“The Silent of Romance” – A Youth Tragedy Film

Filming Rights Fee: NT$1,500,000

Synopsis

Renjie Yu, a delicate and good-looking teenager, has suffered from involuntary vocal outbursts and facial muscle twitches since childhood. He is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. His mother, Mei-Hung Huang, takes him from one specialist to another, but they all give the same answer: there is no complete cure, and only ADHD or bipolar medications can help alleviate symptoms—yet prolonged use causes harmful side effects.

One day, Mei-Hung brings Renjie to a shopping mall beneath the city streets, where they encounter a blind violinist and his daughter playing the flute. The touching melody mesmerizes Renjie. In that moment of immersion, his emotions relax, and the symptoms briefly subside. As a high school teacher, Mei-Hung decides to enroll him in music lessons, hoping music will soothe and heal his condition. But every time Renjie becomes emotionally tense, his symptoms return.

Throughout Renjie’s upbringing, teachers, adults (even his own father, Da-Wei Yu), mistake his involuntary noises and movements for attention-seeking behavior. He is seen as mischievous and treated as a hyperactive child. Other children often ridicule and bully him, which gradually makes him withdrawn and alienated from his classmates.

One day, classmates Da-Xiong Yeh and two others corner and bully Renjie in the schoolyard. PE coach Mr. Pan "Ironman" Tian spots and stops them, mistakenly thinking Renjie is hurt and punishes the bullies harshly. Embittered, Da-Xiong vows revenge. He steals the class fund and hides it in Renjies bag, framing him. During PE class the next day, Da-Xiong fakes a stomach ache and sneaks back into the classroom. He stuffs the class fund—taken from monitor Jia-Zhen Zhang’s bag—into Renjies, and leaves traces suggesting Renjie committed the theft.

When the class discovers the missing funds, Jia-Zhen and the class president report to their homeroom teacher, Ms. Hsiao-Rong Wu. Ms. Lin, another teacher, searches everyones bags. Renjie, unaware, retrieves the money from his own bag, prompting Da-Xiong to immediately accuse him of stealing. Unable to defend himself, Renjie is taken to the office for interrogation. Refusing to confess, he is threatened with parental involvement. Humiliated and distraught, Renjie hides in the bathroom after class and places toilet cleaning acid in his mouth, intending to harm himself to prove his innocence.

His mother Mei-Hung is called to the school. Disciplinary Director Mr. Shih-Jie Lo searches for Renjie but cant find him. A student reports someone locked inside the restroom. Lo and student affairs officer Ms. Ching-Yi Lin kick open the door and find Renjie foaming at the mouth, with the acid bottle nearby. He is rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The truth surfaces when the bullying students, pressured by guilt and school authorities, confess the setup. They say it was meant only to “teach Renjie a lesson” and stop his strange noises—not to push him to self-harm. Renjie survives, but suffers permanent vocal cord damage and loses his voice. Principal Chih-Lung Chung visits the hospital to show concern and promises an investigation and accountability for the incident.

Renjie’s father, Da-Wei Yu, enraged by the schools negligence and his sons permanent injury, threatens to sue. Mei-Hung manages to talk him down, but Da-Wei blames her for failing to protect their son. The argument leads to their separation.

After being discharged, Renjie transfers schools and moves with his mother back to her hometown. Mei-Hung tutors him daily. Renjie, determined not to let her down, studies hard and gets into a top high school gifted program. His father, proud yet estranged, picks him up to buy him a reward. In high school, Renjie excels in science and math. His musical talent—violin, piano, and songwriting—also gains recognition from the music teacher, Ms. Yu-Ching Chai.

With Ms. Chai’s recommendation, Renjie joins the school band “Youth Medley” as a keyboardist. The band’s lead vocalist, Mu-Ya Chiang, is a beautiful mixed-race girl with a sweet and clear voice. The lead guitarist and male vocalist, Yue-Tian Wu, is charming and handsome—the band’s leader. Mu-Ya is infatuated with Yue-Tian, and they often rehearse together, developing a close bond. Yue-Tian, witty and smooth, always attracts a group of female admirers.

Another admirer, the wealthy and elegant Jin-Mei Jin—regarded as the school’s most beautiful girl—has a crush on Yue-Tian and offers financial support to the band. Yue-Tian wavers between Jin-Mei and Mu-Ya, treating Mu-Ya with alternating warmth and indifference, leaving her emotionally torn. Mu-Ya confides in Renjie about her feelings for Yue-Tian and frustrations with his flirtations, treating Renjie like a trusted friend. Though Renjie is deeply in love with Mu-Ya, his introverted and quiet nature prevents him from confessing.

Yet, fate often hides flaws within beauty. Mu-Ya has epilepsy, though it had been under control with medication. After stopping treatment in high school, she experiences no symptoms for months—until one fateful evening.

During their first public performance, while singing a duet with Yue-Tian, Mu-Ya suddenly has a seizure on stage. The band panics. Ms. Chai instructs the members to help—but Yue-Tian stands by coldly, visibly disgusted. It is Renjie who steps in. He lets Mu-Ya bite his hand to relieve the convulsions, holding on in silence until her seizure subsides, leaving his hand bloodied with deep bite marks.

When Mu-Ya regains consciousness and sees Yue-Tian’s indifferent face, she cannot hold back her tears.

Renjie is deeply pained when Mu‑Ya suffers another seizure. This emotional blow causes him to reconsider his original plan to apply to a university music program. Instead, he resolves to pursue medical school so that he can personally care for Mu‑Ya in the future. He shares this decision with Ms. Chai Yu‑Ching, who, though disappointed that he is giving up music, understands and fully supports him.

After Mu‑Ya’s illness, Yue‑Tian’s attitude toward her changes drastically—he becomes cold, while openly pairing off with Jin‑Mei. Mu‑Ya is devastated; her spirits sink, and her seizures become more frequent. Renjie stays by her side, gently coaxing her into returning to medication and therapy.

Meanwhile, Mu‑Ya’s father, film director Jiang Ke‑Feng, believes she should no longer endure epilepsy or the alienation she faces from classmates. He strongly advocates bringing Mu‑Ya back to California, USA, where she can receive more comprehensive treatment. But Mu‑Ya resists—she has no friends or ties in the U.S., doesn’t want to pause her studies, and refuses this option.

One day on Movie Street, Mu‑Ya sees Yue‑Tian holding Jin‑Mei at the entrance of a cinema while buying tickets. Deeply upset by the sight, Mu‑Ya suffers a seizure in public. Renjie, passing by on his bicycle, witnesses the scene. He races through the crowd, lifts Mu‑Ya to safety, and tends to her—allowing her to bite his hand in the process. Injured but undeterred, he comforts her. Crowds applaud his compassion as Mu‑Ya sobs and, noticing Renjie’s bleeding hand, explains that all the bite marks are from her seizures. Onlookers praise his loyalty and selflessness.

A bystander records the incident and posts it online, dubbing Renjie the “Deep‑Loving, Pain‑Enduring Brother.” The clip goes viral, attracting media attention. Reporters track Renjie’s school from netizen posts, but he declines any interviews—yet the story shakes the entire student body.

A journalist compiles a news report based on the viral footage. Vivian, Mu‑Ya’s mother, sees it on TV and learns the story from her daughter. Vivian and Mu‑Ya visit Renjie’s home to express gratitude. Mei‑Hung learns the full story from Vivian, and Renjie finally admits that he’s quietly loved Mu‑Ya all along—but Mu‑Ya has never known. Mei‑Hung consoles her devoted son and urges him to focus on preparing for the university entrance exams.

At their high school graduation ceremony, the “Youth Melody” band delivers a sensational performance, earning thunderous applause. Yue‑Tian and other graduating seniors step down. Feeling there’s nothing left for her in the school without Yue‑Tian, Mu‑Ya decides to return to the U.S. for treatment. She bids farewell to Ms. Chai Yu‑Ching—keeping her decision secret from Renjie—but he overhears their parting and feels crushed.

A year later, when university entrance exam results are released, Renjie scores a perfect top-tier mark (75). Mu‑Ya returns to Taiwan post-treatment. In thanks for all he has done, she accompanies him to the interview at National Taiwan University’s medical school. During the interview, the panel challenges him because of his loss of speech, but Mu‑Ya intervenes—drawing on her own epilepsy experience to advocate for him. After the interview, walking through the NTU campus, Mu‑Ya reveals her plan: she will pursue a singing career full-time. Renjie respects her decision.

Renjie begins medical school at NTU. At first, he is solitary and emotionally reserved—nicknamed “the priest” by classmates, some suspect he might be gay. In the evenings, he works as a pianist at a local folk‑music Western cafe. Mu‑Ya enters the preliminary round of the “Singing Superstar Contest,” where she unexpectedly meets Yue‑Tian again. Singing Renjie’s composition “Blue Tears,” she wins the weekly championship; Yue‑Tian places second. Both advance to the monthly finals. Yue‑Tian’s live‑in girlfriend Jin‑Mei, fearing old flames rekindling, furiously confronts him, leading to a heated fight.

Mu‑Ya continues her success, and Renjie watches her televised performance from the restaurant where he works, quietly cheering her on. His song “Blue Tears” attracts the curiosity of two female junior students, Wen‑Yu Tang and Ting‑Ting Shen. They recall hearing that tune played by a pianist at the cafe and go in search of him. After verifying with staff that the pianist is a medical student, they eventually trace him to Renjie—nicknamed “the speechless priest” in the school—and confirm he is the composer. They then visit the cafe and the library, discovering his handwritten songbook. Moved by his lyrics, Shen‑Ting realizes deep emotional pain and suspects Renjie had a romantic history. Searching online, she finds the viral video of “Deep‑Loving, Pain‑Enduring Brother.” Feeling sympathetic love, she approaches Renjie—urging him to let go of the past. Though Renjie is hesitant to open up, she persists, becoming a trusted confidante.

Renjie quits his job at the cafe. In his free time, he plays violin at a hospice for comatose patients. A nurse records his compassionate performance and uploads it online. Though media seek interviews, Renjie prefers privacy. The department chair and classmates are deeply moved by his kindness, elevating him as a beloved figure in the medical school.

Shen‑Ting shows romantic interest in Renjie, but he only treats her as a good friend. She suspects his Tourette Syndrome‑related insecurity underlies his emotional reserve. She invites him to perform at another nursing home; her talent for mimicry entertains patients and warms the room, earning Renjie’s admiration.

When the school holds a folk‑song contest, Shen‑Ting asks Renjie to accompany her on piano. During practice, she sings just the first two lines of “Blue Tears” in a voice uncannily similar to Mu‑Ya’s—shocking him. Initially upset and asking via sign language why she doesn’t sing in her own voice, he learns she wasn’t copying; both voices share a similar tone yet are distinct. Relieved, they finish rehearsing amicably. Walking across campus afterward, Shen‑Ting takes Renjie’s hand. Although he initially thinks of Mu‑Ya, he accepts Shen‑Ting’s affection, and their relationship blossoms. Her roommate Wen‑Yu Tang thinks Shen‑Ting, with her charm, doesn’t need to chase a mute senior—but Shen‑Ting is resolute, defending her choice.

Mu‑Ya wins the contest and impresses everyone—including Yue‑Tian, who invites her to record at a record label studio. Jin‑Mei assumes Yue‑Tian is returning to Mu‑Ya, leading to a bitter confrontation. Yue‑Tian is kicked out and turns to Mu‑Ya for comfort. They spend a night together, but Yue‑Tian disappears the next morning and returns to Jin‑Mei—revealing he was playing with emotions. Heartbroken, Mu‑Ya seeks solace by going to a nightclub. There, she is drugged by predatory men and left vulnerable. As she is forced toward danger, Renjie happens to drive past. Seeing her in peril, he intervenes, fighting off the men. In the struggle, he brandishes a scalpel to protect her, injuring one assailant. He is struck in the face amid the chaos, and they flee the scene.

Mu‑Ya helps Renjie home and tends to his wounds. Seeing his songbook on the piano, she finally reads the lyrics and realizes all along she has been the person in his heart. She honestly confesses their one-night stand with Yue‑Tian, refusing to deceive Renjie. He, full of both love and pity, gives her the songbook. That night, Mu‑Ya stays over at his, and when an episode of her condition flares, she initiates intimacy. After inner conflict, they make love.

The next morning, Mu‑Ya leaves a note explaining last night’s intimacy, asking that Renjie not feel obligated—they are no longer destined together. She departs to find solitude. Arriving home, she writes to her parents that she’s traveling to clear her head, then boards a train to Taitung. There, she teaches music at Hongye Elementary School alone.

Meanwhile, Shen‑Ting participates in another campus folk‑song contest, singing “If I Were to Be Your Family in the Next Life” with emotional sincerity and a sweet, clear voice. She is applauded and attracts the attention of a talent scout. After the contest, the scout reaches out, offering a recording contract—but Shen‑Ting politely declines, saying she only sings for enjoyment.

Soon, Mu‑Ya discovers she is pregnant—and believes Renjie is the father. She decides, for the child’s sake, to provide fatherly love in full—even alone. She plans to visit Renjie’s dorm to tell him, but sees Shen‑Ting returning to his side and changes her mind. She heads back to Taitung, determined to give birth and raise the child independently.

Teaching music at the Taitung school, Mu‑Ya is beloved by students and colleagues. While her growing belly sparks rumors among coworkers—since no man is ever seen with her—no one dares to confront her. Nine months later, during winter break, Mu‑Ya goes into labor in her dormitory staff housing. The school nurse assists and other staff organize baby supplies. She names her son Jiang Si‑Jie. The school permits her to bring her child to class and continue teaching.

The physical education teacher, Wa-Gang, was born with a naturally gifted singing voice. He had once seen Mu-Ya compete on the talent show Singing Celebrity Charts and heard her perform several of her original songs—deeply moving in both melody and lyrics—while playing the organ. Wa-Gang developed a quiet affection for Mu-Ya, often using the excuse of delivering formula and diapers to her as an opportunity to chat casually. However, whenever Wa-Gang asked about the child’s father, Mu-Ya would quickly change the subject. Wa-Gang instinctively sensed that she had a painful past she didn’t wish to revisit.

Little Si-Jie gradually grew up. Six years later, when he reached school age and entered kindergarten, he began exhibiting early symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome—just like Renjie. He also got into fights with classmates over toys, which left Mu-Ya deeply troubled. She started considering whether she should seek out Renjie for help. After all, Si-Jie was Renjie’s biological son, and Renjie himself had endured a long and painful journey through the illness.

Renjie and Ting-Ting had both graduated from medical school and passed the physician’s licensing exam. They worked as specialists in the same large teaching hospital, and their relationship was steady. Renjie had gained recognition for his innovative treatments for epilepsy. One day, a news segment featured him, and Mu-Ya happened to see the long-unseen Renjie on TV. She realized that Renjie had become a leading epilepsy specialist in order to cure her illness—a clear sign that she still held a place in his heart.

Mu-Ya brought Si-Jie to the hospital for diagnosis and deliberately registered for Renjie’s consultation. The three met in the exam room. Upon Renjie’s gentle probing, Mu-Ya finally admitted that Si-Jie was his biological child. Their unusual interaction caught the attention of the attending nurse, Xiao-Fen, who became suspicious. Overwhelmed with guilt toward Mu-Ya and the child, Renjie could no longer bear the thought of his own flesh and blood being left without support. Despite already being engaged to Ting-Ting, he resolved to take responsibility as both husband and father to Mu-Ya and Si-Jie.

Following the reappearance of Mu-Ya and her son, Renjie’s attitude toward Ting-Ting began to shift. He often made excuses to join medical outreach programs in remote areas and would mysteriously disappear during his days off, arousing Ting-Ting’s deep suspicion. One day during a break, Renjie drove off to spend time with Mu-Ya and Si-Jie. Ting-Ting learned from Nurse Xiao-Fen that something was amiss and instinctively felt that Renjie wanted to rekindle his relationship with Mu-Ya. Feeling threatened, Ting-Ting used a GPS tracking device to trace Renjie’s movements. She followed him to the Tamsui seaside, where she saw him joyfully playing with Si-Jie on the beach. Witnessing their sweet interaction, she wept silently and left in sorrow. When Renjie returned to the dorm, Ting-Ting confronted him angrily. Unable to evade her questions, he confessed that he wanted to care for Mu-Ya and their son. The revelation devastated Ting-Ting.

One day, Mu-Ya collapsed in front of her son. Si-Jie dialed 119 and requested an ambulance to take her to National Taiwan University Hospital. Emergency services notified Renjie to come to the ER. Ting-Ting followed secretly and witnessed Mu-Ya lying weakly in the hospital bed. From the radiology room, she accessed Mu-Ya’s X-ray scans and learned that a malignant tumor had developed deep within her brain. Even with surgery, the chances of survival were slim.

Renjie broke the news to Mu-Ya truthfully and tried his best to persuade her to undergo surgery. But Mu-Ya, aware that her days were numbered, lacked the courage to gamble with fate. She gently declined his arrangement, asking only that he stay by her side through the remainder of her life. Renjie gained Ting-Ting’s understanding and support. The three of them accompanied Mu-Ya and Si-Jie on a trip to the coast of Taimali, Taitung, to watch the sunrise. Under Wa-Gang’s arrangement, they boarded a yacht to go whale watching. On the yacht, Mu-Ya entrusted Si-Jie to Ting-Ting, who promised to care for Renjie and his son.

Before Mu-Ya’s passing, her parents received word and rushed to the hospital to see their daughter, now on the verge of death. They also met their grandson, Si-Jie. Vivian embraced her dying daughter and sobbed uncontrollably; Jiang Ke-Feng too was overwhelmed with tears. Mu-Ya’s last request was for her parents to allow Si-Jie to return to his father, Renjie. The elderly couple reluctantly agreed.

At Mu-Ya’s funeral, Wa-Gang sang several of her favorite songs at the memorial altar. As his mournful voice echoed, a tear miraculously streamed from the corner of Mu-Ya’s eye—almost as if her spirit still lingered. Then, at the moment when family and friends were about to close the casket, Renjie, who had been mute for many years, suddenly let out a hoarse cry:
“Jiang Mu-Ya… In the next life, I will still love you…”
All present were stunned. Deeply moved by the tragic fate of these star-crossed lovers, not a single eye remained dry.

Ting-Ting embraced Renjie and Si-Jie tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. In that moment, she no longer knew whether what she felt was love—or sorrowful compassion.
(The End)