Republished Youth

 
Republished Youth  Fantasy Romantic Fashion Love Film 7

Scene 51 Time∣Day Setting∣Beauty Cave, Seaside Pavilion

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Tourists

△Tsai Shih-Nan holds Mei-Lin’s hand, following the tourists as they pass through the narrow limestone cave.
Tsai Shih-Nan: Be careful, don’t bump your forehead!

△The two walk out of Beauty Cave and arrive at a seaside pavilion.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Facing the sea) This place feels like a paradise hidden from the world.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Yeah! Beautiful mountains and beautiful waters, unfortunately not beautiful salaries. In the past, Little Liuqiu wasn’t well-known enough, and there weren’t as many tourists coming here as there are now. Once the young people left to study or work, most of them never came back again.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Turns around and looks at Shih-Nan) Then what about you? Don’t you plan on returning to the city to strive for success again?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Yeah! I’ve grown indifferent to the city’s prosperous splendor and returned to my hometown to live a simple life.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Smiles) Come on! You’re still young, why do you sound so world-weary?

Tsai Shih-Nan: It’s a matter of mindset! I just feel the city isn’t worth lingering in anymore.

Shih Mei-Lin: With your financial situation, you really can afford to be this carefree.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mm! Don’t you think Little Liuqiu is beautiful?

△Shih Mei-Lin glances at Shih-Nan, then turns back toward the sea and nods.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Although Little Liuqiu isn’t big, every moment and every scenic spot has its own unique and captivating charm, like a thousand-faced beauty blessed with both grace and talent, making people reluctant to leave. Family is right beside you, and the happiness in life is actually very simple, isn’t it?

Shih Mei-Lin: (Resting her head on her hand and smiling at Shih-Nan) Hey! I never expected that you’re not just artsy, but also quite interesting when you talk!

Tsai Shih-Nan: This comes from my own personal experience. Beautiful mountains and beautiful waters but no beautiful salaries—that was why I left home and drifted north to work back then; but later I realized that having one’s soul wander in a foreign place for years is like flowers without roots, placed in a vase for display, feeling utterly hollow.

Shih Mei-Lin: Your metaphor carries profound meaning, but I still believe that a metropolis is the place for pursuing dreams. We’re both still young; we shouldn’t limit ourselves.

△The two exchange smiles.

△The sunlight reflected on the sea surface is crumpled by the crashing waves, flickering with golden light on and off.

Shih Mei-Lin: Living here is so wonderful. There are beautiful views to enjoy every day. I don’t even want to go back to Taipei anymore.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Tell me about yourself? Life in the fashion world must be exciting, right?

Shih Mei-Lin: (Stretches lazily) Today’s clouds plagiarize yesterday’s clouds. As for me! Every day I’m just a busy headless fly.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Why call yourself a fly? You should be a hardworking bee instead.

Shih Mei-Lin: Maybe, you are right! In order to design clothing, I have to travel everywhere, searching for the pollen and nectar of inspiration to nourish my hollow brain and picky taste buds.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Extends his hand) Welcome to Little Liuqiu to gather honey. I believe the wildflowers and seafood here can convince your taste buds.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Takes Shih-Nan’s hand) That’s certainly true. Thank you for accompanying me today.

△Mei-Lin suddenly falls silent, her expression becoming somewhat gloomy.

△The sea breeze begins to strengthen, and the ends of Mei-Lin’s hair flutter behind her. Shih-Nan turns to look at Mei-Lin’s contemplative profile.

Tsai Shih-Nan: What’s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen?

△Mei-Lin lowers her head without answering.

Tsai Shih-Nan: If… if you regard me as a friend you can talk to, then go ahead and say it. Maybe I can help.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Her eyes brighten) You’re willing to help me?

△Tsai Shih-Nan nods vigorously with a sincere expression. Mei-Lin tucks her hair behind her ear, smiles, stretches her body lightly, and deliberately acts relaxed.

Shih Mei-Lin: You’re the one who asked me to say it, so don’t regret it after hearing it!

Tsai Shih-Nan: Why would I? Just go ahead and tell me!

Shih Mei-Lin: After Mom and I returned to Sun Moon Lake from Paris, Grandpa and the other elders kept reminding Mom that I’m no longer young and should get married as soon as possible.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Ha! We share the same family symptoms and psychological panic!

Shih Mei-Lin: Although Mom has always been very open-minded, she still can’t withstand the family pressure and has started urging me to get married. She even said that if I don’t bring a boyfriend back before the end of the month, she’ll arrange a blind date for me. This matter has been troubling me all along, which is why I wanted to come to Little Liuqiu for a vacation and clear my mind, giving my ears some peace and quiet. So? Isn’t this reason laughable?

△Shih-Nan frowns and ponders for a while, examining Mei-Lin’s face.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Honestly speaking, no matter how I think about it, it still feels unreasonable!

Shih Mei-Lin: What’s wrong?

Tsai Shih-Nan: With your excellent conditions and outstanding work environment, logically speaking there should be quite a few successful men proactively courting you. How could you still have this kind of trouble?

△After chuckling softly, Mei-Lin gazes again toward the vast endless sea. A fishing boat passes by, leaving a long trail across the water.

Shih Mei-Lin: Indeed, there’s no shortage of bees and butterflies buzzing around me all day long. The men you’re talking about can roughly be divided into two categories.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Curious) Oh? Which two categories? I’m all ears.

Shih Mei-Lin: The first category consists of playboy types. According to the background investigations I’ve conducted on them, most are heirs of large corporations or rich second-generation sons. These butterflies drift among the flowers only to flirt around. I certainly don’t want to be listed in their little black books and become one of their collectibles to show off to relatives and friends.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Indeed! Men like that enjoy playing around and usually aren’t serious. Then what about the second category?

Shih Mei-Lin: The second category is the middle-aged uncle-type bosses and presidents. Most of these people are successful in business and usually already have families. They tend to spend lavishly, but their minds are filled only with youthful bodies. Keeping mistresses outside is their main form of entertainment. I don’t want to be kept by them and become a canary locked inside a golden cage.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Men like this are bloated with greed and full of wicked intentions. Getting involved with them definitely won’t end well.

Shih Mei-Lin: In my social circle, these two kinds of men mostly surround me, but… the love and happiness I want are things that these men cannot give me no matter how rich they are. Therefore, I’ve always maintained a high degree of caution toward them. I’d rather keep my distance than give them a chance to touch me.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Ponders for a while, resting his hand on his chin and nodding in understanding) I understand your social circle now, but I still don’t know what exactly I can do to help you?

△At this moment, Shih Mei-Lin suddenly grabs Shih-Nan’s hand and looks sincerely into his eyes. Tsai Shih-Nan is stunned for a moment, feeling somewhat flattered.

Shih Mei-Lin: I want to ask you to…

△A fishing boat sways unsteadily on the sea under the blowing ocean wind.

△Tsai Shih-Nan doesn’t even dare blink as he stares into Mei-Lin’s sincere eyes.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Tell me!

Shih Mei-Lin: Once I say it, you must help me. You can’t regret it afterward!

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Hesitates for a moment) Then… go ahead and tell me.

Shih Mei-Lin: I want to ask you to pretend to be my boyfriend for a while, so I can temporarily live in peace and quiet. Especially now that my career is on the rise, I don’t want my family holding me back at this time.

Tsai Shih-Nan: What the heck! Pretend to be your boyfriend? F-fake?

△Mei-Lin nods heavily.

△Tsai Shih-Nan pulls his hand away from Mei-Lin’s palm. His gaze becomes somewhat unfocused as he stares blankly at the sea, seemingly still in shock.

Shih Mei-Lin: You just said you wouldn’t regret it after hearing it! Please……

Tsai Shih-Nan: That’s true, but……

△Shih-Nan looks toward Mei-Lin’s pleading eyes.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) “Pretending to be a boyfriend” to deceive family members definitely isn’t a fundamental solution to the problem, but I also can’t bear to refuse her… What should I do?

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Turns to look at Mei-Lin’s pitiful eyes, OS) Facing a beauty trap like this, it’s really hard to refuse… Didn’t that British literary giant Oscar Wilde once say: “I can resist everything except temptation!” He really hit the mark with me. Oh dear…

△A bitter smile flashes across Shih-Nan’s face.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Reluctantly) …A-alright then. For this period of time, I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend.

△Upon hearing this, a radiant smile immediately blossoms across Mei-Lin’s rosy face. She then quickly kisses Shih-Nan lightly on the lips.

△Sunlight shines across the sea, creating silvery sparkling waves.

△Shih-Nan freezes in place and touches his lips.

Shih Mei-Lin: Oh, this is my first kiss! For you, as a reward.

△Shih-Nan appears somewhat at a loss, not knowing where to direct his gaze.

Shih Mei-Lin: By the way, the kiss I gave you before getting in the car today is called La Bise in France. It’s just a very ordinary way for friends to greet each other.

Tsai Shih-Nan: French people really are open-minded.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Smiles playfully) But that doesn’t include a kiss!

Tsai Shih-Nan: ……Let’s go check out the next place!

△The two walk down the steps side by side hand in hand, heading back.

Scene 52 Time∣Day Setting∣Island Highway, Biyun Temple

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Worshippers

△The heavy motorcycle speeds along the island highway.

Shih Mei-Lin: Ah! I heard there’s also a very magnificent Biyun Temple. I want to go take a look.

Tsai Shih-Nan: The host follows the guest’s wishes, then let’s go to Biyun Temple.

△The heavy motorcycle arrives at Biyun Temple Plaza.

△The two step over the threshold. Inside the lofty temple, the Buddha statues appear solemn and dignified. Mei-Lin clasps her hands together devoutly and makes a wish to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

△Shih-Nan looks at Mei-Lin with surprise.

△After opening her eyes, Mei-Lin notices Shih-Nan staring at her and smiles knowingly.

Shih Mei-Lin: Just now, were you thinking that since I’m a Christian, I shouldn’t worship idols?

△Shih-Nan folds his arms across his chest, nodding with a smile.

Shih Mei-Lin: Actually, I’ve never been baptized, so I don’t really count as a Christian.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Now I understand.

Shih Mei-Lin: But aren’t you curious about what wish I made to the Bodhisattva?

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Smiling and shaking his head) I once heard elders say that wishes won’t come true if spoken aloud.

△Mei-Lin grins.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Pretending to be mysterious) However, I can probably guess it.

Shih Mei-Lin: Oh? What did you guess?

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Wagging his finger in front of Mei-Lin) The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Smiles sweetly) Alright then! A great wife doesn’t force others into difficulties.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Laughs loudly) Hahaha! That phrase isn’t used like that.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Confused) Why? If there’s a “great husband,” then there should also be a “great wife”!

Tsai Shih-Nan: That phrase is only suitable for men to use when expressing confidence in themselves.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Suspicious) Really? That seems rather sexist, doesn’t it? Unfair!

Tsai Shih-Nan: There’s nothing I can do about that! I wasn’t the one who invented the phrase.

Scene 53 Time∣Day Setting∣Courtyard of the Tsai Family Japanese-Style Homestay

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Fen, Chiu Hsiu-Tuan, Chang Ya-Hui, Lodgers

△A sedan arrives at the small plaza in front of the Tsai family homestay. Chang Ya-Hui gets out of the car and takes dozens of framed paintings from the back seat and trunk.

△Seeing this, Tsai Shih-Fen walks out from the lobby and casually pushes over a trolley to help.

△The two women work together to stack the paintings onto the trolley, one pulling and one pushing as they move them into the living room.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Sister Ya-Hui, you work really fast.

Chang Ya-Hui: These paintings have been piled up in the warehouse at my Donggang home all this time. It’s the perfect chance to take them out and decorate the homestay walls, giving them an opportunity to see daylight again. Oh right, I ran into Shih-Nan near the harbor. Did he just buy a heavy motorcycle?

Tsai Shih-Fen: Yeah, he just picked it up the day before yesterday. My mom even asked him where he got so much cash. He only said it came from previous investment profits.

Chang Ya-Hui: Does your brother use a heavy motorcycle to pick up guests at the harbor?

Tsai Shih-Fen: No! He always drives that sedan to pick up guests. Sister Ya-Hui, did you happen to see something?

Chang Ya-Hui: I saw a fashionable foreign girl with red hair riding on the back of his motorcycle.

Tsai Shih-Fen: (Thinks for a moment) A foreign girl? I’ve never heard that my brother knows any foreign girls! …Oh, I remember now. Last week a mixed-race girl with long red hair stayed here. She was very beautiful and striking. I remember her.

Chang Ya-Hui: Then it should be her!

Tsai Shih-Fen: (Puzzled) But my brother isn’t even that familiar with her, right? Then why would he ride a heavy motorcycle to pick her up at the harbor?

Chang Ya-Hui: Your brother probably took her out for a ride, otherwise they should’ve returned home long ago.

Tsai Shih-Fen: It’s fine. Once my brother brings that woman back, I’ll find a chance to subtly interrogate him and also figure out that woman’s background.

Chang Ya-Hui: When you question your brother, don’t mention that I saw him at the harbor driving a beauty around in his fancy vehicle.

Tsai Shih-Fen: (Smiles) I know already!

Chang Ya-Hui: Let’s position these paintings together, shall we?

△The two women begin selecting paintings and discussing where on the walls to place them.

Scene 54 Time∣Day Setting∣Entrance of Geban Bay Resort

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin

△Tsai Shih-Nan escorts Shih Mei-Lin back to the entrance of Geban Bay Resort.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Are you sure you don’t want to stay at my homestay?

Shih Mei-Lin: Not tonight. Tomorrow night, you’re taking me to your house to meet your family. Don’t forget!

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Forces a bitter smile) Is there really a need to rush so much? I’m still not mentally prepared…

Shih Mei-Lin: Everything should emphasize efficiency. That’s my style. Tomorrow night I’ll stay overnight at your house. I need to build a relationship with your family first, so that I won’t accidentally expose our act in front of my mother and family later.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Are you sure? Are you sure I’m a good actor?

Shih Mei-Lin: (Smiles sweetly) Why not? Even a fake performance has to be acted naturally and realistically, otherwise the act will fall apart. See you tomorrow night.

△As he watches Mei-Lin’s pretty figure walking away, Shih-Nan suddenly realizes that “this has become a huge matter,” but by then it is already too late for regrets.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) I’m doomed! Now I’ve become a marionette suspended by strings, held in the palm of her hand. I can only bite the bullet and cooperate in playing this role of “fake boyfriend.” As for how this play of “false phoenix and fake mate” is going to continue, it seems the controlling power is no longer in my hands…

Scene 55 Time∣Night Setting∣Tsai Family Homestay Living Room

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Chiu Hsiu-Tuan

△Shih-Nan returns to the homestay and enters the living room. His mother, Chiu Hsiu-Tuan, is sitting on the sofa crocheting a sweater while waiting for him.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: (Looks up, pausing her crochet work) A-Nan, where did you run off to for half the day? Nobody could find you. Even the sightseeing fishing boat had to be operated by Ming-Teh for you.

Tsai Shih-Nan: I went to see my girlfriend. She came and stayed at our homestay for a few days last weekend. She said she didn’t want to disturb you all yet.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: (Surprised, putting down the crochet needle) What? Since when did you have a girlfriend?

Tsai Shih-Nan: A friend introduced us when I was working at Hsinchu Science Park. She said she’ll come over tomorrow night to officially meet you and Shih-Fen.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: Really? Didn’t you say before that you didn’t have a girlfriend and agreed to let me arrange blind dates for you? Why are you suddenly saying that you have a girlfriend coming to the house?

Tsai Shih-Nan: I only met and started dating this girlfriend after the blind date with Ya-Hui. Recently I finally convinced her to come back and meet you all.

△Mother Tsai naturally understands what is in her son’s heart and does not continue questioning him.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: Alright then! Since your girlfriend is willing to come to our house, your mother certainly won’t make you lose face. Tomorrow I’ll go to the market and buy more fish and meat and prepare a proper meal to entertain her.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mom, thanks.

△Before Shih-Nan leaves, Mother Tsai suddenly makes a strange smiling expression.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: You child, chicken intestines and bird stomach, what kind of tricks are you changing into? Mother can’t understand any of it…

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: (OS, worried) This child Shih-Nan already has a girlfriend and didn’t say so earlier. Ya-Hui has helped so much during this period. How am I supposed to explain this to Ya-Hui?

Scene 56 Time∣Night Setting∣Tsai Shih-Nan’s Bedroom

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan

△Narration:
Lying on the bed, Shih-Nan tosses and turns like fish frying in a cold wok. His agreement with Mei-Lin feels like a tightening magical headband spell, making his scalp tingle and his mind restless.

△Shih-Nan sits up, digging both hands into his hair and messing it up before vigorously shaking his head.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) Am I dreaming? A pretend boyfriend role? I don’t want to be her fake boyfriend at all. If I’m going to be one, then I want to be the real thing…

△Shih-Nan gets up and turns on the light. He sits at his desk and opens his diary, biting the pen barrel as Shih Mei-Lin’s image and sweet smile appear in his mind.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (OS) Why did Shih Mei-Lin choose me? With her conditions, how could there possibly be no men pursuing her? We just met today, and she already wants me to pretend to be her boyfriend and even stay overnight at my house. Good grief! Even idol dramas don’t have plots this exaggerated, do they?

△Tsai Shih-Nan writes in his diary about how he met Mei-Lin today and about their first date together.

Scene 57 Time∣Night Setting∣Mei-Lin’s Room at the Resort

Characters∣Shih Mei-Lin

△A fashion magazine lies on the table. Shih Mei-Lin sits at the desk, gazing at the hazy seascape outside the window, where several fishing lights dot the sea surface.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Talking to herself) This Tsai Shih-Nan feels like an upright gentleman. He’s quite innocent and easy to get along with. Since he understands painting and also has computer expertise, why don’t I persuade him to return to Taipei with me? If we cooperate well together and have great chemistry, then even if the fake relationship becomes real, being together with him might not be bad either, right?

△Mei-Lin flips through a few pages of the magazine, then stops and props her chin up with one hand.

Shih Mei-Lin: (Talking to herself) If he doesn’t want to return to Taipei with me, then we’ll just continue being friends, I suppose?

△Mei-Lin stands up, takes a Walkman from her backpack, inserts a cassette tape, presses the record button, and begins recording.

Shih Mei-Lin: Shih-Nan, coming here for a vacation and unexpectedly meeting you, I truly cherish this friendship. Under the pressure from my elders forcing me toward marriage, I made an unreasonable request to you, asking you to pretend to be my boyfriend. You surely feel wronged inside, but my career is only just beginning to rise upward, and I don’t want to enter into family life at this time…

Scene 58 Time∣Night Setting∣Tsai Shih-Nan’s Bedroom, Beach, Lighthouse, A Certain Café

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin

△On the bed, Shih-Nan is asleep.

△The camera zooms in for a close-up of his facial expressions.

△At one moment Shih-Nan smiles, at another he looks surprised, then confused, then sorrowful, then sad.

INS1: (Dream Sequence)

△On the beach, Mei-Lin runs toward Shih-Nan. Shih-Nan opens his arms and embraces Mei-Lin, spinning around with her. Mei-Lin’s long hair covers Shih-Nan’s face.

Shih Mei-Lin: Shih-Nan, I truly wish time could stop from this moment onward. To the ends of the earth, let us stay together like this forever.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mei-Lin, without you, even if someone gave me the entire world, I still wouldn’t want it.

INS2: (Dream Sequence)

△Under the lighthouse, Mei-Lin and Shih-Nan stand back to back. Mei-Lin’s rosy face is puffed up with anger.

Shih Mei-Lin: You! Your nerves are way too thick. Even such a simple fake relationship could end up exposing itself because of you.

Tsai Shih-Nan: I already told you I can’t act…

Shih Mei-Lin: I’ve never seen a man more foolish than you. I’m completely defeated by you!

INS3: (Dream Sequence)

△Inside a café somewhere in Taipei, Mei-Lin and Shih-Nan sit facing each other.

Shih Mei-Lin: Asking you to pretend to be my boyfriend was only using you. Who told you to fall for it so easily?

Tsai Shih-Nan: Shih Mei-Lin, you’re so heartless…

Shih Mei-Lin: People! Living in such a highly competitive society, either you endure or you become ruthless, otherwise you can only get lost! Get out! Don’t let me see you again!

△Shih Mei-Lin casually grabs a cup of iced coffee from the table and splashes it onto Shih-Nan’s face. She stands up and leaves without even turning her head back.

Back:

△On the bed, Shih-Nan is asleep, his limbs trembling uneasily.

Tsai Shih-Nan: (Crying out painfully) Mei-Lin, don’t, don’t leave me…

Scene 59 Time∣Day Setting∣Tsai Family Homestay Living Room

Characters∣Chiu Hsiu-Tuan, Tsai Shih-Fen

△Inside the living room, Chiu Hsiu-Tuan and Tsai Shih-Fen are folding bath towels.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: Later on, your older brother will bring his girlfriend back here.

Tsai Shih-Fen: What? Older brother actually has a girlfriend?

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: Your older brother told me last night. He said they met while he was working at Hsinchu Science Park.

Tsai Shih-Fen: Mom, Sister Ya-Hui has been so considerate toward older brother, thinking of everything for him in every matter, yet he treats Sister Ya-Hui like this. I really feel it’s not worth it for Sister Ya-Hui.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: Matters of love require both sides. In terms of human feelings, we truly do owe Ya-Hui, but regarding what kind of person your older brother chooses, it’s not convenient for us to interfere. You know your older brother’s personality too. It’s not our place to butt in.

Tsai Shih-Fen: But older brother, he…

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: No “buts!” Later, when your older brother’s girlfriend comes, you must not behave rudely toward her. Good or bad, it’s still your older brother’s own choice. He must personally face Ya-Hui himself.

Scene 60 Time∣Day Setting∣Entrance of the Tsai Family Homestay

Characters∣Tsai Shih-Nan, Shih Mei-Lin, Chiu Hsiu-Tuan, Tsai Shih-Fen, Neighbors

△Tsai Shih-Nan brings Shih Mei-Lin home. The Tsai mother and daughter are dressed up and welcoming them at the entrance. Mei-Lin wears a pink-and-white dress, her demeanor elegant and youthful, accentuating her model-like figure. Paired with short high heels, she stands shoulder to shoulder with the tall-legged Shih-Nan.

Tsai Shih-Nan: Mom, this is my girlfriend, Shih Mei-Lin.

△The Tsai mother and daughter widen their eyes as they stare at Shih Mei-Lin.

Tsai Shih-Fen: (Whispering) Mom, older brother’s girlfriend is so beautiful, just like a Barbie doll!

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: I remember now. She came here last week and stayed for two days.

△Shih Mei-Lin smiles and nods at Mother Tsai, handing over a gift box.

Shih Mei-Lin: Mama Tsai, sorry for disturbing your family. This is just a small token of my appreciation.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: It’s enough that you came. There’s no need to be so polite with gifts.

△Tsai Shih-Nan leads Mei-Lin into the living room.

△Mother Tsai accepts the gift box as several neighbors curiously gather around.

Auntie A: Ah-Tuan, this foreign young lady is your son’s girlfriend, right?

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: She’s just our Shih-Nan’s coworker from Hsinchu Science Park, here traveling around our area.

Uncle B: Is that so? From the way I see it, she looks like Shih-Nan’s girlfriend.

Auntie A: Exactly! Your son really has good taste, finding such a beautiful girlfriend.

Chiu Hsiu-Tuan: They’ve only been dating for a short while. Young people have their own ideas.