Narrator: Bai Chuhan wakes up in the middle of a luxurious ballroom. She looks around the room, trying to recover her memories. Chuhan: (groans) Where are we? What happened? What? Why am I dressed like this? Narrator: Chuhan pulls her shirt down as far as possible to hide her thighs. Another shadow in the reflection catches her eye. Mo Xingshen (25 years old; hereafter referred to as "Shen"), who has lost consciousness, lies behind her.
Chuhan feels dizzy and starts to freak out at the sight of Shen. Chuhan: Shen?! What in the world is going on? Shen? Shen?! (sighs) What happened? The last thing I remember, A glass of wine at a party... (flashback) Narrator: Chuhan and Shen look at each other passionately. Behind them, there is laughter and gentle music. Shen picks up a glass of wine from the tray beside him and takes a sip. Chuhan takes a second sip.
(present time) Chuhan stares at the sleeping Shen with a look of worry and fear. Chuhan: Hey, Shen. Please, wake up. I don't know what happened... Please wake up. (meanwhile...) Mrs. Mo: Tonight, we have promised you a good time and a delicious meal. You thought the party was over, didn't you? The fun is not over yet. Narrator: Amongst the expectant chatter of the guests, a few giggles can be heard. Lin Mo approaches Mrs. Mo. Lin Mo: I haven't seen Shen since the party ended, have you?
Auntie, do you know where he is? Mrs. Mo: That stupid brat is up to something again. Did you see him do something strange? Lin Mo: No, I even called him out, and he ignored me. I am sure he is around, so don't worry. Narrator: Chuhan hears footsteps approaching the ballroom and starts to panic. She shakes him more and more violently, trying to wake Shen up. Chuhan: Please! Wake up. Your mother and the guests will be in this room. Hey, wake up. (door opens) Mrs. Mo: (shocked) Shen?!
What happened here? Chuhan: Auntie... I don't know what happened? Mrs. Mo: Somebody get this woman away from my son! (footsteps) Chuhan: Let me go! Shen!! (Lin Mo rushes to Shen) Lin Mo: Auntie. It's Shen... I think he's been drugged. Mrs. Mo: Oh no! Narrator: Mrs. Mo is so angry that her body begins to shake. Then...She feels the stares of the guests. Mrs. Mo: Bai Chuhan is a black-hearted whore. Trash will always be trash. They'll always use their dirty tricks to get ahead.
(Chuhan gets scared) Chuhan: I didn't give him any medicine. I didn't do anything! Narrator: Mrs. Mo walks up to Chuhan and slaps her hard across the face. Mrs. Mo: You bitch! (She slaps Chuhan) Chuhan: But... Mrs. Mo: I'm telling you. No matter what you try or do, Lin Mo is the true wife of the Mo family. Narrator: Lin Mo smiles behind Mrs. Mo's back. Mrs. Mo: You're a selfish girl! You are a fool! Your only worth is being a mistress for someone else! Guard! Beat this bitch!
How dare you lay a hand on my son? Narrator: Chuhan peels her eyes when she hears the order given to the guard. Chuhan: I didn't d-- Mrs. Mo: (Chuhan gets beaten) Keep beating her until she knows where she stands! Make her realize she doesn't measure up to my son. (Chuhan continues to get beaten) Chuhan: (crying) Please, I didn't do anything. I swear. I never drugged Shen. Mrs. Mo: Stop lying! Narrator: When the guard tries to hit her again, he is stopped by someone. ???: Stop!
Narrator: When the guard turned around, it was Shen who had grabbed his hand. Mrs. Mo was relieved to see her son awake. Mrs. Mo: Shen! Lin Mo: Shen, you're awake! Narrator: Shen pushes past the guard and heads toward Chuhan with a slightly wobbly gait. Chuhan: Shen? Narrator: He slowly picks Chuhan up. Mrs. Mo looks at them and expresses her anger. Shen: Mother, what did Chuhan do to deserve this kind of punishment?
(Lin Mo approaches Shen) Lin Mo: Shen, you were drugged by Bai Chuhan and had an affair with her! Shen: What? Lin Mo, stop joking. There is no way Chuhan would do that to me. Mrs. Mo: She's right! I saw it with my own eyes, so it can't be a lie. You don't believe your mother? Above all, everyone here witnessed it. Narrator: Shen looks around at the guests, expecting someone to object. But not a single person denies it.
(flashback) Narrator: Shen's strength slips from his hand, and the wine glass slips away. (wine glass breaks) Narrator: He sees Chuhan's image blurring in his eyes. She too seems dizzy. (present time) Mrs. Mo: I told you a long time ago. This woman is not as pure as you think she is. She's just a good actor. This woman knew I would disapprove of her, and she tried to use her dirty tricks to get into the Mo Family this way? Narrator: Mrs. Mo's scornful laughter echoes through the room.
Shen grabs Chuhan's arm a little roughly. Shen: Chuhan, what happened? Chuhan: I...I don't know. Lin Mo: Chuhan, you really know your stuff. This is not the first time you've played the innocent. Chuhan: Shen, you believe me, right? Please believe me. My feelings for you have nothing to do with anything else. I am innocent. Shen: Chuhan, have you done this before? Chuhan, in order to be with you in front of my mother, I had to try my best to protect you.
I can't tell you how many times we fought about it! Chuhan: Shen... Shen: After all, you were no different from those other women who approached me. Mother is right. What you love most is the Mo family fortune. Chuhan: That's not true. Shen: It is a disgrace to the Mo family to have someone as lowly as you come into the family. Chuhan: Shen, please stop. Shen: Bai Chuhan, I wish I never met you... Begone! Narrator: Chuhan looks at Shen in disbelief as he walks away.
All eyes in the hall are on her, her face red with humiliation. Mrs. Mo and Lin Mo smile wickedly at her. Mrs. Mo: I see that my son finally understands who you really are, now that he knows what you are up to. Chuhan: Shen, why are you... Why are you doing this to me? Mo Xingshen, I wish this was... I wish this was just a nightmare... (now in the real world...) (papers rustling) Shi Baba: You've got to be kidding me! What a jerk! Voice (outside): Shi Baba. Dinner's ready!
Shi Baba: I'm not hungry! Voice (outside): Hmm...You're immersing yourself in books again. Shi Baba: (sighs) I hope I'm not wasting my time... I don't really feel like reading these books. Voice (outside): (chuckles) Keep an open mind. You never know what adventures await you within the pages of a book. Shi Baba: I wonder about this book. Voice (outside): Okay, Shi Baba. Whenever you feel like eating, just tell me. Shi Baba: I will. Now, where was I?
(She turns the page) (now in the story) Chuhan: (crying to herself) Mo Xingshen, in your eyes, my efforts were meaningless. You would take it for granted that I would suffer in the Mo family. (She continues crying...) (flashback) (footsteps) Chuhan: Sorry. My apologies. Servant Girl: No, no, miss, don't apologize. May I get you something? Let me get it for you. Chuhan: No, I'm fine. I was in a hurry to see Auntie. I heard she's been looking for me. She's in her room, right?
Servant Girl: Yes, she is there. But it's funny that you didn't say anything when I asked you just now. Chuhan: I have to hurry. Thank you very much. Narrator: Chuhan starts up the stairs again. She reaches a large door and knocks. Mrs. Mo: Who's there? Chuhan: Auntie, it's me. Mrs. Mo: Bai Chuhan? Chuhan: Yes. Mrs. Mo: Enter! (door opens) (Chuhan enters the room) Chuhan: You wanted to see me, Auntie? Mrs. Mo: Yes, I have some clothes that need to be washed.
Chuhan: Oh, I'll have a servant wash it right away. Mrs. Mo: No. I want you to wash them yourself. You'll hand-wash everything. Chuhan: Do I have to wash them? Mrs. Mo: Are you too important to help me wash my clothes? Chuhan: That's not true. Sorry, I'll get to it immediately. Narrator: Chuhan walks to the back of the room where the pile of clothes is located. When her eyes meet Lin Mo's, she glares at Chuhan. She reaches into the pile of clothes and frantically picks them up.
Mrs. Mo and Lin Mo sit and watch her. Mrs. Mo: Be careful with those dresses! They are very expensive. I don't expect you to know anything about that. And I'd need them really clean and done within the next hour. Chuhan: I understand, Auntie. Narrator: Chuhan is halfway through a load of laundry. Under the laundry room lights, beads of sweat glisten. Although her wrists ache, she continues to do the laundry, taking her time and treating each garment with care.
The servant she bumped into earlier comes rushing into the room. Servant Girl: Miss, may I be of some assistance? Chuhan: This is a special request from Auntie, so please let me do it myself. Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's good exercise Servant Girl: If you say so, miss... I will bring you something to drink. Chuhan: Thank you very much. Narrator: Chuhan smiles at her, keeps her smile as she watches the servant leave the room, then slumps her shoulders.
Chuhan rubs and twists her right wrist to ease the pain. At that moment, she notices footsteps hurrying toward the laundry room. The door reveals Shen, whose face turns red when he sees Chuhan doing the chores. Behind her stands the servant. Shen: What's this? Chuhan: Shen...You're back? Shen: Why are you washing them yourself? Why don't you ask the maid to do it for you? (to the servant) How can you let her wash the clothes and you just stand there and do nothing?
Servant Girl: I tried to help, sir. But she and Mrs. Mo insisted that I shouldn't. Shen: (to Chuhan) My mother? Chuhan: It's no big deal, Shen. Shen: These are my mother's clothes. Was she the one who asked you to do the laundry? Chuhan: I'm just helping out a little. I'm fine. Shen: It's such a big pile, Chuhan. I'm going to go talk to my mother right now. (door opens) Chuhan: No... Shen, wait. Please, don't fight with your mother because of me.
Narrator: Mrs. Mo and Lin Mo are sipping wine and browsing through a magazine, and they are in a good mood when the door suddenly opens. Mrs. Mo frowns at the commotion but then realizes that Shen has entered. Mrs. Mo: Shen, you are home? Shen: Does this house have no more servants? Why did you let Chuhan wash your own clothes? Mrs. Mo: It's not what you think it is. You misunderstand my intention. Shen: Do I? Narrator: Chuhan rushes up behind Shen. Mrs. Mo glares at her.
Mrs. Mo: Yes, you do. I did it for Chuhan's sake. Housework is a woman's life purpose. Besides, laundry is not such a tiring job, you know? Shen: I thought I was... Mrs. Mo: You must be tired. You must have had a long and hard day at work. Besides, you've been looking a little worn out lately, right? It's been a while since you came home, so let's not argue over trivial things. Lin Mo: Auntie is right, Shen. You look a little tired. Shen: Mother, do you think you will approve of Chuhan?
Narrator: Mrs. Mo does her best to hide her discomfort. Mrs. Mo: Chuhan, I have seen your hard work so far. If you have even the slightest dissatisfaction in your heart, put it into words. Don't keep it in your heart. Oh my... Shen: (to Chuhan) Please don't be mad at her. Mother just wants to be nice. Narrator: Chuhan looks around the room and realizes that her reaction may have been misinterpreted. Chuhan: That's not the case. My hands are a little sore.
Narrator: Chuhan becomes uneasy as Mrs. Mo and Lin Mo frown at her. She looks at Shen, hoping that the misunderstanding will be cleared up. Mrs. Mo: I didn't know about your hand. I was trying to be good to you. (present time) Chuhan: (to herself) Your mother, while you were away, tormented me in every way possible. But you look down at me from where you are. You don't care if I suffer as long as you are happy.