01x06 - The Invisible Tower of Babel in Xinyi District

[bunniefuu]

(THEME SONG PLAYING)

WOMEN IN TAIPEI

(THEME SONG CONCLUDES)

(MOUTHING WORDS)

I-SHAN: I'm 30 years old.

Have I become the person
I envisioned I would be?

(BLOWS)

EPISODE 6

THE INVISIBLE TOWER OF BABEL
IN XINYI DISTRICT

(SINGS IN ENGLISH) Happy birthday to me

(IN MANDARIN) Hey, it's your birthday,
not the end of the world.

-Cheer up.
-Cheer up.

Of course it's not the end of the world
for you.

You've had a big bonus
and one boyfriend after another.

Not only one after another,
some even overlapped.

-Remember?
-Mm.

Listen, when A-Kuai's back,

please don't talk about this
in front of him, okay?

-Why?
-Yeah, why? (GASPS) The one.

(IN ENGLISH) Only you. (LAUGHS)

(IN MANDARIN) He's quite naive
and he's a nice guy.

Come on, I mean it. Especially you.

Where did he wander off?

-Where?
-Over there.

I-SHAN: There's a guy.

-Eh... That's his ex-boyfriend.
-(LAUGHS)

-You idiot, I'm his first love.
-Yeah, right.

HUI-JU: That's why I'm attracted to him.

Otherwise, I'm destined to marry
into a wealthy family.

-(BOTH LAUGH)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

She's funny. I'm liking her more.

Guys, let me introduce you.
This is Kao Sung-Chuan.

We used to play chess together.

-Ahh.
-This is my girlfriend Hui-Ju.

-Hello.
-Hello.

-Hello.
-Hi.

It's I-Shan's birthday today.

-Happy birthday.
-I-SHAN: Thank you.

Nice to meet you all.

Let me open a bottle of wine
to celebrate your birthday.

(GASPS)

-That's too kind of you.
-Not at all.

-Did you see his watch?
-Excuse me.

A bottle of Eszencia, 2000.

What about it?

If it's authentic,
that's one or two million dollars.

SUNG-CHUAN: Grab a seat,
let's drink together.

-Okay, okay.
-I'll go tell him.

-(SIGHS DEEPLY)
-Move away, 2000 dollars.

WAITER: Sir, the noble rot wine
you ordered. Please have a look.

-No problem, there.
-Please have a look, ma'am.

If it's okay with everyone,
allow me to open it for you.

Sure, thank you.

-Happy birthday.
-ALL: Happy birthday.

Thank you.

(SIGHS) I'm confused...
about what I'm trying to prove in Taipei.

I used to always wish to work
in a big corporation,

being surrounded
by trendy things every day.

I'm already doing that now.

But I also feel like
none of it proves anything.

If these things aren't what you want,
then what is your birthday wish?

Mm...

Well, what's the wine you ordered?

Hungarian noble rot wine.
The top-notch Eszencia.

You said the noble rot wine
is not the regular kind of wine.

Mm. Yeah, but it's still made from grapes.

It's only the noble rot grapes
that are rare and delicate.

It has a concentrated sweetness,
giving it a unique flavor.

King Louis XIV once said
it's the king of wines.

Right, that's it.

I want to be successful,
but not the ordinarily defined success.

Not success limited
by any preconceived notion.

And when people see that... (SIGHS)
...they'll aspire to be like me.

-(I-SHAN AND HUI-JU CHUCKLE)
-All right.

I-SHAN: What about you?

If this was your birthday,
what would your wish be?

Me? Um...

I just hope my new job
is going to work out.

And that the boss
doesn't give me any trouble. (CHUCKLES)

-HUI-JU: That simple?
-Mm.

-(LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

You haven't given me the budget
for the brightening range.

(EXHALES) Kelly, I wanted to talk to you.

The new celebrity collab
for the petal series.

Can we find our own spokesperson?

What do you mean?

The petal range is selling well.
We should ride on the back of it

and invest in celebrity collaboration.

We've already sealed the budget
for the next quarter.

-There's no budget left.
-The brightening range you just mentioned,

we can reallocate some of the budget
from its ATL.

(EXHALES) The petal range
has already launched.

The work is done for now.

-Take a look at this.
-Listen, your job right now is

to have the plan for the next quarter
from the headquarters localized.

All right?

-(SIGHS)
-(EXHALES)

KELLY: All right?

-(INHALES) Ethan, the...
-ETHAN: Yes, Ms. Sandy.

-The budget for the brightening range.
-Okay.

KELLY: Thank you.

ETHAN: Boss.

(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(CELL PHONE BUZZES)

-KELLY: This item currently...
-(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

ETHAN: Ms. Sandy said
it hasn't been approved yet.

KELLY: Okay.

-Thank you for coming.
-What is it?

I have an important meeting
with a senior in a minute,

-so I wanted you here to boost my courage.
-Sounds scary.

(CHUCKLES) On your birthday,
what you said about success inspired me.

I want to work harder on my project.

Thank you.

You're not here to ask your senior
for funding, are you?

You're so clever, but don't worry.
I'll make it worth their while.

-What does your family do?
-(CUP CLINKS)

Ever heard of MingSheng Corporation
and Kao Sung-Yang?

Of course.

I work in branding,
so the names definitely ring a bell.

Your name is Sung-Chuan,
so you're Kao Sung-Yang's...

SUNG-CHUAN: Kao Sung-Yang
is my half-brother.

My father founded MingSheng Textile.

My brother expanded it
into MingSheng Department Store.

I'm trying to build
my own e-commerce brand.

So, you're here to get funding
for the e-commerce platform.

-Right.
-(SIGHS)

Chairman Chao, here.

You always treat us with the best liquor
when dining together. (CHUCKLES)

I'm glad that you find it to your liking.
A toast to you.

I know what you want to talk to me about,

but there's no point in rushing
an investment.

You've always been a straight-A student.

The Wharton School often demands
five or six years of work experience,

but you got in after just two years
of working.

You worked in America for several years.

I wonder why Mrs. Kuei
would want you back here.

Chairman Chao, you built your career
from scratch as well.

You know exactly what resources I need.

(CLEARS THROAT) By the way,
does your brother know about this?

I didn't touch any funds from MingSheng
so I didn't tell him.

You come to me,
then Mr. Lai and old man Hu.

You really think he wouldn't mind?

-(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
-We've all invested heavily on his outlet.

When he wanted another capital increase,
we all refused.

Now if I turn that funding over to you,
how would he feel?

(EXHALES)

Chairman Chao, my brother
was asking for tens of billions,

all I'm asking for is a fraction of that.

(SIGHS) Young man, not everything
can be so cut and dried.

(EXHALES)

Chairman Chao, this collaboration
could be more than just investment.

What's unique about e-commerce
is that it's flexible.

It can also work as an exchange
for resources.

Take my job for an example.
E-commerce and new platforms

would often come to me
asking about collaborations.

We have the products,
they have the traffic and the big data.

When having this kind of
cross-industry alliance,

the key is to find ways
to exchange resources

and create a better
business opportunity together.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

So I don't need to invest the money,

I only have to send you
one of my truck fleets?

Chairman Chao, how about two truck fleets?

-(LAUGHS)
-(LAUGHS)

The share is negotiable too.

Ah.

Your girlfriend
should be your partner too.

-(LAUGHS)
-(CHAO LAUGHS)

SUNG-CHUAN: Of course, Chairman Chao.

Once you agree to invest, I-Shan will be
after you and Mr. Lai. (CHUCKLES)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

I-SHAN: This is...

(GASPS)

(CHUCKLES)

Give me a second.

(ELECTRICAL LEVER THUDDING)

(GASPS)

This is where
MingSheng Corporation started.

Where my father's first textile machine
started operating.

My brother took over ten years ago.

All the textile factories
have moved to Vietnam.

This became vacant then.

What are you going to sell?

Your brother owns the department stores.
You don't mind pulling customers from him?

He mostly sells common merchandise.

I'll be selling select items
with a specific target audience in mind.

Watch out.

(GASPS)

Nowadays, fewer and fewer people listen
to vinyl records.

Yeah, most people listen to music
on their phones.

Mm.

But they can provide a texture
and visual enjoyment besides the sound.

Every part of it provides
a sense of ritual

that a lot of people
still demand nowadays.

Hmm.

I've always wanted to confess my love
to the girl I like with a vinyl record.

So, you see, if there's an online platform

where people can find
a cool vinyl record player,

-wouldn't that be great?
-Is that true?

Hmm.

Look, I've already decided
which one to get.

I mean... you have a girl
that you're confessing your love to?

I do, but I'm not sure
if she'll accept or not.

(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)

So, you've seen how important
my merchandise will be.

Like right now,
I don't get to confess my love.

I'll place the first order
and be your first customer.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I DO

-Is my brother home?
-He hasn't been home for a few days.

I see.

My brother is still not home.

Min-Min, I'm here.

-(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
-LUCAS: Uncle!

Lucas. (GRUNTS) Look what I found.

-The greengrocers.
-Wow! Come check this out.

I almost finished building
the detective agency, hurry.

It's so complicated,
and I did it all by myself.

-SUNG-CHUAN: Really?
-LUCAS: Really.

SUNG-CHUAN: This new one
is even more impressive.

-(LUCAS GASPS)
-SUNG-CHUAN: I'll build it with you later.

-LUCAS: Okay.
-SUNG-CHUAN: Look here.

Look at this, there are so many items.

LUCAS: Wow! It's so cool.

(PIANO KEYS THUDDING)

(THUDDING STOPS)

(WHISKEY GLUGGING)

-(BOTTLE THUDS)
-(I-SHAN SCREAMS IN PAIN)

-(GASPS)
-I'm sorry.

-SUNG-CHUAN: What's wrong?
-I stepped on a piece of Lego.

Ah. Min-Min.

This is Min-Min, my sister-in-law.
She's my girlfriend, I-Shan.

-(SIGHS)
-(MUTTERS)

(SIGHS, IN ENGLISH) Sorry.

(IN MANDARIN) I didn't know
you'd be visiting.

I found the limited-edition Lego
that Lucas always wanted

so I came to give him a surprise.

Come on, you're helping me finish
the detective agency. Hurry up.

Madam Cheng!

Lucas, go have some ice cream
in the kitchen with Madam Cheng.

You can play with your uncle later, okay?
Go on.

-Come, let's go have ice cream.
-SUNG-CHUAN: Go.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

You're not going to invite us for a drink?

Oh, please!

Give me a heads-up next time
before you visit, okay?

My life is devoted to your family.
I can't stand jump scares.

What's with the secret performance here?
What are you playing today?

(CHUCKLES)

Since it's a secret, I'm not going
to tell you what I am playing.

Probably something like
"Libiamo ne’ lieti calici" in La Traviata.

(SCOFFS)

Do you know Rachmaninoff?

He once heard a pianist play
his "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini"

and it was an excellent performance.

He asked the pianist
how he managed to do it.

The pianist told him, "If I drink
some vodka before I start playing,

"the obstacles in front of me
all go away."

-Well, my mom is your obstacle then.
-Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm.

-Your words, not mine.
-Ah. Shh.

-Never mention anything you saw today.
-(MIN-MIN CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I didn't see anything.

MIN-MIN: Mm!

Welcome, welcome.

We're having roast beef tonight.
Stay and join us.

Sure.

-Thank you, Min-Min.
-(CHUCKLES) Here.

(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)

I'm leaving. Bye.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

Ethan, do you find
that she's acting different lately?

Mm. She seems to care a lot
about her appearance.

(WIND RUSTLING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MIN-MIN: Sorry that I startled you
last time.

-I-SHAN: It's me who should apologize.
-Mm.

Actually, I'm pretty happy. (CHUCKLES)

Sung-Chuan finally brought
a girlfriend home.

-He's never brought a girl home before?
-Never.

How long have you been seeing
each other?

Almost a year.

That long?

-This kiddo.
-Min-Min.

Sorry, I was in a meeting. (CHUCKLES)

What are you talking about?

-Talking bad about me?
-Yeah, you interrupted us.

(EXCLAIMS)
There must be a lot to talk about.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

Mm. I have good news for you.

My warehouse is almost done.

Do you see how mind-boggling
your boyfriend is?

Leaving his own family business aside
to start his own.

My brother did the same.

He wasn't satisfied
with the textile factory salary,

so insisted on building his own stores.

He finally transformed MingSheng
from conventional industries.

What I'm doing now is also
expanding MingSheng's possibilities.

Yeah.

The reason I stopped pursuing
my career in music,

besides falling in love with his brother,

is that I was promoting
the charity foundation.

Spreading the word about MingSheng.

It's too bad Mrs. Kuei doesn't think so.

-She just wants us all to abide by her.
-Mrs. Kuei is...?

My mom,
the chairman of MingSheng Corporation.

Speaking of the foundation,

I'd like the fundraising target
to be higher this year.

It will need a lot of promotion.

I was wondering if I should outsource it
to the professionals.

Min-Min, if you don't mind...
perhaps I could help.

Planning promotions and events
is right up her alley.

My line of work is getting people
to spend more.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

That's great.
I couldn't put it better than you.

I found the right person. (CHUCKLES)

Min-Min, you look so different onstage.

That picture was taken

when the media first found out
me and Sung-Yang were dating.

No one had faith in our relationship,

saying an artist like me
who's used to the spotlight and applause

would not end well
marrying into a wealthy family.

Mrs. Kuei heard the gossip and told me

that if I wanted to silence the media,

I must achieve something
in what I do best.

Hence the picture you saw.

"Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven.

One million dollars.

One million dollars?

That's great.

Every time there's a fundraiser,
you should play onstage again!

That's before I married into
the Kao Family.

As the eldest daughter-in-law
of the Kao Family,

allowing me to perform on stage
before the marriage is a favor.

If I were to perform after marrying
into the family, it would be a joke.

(EXHALES)

MIN-MIN: Mrs. Kuei put me in charge of
the foundation out of desperation.

After Sung-Yang took over,
my grandmother-in-law fell sick.

Mrs. Kuei was then brought in
to help Sung-Yang.

Luckily, with her keeping the books,
and without outside investors meddling,

the seats on the board remain intact.

Seeing how hard Mrs. Kuei tried
to save my husband,

I couldn't dare to mess up
her foundation, right?

Mm.

(SIGHS) So it's you who's been managing
the foundation over the years.

You really sponsored
a lot of art activities.

From an outsider's view,

it helps to promote the image
of MingSheng Corporation greatly.

Mrs. Kuei used to believe we should keep
a low-profile when donating to charity,

and she would donate scholarships
in private. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Over the past few years,
I've put more money into art activities,

raising the awareness
of MingSheng's charity work for years.

I do hope
to hear you play Rachmaninoff one day.

I'll play it to you next time I'm drunk.

I-SHAN: I want to know.

What makes her lose herself?
Is it this family?

Or is it love?

What do you want to eat?

-Mei Mei.
-Sure.

Would you feel out of place there?

-Don't you discriminate against me.
-(LAUGHS)

-You can have some.
-Yeah.

-Let me have one.
-Help me out.

WORKER: Who ordered
two warm milk teas?

BOTH: Over here.

I used to go to Dan Dan Hamburger
in my college days,

but mostly I would have
my mom's meat congee and fish soup.

-Wow, Mom made breakfast, what a blessing.
-I-SHAN: You're the blessed one.

Breakfast cooked by the chef
must be delicious.

No, my mom would make breakfast too.

-But I just skipped it.
-Why?

Well, she would have Buddhist's breakfast.

-Vegan breakfast?
-Yeah.

You'll see.

-May Buddha bless us.
-MASTER: May Buddha bless us.

Give me a second,
I need to speak to the master.

MASTER: May Buddha bless us.

Master, how is Mrs. Kuei doing?

-MASTER: She's doing fine.
-MIN-MIN: Thank you.

May Buddha bless my family in Tainan
to be healthy and well.

The Kao Family to be safe and happy.

Sung-Chuan's business to be successful.

Thank you, Buddha.

So you're Sung-Chuan's girlfriend.
Lin I-Shan?

-MIN-MIN: Mrs. Kuei.
-(EXHALES)

You've met already?
I'll skip the introduction then.

Mm.

Buddha brought us together.

Mrs. Kuei.

(EXHALES)

Wait here, I'll go get changed.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

Yes, the proceeds of today's sale
will be used to reform the unused space.

Artists from different locations
are welcome to stay and utilize it.

Okay. Thank you, much appreciated.

Tony, Tracy, hi. Long time no see.

Welcome.

I must thank Amy in particular
for showing us so much support last year.

Min-Min's memory is so impressive,
she remembers the names of all the guests.

She said that her memory skills developed
so much because of her music compositions.

Back then when there were no cell phones,

my mom would memorize
all the guests' phone numbers.

Fortunately, she didn't tell Min-Min
to do the same.

She's been working hard already.

She hasn't slept for days
to prepare for tonight.

It took some getting used to.
It's like that all year round.

If it were you, you'd be working hard too.

-(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

-Hello.
-Hello, thank you for coming.

-Hsiao-Ping.
-Min-Min.

Long time no see!

Have you looked around at the collections?

(SIGHS) Hmm?

The girl in the red outfit,
that's Li Cheng-En's girlfriend.

That's Tsai Yu-Ping,
the heiress to LienFu Financial Holding.

You said she's Li Cheng-En's girlfriend?

Yeah.

The heiress to LienFu Financial Holding?

I only know her as Hsiao-Ping,
not her family name Tsai.

(CHUCKLES)

You've got a bold friend,
the Tsai Family is no joke.

MingSheng's market value
is probably less than one-tenth of theirs.

How would I know?

(SUNG-CHUAN SIGHS)

Welcome, everyone.

-Welcome.
-Mrs. Kuei.

-You look great.
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)

Welcome, everyone.

That's a great dress.

Welcome.

Welcome.

MRS. KUEI: I-Shan.

Mrs. Kuei.

Have you decided to come and work
for the foundation?

Oh... (SIGHS)

I...

Huh?

If you're not planning on doing so,
why are you still standing here?

Mrs. Kuei, I-Shan is having
a tough time at work recently.

I asked her to orient herself here first,

so she wouldn't have to start
from scratch like me.

Come here. Join us.

This is the book of the foundation.

Basically, everything looks fine.

However, the accounts at home...

the ones that I marked just now,

there should be no such expenses
from now on.

-Oh...
-Hmm?

That's the payment for Lucas
to join the junior diplomat summer camp.

Lucas will be the heir to MingSheng,
not a diplomat.

Hiring a tutor for English and Japanese
on weekends will be enough. Huh?

Don't waste money on following
a trend like this.

I see.

MRS. KUEI: As for the arrangements
for Lucas studying abroad,

you should bear that in mind.

I was thinking to wait
until he finishes elementary school.

The elementary school period
is critical in building his character.

He'll start getting rebellious
in high school.

It'll be harder to cultivate him then.
How many times do I have to say this?

We're educating Lucas
for the sake of MingSheng...

not just as your precious son.

Duly noted.

Mrs. Kuei.

Ma'am, your guest is here.

-I-SHAN: Min-Min.
-Have a seat.

-May I offer you some tea or coffee?
-Coffee please, thank you.

-Min-Min.
-Mm?

This is a list of items
for the charity sale that I put together.

Okay, I'll read it in a minute.
I need to deal with some family matters.

By the way, Sung-Chuan
asking Chairman Chao for investment

has made Mrs. Kuei quite upset.

She's on her way
to Sung-Chuan's warehouse.

MADAM CHENG: Ma'am, we're all here.

Ah...

Chef, Mrs. Kuei
is still having vegan meals this week.

Her utensils and food
should be prepared separately, okay?

Mr. Chuang, find Sung-Chuan a chauffeur.

He has a lot of meetings nowadays,
and it’s not safe to drive alone.

Ms. Feng, avoid using sunflowers
in flower arrangements around the house.

Lucas is allergic to pollen. Huh?

And Madam Cheng,
only buy 3-ply facial tissue sheets.

We use it every day on our skin,
there's no point in saving that cost.

Yes, no problem.

MIN-MIN: Good, that'll be all.
Back to work then.

(INHALES) Min-Min.

What would happen to Sung-Chuan
if Mrs. Kuei is upset?

How bad could it be?

Looks like the good days
will be over soon.

Maybe we should enjoy the moment?

FEMALE VOICE 1: Did you see Tracy
in the parent-teacher conference?

-Her low-cut dress went down here. Here.
-That's the way it goes.

She's been living like a widow
since her husband isn't in Taiwan.

-FEMALE VOICE 2: How could you say that?
-FEMALE VOICE 3: Say what?

I wouldn't even be surprised
if she goes naked, okay?

(ALL LAUGH)

Besides, if we're competing in figures,

-it's not like we'll lose, okay?
-For real? Let me see.

-(ALL LAUGH)
-Stop nudging me.

-Thanks.
-When will your Lucas leave for America?

(SCOFFS) The Empress demands Lucas to go
as soon as possible.

I don't want that.

You silly, if I were you,
I'd take the earliest flight

-and be free from all that.
-Hmm.

Hmm. No, my husband barely has any time
with the kid.

If we really leave,
would my family still be intact?

-So, what are you going to do?
-What should I do?

I bet...

Kao Sung-Chuan will be
summoned back by the Empress.

-And I'll have more time with my husband.
-(ALL CHEER)

FEMALE VOICE 3: Summon him quick.

Think twice if you want to marry
into the Kao Family.

Don't you know? Their daughter-in-law
serves only two purposes.

Honor the MingSheng Corporation
and give them an heir, that's it.

Your value is decided

-by your other half.
-Yes.

I was thinking,
if I married a regular person,

perhaps I'd be a regular piano teacher.
Prepare dinner after getting off work.

Help my kids with their homework
before my husband came home.

Visit the in-laws in the countryside
during New Year and holidays.

Can I say something? Visiting in-laws

during the three major holidays
a year is enough.

-That's true.
-No more than that.

That's right.

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

I know.

That's how many times
her son is banging her daughter-in-law.

-(ALL LAUGHING)
-You're being too explicit.

Three times a year is a lot, okay?

A lot of people only do it once
every three years.

-Who?
-Don't act like you don't know who.

-(ALL LAUGHING)
-To once every three years.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Besides the above resolutions,
there's another thing.

Starting today,

Sung-Yang's brother Sung-Chuan
will be executive assistant to the CEO.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

MRS. KUEI: As the assistant,

helping the CEO with the day-to-day
will be overwhelming.

In order to let Sung-Chuan
focus on this job and assist the CEO,

he'll be relieved from the consulting role
and all other obligations.

Is he up to the task?

-Why is this happening?
-I didn't expect this.

If there are no further questions,
the meeting will be adjourned.

Thank you all for coming.

Thank you. Thanks. Thanks.

Thanks.

(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SOFTLY) Good luck.

Executive Assistant to the CEO.

I'm sorry about your e-commerce venture.

So am I.

You went to Chairman Chao
and he agreed to help.

I wasn't mad about it.
In fact, I'm glad for you.

(CHUCKLES) Too bad I failed to do
what you wished for.

Mind my own business
and stay away from you.

We can thank Mrs. Kuei for that.
Our family has such a close connection.

I guess you can't stay too far away
after all.

At least you got your leeway
to stay away from home though.

-You've got a son, remember?
-(SCOFFS)

I think you are well aware
of what Mrs. Kuei is planning.

She called you back...

and turned down your venture.

She even wants your girlfriend
to work for the foundation.

Sung-Chuan, we're brothers after all.

Here's a heads-up,
you and your girlfriend are going through

the same thing Mrs. Kuei set up
for me and Min-Min.

We'll see eventually how your leeway
is going to differ from mine.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)

I-SHAN: Why did you ask me
to meet you here?

Didn't Mrs. Kuei decide to...

-(OPERA MUSIC PLAYING ON RECORD)
-I-SHAN: Sung-Chuan.

I've thought it through.
If you want to keep pursuing your dream,

I'll follow you.

We'll explain it to Mrs. Kuei.

(SIGHS)

This is the aria from Handel's opera
in the 18th century.

He's singing about...

the yearn for freedom.

(MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)

(EXHALES)

I-SHAN: To obey is also a choice.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

I-SHAN: How I wish you could follow
your own choice someday...

(SNIFFLES)

I-SHAN: ...instead of someone else's.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

Mrs. Kuei, perhaps you'd like
to announce it before dinner.

No hurry. We can talk after dinner.

-What is it?
-Nothing.

Just that Min-Min will be taking Lucas
to America soon.

That's it. Let's eat.

What's the rush?

No rush at all.

It takes time to apply for the school.

Min-Min is too occupied,
so I sent someone to do it.

I've said it many times.
It's no rush at all.

Lucas has his own parents.

Don't you need to ask them
before applying for an American school?

Your brother's outlet is responsible
for hundreds of jobs and families.

It is having a cash flow problem
that needs my attention.

He doesn't have the leisure
for minding where Lucas will study.

Mrs. Kuei is right about that.

Lucas will become a teenager soon
and might get rebellious.

His education would require extra care.

Mrs. Kuei's concern is appreciated.

After Min-Min leaves, I-Shan,
you'll join the foundation to help out.

Min-Min has transformed the foundation
over the past few years.

Once I-Shan takes over,

she can help promote MingSheng
and the foundation.

Mm?

If you're capable, you can put
your talent to good use anywhere.

Who said you need to work alone
or cling on to your past

in order to achieve your dreams?

In the future, we'll be thanking Min-Min
for setting an example for MingSheng.

Please excuse me.

I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable.
I'll be in my room.

All right, let's eat. We'll talk about
the outlet after dinner.

SUNG-YANG: Thank you, Mrs. Kuei.

I hope it'll be resolved
after Mrs. Kuei helps mediate it.

Be a good boy and listen.

Both your dad and uncle have been
to America, so you'll go as well.

-And it's coming from your great-aunt.
-Lying, you're all lying.

It's because Great-Aunt hates you
and she doesn't want to see us.

She's forcing me to go to America.

-MIN-MIN: Kao Po-Ju.
-LUCAS: I hate you.

-What did you say?
-I hate you.

You're not listening to me.

You never listen to me.
You only listen to Great-Aunt.

(YELLS) Kao Po-Ju, get back here.
How can you say you hate me?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(SOBS)

(CLATTERING)

(PILLS CLINK)

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

-Happy birthday.
-Happy birthday, Lucas.

Here, Lucas, blow the candles.

MRS. KUEI: Ahh.

FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER: Okay,
let's have a family photo.

Here, look this way, move a bit closer.

Okay, one more time. Smile, quick.

-Okay, great.
-Did you smile?

-FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER: Okay, thank you.
-Thanks.

-Thanks.
-(CHUCKLES) Have a seat you two.

Bring him his presents.

Lucas, you're going to study in America.
Are you happy? Smile for me. (CHUCKLES)

Our Lucas is one year older now.

SUNG-YANG: Sorry, the kid has a temper.
Enjoy the cake.

SUNG-CHUAN: Lucas, this is from uncle.

I-SHAN: Madam Cheng.

Min-Min is...?

(SIGHS) Ma'am is not feeling so well.
The doctor came to check on her.

It's not a big deal,
she just needs more rest.

-Would you like to come see her?
-Is that okay?

-Yes.
-(DOOR CLICKS OPEN)

Min-Min.

(SOFTLY) Thank you for accepting me.

(SNIFFLES)

(EXHALES)

(SOFT PIANO PLAYS)

You're listening
to your own performance...

right?

(SNIFFLES)

(SOBBING)

-(SNIFFLES)
-(SOBBING)

I-SHAN: If I...

If I had to choose
between this family and love...

I choose...

to be myself.

I DO

-WOMAN: Congratulations.
-Thanks.

WOMAN: Wishing you
a lifetime of happiness.

-That went fast.
-(CHUCKLES)

I-SHAN: Hui-Ju, let me take one for you.

-Yeah, I'm married.
-(LAUGHS)

-CHENG-EN: Down here, look down here.
-Make my legs look slenderer.

-CHENG-EN: I think that's about it.
-(I-SHAN CHUCKLES)

-Yeah, I'm married.
-(ALL LAUGH)

DA'AN LIFE, FINDING LOVE

-What happened?
-(LAUGHS)

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

I didn't expect Hui-Ju to be the first
to get married.

You'll be next.

I haven't told you yet.

Hsiao-Ping's father doesn't think
I'm good enough.

He's against us being together.

The Tsai Family dislike me
and humiliate me every day.

The Kao Family liked you,
but you left without hesitation.

(CLEARS THROAT) Whatever you plan
on doing, I'm all for it anyway.

I'll keep trying
to earn her father's recognition.

Li Cheng-En...

whatever you decide to do,
I'm all for it too.

Yeah right, you didn't even tell me
you broke up with Mr. Kao.

I-SHAN: Fine, I'll buy you lunch then.

CHENG-EN: Sure,
I'll pay for the drinks tonight.

I-SHAN: Hey, you're paying for the drinks?
How about paying for lunch too?

CHENG-EN: No, you know I'm strapped
for cash right now. Let's take turns.

I-SHAN: So stingy.

(THEME SONG PLAYING)

(THEME SONG CONCLUDES)