah Mei left with the address and phone number. She slowly picks it up and stares at it. Then she takes her cell phone out of backpack. She scrolls down her address book stopping briefly at Lei’s name and then moving on to Dao Ming Si’s name. She stood there, debating whether to call or not and then, making up her mind, San Cai puts the paper and cell phone down. She turns off the light and sat there in the dark.
Next day, Mei Zuo and Xiao Qiao are in a car on a highway. Mei Zuo is driving while Xiao Qiao is sitting in the back with her cello.
Mei Zuo (acting like he is a chauffeur): “Is there any place that Miss would like to go?”
Xiao Qiao: “Why is your tone so weird?”
Mei Zuo: “Is it weird? Isn’t that the way that chauffeurs talk to their masters/owners?”
Xiao Qiao (smiles lightly): “Sorry. You should know that cellos are very afraid of being bumped so that’s why I’m accompanying it and sitting in the back seat. Sorry. (pause) Also, may I trouble you to drive a bit slower?”
Mei Zuo (smiling): “Fine.”
They kept on driving down the road and Xiao Qiao looks around at their surroundings.
Xiao Qiao: “The landscape here looks very nice.”
Mei Zuo smiles and continues driving. After a while, he stops the car. With the car parked, he gets out and walks over to open the door for Xiao Qiao. She gets out of the car and then fixes her cello nicely before walking toward the sea area. Mei Zuo looks at the cello and shakes his head before closing the car door and following Xiao Qiao.
Xiao Qiao (taking a deep breath): “It’s really very comfortable.”
Mei Zuo: “Why don’t you hold your musical performance here? That way the atmosphere would be so great.”
Xiao Qiao (sitting down on the steps, shakes her head): “Won’t do. The damp air by the sea is too heavy. It’s not good for the cello.”
Mei Zuo (slightly amused, kneels down next to her): “I feel that you are very suitable to have a romance relationship with your big cello.”
Xiao Qiao (looks at him): “What does that mean?”
Mei Zuo: “Nothing much… It’s just that you are really protective of your big cello.”
Xiao Qiao: “When I was young, I fell in love with a boy. But before I had a chance to tell him, I was sent by my family to study abroad. I really miss him. But I don’t have any way of finding him. (pause) After I began learning how to play the cello, that’s when I started to treat the cello as him. Every time that I play the cello, it would seem like I’m talking to him.”
Mei Zuo: “You came back this time to look for him? Have you seen him?”
Xiao Qiao looks at Mei Zuo and doesn’t answer him. Mei Zuo looks away with a very serious expression.
Mei Zuo: “We are dating now. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll be jealous of your big cello?”
Xiao Qiao smiles and looks over at Mei Zuo’s expression. She gets up and then walks over to the car. Mei Zuo turns to look at where she’s going before facing the water again. Xiao Qiao returns from the car with her cello in her hand as she walks over to Mei Zuo. She walks close to the edge of the water and gently strokes the cello with a loving hand. Then she looks out to the water and smiles before picking up her cello. As she holds it with both hands stretched out in front of her, Mei Zuo gets up and stands looking at her. Without a second thought, Xiao Qiao throws the cello into the water and stood there looking at the floating cello.
Mei Zuo (with an anxious look): “What are you doing?”
Xiao Qiao (looks at him): “Now you don’t have to be jealous anymore.”
Mei Zuo looks away with an exasperated expression. Then after looking at Xiao Qiao one more time, he jumps into the water and starts swimming toward the cello.
Xiao Qiao (anxiously shouts out to him): “Hurry up and come back! What are you doing?! Don’t save it! I don’t need it! Hurry up and come back!”
Mei Zuo (holding onto the cello, dripping wet and looks over at Xiao Qiao): “Don’t you have any sense of humor at all?”
Xiao Qiao stood there staring at Mei Zuo with a very big smile on her happy face.
In the living room of the Dao Ming mansion, Dao Ming Si is sitting on the edge of the sofa with his back to F3, Sha Ge and Ye Sha, staring off into space and lost in his own thoughts.
Xi Men (teasing Mei Zuo): “You said before that you won’t jump into the water to save Xiao Qiao. And now, you jumped into the water to save her cello.”
Sha Ge (teasing along with Xi Men): “Where’s the cello now? Is it dead to the flooding?”
Xi Men and Sha Ge is smiling widely at each other and very amused.
Mei Zuo: “It’s not dead. It’s waiting for an operation.”
Sha Ge laughs and drinks his wine.
Mei Zuo (looks over to Lei): “Lei, do you know anyone who can repair big cellos? Xiao Qiao is very protective of her cello. I hope to be able to repair it for her.”
Lei: “I know that there is only one person in all of Taiwan who can repair big cellos. Giving Xiao Qiao’s cello for him to repair should be the safest.”
Mei Zuo (gets up to pick up his glass and the bottle of wine on the coffee table): “Fine. Then do you know where he is now? We can go look for him tomorrow.”
Lei (gets up from the sofa): “He’s always traveling all around Taiwan for vacations. He goes to different forests to look for wood. (walks over to where Mei Zuo is pouring a glass of wine) But recently, I heard that he seems to have left Taipei.”
Xi Men: “It doesn’t matter. Anyway, Xiao Qiao’s attitude has been made very obvious already. Wants you and not the cello. Without a rival in love, then the love between you two would be much sweeter.”
Mei Zuo (throws the cork of the wine bottle at Xi Men): “Did I ask for your opinion?”
Xi Men (laughing): “Ah Si. This fellow is copying your words. Aren’t you going to protest?”
Dao Ming Si (wakes up from his stupor): “Huh?”
Ye Sha (getting up and kneeling on the sofa to look at Dao Ming Si): “What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
Dao Ming Si: “Uh… my stomach is very hungry. Why isn’t dinner ready yet?”
Sha Ge: “We’re waiting for San Cai. When she comes, then dinner will be served.”
Dao Ming Si (annoyed): “Why are we all waiting for just her?”
Xi Men (laughs slightly): “Weird. San Cai is never late.”
Ye Sha looks at Dao Ming Si before sitting back down without a word.
Lei (looks at Ye Sha): “Did you guys call San Cai to contact her?”
Ye Sha (nods her head): “Yes, I left a message on her cell phone.”
Mei Zuo takes out his cell phone and makes a call.
Mei Zuo (looks at his phone after a few seconds): “Yo. The cell phone is turned off.”
Ye Sha: “Turned off again?”
Mei Zuo (makes another call): “Hello? Dong Ma Ma, how are you? I’m Mei Zuo. I want to ask if San Cai is around? (pause) She went on a vacation? (looks at Lei with confusion on his face, pause) Oh, ok. Thank you.”
Lei turns over and looks at the back of Dao Ming Si while Dao Ming Si just sits there, thinking about what he heard, with his back still to everyone.
Later, inside a pub, Mei Zuo is standing aside and making a call on his cell phone. Xi Men and Lei are sitting by the bar and drinking wine.
Mei Zuo (takes the phone away from his ear and looks at it): “What is San Cai up to now? Without making a sound and ran off for a vacation?”
Lei: “Tired, maybe.”
Mei Zuo (leans against Lei’s shoulder): “What time is it now? You are tired already?”
Lei: “I’m talking about San Cai.”
Mei Zuo: “I, Chauffeur Mei Zuo, am the one that’s tired.”
Xi Men (slight laugh and pours himself more wine): “San Cai undergoes a lot of hardship. During the day, she has to wait on the Empress Dowager (He picks up his glass and swirls the wine around.) and after work, she has to work hard to be friends with Ah Si.”
Lei (quietly): “They can’t become friends. (Xi Men looks over at Lei slowly.) Love and friendship cannot exist at the same time.”
Xi Men and Lei both take a sip of their wine while Mei Zuo sighs and walks over to sit next to Xi Men at the bar.
Xi Men: “If San Cai can give up Ah Si, then she won’t be called San Cai.”
Mei Zuo: “But Ah Si is together with Ye Sha now. With his character… he can’t be together with San Cai anymore.”
Mei Zuo tilts up the can of his beer and finishes it off.
Xi Men: “Right. Ah Si is still Ah Si. Doesn’t matter if he lost his memories or not, he’s still the Dao Ming Si that we know.”
Mei Zuo: “Lei. Say something. What should we do in order to help San Cai?”
Xi Men looks over at Lei, waiting for his answer, but Lei remains silent, deep in thought and takes a sip of his wine slowly.
Xi Men (looks over at Mei Zuo and answers): “Don’t do anything. San Cai is hiding all by herself. Isn’t that telling us to not do anything?”
Mei Zuo (holding his empty beer can): “Bartender. Bring more Bar Beer.”
Lei sighs lightly and is still deep in thought.
Back on a train, the conductor is going around checking tickets. He notices a red wallet on the floor and picks it up. Upon opening it, he finds a piece of paper inside the wallet and unfolds it.
Conductor (speaking to a passenger): “Is the wallet yours?”
Passenger (shaking his head): “No.”
The conductor then folds the paper and puts it back inside the wallet.
Meanwhile, at the ice shop, Ah De is sitting aside reading a comic book. He drops the book and picks it up and continues reading. Ah Mei comes into the shop after getting the clothes that she hung out to dry. She passes by the kitchen table and sees the table of food that is still left untouched. So, she goes to the room where San Cai is staying.
Ah Mei (calling out): “San Cai. (no answer, she walks up the stairs to the room) San Cai, are you sleeping? (still no answer, so she continues climbing the stairs) San Cai.”
Ah Mei walks up to the room to see that everything is very neat but San Cai is not around.
Downstairs, Ah De is still sitting there reading his comic when two girls walk into the shop and heads for a table to sit.
Girl: “Lao Ban.”
Ah De (without looking up from his book): “Want to eat ice?”
Girl: “Right.”
Ah De: “All sold out.”
Girl (to her friend): “Then let’s go to another shop to eat.”
The two girls walk out and a guy comes in.
Guy: “Lao Ban.”
Ah De (without looking up from his book again): “Want to eat ice?”
Guy: “No.”
Ah De: “If you’re not eating ice, then why are you here at an ice shop?”
The guy doesn’t answer, so Ah De looks up from his comic. At this moment, Ah Mei is walking over to them.
Ah De (stands up to look at the guy): “Why are you still standing there for? Even if you want to eat ice, we don’t have any ice to sell to you.”
Ah Mei (pushes him on his arm): “If there’s no ice, don’t you know to call out?”
Ah De: “Orh. Then I’ll get make the phone call.”
Ah Mei (counts some money): “If I wait for you to call, then my shop would have closed down already. (hands the money to the guy) Sorry about that.”
Guy: “Ah Mei, I think it would be better if you look after the shop.”
The guy leaves the block of ice and walks out.
Ah Mei (closing the door where the ice is kept): “Eh, you don’t even close the door. (walks over to where Ah De is sitting with his comic book) Crush the block of ice.”
Ah De reluctantly walks over to the block of ice.
Ah Mei: “Eh, where is San Cai?”
Ah De: “She’s out walking again.”
Ah Mei: “What do you mean again?”
Ah De: “Don’t you know? These past few days she stays in her room every day and don’t know what she does in the room. (He walks over to the fridge and gets soda.) And when she leaves the room, she goes out for a walk. I think she just doesn’t walk to talk with us.”
He pops open his soda and starts to drink.
Ah Mei (turns around to look at him): “Eh, you stole her wallet. (He almost choked on his drink.) What right do you have on picking on someone’s attitude?”
Ah De (wipes his mouth, exasperated): “I told you already… Fine. If it’s like this, don’t you think that it’s very weird? Did she tell you when her friends or her family would come and pick her up?”
Ah Mei (shakes her head): “No.”
Ah De: “That’s exactly right.”
He walks back over to where the ice is, shaking his head and sits down on a chair. He takes another sip of his soda and picks up his comic book again.
Ah Mei: “Eh! Why are you sitting down and being lazy again? Crush the block of ice.”
Ah De looks at the block of ice and putting down his book and soda, nods his head.
Ah Mei (picking up her wallet): “I’m telling you. I’m going out to buy fruits. There’s ‘fen yuan’ cooking on the stove. If I come back and see that it’s burned, then you are finished for good.”
Ah De: “Fine. Hurry up and go. I’ll take care of it.”
Ah Mei (looking on the floor): “Don’t leave the block of ice on the floor!”
Ah De: “Fine, fine, fine. I know.”
The minute that Ah Mei leaves the shop, he picks up his book and sits back down to read.
San Cai is walking around by herself on the streets looking at things. Ah Mei sees San Cai from far away and stops to look at her.
Passerby: “Ah Mei, what are you doing?”
Ah Mei: “Nothing.”
She slowly walks over to where San Cai is standing, staring at something.
Ah Mei (running over to her): “San Cai! (San Cai turns around and smiles at Ah Mei.) What are you doing?”
San Cai: “Oh, nothing. I was just looking around.”
Ah Mei: “Then why don’t you accompany me to buy fruits, ok?”
San Cai hesitates and didn’t know what to say. Ah Mei grabs her hand and pulls her along.
Ah Mei: “Let’s go. Anyway, you’re not doing anything.”
San Cai let’s herself be dragged away after Ah Mei.
At the fruit stand, there are lots of fruits lying all around.
Ah Mei: “Lao Ban.”
Vendor: “What do you need?”
Ah Mei (picking up a fruit): “How much is this?”
Vendor: “1/2 kilogram for $40.”
Ah Mei: “So expensive?”
Vendor: “Not really. It’s very sweet.”
San Cai is looking around at the other fruits while Ah Mei is speaking with the vendor.
Vendor: “We just got them, so it’s very sweet.”
Ah Mei puts the fruit down and looks over at San Cai.
Ah Mei (calls her over): “San Cai, what do you want to eat? Pick it yourself.”
San Cai walks over and seeing the strawberries, she stares at them.
Vendor (pointing to another fruit): “This one is much sweeter than the other honeydews. It also just came out. So, very sweet.”
Ah Mei: “That’s a ‘xiang gua’.”
Vendor: “This is a ‘yang xiang gua.’ There is another one that is green – much greener in color, but we don’t have them today. This is much sweeter.”
Ah Mei looks over at San Cai and sees her staring at the strawberries.
Ah Mei: “You like to eat strawberries?”
San Cai turns to Ah Mei and smiles without answering. Ah Mei picks up a strawberry and looks at it.
Vendor: “Strawberry? Strawberries are imported. It’s very good to eat. Do you want to try it?”
Ah Mei: “The strawberries now are very expensive and sour. Not good to eat at all.”
Vendor: “Not really. Do you want to give it a try?”
San Cai: “Isn’t that how strawberries are? When it’s sweet, it’s very sweet. When it’s sour, it’s very sour.”
Ah Mei (putting the strawberry down): “A strawberry’s sourness is not considered sour. (She reaches over and picks up another fruit.) If you really like sour stuff, then I’ll bring you to a place.”
San Cai: “What place?”
Ah Mei brings San Cai to a place with lots of trees and a bridge. They walked to the middle of the bridge and stopped.
Ah Mei: “Look, that house is very old. (points to the small stream below the bridge) And this brook, there’s lots of fishes and shrimps.”
San Cai looks over to where Ah Mei is pointing. Then she looks over at Ah Mei and sees her climbing on the ledge of the bridge and reaches over to pluck a fruit from a tree branch.
Ah Mei (hands the fruit to San Cai): “Here. Try it.”
San Cai looks at the small round thing in her palm and picking it up, gives Ah Mei a questionable expression.
Ah Mei: “It’s not poisoned.”
San Cai smells it and then takes a small bite of it. After a few seconds, her whole face screws up.
Ah Mei (laughing): “Isn’t it very sour?”
San Cai nods her head with her whole face scrunched up.
Ah Mei (smiling): “So sour, that your tears are about to come down.”
San Cai couldn’t speak and just nods her head at Ah Mei.
Ah Mei (leaning on the ledge of the bridge): “When I was young, I was very naughty. I was always getting into trouble everywhere and when I get home, I would get beaten by my mom. But I seem to have a very weird sickness. It doesn’t matter how my mom beats me, I just can’t cry out. If I don’t cry, my mom would think that I’m not scared. So she would beat me even harder. But it’s really very weird. The more my body hurts, the more I can’t cry out. Later, I figured that it won’t do me any good. So every time I know that when I get home I would get beaten, I would run over here and pluck some fruit to eat.”
She walks over to the tree branch and plucks some more little fruits.
San Cai: “Why?”
Ah Mei: “Because it’s sour enough. So sour that it makes the tears fall down. That way, I can hurry up and run home and act pitiful. Then my mom wouldn’t have the heart to hit me.”
San Cai (smiling): “You really are very naughty.”
Ah Mei (with a serious face): “To be naughty, you need to have that kind of life. Every since my mom passed away, then I don’t need to act pitiful again. As time passes by, I can’t be naughty anymore. (puts on a happy face again) But I still can’t change my bad habit. There are times when I come across a problem, I get so angry but I can’t cry out, so I would run over here and eat fruits. (They both slowly started walking as Ah Mei continues to talk.) Eat until both of the eyes are swollen up like a bun, then I would feel much better.”
San Cai (looks at Ah Mei and becomes a little sad): “Actually, your theory is the same as a friend of mine who likes to do handstands.”
Ah Mei: “Handstand?”
San Cai (nods her head): “He said that when you want to cry, then you do a handstand. That way, your tears will not be able to fall down.”
They continued walking when Ah Mei stops and turns to face San Cai.
Ah Mei: “San Cai… Actually… you never called your family or your friends, right? (San Cai looks down on the ground and didn’t answer.) You don’t have to answer me. I’m not trying to get into your business. I may be a little dumb, but I can see that you are not a bad person. (pause) Our home is very care free. If your mood is really not too good, then you can stay as long as you want. No one will bother you. (pause) Anyway, when my brother has had enough, he’ll leave and I’ll be all by myself again. Two people being bored are better than one person being bored! Right?”
San Cai doesn’t answer and just smiles at Ah Mei. Then she takes a bite of the little fruit again.
San Cai (scrunches up her face): “It’s really very sour!”
Ah Mei (laughing): “Very sour, right?”
The two of them continue to walk happily.
Back at the ice shop, the three guys are sitting around waiting for Ah Mei again. San Cai and Ah Mei walks back to the shop both of them carrying bags in their hands.
Da Da: “Ah Mei, you’re back!”
The three of them stand up from their seat to greet her.
Guy: “Ah Mei.”
Ah Mei (holding a bag in her arms): “Can you guys not come to eat ice for one day?”
Guy A: “But if Da Da doesn’t eat your ‘fen yuan dou hua’ for a day, then he won’t be able to sleep.”
Guy C: “Right, right. Me too.”
Da Da (shouts at the Guy C): “What business is yours?! (tries to take the bag out of her arms) Ah Mei, I’ll help you.”
Ah Mei (pushes his hand away): “No need! (turns to face San Cai) San Cai, you can put the fruits in the back.”
San Cai (holding the bag): “Ok.”
As she walks into the shop, she sees someone sitting at a table eating ice and stops dead in her tracks.
San Cai (stunned, cries out): “Hua Ze Lei!”
Ah Mei walks over and stands next to San Cai as Lei slowly raises his head from his bowl of ice and smiles sweetly at San Cai.
San Cai (happy to see him): “Why are you here?”
Lei: “I’m here to eat ice.”
They stared at each other for a few seconds, smiling. Then Lei gets up from the table and walks over to San Cai.
Lei: “San Cai, go get your stuff. I’ve already rented a place. It’s nearby.”
San Cai, still stunned at the suddenness of the situation can only utter, “Orh.”
She turns to look at Ah Mei who was staring at Lei with a very curious look.
San Cai: “He… this… My friend.”
Ah Mei nods her head and still staring.
San Cai (looking back at Lei): “Then…”
Lei: “Hurry up and go.”
San Cai (nods her head): “Orh.”
She quickly walks away with a happy smile on her face.
Lei turns around to smile at the back of San Cai. Ah Mei is still standing there like a statue staring at Lei. The three guys walk up and looks at Ah Mei strangely.
Da Da: “Ah Mei, what are you doing, still hugging onto the watermelon?”
Ah Mei looks down at her arms to see the bag still there and quickly puts it down on a table.
Ah Mei (speaking to Lei with a soft tone): “May I ask, are you San Cai’s boyfriend?”
Lei (looks at Ah Mei): “I’m not.”
Ah Mei: “Then are you her brother?”
Lei (smiling, amused): “Also not.”
Ah Mei (pulls out the chair at a table): “Then sit here.”
Lei: “Ok. Thank you.”
Ah Mei: “Do you want to eat some ice?”
Lei (sitting): “I ordered some already. Thank you.”
Ah Mei: “Then do you want some watermelon?”
Lei: “No. That’s ok. You go do your things. I’m ok. Thank you.”
Ah Mei (pulls the bowl of ice toward Lei): “There’s still some more. Have to finish it.”
Lei doesn’t answer, just smiles and picks up the spoon.
After his ice, Lei stands outside the shop to wait for San Cai. Ah De comes back to the shop and finds Lei standing there and gives him a weird look. At this moment, San Cai walks out with her bag in her hand, followed by Ah Mei walking next to her.
Ah De: “Eh, San Cai. Your family’s here to pick you up?”
San Cai (nods her head): “My friend.”
Lei (speaks to Ah Mei): “Lao Ban, how much money?”
Ah Mei: “It’s ok. You are San Cai’s friend. I’ll treat you.”
Lei (smiling): “I never let a girl treat me.”
Ah De: “Eh. That’s right. Just like me.”
Ah De turns to walk away and Lei takes out a wallet from his back pocket and asks Ah Mei again, “How much?”
San Cai (looks at surprise): “My wallet!”
Ah De quickly walks back out from the shop.
Lei: “Someone found it on a train.”
Ah De: “Eh, did I hear wrong? Is this the wallet that you lost? (San Cai nods her head.) Ha! (looks at Ah Mei) You see! How many times did I say it. You still didn’t believe me. Weird.”
San Cai (bowing to Ah De): “Sorry, Ah De. I misunderstood you. I’m really very sorry.”
Ah De (looks at Ah Mei): “Don’t accuse me again, ok?”
San Cai: “Sorry.”
Ah De turns around and walks into the shop. Lei hands Ah Mei some money and Ah Mei turns to go into the shop for change.
Lei: “Keep the change.”
Ah Mei: “I never owe the customers money.”
Lei (smiling lightly): “You’re a very cute girl.”
Ah Mei doesn’t know how to respond and just stood there staring at Lei while Da Da is standing next to Ah Mei and staring at her.
San Cai: “Ah Mei. Thanks for taking care of me these past couple of days. Then… I’ll contact you again. I’m leaving now.”
Ah Mei nods her head at San Cai and looks at Lei again.
San Cai: “Bye bye.”
Lei reaches out his hand and takes San Cai’s bag for her and then they both walk away from the shop. Ah Mei continues to stand there and smile at their backs.
Da Da (nudging her arm): “Ah Mei.”
She turns back to look at him without a smile on her face and walks into the shop pushing the other two guys aside, “Out of the way.”
As she goes back inside the shop, she notices that she still haven’t given the change back to Lei so she starts to run out again.
Ah Mei (calling out): “EH! Your money!”
She trips and falls on her knees in her rush and Da Da rushes over to her.
Da Da (anxiously calls out): “Ah Mei!”
Ah Mei (pushes him aside): “Go away!”
Da Da: “Are you ok?”
Lei and San Cai is slowly walking up a small road of some sort with lots of trees around.
San Cai: “What a pretty, small road.”
Lei doesn’t answer and just gives a fond smile. They continue walking up the road and it brings them to a very nicely built wooden house at the top of the stone road. San Cai stops walking and stares at the house with a smile on her face.
Lei (walks up behind her): “Do you like it?”
San Cai (smiles and turns to look at him): “You still haven’t told me how you found me.”
Lei smiles and puts down her bag. He reaches in his back pocket, takes out a wallet and pulls out a piece of paper. He hands the paper to San Cai without saying anything. San Cai takes the paper and unfolds it to look at it. She opens it up and sees the picture of the sea and sun that Lei drew for her at the hospital.
San Cai: “Originally I wanted to secretly leave Taipei and to find a place where no one would know me.”
Lei (hands her the wallet back): “Isn’t it the same thing now? (San Cai takes the wallet from him.) The San Cai that I know is a San Cai that would scold F4 at the top of Ying De’s roof. She’s also one that no matter how many setbacks she faces, she can still be like a weed and not yield to anything. (pause, sighing loudly) Even though this San Cai is hiding temporarily now… but I know she’s still here. (San Cai slowly looks up at Lei.) I believe that I would be able to find her soon. (pause) Let’s go tidy up some things. Let’s go in.”
He picks up her bag again and turns to walk toward the house. San Cai stares at him for a few seconds before following him up the stone steps toward the wooden house.
