Chasing the Dream of Knights

A Youthful Romantic and Inspirational Film

Production Licensing Fee: NT$1,200,000

Synopsis

The Department of Fine Arts at Taiwan University of the Arts sends three junior students—Wu Benyun, Chen Mengru, and Tang Huaimin—to Taoyuan International Airport to welcome incoming exchange students: Michael (Italy), Liu Tianlin (Mainland China), Wen Aihua (Mainland China), and Xu Manfei (USA). The exchange students quickly bond with the local students.

Chen Mengru (Vivian Chen) is gentle and refined, with delicate features and a graceful figure. She is widely considered the campus beauty and is constantly pursued by admirers. Wu Benyun, handsome and charming with a humorous personality, is quite popular among girls. He has long been fond of Chen Mengru and has confessed his feelings several times, but she never gave a clear response. Mengru remains hesitant, as Benyun is often surrounded by other girls, leading her to suspect that he’s a typical "pretty boy" who can’t be trusted.

Liu Tianlin, from Beijing, comes from a prestigious family of artists and is highly skilled in fine arts, earning the respect of professors. He also excels in traditional Chinese music—adept at playing the suona and huqin. He becomes a star figure in the class after a standout performance at a campus talent show, catching the attention of both Wen Aihua and Xu Manfei.

Michael, in contrast, is introverted, simple, and unpretentious. Unlike the other lively and socially adept exchange students, Michael’s sincerity and humility earn him the genuine friendship and warmth of others. One day, Mengru notices Michael eating toast with bottled water alone outside the campus convenience store. Concerned, she learns that Michael comes from a modest background and has to cover part of his living expenses in Taiwan himself. Moved by this, Mengru spends her weekends with him at Beitou Park, running a portrait sketch stall for tourists to help him earn money.

Liu Tianlin secretly looks down on the local students, believing they are not only mediocre in their artistic abilities but also lack proper planning and ambition. His arrogance becomes evident in his interactions with others. Wen Aihua, who initially had a good impression of him, begins to feel uneasy after seeing his condescending attitude toward Tang Huaimin and Wu Benyun. Xu Manfei’s overly affectionate pursuit of Tianlin also adds to Aihua’s discomfort, leading her to gradually distance herself from him.

Tang Huaimin, a warm and humorous local student, is immediately smitten with the sunny and cheerful Wen Aihua and constantly shows her care and concern. Tianlin also has feelings for Aihua but doesn’t take Huaimin seriously at first, often mocking him. However, when he realizes that Aihua has started to drift away and grow closer to Huaimin, he begins to panic and earnestly confesses his feelings. Yet Xu Manfei’s persistent interference and Tianlin’s own wavering heart prevent him from truly committing to Aihua. Moreover, Mengru—Aihua’s close confidante—subtly supports Huaimin, which helps Aihua make her final decision. As a result, Aihua loses interest in Tianlin and develops a steady relationship with Huaimin.

Spending time together day after day, Mengru and Michael slowly fall in love. On Michael’s birthday, Mengru, Aihua, and Huaimin surprise him with cake and champagne. Encouraged by Huaimin, Michael confesses his feelings to Mengru, and the two officially become an international couple. However, Mengru insists that Michael must first gain her family’s acceptance before she will consider marriage. Later, Wu Benyun finds out about their relationship. Though disheartened, he remains graceful and hopeful, thinking he might still have a chance with Mengru once Michael returns to Europe.

On the eve of winter break, Xu Manfei proudly announces in the girls’ dorm that she will be flying with Liu Tianlin to California to meet her parents. Aihua graciously gives her blessings. In a heart-to-heart conversation, Aihua confides that between Huaimin and Tianlin, she chose Huaimin for his sincerity and simplicity. Mengru admits that despite Wu Benyun’s persistent pursuit, she doesn’t trust his image as a pretty boy and prefers the humble and honest Michael. They agree to travel together—Mengru will visit Aihua in Alishan first, then the four of them will go together to Sun Moon Lake.

The two couples journey to the indigenous village of Dabang in Alishan, where Aihua is warmly welcomed by Huaimin’s parents and younger sister, Meilan. They tour the familys tea and coffee plantations. Huaimin leads the group to Danaiku Valley for a day of fun, but a sudden downpour forces them to take shelter in a hunter’s hut. While drying their clothes, the couples open up to each other in an intimate yet respectful way. Aihua begins to fall in love with the pure and peaceful mountain lifestyle, though she isn’t ready to tell her Shanghai-based parents about her relationship in Taiwan.

Chen Mengru later takes Michael, Tang Huaimin, and Wen Aihua to her hometown by Sun Moon Lake in Nantou to meet her family. Her mother, worried about her daughter marrying far away to Italy, urges her to find a local partner instead. However, Michael’s sincerity and down-to-earth nature gradually win over her father, Mr. Chen Zhenxing, and her younger brother, Jiming. The four young adults set up a portrait stand near the Shuishe Pier, drawing sketches for tourists and experiencing the life of street artists together.

As the new semester begins, the relationship between Michael and Vivian Chen (Chen Mengru) continues to grow steadily, making it difficult for Wu Benyun to find a way in. Meanwhile, the pairing of Tang Huaimin and Wen Aihua becomes official. Although Liu Tianlin tries to win Aihua back, his efforts are in vain, while Xu Manfei continues to cling tightly to him.

At the end of the semester, the exchange students prepare to leave Taipei. The Chen family at Sun Moon Lake holds a farewell banquet for Michael, where he promises that after completing his studies and receiving his parents’ approval, he will formally return to propose. The entire Chen family accompanies Michael to the airport. Wen Aihua also promises that once she graduates, she will return to Taiwan to stay with Huaimin.

Six months later, the four friends graduate from university. Michael becomes a designer at a high-end handbag company, diligently saving money to one day open his own shop and create his own brand, with the ultimate goal of returning to Taiwan to marry Vivian. Vivian travels around Taiwan painting landscapes in preparation for the National Art Exhibition.

Meanwhile, Wen Aihua plans to fly to Taiwan, but her mother, having discovered Aihua’s relationship with Huaimin from her laptop, is determined not to let her daughter marry far away. Her parents arrange a matchmaking meeting with Jiang Yang, the son of a long-time family friend, hoping he will take over the family fashion business and keep Aihua in Shanghai. They confine her at home under Jiang Yangs supervision. When communication fails, Aihua decides to pursue her true love and looks for a chance to escape to Taiwan. Her younger sister Mei Hua secretly helps her.

Tang Huaimin urgently seeks help from Vivian. Together, they find Wu Benyun in Tamsui and the three devise a plan to “shed the golden cicada’s shell.” Vivian flies to Shanghai and meets Aihua under the guise of negotiating business. Vivian disguises herself as Aihua and tricks Jiang Yang’s spies, allowing Aihua to escape and rush to the airport to reunite with Huaimin in Taiwan. Huaimin hides her at Vivian’s family home in Sun Moon Lake. Aihua’s parents and Jiang Yang trace them to Alishan and threaten the Tang family, but to no avail. Aihua’s father, longing to see his daughter, finally agrees to accept Huaimins conditions.

At Sun Moon Lake, the Wen family reunites with Aihua. She calmly explains her choice to her parents. Her father, not wanting to lose her, reluctantly agrees to let her stay. Vivian and her younger brother take Huaimin, Aihua, and Mei Hua on a sightseeing boat ride around the lake. Mei Hua is enchanted by the scenery.

A year later, Michael finally purchases a storefront and begins renovations. With his parents’ approval, he writes to Vivian saying he will soon depart for Taiwan. However, while sketching landscapes in Taitung, Vivian falls from a seaside cliff and disappears. She loses all contact with her family and Michael. The Chen family, desperate, contacts Tang Huaimin and publishes a missing person notice. Michael drops everything and flies to Taiwan, heading straight to Sun Moon Lake.

Vivian is rescued by a young photographer named Lin Fengmian, who finds her ID and home address in her wallet. Vivian suffers brain trauma and facial disfigurement. Fengmian, reminded of his ex-girlfriend Qiu Haiyun who disappeared while studying in Europe, sees a resemblance. While arranging her medical care, he persuades doctors to reconstruct her face to match Haiyun’s and gives her a new identity.

After her recovery, "Qiu Haiyun" is taken to the Qiu family in Beitou by Lin Fengmian. Mistaking her for their long-lost daughter, the Qiu parents warmly welcome her. Haiyun, convinced by everyone around her, begins to accept her new identity. Yet she feels a strange disconnect with the home, belongings, and photographs, sensing something isn’t right.

Michael tells the Chens he’ll gather friends to search the entire island for Vivian. Deeply moved, Mr. Chen gives Michael the keys to his old motorcycle. Michael, along with Huaimin and Aihua, sets off on a cross-island journey. In each town, they set up a portrait booth, with Huaimin playing guitar to draw a crowd. Michael displays two paintings of Vivian—one side-profile, one full-body—next to a missing person notice. Tourists are touched by his story, and it even gets media coverage. Lin Fengmian sees the report and becomes alarmed.

Fengmian introduces “Qiu Haiyun” to his modeling company, Fair Beauty, hoping to turn her into a top model. He is favored by the companys GM, Shao Yuting, while Creative Director Zhao Jiamei secretly harbors feelings for him. However, Fengmian only has eyes for Haiyun. Reluctantly, Jiamei supports the plan. With her natural beauty and artistic air, Haiyun quickly rises to fame.

One day, during a photo shoot at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, Haiyun hears Huaimin’s singing and is drawn to the scene. Faint memories of doing street portraits stir in her mind. During a break, she sits at Michael’s booth for a portrait. She’s intrigued by the old motorcycle and experiences memory fragments. She then notices the portraits and missing notice with her name, prompting curiosity and familiarity. Michael, hearing her voice and seeing her eyes, also begins to suspect.

Just then, Fengmian arrives, sees the portraits and the notice, and quickly whisks Haiyun away, fearing exposure.

That evening, back at Wu Benyun’s studio, the group discusses the strange encounter. Huaimin and Aihua remind Michael that although her face has changed, her voice likely hasn’t. Michael is encouraged and begins investigating Haiyun’s background.

He waits outside the modeling agency and spots Haiyun with Fengmian. As he approaches, Fengmian aggressively blocks him. Michael watches helplessly as she leaves in Fengmian’s car, but he follows on his motorcycle. In the car, Haiyun sees Michael in the mirror and starts questioning Fengmian. Although he answers cleverly, her suspicions grow.

Meanwhile, Jiamei, curious, checks Fengmian’s notebook and discovers Vivian’s ID and detailed notes revealing her true identity. Excited, she takes photos of the evidence and arranges a meeting with Haiyun at a café. She shows Haiyun the photos, convincing her she is actually Vivian, though her memory has yet to return.

At Wu Benyun’s studio, the team concludes that Fengmian has been hiding something all along. Michael resolves to act. He returns to the agency, waits for Haiyun, and follows their car again. At a railway crossing, Michael catches up and knocks on the window, showing her the heart-shaped necklace Vivian once gave him. Memories come flooding back. Haiyun suddenly opens the car door and jumps onto the motorcycle. Fengmian gives chase, but Michael and Vivian speed through the alleys and escape into the night.

Back at the Chen home in Sun Moon Lake, the family holds a barbecue celebration. Vivian notices her brother Chen Zhijia video chatting with someone in Shanghai—it’s Mei Hua. Wen Aihua laughs, saying both sisters were tricked into moving to Taiwan.
(The End)