Reprinted Youth

Fantasy Romantic Fashion Love Film 9

Scene 71 | Time: Morning | Location: Entrance of an Office Building in Taipei’s East District

Characters: Shi Meilin, Yan Yongkang, Men, Office Workers, Passersby

△A magnificent commercial office building stands in Taipei City’s East District. Traffic streams endlessly along the road, while office workers and shopping crowds walk along the sidewalks.
△Shi Meilin, carrying a handbag on her back, passes through the crowd and arrives beneath the company building. The dazzlingly glamorous Shi Meilin immediately attracts the attention of passersby. Several men stare at her, and some whisper among themselves.
△Shi Meilin walks into the entrance and rides the elevator together with young male and female office workers.

Man A: This mixed-blood girl is gorgeous and super hot!

Man B: Her face and figure are both top-notch! Which company is she from?

Man C: Why bother asking about her? A high-end imported beauty like this must already be taken!

Man B: Maybe she’s still single! Asking won’t cost me anything.

△Another man nearby overhears the conversation between the three men and walks over.

Yan Yongkang: That girl is my direct supervisor, the director of the design department. Her name is Shi Meilin.

Man B: Oh? Which company are you from?

Yan Yongkang: Focus. There are plenty of flowers everywhere in the world. Director Shi isn’t your type anyway, so just let it go!

△After speaking, Yan Yongkang walks away in a carefree manner and enters the building to take the elevator.

Scene 72 | Time: Day | Location: General Manager’s Office, Focus Fashion Company

Characters: Shi Meilin, Su Mingyu

△Shi Meilin walks into the general manager’s office carrying a folder in her arms.

Shi Meilin: (handing it over) President Su, these are this season’s fashion design drafts.

Su Mingyu: Just put them on the desk first. I’ll find time to look through them. By the way, two days later, I’m having a dinner gathering with several bosses from our partner companies. You and Keni will attend with me. I’ll also take the opportunity to introduce you to a talented young man. His name is Lin Wenbin, the general manager of Beauty Cosmetics Company, and he has a master’s degree in business administration from the UK. Beauty intends to sign a contract with our company and become a cross-industry strategic alliance partner. I think the two of you would make a very suitable match.

Shi Meilin: (smiling) Oh? President Su is playing matchmaker too?

Su Mingyu: Wenbin is an outstanding young talent in the business world. His conduct is proper, and he has never been involved in scandals. In terms of both character and family background, he’s very compatible with you.

△Meilin senses the hidden meaning behind the general manager’s words and does not want to bring trouble upon herself.

Shi Meilin: President Su, I already have a boyfriend with whom I’m in a stable relationship.

Su Mingyu: (still unwilling to give up) It wouldn’t hurt to get acquainted with more elite gentlemen. It’ll give you more choices when selecting a husband in the future. Think about it. You may go back to work now.

△Shi Meilin turns around, leaves the office, and returns to her own office.

Scene 73 | Time: Day | Location: In Front of Baishawan Visitor Center, On the Beach

Characters: Cai Shinan, Qiu Xiuduan, Zhang Yahui

△Cai Shinan arrives at the entrance of the visitor center. Yahui is already waiting there, carrying a handbag in her hand.

Zhang Yahui: (handing it over) This is for you. Open it and take a look.

Cai Shinan: Is this your work?

Zhang Yahui: Mm. Last time, you helped repair the school computers. It’s just a small token of appreciation.

△Cai Shinan takes out the oil painting and sees a half-length portrait of himself in the painting. He beams brightly.

Zhang Yahui: I studied your features for more than half the night.

△Cai Shinan points at Yahui and imitates Li Liqun’s tone from a film commercial.

Cai Shinan: Haha! You’ve captured me!

Zhang Yahui: (laughing) What are you doing? This isn’t a commercial shoot.

Cai Shinan: (curious) Without a photo of me, how did you paint this?

Zhang Yahui: (pointing at her forehead) The picture is printed right here!

Cai Shinan: Professional-level indeed. It’s really different.

△Cai Shinan puts away the oil painting and places it on the passenger seat.

Cai Shinan: Shall we take a walk by the sea?

Zhang Yahui: (nodding with a smile) Sure!

▲Camera cuts.

△On the beach, the figures of Shinan and Yahui appear in a medium shot that gradually zooms closer.

Cai Shinan: The day before yesterday, I went to Sun Moon Lake, to Meilin’s home.

Zhang Yahui: (surprised and disappointed) Your relationship with her has progressed so quickly!?

Cai Shinan: (smiling bitterly) Meilin was the one who asked for it. She said her elders wanted to meet me.

Zhang Yahui: If that’s the case, Meilin must be serious about you.

Cai Shinan: (looking gloomy) Actually, I’m very confused too…

Zhang Yahui: Confused? Are you willing to tell me about it?

△Fast-forward shot: Shinan gestures animatedly while talking.

Cai Shinan: …That’s how everything happened.

Zhang Yahui: (resting one hand against her chin, thinking) From what you’ve said, Meilin really did intend to use you at first, asking you to temporarily act as her boyfriend to help her out of a difficult situation. Then, perhaps she felt your conditions were quite good and started wanting the fake relationship to become real. That’s why she proactively asked you to go to Taipei with her. But facing her request, you feel very hesitant.

Cai Shinan: Yeah! I feel that Meilin’s lifestyle circle and mine are worlds apart. I simply don’t want to return to the workplace and become an office worker again. Besides, I don’t lack food or clothing.

Zhang Yahui: (laughing) Oh? What’s this? You’re still so young, and you already want to retire into seclusion?

Cai Shinan: (grinning foolishly) It’s not exactly seclusion, but I really dislike that kind of busy and exhausting office life, running around every day like a headless fly. If you’re your own boss, at least you bear your own profits and losses. You won’t have to deal with “clocking in at work while still being on-call after hours,” being forced by your boss to work overtime all the time.

Zhang Yahui: But if you go to Taipei together with Shi Meilin, unless the two of you start a business together, you’d still become an office worker anyway!

Cai Shinan: Exactly. That’s the very thing I’m hesitating about.

Zhang Yahui: (gazing at him) Shinan, look into my eyes and answer me honestly. Do you care deeply about Shi Meilin?

Cai Shinan: (looking directly at her) Mm. I care about her very much.

Zhang Yahui: (looking gloomy) Since you care so much about Meilin, then you can only compromise and comply with her request.

Cai Shinan: But why must I be the one compromising for her? Doesn’t she need to consider my feelings at all…?

Zhang Yahui: Because you care about Meilin. If you refuse to compromise for her, she can simply find someone else. Meilin is a girl with a strong personality. She only expects others to accommodate her because she believes that, with her own conditions, there will definitely be men willing to do so.

Cai Shinan: (letting out a long sigh) Sigh… You really hit the key point.

Zhang Yahui: Sighing won’t solve the problems between you and her.

Cai Shinan: Meilin really isn’t like you. You’re reasonable and easy to communicate with!

Zhang Yahui: (smiling bitterly) Is that so? You think I’m easy to communicate with because you see me as a good friend. But if we were lovers, problems like this wouldn’t happen between us, because I would respect you. Wherever you went, I would follow you there.

Cai Shinan: (scratching his forehead and grinning foolishly) Oh! You really are thoughtful and understanding. That’s why I came to you to talk about my worries…

Zhang Yahui: Just now, I cast aside a girl’s reserve and confessed my feelings to you. I know that right now, your heart and eyes are filled only with Shi Meilin. I don’t want to make a fool of myself by interfering between the two of you. But I want you to always remember the kindness I’ve shown you, and be willing to treat me as a confidante you can share your worries with.

Cai Shinan: (moved) Mm, Yahui, I’ll always remember your kindness toward me…

Scene 74 | Time: Night | Location: Teachers’ Dormitory

Characters: Zhang Yahui

△Inside the teachers’ dormitory, Yahui sits at a desk staring blankly out the window at the sea in the night. From the cassette player comes the song “Dream to Awakening” sung by Sarah Chen.

Because love is always so difficult to let go of, why care about that little bit of tenderness
You must know heartbreak is always unavoidable at every moment of awakening from dreams
Some things you need not ask now, and some people you never need to wait for forever

△The camera gradually zooms in from Yahui’s back. A close-up of her short-haired profile becomes increasingly clear, with tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes. On the desk lies a draft sketch of Shinan and Yahui leaning close together.

Zhang Yahui: (speaking to herself) Tomorrow, I’ll go to the hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department for an examination.

Scene 75 | Time: Night | Location: Private Dining Room of a Restaurant in a Taipei Hotel, Entrance

Characters: Su Mingyu, Shi Meilin, Li Keni, Lin Wenbin, Several Big Bosses, Waiter

△Inside the restaurant’s private dining room, the glamorous Shi Meilin becomes the center of attention. Several big bosses stir up the atmosphere and take turns raising glasses to toast with Shi Meilin.

Chairman Gu: Director Shi, bottoms up!

Chairman Liang: That’s right! That’s right! A toast is only sincere if you empty the glass.

Shi Meilin: I’ll drink according to my limits. I really can’t handle alcohol very well.

Lin Wenbin: From now on, I’ll drink the toasts on behalf of Director Shi.

Chairman Gu: That won’t do! President Lin can’t break the rules. Director Shi can handle it!

△Shi Meilin raises her wine glass and reluctantly drinks half a glass. She nearly gags and vomits. Seeing this, Su Mingyu quickly pats Meilin’s back.

Su Mingyu: (trying to smooth things over) Gentlemen, Director Shi has already done her best.

Li Keni: (raising her wine glass) Chairman Gu, Chairman Liang, Chairman Ye, let me toast the three of you.

▲Camera cuts.

△Lin Wenbin supports Shi Meilin as they walk toward the entrance. Su Mingyu and Li Keni follow beside them. Meilin staggers as she walks.

Lin Wenbin: She never should have been made to drink so much. These big bosses are really too much.

Su Mingyu: I’ll hail a taxi. Keni, you take Meilin home.

△Su Mingyu hails a taxi. Wenbin and Keni help Meilin into the car. Wenbin closes the taxi door and watches the departing taxi drive away.

Scene 76 | Time: Day | Location: Director’s Office, Design Department, Focus Fashion Company

Characters: Shi Meilin, Su Mingyu (General Manager), Li Keni

△Su Mingyu walks into Shi Meilin’s office. Shi Meilin looks up and rises to greet her.

Shi Meilin: General Manager, I’ll go make a cup of coffee.

Su Mingyu: No need to trouble yourself. I just want to chat with you for a bit. It won’t delay your work.

△The two sit down on the sofa chairs.

Su Mingyu: What do you think of President Lin from Beauty Company?

Shi Meilin: Lin Wenbin? He’s elegant and refined, truly a talented young man!

Su Mingyu: I’m asking about your feelings toward him.

Shi Meilin: (realizing) President Su, you…

Su Mingyu: When I heard you say you already had a boyfriend, I felt regretful for you in my heart.

Shi Meilin: President Su, I’m not the kind of woman who easily changes her affections.

Su Mingyu: Last night, the big bosses were all competing to toast you with drinks, and Wenbin kept protecting you. I could tell that Wenbin sees you in a special light.

Shi Meilin: President Su…

Su Mingyu: In the business world, Wenbin is not only a talented young man. What’s rare is that his private life is highly self-disciplined, and his image and reputation have always been excellent. Wenbin is a good man who is hard to come by. If you are willing to give him a chance, he will become a steadfast supporter of your career…

Shi Meilin: President Su, in the workplace, I think it’s very inappropriate to mix one’s private personal sphere together with work.

Su Mingyu: As fellow women, I hope you can find a good man who is evenly matched with you. Just take it as my suggestion! Think it over again.

△Su Mingyu rises to her feet. Meilin also stands up and watches her leave the office.

△Shi Meilin returns to her seat, and the telephone immediately rings.

△Li Keni enters holding a folder in her arms and stands before the desk, waiting for Meilin to finish the phone call.

Shi Meilin: President Lin, if it’s about business matters, then please come discuss them at our company.

Lin Wenbin: That wouldn’t be very appropriate, would it? I want to talk with you about your future career planning.

Shi Meilin: Talk about my career planning?

Lin Wenbin: Don’t you want to rise to a higher level?

Shi Meilin: (thinking for a moment) Mm… alright then!

Lin Wenbin: Let’s arrange to meet at a café and discuss it in detail when we meet.

△Shi Meilin picks up the schedule book on the desk and writes down the time and location.

△Li Keni hands over the folder in her hands.

Shi Meilin: Just leave it on the desk first. I’ll look through it carefully later.

Li Keni: (curious) Director, did Lin Wenbin privately ask you out?

Shi Meilin: Yes! I want to know what medicine he’s really selling in his gourd.

Li Keni: You should seize this opportunity! I heard President Lin never privately asks people out to meet.

Shi Meilin: Who did you hear that from?

Li Keni: Those female models! Some of them took the initiative to privately ask President Lin out, but they all came back rejected.

Shi Meilin: Oh? So?

Li Keni: So, Director, you should seize this opportunity. A good man like President Lin is practically an endangered protected species now!

Shi Meilin: Really? But I already have a boyfriend.

Li Keni: Director, you’re not officially taken yet. If there’s a better option, you might as well reconsider!

Shi Meilin: Keni, it seems you don’t really understand me. Let’s stop talking about this. Go back to work.

△Li Keni tactfully turns around and leaves the office.

Scene 77 | Time: Day | Location: Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic

Characters: Zhang Yahui, Doctor, Nurse, Pregnant Women, Patients, Family Members

△Several rows of seats line the corridor of the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic. Several pregnant women sit waiting for their numbers to be called. Some are accompanied by their husbands and children.

△The solitary Zhang Yahui is among them as well. She gazes at two pregnant women accompanied by their husbands, and an expression of envy appears on her face.

△The nurse opens the door and calls a number.

Nurse: Number 13, Miss Zhang.

△Zhang Yahui stands up, walks into the consultation room, and sits before the doctor.

Doctor: Miss Zhang, are you here for a pregnancy test or for a physical examination?

Zhang Yahui: A physical examination.

Doctor: What part of your body feels uncomfortable?

Zhang Yahui: Recently, I’ve had abnormal vaginal bleeding and thick discharge.

Doctor: What color is the discharge?

Zhang Yahui: Brown, and it has a rotten odor.

Doctor: May I ask, have you had frequent sexual activity before?

Zhang Yahui: Never. I’ve never had a boyfriend. Doctor, what illness could this be?

Doctor: I’ll use an ultrasound to examine you first and identify the possible cause. An internal examination may also be necessary.

Nurse: Miss Zhang, please go behind the curtain, remove your undergarments, and then lie down on this bed.

△Zhang Yahui stands up, walks behind the curtain, removes her underwear, and lies down on the examination bed.

△The nurse lifts Yahui’s long skirt and applies a layer of lubricating gel to her lower abdomen.

△The doctor comes in, picks up the examination device, and slowly moves it across Yahui’s lower abdomen.

△On the 3D monitor screen appear the pelvic cavity, ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina. The doctor stops the examination device over the ovary and enlarges the image on the screen.

Doctor: There are two tumors on the left ovary, one large and one small!

△Zhang Yahui lets out an “Oh,” and her mood instantly falls to rock bottom.

Scene 78 | Time: Day | Location: Café

Characters: Shi Meilin, Lin Wenbin, Customers, Waiter

△Inside the café, in a corner by the floor-to-ceiling window facing the street, Shi Meilin and Lin Wenbin sit facing each other. On the table are a glass of juice and a cup of coffee.

Lin Wenbin: After my Beauty Company and your Focus Company become a cross-industry alliance, we will establish a creative department. In the plan, I intend to recruit you as the Creative Director, mainly because I highly recognize your abilities in the fashion industry.

Shi Meilin: President Lin, thank you for your favor and appreciation.

Lin Wenbin: Meilin, with your qualifications, you could actually start your own company and stand on your own. I have the capital and can support you in starting a business.

Shi Meilin: Thank you for your kindness. I still want to gain more experience for a while longer.

Lin Wenbin: No problem. If you ever want to start a business, just let me know anytime. By the way, I heard you have a boyfriend who runs a bed-and-breakfast?

Shi Meilin: (stunned for a moment, smiling) Yes!

Lin Wenbin: You could have an even better choice, Meilin.

Shi Meilin: Is that supposed to be a hint?

Lin Wenbin: (smiling) You could say so! The cosmetics industry and fashion industry naturally complement one another.

Shi Meilin: I don’t think relationships need to be entangled with careers.

Lin Wenbin: As expected, you truly are different, both in appearance and in your way of thinking.

Shi Meilin: Really? Actually, I don’t want to depend on my man. I only ask that he respect my career.

Lin Wenbin: I can understand your way of thinking. Both you and I have lived and studied in Britain and Europe, and we both possess independent mindsets. I believe that in the future, we will work together very happily.

△Lin Wenbin extends his hand. Meilin also extends hers, and the two exchange a polite handshake.

Lin Wenbin: May I have the honor of treating you to lunch?

Shi Meilin: No, thank you. There are still matters waiting for me at the company. I’ll take my leave first, President Lin.

△Shi Meilin rises and leaves. Wenbin watches Meilin’s departing figure.

Scene 79 | Time: Day | Location: Cai Family “Happiness” Sightseeing Fishing Boat at Baisha Pier

Characters: Shi Meilin, Cai Shinan, Tourists

△Several yachts and sightseeing fishing boats are docked at Baisha Fishing Harbor Pier, and the Cai Family “Happiness” sightseeing fishing boat is among them.

△Cai Shinan has just come down from the cockpit when he runs into You Sihai and Li Mingde.

You Sihai: Brother Cai, are you handling this new boat smoothly? Mingde said you already got your license.

Cai Shinan: With Mingde coaching and training me for an entire month, of course I’m handling it with ease. By the way, why haven’t you been asking my sister out lately?

You Sihai: (scratching his head with a bitter smile) I’ve been too embarrassed myself! Your sister said over the phone that she’s so busy she can’t get away, and she also said she wants to return to school to continue studying, so she’s not in a hurry to date.

Cai Shinan: Give her a few years then. Anyway, both of you are still young.

You Sihai: Yeah! For now, that’s all we can do. We’ll go get back to work now.

△The two men turn around and leave.

△The cellphone in Cai Shinan’s pocket rings, and he picks it up to answer.

Shi Meilin: Is this Shinan? It’s Meilin.

Cai Shinan: Oh, Meilin.

Shi Meilin: You haven’t even called me. What’s wrong? Are you still angry at me?

Cai Shinan: No! Work has kept me busy all this time. I haven’t even had time to be angry.

Shi Meilin: Next weekend, the company is holding a spring fashion presentation. That day also happens to be my birthday. After the event, come back to my place with me and celebrate my birthday together.

Cai Shinan: Oh.

Shi Meilin: What do you mean “oh”? Are you coming or not? Just answer me with one simple sentence.

Cai Shinan: Alright, I’ll go.

Scene 80 | Time: Day | Location: Design Department and Director’s Office, Focus Fashion Company

Characters: Shi Meilin, Li Keni, Yan Yongkang

△Inside the design department office, Shi Meilin, Li Keni, and Yan Yongkang are discussing the revised fashion design drafts.

Shi Meilin: Keni, you revised this pink-themed series of outfits very well. It’s able to align closely with consumers’ aesthetic tastes.

Li Keni: At first, I was worried that Director would think my designs were too flashy!

Shi Meilin: Not at all! The customer group we’re targeting is young mature women, so naturally we need to express a youthful atmosphere, with romance and elegance contained within liveliness.

Yan Yongkang: You girls are always more meticulous.

Shi Meilin: Yongkang, it’s not that we’re more meticulous. You need to think of yourself as the customer and consider things from the perspective of customer needs.

Yan Yongkang: (grinning foolishly) I know that! But I can’t exactly buy the clothes and wear them myself, can I?

△Meilin and Keni both laugh.

△At that moment, Meilin’s cellphone rings, and she answers it.

Lin Wenbin: Miss Meilin, this is Lin Wenbin. Would I have the honor of having lunch with you at noon?

Shi Meilin: Sorry, President Lin. I already have plans with my boyfriend at noon.

Lin Wenbin: (surprised) Your boyfriend? Then… what about tonight?

Shi Meilin: That won’t work either. Tonight I have to accompany my boyfriend.

Lin Wenbin: (disappointed) Then another day. Please be sure to honor me with your presence.

△Shi Meilin does not answer and hangs up the phone.

Shi Meilin: (indifferently) President Lin from Beauty Cosmetics Company.

Li Keni: That handsome general manager? He asked you out?

Shi Meilin: (nodding) Yes! But I don’t have time to accompany him.

Li Keni: What a pity!

Shi Meilin: What’s such a pity about it? I already have a boyfriend.

Li Keni: That doesn’t matter! Unless you’ve already decided he’s the one, then getting to know more boys of different types would simply give you more choices, wouldn’t it?

Yan Yongkang: (questioning) Keni, with this kind of “keeping fish” policy of yours, I’m afraid men wouldn’t be able to accept it.

Li Keni: If men can keep fish, then we women certainly can too! This is an era of equality between women and men now!

Shi Meilin: (smiling) Keni, my way of thinking is rather old-fashioned. I don’t keep fish.

Yan Yongkang: Old-fashioned? Director, shouldn’t the word be conservative? Meaning traditional and reserved.

Shi Meilin: Ya, conservative.