Summary
of MG2 Episode 27:
Ah Mei is sitting next to Lei's bed while Lei is sitting on his bed with his eyes half closed.
Ah Mei (sitting back up straight): “Fine. I hate beating around the bush anyway. (The three guys look at each other and smile as if to say, “Yeah, right.”) Then I’ll be straight forward. I… have decided to be your girlfriend.”
Guy A, who is standing at the top stairs, almost fell when he heard Ah Mei’s words. Da Da and Guy C is just standing there with a shock expression on their face while San Cai standing at the foot of the stairs, was slightly amused at what she heard. Lei, on the other hand, just lies back down on the bed with no reaction whatsoever.
Ah Mei (pushes him on his arm): “Hey, what kind of attitude is this? I, being your girlfriend, am giving you face! (She pulls Lei back up to a sitting position.) I’m telling you, I have many people chasing after me! Get up! (points to the three guys) If you don’t believe me, then ask them.”
The three guys look at each other and Guy C and Guy A both points to themselves as if saying, “Me?”
Guy A (stands next to Da Da and puts his arm on his shoulder, looking over at Lei): “Do you know how many people are after our Ah Mei?”
Guy C: “Moreover, our Da Da has liked her for a long time.”
Da Da: “Right. Ah Mei is the prettiest girl in our town. The most popular. The most daring girl! You are so…”
Ah Mei (turns her head and glares at Da Da): “What?”
Da Da (stammering under her glare and looks away): “So…”
Guy A: “So what?”
Da Da (finally spits out): “Lucky.”
Guy A (to Lei): “Right, your life is so lucky.”
Guy C: “Right, right. Our Da Da is not as lucky as you.”
San Cai is standing at the foot of the stairs very amused at the conversation above and smiling to herself the whole time.
Guy A: “Right, life is so lucky.”
Ah Mei (smiling widely, looks back at Lei): “Did you hear?”
Lei just sits there like a statue and doesn’t answer.
Ah Mei (pushes his shoulder, annoyed): “Did you hear?”
Lei (looks over at Ah Mei and smiles): “But I’m not interested in girls who have a lot of people chasing after her.”
Ah Mei suddenly gets up and walks over to the three guys standing near the top of the stairs.
Ah Mei (points to Da Da): “Wei. From now on, none of you can chase me. Whoever chases me will get beaten. Do you hear?”
No one answers her.
Ah Mei (pushes Da Da roughly): “Did you hear, you?”
Guy A (puts a hand out to stop Da Da from falling against him): “Fine.”
Ah Mei (walks back over to sit on the chair next to the bed, smiling): “Hey, it’s settled now. There’s no one chasing me now.”
Lei (looks over at Ah Mei): “I also don’t have interest in girls that have no one chasing after her.”
Ah Mei (the smile gone from her face): “Then what exactly are you interested in?”
Lei: “Sleeping.”
Ah Mei: “So you are rejecting me now?”
Lei looks over at her and fixes her collar.
Lei: “You really are very cute. Today is even cuter. (Ah Mei smiles widely.) But I really don’t have any interest in you.”
Ah Mei’s smile disappears from her face and Lei just lies back down on the bed and closes his eyes. Ah Mei sat there for a few seconds looking at him before getting up from the seat and walking over toward the stairs. The three guys stand aside and watch her walk down the stairs with a disappointed look on her face and follow her.
San Cai (at the foot of the stairs): “Ah Mei, Lei is actually…”
Ah Mei doesn’t listen and just continues to walk down the rest of the steps and toward the front door. Da Da suddenly turns at the bottom of the stairs and runs back up with the two other guys following.
Da Da (pulling Lei up to a sitting position): “Get up! Why do you have to bully Ah Mei?”
Lei (looks up at him): “Why don’t you hurry up and chase after her? (pause) Don’t you also like her?”
Da Da stood there thinking and Guy A pulls on his arm. The three of them quickly walk toward the stairs again.
Da Da (calling out): “Ah Mei!”
They race down the stairs and San Cai quickly steps aside to avoid being run over.
Da Da: “Ah Mei!”
After they ran out of the house, San Cai walks up the stairs and sits down on the chair next to the bed.
San Cai (shaking Lei’s arm): “Get up.”
Lei (looks at her and sighs): “Why are you here also? (pause) You want to be my girlfriend too? I’ll agree to it. But you have to be good.”
He closes his eyes and turns his head.
San Cai (hits him on his arm): “What are you talking about? Aren’t you worried about Ah Mei?”
Lei: “She’s fine.”
San Cai (leans over to Lei): “Do you feel that Ah Mei is very brave? (thinks and then smiles) Lei, how are you feeling right now?”
Lei (looks over at her with eyes half closed): “What do you mean?”
San Cai: “The feeling to be told the truth. (Lei looks away again.) Don’t you feel that Ah Mei is very cute? (sighs) Really envious of her courage. (looks back at Lei and shakes him again) Wake up already. You’ve been sleeping a long time. (no answer, so she shakes his arm) Lei. It’s really late now. (He continues to ignore her.) Pig. Then I’m going to make lunch.”
Lei just goes back to sleep and San Cai walks away.
Outside, Ah Mei is slowly walking down the road with her head down. The three guys are riding their bikes over to catch up with her.
Da Da (getting off his bike): “Ah Mei.”
No answer as she continues to walk.
Da Da: “Ah Mei.”
Ah Mei: “What time is it?”
Da Da (looks at the 2 guys): “What time is it now?”
Two Guys: “After 9 a.m. maybe.”
Da Da (to Ah Mei): “It’s after 9 a.m.”
She stops walking and looks at Da Da then turns to look at the 2 other guys behind her.
Ah Mei: “Then why aren’t you guys hurrying off to school? (She starts hitting Da Da.) How long are you going to be studying before you graduate?!?!?! (She goes over to Guy A’s bike and starts kicking it.) You pigs who don’t even know how to enjoy good fortune!! Stupid!! (Goes back over to kick Da Da’s bike.) Wretch!! (pushes Da Da roughly) Hurry up and go, you!!!
Guy A turns his bike around and Guy C gets onto the back. But Da Da is still standing there looking at Ah Mei.
Ah Mei (kicks his bike again): “Hurry up and go!!”
Da Da (turns his bike around and stands there): “Then I’m going to school now.”
Ah Mei: “Still not going?”
He gets on his bike and slowly rides away looking back at Ah Mei.
Ah Mei (shouting to his back): “Still looking?!?!?”
He rides further away and slowly stops and looks back again.
Ah Mei (shouting after him): “Hurry up and go!!!”
The other two guys have already peddled out of sight. At Ah Mei’s last shout, Da Da also quickly peddles away. After seeing that he is truly gone, Ah Mei turns around and slowly continues down the road with a sad and disappointed look on her face.
She heads off to the beach area and takes off her sandals and is angrily kicking the sand as she talks to herself.
Ah Mei (angrily): “What does that mean? Think highly of yourself because you are good looking?! Think highly of yourself because you can play the violin?”
At this moment, Lei is slowly walking along the sand too.
Ah Mei: “Hair is grown so long. Grown so tall. And wearing white. (Lei is slowly walking along and he hears noises. So he starts to slowly walk toward the sounds that he’s hearing.) Going out at night would definitely scare people to death! Even scarier than a ghost! Giving you a mouth is such a waste. Don’t even talk! Mute!! Don’t like me. You’re picking me. I’m picking you too! (kicks the sand) Weird. (Lei stands from afar and sees Ah Mei kicking the sand.) Reject me again. Try and reject me again! (He smiles and slowly begins to walk closer to her.) Think highly of yourself because you are good looking?! Think highly of yourself because you can play the violin?! Don’t say I’m cute again. Don’t talk to me again! If you say I’m cute again, I’ll make your head explode! (Lei is just a couple of steps behind her now.) Make your head explode! Don’t come close to me again!”
She looks behind her and jumps a little when she notices that Lei is standing right there. She looks at him for a few seconds and then angrily walks over to pick up her sandals. She shakes the sand off and hits one sandal against the tree trunk in her anger. Then she turns to walk pass Lei as if he’s not there.
Lei (speaks up as she walks by): “Narrow minded kid.”
Ah Mei (stops and looks at him): “Who’s a narrow minded kid?!”
Lei: “Can’t become someone’s girlfriend and then don’t want to talk to that person, that’s a most narrow minded kid.”
Ah Mei: “I am not! You are the one that is looking down on me first! Why should I speak to you again?”
Lei: “Did I say that I was looking down on you?”
Ah Mei: “You are!”
She moves past him and walks away. Lei doesn’t say anything and starts walking toward the sea. Ah Mei turns back and sees him walking away and calls out.
Ah Mei: “Wei!”
She walks back to him and stops in front of Lei.
Ah Mei: “If you have someone that you like and you don’t choose me, then I can accept that. You don’t have someone you like and you still don’t choose me, if that’s not looking down upon, then what is?”
Lei looks at her and smiles.
Lei: “Your expression is very cute.”
Ah Mei: “Don’t say I’m cute anymore. Say that I’m cute and don’t love me. (She looks away.) Hua xin. [Chinese characters used to imply guy/girl that is not faithful or have more than one girl/guy in one’s mind.] (She looks back at Lei.) Hua chi. [Chinese character for flower crazy.] Hua Ze Lei!”
Lei (laughs slightly): “Then you don’t love me either. But you still want to be my girlfriend. So you are also hua xin, hua chi, da hua lian.” [Chinese character used to imply dirty face.]
Ah Mei quickly starts wiping her face with her hand while Lei is quietly laughing on the side.
Ah Mei (looks at Lei): “Who says that I don’t love you?”
Lei: “Then give me three reasons on why you love me.”
Ah Mei: “Three? (thinking) Mmm… you said that I look very cute. Mmm, you don’t have a girlfriend. (looks down while thinking) Mmm, (picks up Lei’s hand) your hand is very pretty.”
Lei (amused): “That’s call love?”
Ah Mei (nods her head): “If not so, then what is?”
Lei: “That is like. Not love. (pause) Love must go through understanding.”
Ah Mei (thinks for a few seconds): “Don’t understand.”
She drops her sandals to the ground and puts them back on her feet. Then she kneels down and Lei kneels down next to her.
Lei (holds out his left hand to Ah Mei): “Look closer at my hand again.”
Ah Mei looks at Lei and then looks at Lei’s out stretched hand.
Ah Mei (after examining it for a few seconds): “You have a very good life!”
Lei (laughs and moves his fingers): “Look here.”
Ah Mei: “Lots of callus.”
Lei nods his head and Ah Mei looks at her own hands.
Lei: “So, now you know that my hands are not pretty at all.”
Ah Mei looks at him and then back at her own hands again.
Lei: “When I was young, I really love the sound of the violin. I was very curious as to why this weird shape box would have such a melodious sound. So that’s why I went to study violins. (pause, looking at his fingers) From the tip of my fingers, torn skin, bleeding, to calluses. This painful process has once made me want to give up. (pause) But the more and more that I realize the pain of studying the violin, the more I can’t find a way to leave it. (pause) Because I fell in love with it.”
The two of them knelt there on the sand looking at each other for a few seconds.
Lei: “Understand? (Ah Mei just looks at him.) You like me. I love violin.”
Ah Mei looks away and shakes her head.
Ah Mei: “I don’t understand. (pause) I don’t know if you are talking about violin… or talking about San Cai.”
Lei (smiles): “Of course it’s San Cai.”
He looks away and then stands up. Ah Mei slowly stands up and looks at Lei.
Ah Mei: “You like San Cai, right? (Lei looks away and doesn’t answer.) Because you like San Cai, so you are being friends with her. But you found out that the more you understand San Cai, the more you can’t leave her. So no matter where she goes, you would follow. (pause) Because… because you have fallen in love with San Cai, is that right?”
Lei doesn’t answer and just turns to face the sea.
Ah Mei: “If it’s because you fell in love with San Cai, so that’s why you don’t accept me... (pause) If it is thought of like that, then I would be a little bit happier.”
Lei still doesn’t say anything and walks a few steps forward. Ah Mei follows and keeps on looking at him.
Ah Mei: “San Cai caused you pain, right? (pause) You love San Cai, right? (no answer from Lei) Not frank and straight forward at all! Good thing I don’t really like you that much.”
Lei still doesn’t say anything and just stares straight out at the sea. Ah Mei follows his stare and looks from the sea to Lei.
Ah Mei (pointing out to the sea): “There’s no answer there. (points to his heart) The answer is here.”
Seeing that Lei is not going to answer her, Ah Mei leaves him standing there and walks away. After Ah Mei leaves, Lei stood there for a few more seconds before slowly walking down the beach moving closer to the water. He stood in front of the water with his arms crossed and stares out to the water for God knows how long.
Back at the Dao Ming mansion, Sha Ge is slowly walking into a room with the meteor ring in his hand. He stood there staring at the ring when Dao Ming Si walks in with a bottle of wine in his hand.
Dao Ming Si (holding up the wine): “Sha Ge. I have a good bottle of wine here.”
The two of them stands to the side with the bottle and two wine glasses.
Sha Ge (looks at the glass of wine after a toast with Dao Ming Si): “95 Year Spain ‘feng qing.’”
After swirling the wine, they both take a sip.
Sha Ge (after tasting): “This feeling is full of happiness. (looks at Dao Ming Si) Should we tell Ye Sha to come and let her have a taste of happiness?”
Dao Ming Si: “Sha Ge, this bottle of wine is opened for the two of us.”
Sha Ge (nods his head and puts down the glass of wine, Dao Ming Si also puts down his): “Right. If she came, then it will be finished within two, three glasses. Let us two handsome guys just enjoy this a bit.”
He holds up his wine glass and takes a sip.
Sha Ge: “Say it.”
Dao Ming Si is looking at his glass of wine before turning to look at Sha Ge.
Dao Ming Si: “I’ve regained my memories.”
Sha Ge was drinking his wine and he choked on it as he heard the words that Dao Ming Si just said.
Sha Ge (looks at Dao Ming Si, shocked): “You regained your memories?! Everything?”
Dao Ming Si puts down his glass of wine, turns around and slowly walks a couple of steps away.
Dao Ming Si: “From the day that I woke up in the hospital... I felt like I have slept for a long time. Suddenly, everything... seems like it happened yesterday. (pause) I remember everything. (pause) Including I love San Cai. (pause) I clearly understand... the one I love is San Cai.”
Sha Ge: “You can’t be like this! You can’t love Ye Sha in one minute...”
Dao Ming Si (interrupts loudly): “This is not something I can choose! (pause) I also want to only own one set of memories... doesn’t matter if it’s San Cai’s or Ye Sha’s. Why can’t I only possess one kind of memory? (pause) Why must God play such a joke on me? (looks over at Sha Ge) I also don’t know what to do! Because no matter what I do, I would still hurt the people that I love. (Sha Ge has a very pained expression on his face.) I also want to work hard at finding the feelings that I have for Ye Sha. (pause) I also want to love Ye Sha... but the more and more that I understand my own feelings, when I face the good that Ye Sha has for me... I would feel more and more responsible. How can I deceive Ye Sha?! (shouting) Sha Ge, you tell me! How can I deceive Ye Sha?!”
Sha Ge (yelling): “You can!! You can!! You should be lying to her!”
Dao Ming Si: “Sha Ge. Don’t you want Ye Sha to have some real happiness?”
Sha Ge (shaking his head): “She doesn’t have happiness... without you. (pause) Do you know... how much she sacrificed... in order to get you and San Cai together? (looks at Dao Ming Si) When I came back from Spain, (holds up the meteor ring) brought back this ring, your ring was stolen by someone, she was worried, scared, that this legend’s curse would fall on you, so she has been keeping this ring with herself all this time. The one that she obviously loves is you, but she still wants to return you to San Cai. She would rather you misunderstand her, would rather bear all the pain, hide in a corner all by herself, quietly crying... it’s all because she’s sick. (crying) She’s going to be dying soon!”
Dao Ming Si (confused): “What are you talking about?”
Sha Ge (crying with his back to Dao Ming Si, holds out three fingers): “3 months. Maybe half a year. (turns to look at Dao Ming Si) She could have merely used the remainder of her life to make a deal of a 3 month’s stake with your mom to let San Cai be by your side. So that you can regain your memories and get back together with her. Then would she feel at ease to face death all by herself. (Dao Ming Si is listening to all this in stunned silence.) She sacrificed so much, it’s all for you! Do you know?! (Dao Ming Si looks over at Sha Ge briefly before looking down.) Until that day when she rescued you out of the swimming pool, that’s when she completely broke down. Totally broke down. God can deprive her of her life but there was no way to deprive her of her love for you! (pause) It wasn’t easy for her to finally decide to love you unconditionally. (pause, walking around restlessly) Ah Sing, I beg you. (looks at Dao Ming Si) I beg you. (points to himself) I’m very selfish. I don’t have that much good intentions. I’m sorry to you and San Cai. But I beg you. (pause, Dao Ming Si looks away to the side) I beg you to continue to love Ye Sha, ok? (pause) Ah Sing, promise me.”
Dao Ming Si turns and walks away without saying a word.
Sha Ge (calling after him): “Ah Sing. (no answer, shouts) AH SING!”
Dao Ming Si didn’t answer and Sha Ge is left standing there all by himself.
Ye Sha is in her studio, sitting on top of the ladder and painting on the big canvas. When she hears Dao Ming Si coming into the room, she quickly covers what she was painting and gets off the ladder. In her haste, she drops some paintbrush on the floor.
Ye Sha (smiling, picking up the stuff she dropped): “My stomach is so hungry! It must be that I was too absorbed in what I was doing and forgot to eat something.”
Dao Ming Si has already walked over to stand in front her.
Ye Sha (gets up and walks up to him): “Do you want to go eat something?”
Suddenly she starts to drop to her knees on the floor with a groan, but Dao Ming Si quickly reaches out his hand and breaks her fall. She uses Dao Ming Si as a support to pull herself up to a standing position again.
Ye Sha (looks at Dao Ming Si with a forced smile): “I’m ok. (She stands up straight and puts on a brave expression.) Must have sat for too long before. (takes a deep breath and tries to let go of Dao Ming Si’s hand for support, and smiles at him) Let’s go.”
But as she tries to move forward, her legs suddenly fell out from beneath her again and she falls against Dao Ming Si, groaning in pain. Dao Ming Si tries to pull her up to a standing position.
Ye Sha (groaning in pain and can’t stand up due to her pain): “It hurts!”
Dao Ming Si (concerned): “How are you?”
Ye Sha (grabs onto Dao Ming Si’s shoulder): “It hurts.”
Dao Ming Si puts his arms under her legs and lifts her up in his arms.
Ye Sha: “Pain killers…”
She hides her head on Dao Ming Si’s chest in pain and he quickly carries her away from the studio.
Dao Ming Si brings her back to her room and gently lays her down on the bed. Ye Sha has her hand around her stomach and is scrunched up in pain.
Dao Ming Si: “Ye Sha, where’s the medicine?”
Ye Sha (forces out in pain): “In the drawer.”
Dao Ming Si quickly walks over to where all the little plastic drawers are on top of a table. He frantically pulls each drawer out to search for the medicine that Ye Sha needs. Finally he picks up a large pill box and stared at it for a long time while Ye Sha is groaning in pain on the bed. When the sound of her pain reaches through to him, he quickly runs back to the bed with the medicine and gives it to her.
Afterwards, Dao Ming Si is sitting on the floor leaning against the bed, while Ye Sha is gently playing with his hair.
Dao Ming Si (quietly): “Didn’t we say that you won’t hide anything from me again? (pause) Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ye Sha: “Sorry.”
Dao Ming Si: “I’ll bring you to find the best doctor there is.”
Ye Sha (smiles at the back on his head): “You are the best doctor. (pause) I don’t want a sick room. I don’t want to be stuck with all the tubes. I only want, with the remainder of my life, to love you.”
Scenes of the past: When Dao Ming Si just got out of the hospital in Barcelona and is wondering all by himself on the streets. Ye Sha caught up with him and followed him around. She hands him the loaf of bread that she bought at the bakery shop... Ye Sha teaching Dao Ming Si how to tie shoelaces... Ye Sha stabbing Zhong Ze in the back with the knife when they were being held captive by him...
Ye Sha (puts a hand on his shoulder): “Do you think I’m selfish? A person who doesn’t have a chance, but is still hanging onto you. And then run away forever, without anything.”
Dao Ming Si reaches out and holds onto her hand that is resting on his shoulder.
Dao Ming Si (softly): “Memories.”
Ye Sha: “What?”
Dao Ming Si: “The memories that you leave me with. No one can take that away, no? Ye Sha, (He’s struggling to control his emotions.) when are we going to travel around the world?”
Ye Sha smiles and wraps her arms around him with her chin resting on his shoulder.
Ye Sha: “You must not know how happy I am. I am no longer willing to return you to San Cai.”
With his face full of tormenting emotions, Dao Ming Si closes his eyes and rests his face next to Ye Sha’s face and kisses their clasped hands. Meanwhile, Sha Ge is standing outside the door and looking in at the two of them together.
Sha Ge (quietly, speaking to no one particular): “Ah Sing, thank you.”
He closes the door and slowly turns and walks down the hall.
Later, Dao Ming Si comes out of her room and slowly closes the door. He slowly walks away with his head down, deep in thought. He walks outside to the porch area and remembers the words that Ye Sha spoke to him about. Ye Sha: “I don’t want a sick room. I don’t want to be stuck with all the tubes. (Dao Ming Si is leaning against a wall and looking up at the sky.) I only want, with the remainder of my life, to love you.”
Next morning at the ice shop, Ah Mei is serving customers.
Customer: “More ai yu please.”
Ah Mei (making the ice for the customer, looks at him): “Then why didn’t you ask for ai yu ice?”
She goes back to making the ice.
Ah Mei (speaking to herself): “Why are there so many people eating ice today? Da Da is not here. (hands the customer the bowl of ice) Here. (turns her head to call for her brother) Ah De.”
She picks up a bowl to make another ice for another customer.
Ah Mei: “Ah De!”
Ah De is in his room sitting on the bed and looking at a small square box in his hands. He looks at it for a while and then puts the cover back on the box. Looking over at a huge piggy bank on the dresser, he puts the box down and picks up the piggy bank. He starts shaking it as if to take the money out.
Ah Mei’s voice: “Ah De! If you still don’t come out now, just want and you see!”
Ah De puts down the piggy bank and picking up the square box in his hands, walks out of his room.
Downstairs at the shop, Ah De and Ah Mei are working side by side. Ah De makes a bowl of ice and brings it over to a customer at the table.
Ah De (putting the bowl on the table): “Here. Your ice.”
Ah Mei (picks up a container in her hands): “I’m going to get more xian cao.”
Ah De: “Fine. Ok.”
Ah Mei walks toward the back of the shop to the kitchen area. As soon as she leaves, Ah De takes two plastic bowls and walks over to two customers sitting at a table.
Ah De (to the customer): “Excuse me. Sorry, we have to close early today. Can I trouble you to please take the ice home and eat it?”
Customer: “But I haven’t finished eating yet.”
Ah De: “How about this then. Your ice today, I’ll treat you to it. You guys don’t have to pay any money.”
Customer: “Can’t do. I want to finish it here. I don’t want to go.”
Ah De: “Please, please. Ok? (picks up the bowl of ice that the customer was eating and pours it into the plastic bowl) How about if I add more stuff in the ice for you?”
Customer: “How can you be like this?”
Ah De: “What would you like to add?”
He picks up the other customer’s bowl of ice and pours it into another plastic bowl.
Customer: “How can you sell ice like this?”
Ah De: “Because we really have something very important to do today. Thank you, thank you. (He picks up the bowl of ice and grabs the customer’s hand.) Come, come, come. Just tell me what you would like to add. (The two customers gets up from their seat and follows Ah De.) I’ll add it for you. Come.”
A few minutes later, Ah Mei comes out from the back of the kitchen and looking around, notices that all the customers are gone.
Ah Mei: “EH? It was so busy before and now there’s not even one customer?”
Ah De: “They finished eating their ice, so they left.”
Ah Mei: “It’s because you are too ferocious looking, so you scare all the customers away.”
Ah De: “I’m too ferocious looking? Your face is a couple hundred times more ferocious looking then me, ok?”
Ah Mei: “The problem is that when I’m ferocious, I look good. When you are ferocious, it doesn’t look good!”
Ah De: “When I’m ferocious I don’t look good?!”
At this moment, Lei shows up outside of the shop.
Lei: “Eh, looks like your business is not too good today.”
Ah De (looks at Lei): “Yah, not so good.”
Lei: “That’s good then. San Cai is inviting you guys over for dinner.”
Ah De (pretends to look surprise): “Really? That’s great! (rubs his stomach) I was just feeling hungry.”
Ah Mei (was ignoring the two of them): “I have to earn money. I don’t have time.”
Lei (thinks for a few seconds): “Then fine. (looks at Ah De) Ah De, then let’s go.”
Ah De: “Ok. (to Ah Mei) Um, I’m going to dinner now.”
He starts to walk away and Ah Mei suddenly calls out.
Ah Mei: “EH! What are you guys going to eat?”
Ah De, Ah Mei and Lei are walking up the small road to the wooden hut. Ah Mei is walking in front while Ah De and Lei are walking behind and whispering quietly to themselves.
Ah Mei (turns around): “What are you guys talking about?”
Ah De: “Nothing. Watch where you’re going or else you’ll trip again.”
Ah Mei (keeps walking and turns around again): “What are we eating today?”
Ah De: “Lots of good stuff to eat.”
They reach the wooden hut and Ah Mei calls out through the screen door.
Ah Mei: “San Cai!”
When there was no answer, she opens the screen door and looks around at Lei.
Ah Mei: “Where’s San Cai?”
Ah De: “I don’t know.”
Ah Mei (walking through the door): “San Cai!”
She continues to walk into the house, but since all the lights are turned off, she walks around cautiously in the dark. Ah De and Lei just follows behind her. Ah Mei walks into the living room and stops in her tracks.
Ah Mei: “No electricity?”
She looks back at Lei and Lei just shrugs his shoulders.
Ah Mei: “Why aren’t the lights turned on?”
Ah De: “Don’t know.”
Ah Mei looks over to a small coffee table and notices lots of candles lit up.
Ah Mei: “Why did you light up so many candles for?”
At this moment, the light turns on and San Cai and the 3 guys that always go to the ice shop, comes out cheering and throwing graffiti around. The whole living room is decorated very nicely and Ah Mei just stands there in surprise. Ah De gently pushes her to stand in front of the small coffee table where the cake is placed. Then everybody started singing “Happy Birthday” to Ah Mei.
Guys (after the song): “Make a wish! Make a wish!”
Ah Mei (with her hands clasped in front of her): “Um, I wish... I wish that there is someone to take care of the ice shop with me. And then... I wish... all the guys in the world to return to where they belong.”
Guy C (points at Da Da): “You.”
The two guys and San Cai gave a soft laugh.
Ah Mei: “And then, I wish... this one is a secret.”
She finishes making her last wish in silence.
Ah De: “Ok, blow the candles.”
San Cai: “Blow the candles.”
Ah Mei tries to blow the dozens of candles on the cake and can’t seem to blow them out.
San Cai (to everybody): “Help blow them.”
Ah De and San Cai help Ah Mei blow out the candles and everybody claps and cheers.
Ah De (holds out a small square box): “Ah Mei. Happy Birthday! This is your birthday present.”
Ah Mei just looks at it and didn’t make any moves to take it.
San Cai (urges her along): “Hurry up and open it and see!”
Ah Mei takes the box and opens it up to find a meteor star ring inside. San Cai looks at the ring inside the box and has a startled look on her face as she recognizes it.
Ah Mei: “Where did it come from?”
Everybody is looking at Ah De.
Ah De: “I bought it, of course.”
Ah Mei: “You’re lying. Where would you have the money to buy this?”
Ah De: “I really did buy it. How about if I swear, ok?”
Ah Mei: “The promises that you make, 9 out of 10 times it’s a lie. (Ah De looks away in annoyance.) Why don’t you tell me where you bought it from. When did you buy it. How much money did you spend on buying it.
Ah De (looks back at Ah Mei, irritated): “Why is it that whatever I say you don’t believe me?”
He pushes aside Da Da and one of the guys to stand by the window with both his hands at his waist. Ah Mei just looks at the ring in her hand.
Ah De (turns around in angry and speaks to Ah Mei’s back): “Am I such a useless person in your heart?”
Ah Mei (turns around and walks over to Ah De): “Then say it. (Ah De turns to look at the side.) Where did you buy it?”
Ah De turns to look at Ah Mei in disbelief, then crosses his arms and looks away, totally annoyed. Ah Mei walks back to the coffee table and puts the box with the ring down in anger.
San Cai (to Ah Mei): “This ring is really bought by Ah De. I can testify for it.”
Ah De turns his head quickly to look at San Cai.
San Cai (looks over at Ah De): “Because I’m the one that accompanied him to buy it.”
Ah Mei turns her head to look at San Cai and San Cai looks back and smiles slightly at her. In the background, Ah De uncrosses his arms and looks away.
San Cai (pulls on Ah Mei’s hand): “Ah Mei, it doesn’t matter what Ah De did in the past, made you feel how unhappy. But have you ever thought (Lei walks over to Ah De and pats him on his shoulder.) that in this world who is the one that would always remember your birthday. Who is the one that thinks of all the ways for you to have a happy birthday. (Ah Mei turns her head slightly to look at Ah De in back of her.) And also, who is the one that even if you misunderstands him, he would still give you a birthday present. Do you know? I’m really envious that you have a brother who loves you so dearly.”
Ah Mei (looks at San Cai): “When does he love me dearly? (looks away with her head down) Without even saying anything, he left the ice shop for me. (pause) Every night I would have a nightmare. If not seeing him killed, chopped, then it’s seeing him arrested. (San Cai looks over at Ah De and Ah Mei looks up at San Cai.) When my mom left, she didn’t leave anything for me. Just left for me, him - this burden.”
Ah De turns around to face the window again. San Cai raises her hand and puts her hand on Ah Mei’s arm.
Ah Mei: “I don’t need him to take care of me. (pause, looking down) But at least he should take care of himself. (pause) All I want is for him to not steal, not rob. Be a good person.”
Everybody stood there in silence when Ah De suddenly turns from the window and grabs the ring in his hand and opens the window as though to throw it out.
Ah Mei (grabbing hold of his arm): “What are you doing?! (takes the ring back from him) This is my ring!”
She takes it back and holds on to it. Ah De makes a move to grab it again, but Lei puts out his hand and stops him, while San Cai quickly takes the ring and puts it on Ah Mei’s finger. Ah Mei stood there and looks at the ring on her finger for a while before looking over at Ah De.
Ah Mei (staring back at her ring): “Actually, wearing this ring on my chicken style fingers... (turns to San Cai) looks pretty good.”
San Cai smiles and Ah De puts his arm on Ah Mei’s shoulder.
Later, out on the porch of the wooden hut, Ah De is sitting down and resting all by himself. San Cai comes out and walks over to him.
Ah De (stands up to face San Cai when he sees her, smiling): “San Cai, thank you.”
San Cai (smiling): “You don’t have to thank me. (with a serious look and the smile gone from her face) But, can you tell me the truth?”
Ah De (smile disappears): “I always thought that you look at me as a friend so that’s why you spoke up for me. (pause) So even you think that I’m a thief too.”
San Cai: “I didn’t. (pause) But this ring used to be mine.”
Ah De (sarcastic tone): “It was yours? (San Cai nods her head.) Oh, I understand now. You are saying that I stole your wallet and stole your ring. (San Cai holds her head down.) Don’t forget that you accused me once before. Can you stop blaming it on me? If you want to blame it on me, then please take out some evidence.”
He turns and starts to walk away.
San Cai (calling out after him): “Because this ring can’t be bought in any place in Taiwan. (Ah De stops and turns around to look at San Cai.) It’s from Barcelona. I have a friend who brought it back from Barcelona to Taiwan. In the end, inside an old house, a thief broke in and stole it away.”
Ah De stares at San Cai with a stunned look on his face. He slowly looks away and shakes his head.
Ah De (in shock): “It can’t be. (shaking his head) How can there be such a coincidence in this world? (still shaking his head) It can’t be.”
San Cai walks over to stand in front of Ah De.
San Cai: “Ah De, I won’t tell. For Ah Mei, I won’t say anything. I just want to determine that it is my ring. (pause) Because, to me, this ring is really very important. It made me lose the person that I love. Changed my destiny. And it pushed me to a bottomless pit. Because of this ring, that’s why I’m hiding here, trying to forget everything in the past. But in the end, God still made me meet up with it again.”
Ah De turns to look at San Cai.
San Cai: “Ah De, is that my ring?”
He turns away and brushes his face with both his hands.
San Cai: “Ah De...”
She continues to look at him, but he doesn’t answer her question. Meanwhile, Lei is standing next to the screen door and heard the whole conversation. Then he turns and goes back inside the house.
Ah De: “San Cai, sorry.”
San Cai just gives him a small smile before looking away.
At this moment, Ah Mei opens the screen door and comes outside.
Ah Mei (with a hand to her head): “Ah De.”
She appears to be drunk as she wobbles around on her unsteady feet. Lei is coming out right behind her and trying to steady her.
Ah Mei: “Ah De, head is very dizzy.”
Lei: “I think I better take you guys home.”
San Cai and Ah De starts to walk over to Ah Mei and Lei.
Ah Mei: “No need.”
Ah De (to Ah Mei): “Why did you drink so much?”
Ah Mei (one hand to her head and the other pushes Ah De’s head): “Head hurts! What are you talking about on the side anyway?”
San Cai (reaches out her hand to Ah Mei): “Ah Mei, are you ok?”
Ah Mei: “Weird! (pushes Ah De) San Cai is my friend and not your friend. What are you talking about?”
San Cai: “Ok. Understand.”
Ah Mei (to San Cai): “Don’t talk to him.”
San Cai: “Ok. I understand.”
Ah Mei: “He would make you turn bad too. (holds a hand to her head) Head hurts so much.”
Ah De (tries to steady the wobbling Ah Mei): “Are you ok? You shouldn’t have drank so much.”
Ah Mei: “I want to go back.”
San Cai: “Lei, you should take them home.”
Lei: “Right.”
Ah Mei (waves her hand): “No. No need to take. We’ll go back by ourselves.”
Ah De (to Lei): “It’s ok.”
Ah Mei: “Ah De, kneel down. (pushes him away) If you don’t kneel down, how can I leave?”
San Cai: “Ok, ok.”
Ah De starts to bend and San Cai goes over to help Ah Mei.
Ah Mei: “My head is dizzy, how can I leave? I’m so tired. How can I leave?”
Ah De: “I know. I know.”
San Cai: “Ok, ok.”
Ah Mei (to San Cai): “Eh, your wine tastes very good.”
San Cai (smiles): “Come again next time.”
Ah Mei starts to climb onto Ah De’s back with San Cai’s help.
San Cai: “Be careful. Ah De, stand steady.”
Ah De slowly stands up with Ah Mei on his back.
Ah Mei: “Stand steady, stand steady. (to Lei) Goodbye.”
Ah De (turns to Lei): “Thank you.”
Ah Mei (to San Cai): “Good bye.”
Ah De (to San Cai): “Thank you.”
San Cai: “Be careful!”
Ah De starts to walk down the small road from the wooden hut.
Ah Mei (pushes Ah De’s head): “San Cai told you to be careful.”
Lei and San Cai stood at the porch and watch as the both of them leave.
San Cai (thinks to herself as she stood there): “After a whole summer, the meteor star ring has appeared in front of my eyes again. But it seems that it is destined to never be mine. (pause) Anyway, Dao Ming Si’s and my story has ended. The meteor star ring now, to Ah Mei, has a meaning that nothing can replace. But this ominous legend, what can be done?”
Ah Mei and Ah De’s images are moving further and further away, so Lei and San Cai turns around and goes back into the house.
Next day, Ye Sha is sitting on her bed and drawing a picture of Dao Ming Si’s back as he stood there staring out of the window. Suddenly, Sha Ge runs into the room in a rush.
Sha Ge (out of breath): “Quick! Quick! I’m going to faint soon. (breathing very hard) I’m really going to faint.”
He stood there as he tries to catch his breath. Ye Sha just keeps on looking at him from the bed and Dao Ming Si still hasn’t moved from the window at all.
Sha Ge (looking at Ye Sha): “There is very good news! (Dao Ming Si slowly starts to turn from the window.) I feel that it is a very, very, very good news. The hospital said... (He slowly starts to walk over to the bed where Ye Sha is.) they have found the bone marrow.”
Ye Sha sits up straighter on the bed at this news and Sha Ge sits down next to her and holds onto her hand.
Ye Sha (very happy): “Really?”
Sha Ge nods his head and they both turn to look at Dao Ming Si who is still standing by the window. Dao Ming Si just looks back at them with no expression on his face at all.
At the hospital, Dao Ming Si and Ye Sha are sitting in the doctor’s office with the doctor.
Doctor: “The similarity of the donated bone marrow is very high. (Dao Ming Si is sitting there holding onto Ye Sha’s hand tightly with both his hands.) But the precise match of the operation must be sent to Hong Kong to be checked. The fastest is one week, the slowest is one month, then we will have the results. You can go home with ease and wait for the news.”
Dao Ming Si: “Then during this time, is there anything we can do?”
Doctor: “Like always, just be normal. Eat the medicine on time. Work and rest accordingly. The most important is to always maintain a relaxing mood and wait for our good news.”
Ye Sha smiles and Dao Ming Si nods his head at the doctor. Just then a nurse knocks on the door for the doctor.
Nurse: “Sorry, doctor.”
Doctor (stands up with a file in his hand): “You guys sit for a bit. I have something to do.”
The doctor walks toward the door where the nurse is.
Nurse: “We are prepared for the operation.”
After the doctor leaves, Dao Ming Si turns to Ye Sha.
Dao Ming Si: “What is it? Tired?”
Ye Sha (smiles and nods her head): “At first, I have already decided to live for only 3 months. But I would miss you. Now, I want to live 3 more years... 30 years... for Ah Sing, live 300 years.”
Ye Sha closes her eyes and smiles. Then looks at Dao Ming Si and smiles again.
Ah De is opening up the ice shop when he noticed a police car parked out front of the shop. A policeman walks up to the where Ah De is standing and Ah De quickly turns around to walk into the shop.
Police 1 (calls out): “Mr. Qiu.”
Another policeman walks behind the first one.
Police 2: “Qiu Zhen De. Come with us back to the station for a bit.”
Ah Mei (walks over from the back): “Why does he have to go with you? (stopping in front of the policeman) He was sleeping at home all this time, is that illegal?”
Police 2: “There are a couple of cases that seems to be related with Qiu Zhen De. We must bring him back to investigate. (to Ah De) Go. (to the other policeman) Let’s go.”
The two policeman starts to lead Ah De out of the shop.
Ah Mei: “Wait a minute. (stands in front of Ah De) Didn’t you promise? (loudly) Say something!”
Ah De: “I really did decide already.”
Police 2: “Ok, ok. If there is anything to say, say it when we get back to the station. (to the other police) Go. Let’s go.”
The two policemen lead Ah De out of the shop.
Ah De (looks back at Ah Mei): “Ah Mei...”
Ah De is lead to the police car and was escorted in by the policeman. At this time, Da Da is coming to the shop and sees Ah De getting into the police car. He walks over to Ah Mei while Ah Mei is still standing by the door way not moving at all.
Da Da: “Ah Mei. Why is Ah De getting into the police car?”
Ah Mei: “None of your business. Go to school.”
Da Da walks outside and looks at the police car again. He looks back at Ah Mei and points to the car.
Da Da: “But the car is leaving.”
Ah Mei (looks up at him): “Told you to go to school!”
Da Da stood there and looks from the car to Ah Mei and back again.
Ah Mei: “Hurry up and go!!”
Da Da looks at Ah Mei one more time before walking away. Ah Mei stood there for a few more seconds before slowly raising her hands and takes off the ring on her hand. She holds it in her palms and continues to stare at it.
