Scene 11
Time: Day
Location: University campus pavilion, corridor
Characters: Xu Manfei, Wen Aihua, Tang Huaimin, classmates
△ On a bench in the campus pavilion, Tang Huaimin is holding a guitar and playing Romance de Amor.
△ Xu Manfei and Wen Aihua hear the music and walk toward him.
Xu Manfei: Guitar prince, you’re in a good mood!
△ Tang Huaimin smiles without answering and continues playing, but his eyes are fixed on Wen Aihua.
△ Xu Manfei hands over a cup of coffee. Huaimin stops playing, takes the coffee.
Xu Manfei: Coffee for you. Prince, I want to ask you about your roommate, Liu Tianlin, the “modern ancient man.”
Tang Huaimin: What do you want to ask about him?
Xu Manfei: It’s just… does Tianlin have a girlfriend?
Tang Huaimin: I’ve never heard him mention one. He probably doesn’t.
Xu Manfei: That’s good, thanks!
Tang Huaimin: However, since that talent show, when Tianlin shocked everyone with his performance, girls have often come to the dorm to look for him. Some of them seem to be from the music department.
Xu Manfei: Oh? He’s that popular…
Tang Huaimin: Tianlin is very “reserved.” I feel he didn’t get dizzy just because girls like him.
Wen Aihua: (confused) What do you mean by “reserved”?
Tang Huaimin: “Reserved” is Taiwanese slang, it means what you girls call “self-restrained.”
Wen Aihua: (smiles) I see. Huaimin, I heard from Mengru that your hometown is Alishan.
Tang Huaimin: Yes. Mengru, Meiyun, and Benyun came up the mountain to visit me during this winter break.
Wen Aihua: I’ve always wanted to visit Alishan. Mengru said she will invite me to go with her next winter break to see you.
Tang Huaimin: Welcome! I’ll be the host and take care of everything—food and accommodation included.
Scene 12
Time: Day turning into dusk
Location: Beitou Park
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael, Tang Huaimin, tourists
△ In a shaded corner of Beitou Park, Chen Mengru and Michael set up a portrait drawing stall. On both sides of the stall are caricatures of Chen Mengru and Michael, attracting tourists.
△ A couple sits down to have Michael draw them. Chen Mengru watches beside him.
△ The portrait is finished. The couple pays and takes the drawing away. Two more tourists sit down for portraits.
△ Tang Huaimin passes by on a bicycle. He sees Chen Mengru and Michael drawing for tourists and stops to watch for a while.
▲ Fade out, then fade in again.
△ At dusk, Michael begins packing up the stall. Chen Mengru counts the day’s income.
Chen Mengru: 3,100 yuan—that’s about 100 US dollars. Today’s income is quite good!
Michael: (happy) I’ll split the money with you, Vivian.
Chen Mengru: Just give me 1,000 yuan. You had more customers.
△ Chen Mengru keeps 1,000 yuan and gives the rest to Michael.
Chen Mengru: I’ll save this 1,000 yuan for you. When you need it, just tell me anytime.
Michael: (moved) Vivian, thank you.
Chen Mengru: Don’t thank me yet—I’m starving.
Michael: “Starving”? Taiwanese slang?
Chen Mengru: Yes, I’m hungry.
Michael: (smiles) Yes! I’m hungry too. Let’s go to dinner.
Scene 13
Time: Day
Location: Art Department classroom
Characters: Michael, Chen Mengru, Wen Aihua, Wu Benyun, Gu Meiyun, Tang Huaimin, Liu Tianlin, Xu Manfei, teacher, classmates
△ In the classroom, Chen Mengru, Gu Meiyun, and Wen Aihua sit together. Michael and Tang Huaimin sit in the front row. Xu Manfei and Liu Tianlin sit together. Wu Benyun and his fans sit in a corner.
Tang Huaimin: Hey, Michael, yesterday afternoon you were with Chen Mengru, right?
Michael: (surprised) How did you know?
Tang Huaimin: I rode my bicycle past Beitou Park and saw you guys setting up a drawing stall.
Michael: Yes! Vivian took me there.
Tang Huaimin: You’re something else! Vivian is the department’s acknowledged elegant beauty, and you actually got her.
Michael: (waving hand) You misunderstood. Vivian is just very kind and helpful. She’s my good friend, not my girlfriend.
Tang Huaimin: If you keep this up, you’ll become a couple soon. We say: “being close to water gets the moon first; love grows over time.”
Michael: But Vivian never said she wants to be my girlfriend.
Tang Huaimin: You’re really slow to react! If you like her, you should find a chance to confess and let her know.
Michael: Oh! I see.
▲ Camera shifts to Chen Mengru and Gu Meiyun.
Gu Meiyun: Mengru, were you with Michael all afternoon yesterday?
Chen Mengru: Yes. We set up a portrait stall in Beitou Park and were busy all afternoon.
Gu Meiyun: Huh? I’ve never heard you say you were short on money.
Chen Mengru: It’s Michael who needed living expenses. He said his family didn’t transfer money on time.
Gu Meiyun: Really? Aren’t you worried he might be using your sympathy?
Chen Mengru: I don’t think so. I saw him eating only toast for lunch.
Gu Meiyun: That’s not necessarily true. Maybe Michael is creating opportunities to get close to you. Some foreigners are very smooth talkers—I’ve met them before.
Chen Mengru: Michael is not that kind of person. I trust him.
Gu Meiyun: (tapping her head) Well… Michael’s brain really isn’t that complex.
▲ Camera shifts to Liu Tianlin and Xu Manfei.
Xu Manfei: Tianlin, your traditional Chinese instrument performance was amazing!
Liu Tianlin: Thank you.
Xu Manfei: I learned piano when I was a child. I originally wanted to study music in university, but in middle school I met an art teacher who said I had talent for art…
Liu Tianlin: (serious) Classmate, I want to focus on listening to the lecture. Can we talk after class?
Xu Manfei: Alright.
△ Xu Manfei feels uncomfortable after being interrupted but holds it in.
Scene 14
Time: Day
Location: Corridor outside classroom
Characters: Liu Tianlin, Xu Manfei, music department students
△ Liu Tianlin walks alone in the corridor. Xu Manfei quickly catches up.
Xu Manfei: Tianlin, I talked too much just now. I didn’t make you angry, did I?
Liu Tianlin: Why would I be angry? I just wanted to focus on class.
Xu Manfei: That’s good. Can I treat you to coffee?
Liu Tianlin: Thank you. I’m used to drinking tea.
Xu Manfei: Then I’ll treat you to tea?
Liu Tianlin: Thank you. I want to go back to the dorm and rest a bit.
Xu Manfei: Don’t be so serious, classmate.
Liu Tianlin: Serious? I just don’t want to waste university life. I’m different from local students. They join clubs and work part-time, living very “romantically,” but they don’t focus on studies.
Xu Manfei: Oh? I think I might be like what you just described.
Liu Tianlin: I don’t want to say they are living in drunken dreams or wasting their lives, but that’s the impression I get. In that sense, I don’t fit in with them.
Xu Manfei: Your words really struck me. I admire your attitude toward life.
△ At this moment, several music department girls notice Liu Tianlin and walk toward him.
Girl A: It’s that erhu prince!
Girl B: Let’s go chat with him.
Scene 15 Time/Day: turning to dusk Setting: Beitou Park
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael, visitors
△ Under the shade of trees in a corner of Beitou Park, Chen Mengru and Michael have set up a portrait-drawing stall. The two are drawing portraits for visitors, while tourists around them watch.
▲ Fast-moving shot: many visitors successively sit down to have their portraits drawn by the two.
△ At dusk, Michael begins to pack up the stall. Chen Mengru counts today’s income.
Chen Mengru: In total it is four thousand five hundred yuan, more than last time!
Michael: Ya! Vivian, today is my birthday. Let us celebrate my birthday.
Chen Mengru: Oh? Then let’s save the dinner money. I’ll buy a cake and champagne, and invite a few classmates to celebrate your birthday for you.
Scene 16 Time/Day: night Setting: student dormitory common room
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael, Gu Meiyun, Tang Huaimin, Wen Aihua
△ In the student dormitory common room, Chen Mengru, Gu Meiyun, and Tang Huaimin gather around a cake and sing the English “Happy Birthday” song to celebrate Michael’s birthday.
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to Michael
Happy Birthday to You
Tang Huaimin: After blowing out the candles, you must make a wish!
△ Michael blows out the candles, lowers his head, clasps his hands together, and makes a wish.
△ Tang Huaimin picks up a bottle of champagne on the table.
Chen Mengru: Brother Tang, I only drink juice, I don’t drink alcohol.
Wen Aihua: Give me juice too.
△ Tang Huaimin pours the highball glasses to about seventy to eighty percent full in sequence.
△ Tang Huaimin pours juice into two glasses.
Tang Huaimin: Come, come! Let’s sing together.
△ Tang Huaimin casually picks up a guitar.
Gu Meiyun: Okay! What shall we sing? Tom-hits-braised-pig?
Tang Huaimin: Let’s sing Golden Gate King’s “Drifting to Tamsui.”
△ The two girls sing “Drifting to Tamsui” together with Tang Huaimin.
If it is fate or not fate, everyone comes together, drink a cup of liquor, bottoms up! bottoms up!……
△ Michael and Wen Aihua do not understand the lyrics, they can only smile foolishly and keep rhythm with their hands.
▲ Camera fades out, then fades in again.
△ Except for Chen Mengru and Wen Aihua, the other three are somewhat drunk.
Tang Huaimin: Michael, if you have anything you want to confess to Vivian, do it now!
Gu Meiyun: Brother Tang, stop stirring things up!
Tang Huaimin: How am I stirring things up? Michael really has something to say to Mengru. Michael, it’s your turn to speak!
Michael: Ya! Vivian, thank you for helping me these past few days.
△ Michael reaches this point but hesitates.
Tang Huaimin: That’s it? Michael, anything else?
Michael: (shyly) Also, Vivian I…
Tang Huaimin: (encouraging) Go on! Michael.
Michael: (takes a deep breath) Vivian, I really like you!
Chen Mengru: (surprised, moved) Michael…
Gu Meiyun: Brother Tang, since when did you become Cupid?
Wen Aihua: (laughing) This atmosphere feels like a youth idol drama!
Scene 17 Time/Day: night Setting: school wall sidewalk
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael
△ Michael holds a bicycle with one hand and holds Chen Mengru’s hand with the other. The two walk along the sidewalk beside the wall.
Michael: Vivian, thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday.
Chen Mengru: Michael, if you truly want to be with me, you must first let my family accept you. Only then will I agree to your proposal in the future.
Michael: I will, Vivian. Then can you take me to meet your family?
Chen Mengru: During the winter vacation, I will take you back to Sun Moon Lake.
Scene 18 Time/Day: daytime Setting: school walkway
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael, Gu Meiyun, Wu Benyun
△ After class, Wu Benyun is on the walkway and sees Michael and Chen Mengru walking hand in hand together.
Wu Benyun: (to himself) Since when did Chen Mengru get together with that fool Michael?
△ Gu Meiyun passes by; Wu Benyun catches up to her.
Wu Benyun: Meiyun classmate, please wait.
△ Gu Meiyun stops upon hearing him.
Wu Benyun: Meiyun, I have something I want to ask you.
Gu Meiyun: Prince, what is it?
Wu Benyun: Just… since when did Chen Mengru and Michael get together?
Gu Meiyun: Recently. After Michael’s birthday.
Wu Benyun: (confused) How could Mengru like that fool Michael?
Gu Meiyun: (unhappy) Michael is a fool? Then what are you? A butterfly!
△ Wu Benyun is counterattacked and momentarily speechless.
△ After speaking, Gu Meiyun leaves angrily without looking back.
Wu Benyun: (to himself) I can’t lose my composure now, I must hold it together! (deep breath) When the time comes, after Michael leaves Taiwan, I will still have a chance to make Mengru change her mind.
Scene 19 Time/Day: daytime Setting: school exhibition hall
Characters: Chen Mengru, Michael, Gu Meiyun, Wu Benyun, Wen Aihua, Tang Huaimin, Xu Manfei
△ A group is busy setting up the art exhibition venue.
Xu Manfei: Huaimin, why didn’t Tianlin come to help set up?
Tang Huaimin: I already asked him. Tianlin said he is not interested in doing these miscellaneous tasks.
Gu Meiyun: Isn’t that not very good? He really is a strange guy!
Tang Huaimin: Everyone has their own aspirations; it’s hard to force him.
Gu Meiyun: Everyone else is helping, only he is acting like nothing is happening.
Xu Manfei: (OS) Tianlin, do you know everyone is talking about you?
Scene 20 Time/Day: daytime Setting: balcony corridor of school exhibition hall
Characters: Liu Tianlin, Wen Aihua, Tang Huaimin, Xu Manfei
△ On the day of the exhibition, everyone is busy receiving guests and explaining the artworks. Liu Tianlin sits alone on the balcony corridor, leisurely flipping through an art album.
△ Wen Aihua, Tang Huaimin, and Xu Manfei walk by and see him, then approach him.
Wen Aihua: Tianlin, you should go inside and help explain at the venue. Your paintings are highly praised by the department teachers.
Tang Huaimin: Yes! Your painting skills are recognized by every teacher.
Liu Tianlin: Sorry! I am not interested in these trivial matters. I do not want to waste my time and energy on social formalities.
Wen Aihua: (unhappy) How can you say such things? The exhibition is an important event for the department; no one should stand aside.
Liu Tianlin: My way of thinking is different from yours. Say whatever you like.
Tang Huaimin: Forget it. Let’s not make things difficult for Tianlin.
Xu Manfei: (signals with eyes) You two go back inside the venue first. I’ll talk with Tianlin for a while.
△ Tang Huaimin and Wen Aihua turn and leave.
Xu Manfei: Tianlin, do you know? Many classmates already have complaints about your indifferent attitude, saying you are “self-centered and not sociable.”
Liu Tianlin: So what?
Xu Manfei: Hearing that makes me feel very uncomfortable!
Liu Tianlin: Thank you for your concern, but I will not change because of others’ criticism.
Xu Manfei: (sighs) Sigh… you…
