(My True Friend)
(Episode Number 41)
- Xiao Ning. - What?
The chicken soup is ready. Quickly come over and eat.
All right. I'll come after I'm done hanging these.
Let's see what did you prepared.
Xi Shan is such a nice girlfriend.
She can prepare such tasty food with just the rice cooker.
It's because you work hard daily.
I just want to prepare the soup to let you replenish the energy.
It's been a long day for you. You worked for the entire day.
And yet you cooked this tasty food for me when you got home.
I'm not tired at all.
Homemade meals are delicious and healthy.
Here.
It's been a tiring day for you.
This one is for you. Here, eat up.
Today,
I brought Luo Zu Er...
to the house Peng Cheng used to stay in.
You know it too.
Luo Zu Er has been wanting to buy...
a house at Peng Cheng's residential area.
Xiao Ning.
You don't have to think for me all the time.
As long as you're bringing the client to see the house,
I won't be so insensible.
Besides. Xiao Shao needs money now.
If you can sell the house,
not only it'll help him,
it'll also help the City of Love project too.
I just hope that...
there is no misunderstanding between us.
I recalled something.
It's funny.
What is it?
Luo Zu Er is such a rich person.
She doesn’t know that buying a house in Shanghai...
requires the Home Purchase Sentiment Index.
And she doesn't even have it.
Looks like she lacks the general knowledge.
That means you've been doing everything in vain for her.
I think she was messing around with you.
I don't think so.
Although she doesn't have the Home Purchase Sentiment Index,
it doesn't mean that she can't buy the house.
If her spouse has the index,
she can buy the house as a family.
But Luo Zu Er isn't married yet.
Will she find someone who's eligible to buy a house...
and get married to him just so she can buy the house?
You got it right.
She wants to find someone to have a fake marriage.
After the issue with the house is settled,
then she'll divorce him.
You're kidding me, right?
What a lousy idea.
Hold on.
Could this be your idea?
A rich woman like Luo Zu Er...
doesn't even know about the Home Purchase Sentiment Index.
How could she possibly come up with such an idea?
So she agreed?
Actually, I think that this isn't such a bad idea.
Many people bought the houses using this method.
Besides,
both parties will be given the contract beforehand.
The responsibility and obligation will be clearly stated in there.
By the time they divorced,
all of these wouldn't be a problem.
I don't care.
I don't care what Ms. Luo wants.
You can't be a part of it.
I won't agree to both of you having the fake marriage agreement.
- But... - No but.
No need for discussion.
Xiao Ning.
We just got back recently.
I don't want to fight because of Luo Zu Er again. Do you get it?
If you don't want me to feel upset,
stop doing things illegally.
It's so unreasonable.
All right.
I just wanted to earn some commission.
I never thought about getting involved in it.
Jing Ran.
Why didn't say that you'll drop by?
I happen to have time.
So, I moved the things here.
You can't work here.
Work in Ms. Zeng's office.
It's less noisy there.
This place is quite all right.
It's more convenient to communicate with others.
Thanks, Jing Ran.
The City of Love project...
is a really meaningful one.
I'm willing to participate in it.
How is it?
Is there any new progress in the project?
We found an old building.
We intend to rent it for a long period of time.
Then, we'll redesign it and have it renovated.
After that, we'll rent it out.
Look.
This is the picture.
Do you think it would be difficult...
to restore this apartment to its original state?
Right now, there is only one problem.
It's that Mr. Zhong hasn't agreed to rent the house to us.
There's no other way.
We can only persuade Mr. Zhong.
What do you think about the fake marriage with me?
You're a man. Be decisive.
It's not a big deal. Stop dawdling.
I promise you.
But you must keep it a secret.
Are you still the Fu Xiao Ning that I know?
Perhaps...
I'm too naive.
It's quite nice to paint the building into pink.
It's quite trendy.
Are you hungry?
Let's order for delivery.
Jing Ran.
Why did you come without telling us?
I'm here to take a look at the house...
and study on the renovation plan.
But we still don't know if we can rent this house.
I've taken pictures of the exterior of the house.
I want to take a look inside. You all coming with me?
You didn't know?
The house owner has a bad temper.
He doesn't want to meet the strangers.
I'll give it a try.
Mr. Zhong.
Mr. Zhong, I'm Cheng Zhen Zhen from Love and Family.
I came here yesterday.
Mr. Zhong.
We know you're a painter.
We found your painting in the library yesterday.
There's one known as "The Little Girl and the Puppy."
There's another one known as "Qiu Qiu, The Puppy."
Can you tell us the story behind these two paintings...
and the people in it?
Mr. Zhong, we're not here to talk about renting the house.
We feel that the people in these paintings...
are very important to you.
Are you willing to talk to us about it?
Perhaps, we might be able to help.
What are you shouting for?
You shout like as if you're crying.
Don't you know you're disturbing the people?
Mr. Zhong.
I brought you some medicines that are commonly available at home.
It saves you the trouble from going out to buy it. It's inconvenient.
Yes. Mr. Zhong, if you need to get anything fixed.
Look, I even brought the toolbox.
I can fix it for you.
Seems like you're changing your strategy?
Trying to play nice with me?
I won't buy it.
There is no such thing as a free...
What it is called?
- Breakfast. - Lunch.
Fine.
Be it breakfast or lunch.
If there's nothing else, you may leave.
I'm not in the mood to talk to you.
Mr. Zhong, I assure you.
We won't talk to you about the house rental.
Well, Mr. Zhong.
We really saw your paintings...
and would like to hear from you...
about the stories and the people in it.
I assure you that we'll be the listeners.
Right, Mr. Zhong.
This is Jing Ran, a famous designer.
He studied on the architectural style of the Republic of China.
Hi, sir.
I'm here today...
to learn and study.
Also, I would like to help you fix anything that...
needs to be fixed in your house with Peng Cheng.
We can help to get them fixed.
Are you sure you won't talk about the house rental?
Promise.
Remember your promise.
Otherwise, I'll kick you out at any time.
- Come in. - All right.
Sir, let me help you. Let's go.
Take a seat.
This is...
Sir.
Your house is really beautiful.
Is it?
I'll pour you some water.
Mr. Zhong, let me help you.
I just bought some Vitamin C tablets from the pharmacy.
Let's drink this to replenish the vitamins.
Where's the kitchen?
Over there.
All right. I'll go.
Sir.
I would like to look around.
Is that okay with you?
Go on.
All right. Thank you.
I'll look around.
Mr. Zhong.
I'll check around...
and see if there's anything that needs to be fixed.
I brought the toolbox. Let's not put it to waste, right?
- Fine. - Take a rest first.
(A complete set of words)
The client listed that property with us.
I think it's a good listing.
I know.
I've checked it in our system.
Why did you bring me here?
Look.
If we have enough of down payment,
we can buy this apartment.
Although it's small,
I think the layout is quite good.
If you don't like the furniture,
we can change them.
We can get a bigger couch.
When we get tired of watching the TV, we can lie down and rest.
As for the open kitchen,
we can add a small bar counter here.
We'll put a bigger dining table here.
It's convenient for us to eat.
What do you think?
What are you trying to say?
Come on. Let's check the balcony.
All right? Come on.
Look.
This house is on the 23rd floor.
When we stand here during the day,
we can see the busy traffic in Shanghai.
It's as though we have the entire city under our feet.
I'm the master of this city.
During the night,
you can see the sky full of stars,
and the lights of the houses in the city.
It feels so good.
You're beating around the bush.
What are you trying to say?
I'm trying to say that...
we can buy this house.
We'll have a home in Shanghai that belongs to us.
In this vast city,
there'll be a house that...
belongs to the two of us.
The thought of it makes me feel so excited.
You're trying to say that...
once you get the deal done for Luo Zu Er,
you'll have enough of down payment for this house, right?
I've told you about it last night.
If the procedure isn't illegal,
I won't object to you signing Luo Zu Er's deal...
I am very happy that...
you can get the commission.
It can also solve Xiao Shao's problem.
But...
if you are helping her illegally,
I won't agree with it. I strongly disagree.
Mr. Zhong.
There are many rooms in this house.
I found similar paintings in every room.
There's a girl and a puppy in each painting.
I guess there must be a story behind this.
Since you all saw that...
I drew the same girl...
and the same puppy.
Does it mean anything?
I had a dream when I was young.
When I was 16,
I worked as a trainee in the pharmaceutical factory...
owned by Mr. Chen.
Later on, given that I could read...
and I also knew how to use the abacus.
So, Mr. Chen let me work...
in the retail pharmacy store.
In that pharmacy store,
it was the first time I saw...
Mr. Chen's daughter,
Chen Bi Jun.
Ms. Chen was such a beautiful girl.
In my heart,
she was the prettiest girl I have ever seen.
Come over here, good boy.
Here, come over here.
Look what this is.
Come here.
Did you hear that?
Good boy.
Qiu Qiu.
Qiu Qiu. Hey!
Who are you?
You've learned drawing before?
I...
My name is Zhong Ah Mao.
I'm a staff in the pharmaceutical factory.
I like this drawing.
- Can you give it to me? - No.
When I draw a better one,
I'll give it to you.
But I really like it.
I'm taking it. Thanks.
Zhong Ah Mao. We'll meet again, right?
Yes.
I will come over and wait for you every day.
Just like that.
A rich young lady...
and a poor guy like me became...
became friends.
Actually, I always thought that...
a poor guy like me would never get a girl like her.
I loved drawing even more...
after I met Ms. Chen.
Ms.Chen's father was a successful businessman.
In Shanghai,
he was also known for his huge contribution in charity.
He donated a lot of money every year.
One of his contributions was...
scholarship for higher education institutions.
He wanted to see...
the children from low-income families with good grades...
have the opportunity to learn as well.
With Ms. Chen's encouragement,
I was enrolled in Fine Art College of Shanghai University.
At that moment,
it felt like...
I have held on to a ladder.
It felt like I'm one step away from success.
I went all out...
and kept learning.
I was determined...
to become successful.
It was so that I could be a match with Ms. Chen.
This was...
the force that kept me going at that time.
Excuse me.
I'm so old and I still talk about these things.
Before I graduated,
Ms. Chen and her family went to Hong Kong.
Then they moved from Hong Kong to the United States.
I was very upset.
I felt disappointed.
It was as though I've lost something.
It felt like I lost my soul.
I kept encouraging myself to study hard...
and waited for Ms. Chen's return.
This thought...
This anticipation...
supported my life.
I guess it can be considered as living life to the fullest.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China,
I got a chance...
to continue my studies.
I continued to learn Chinese and Western paintings.
I painted every day.
What I painted most at that time was...
Ms. Chen and this puppy.
Actually...
after some time...
I was afraid that I would forget Ms. Chen's looks.
So I painted...
every frown and smile she had.
I painted it on the canvas.
I painted it in my heart too.
Mr. Zhong.
Did you get to meet Ms. Chen again?
Meet her?
I don't even know where she was.
I did get people to ask around.
But there was no news.
During the 1950s and 1960s,
we had no contact with the outside world.
So, I set it aside for the time being.
I was devoted to painting.
At that time, my paintings...
got recognized...
by the world.
I sold some paintings...
and saved up some money.
By the early 1980s,
there was a reform in the property rights.
We could transact freely.
So, I bought this house immediately.
I was thinking...
this is the house that Ms. Chen and her family used to live in.
I'll protect it in their stead.
If one day Ms. Chen returns,
she'll see that the house...
and I are still around.
We're waiting for her to come home.
Mr. Zhong.
The relationship between you and Ms. Chen is really beautiful.
It reminds me of Mr. Mu Xin's poem.
"Back then, horse-drawn carriage is slow.
It takes time to deliver the letters.
It's so slow that it made you only can love a person."
In the 1990s,
our communication with the outside world...
has slowly recovered.
At that time, I heard the news about them.
It was bad news.
Ms. Chen and her family...
took the ship from Hong Kong to the United States.
The ship...
struck a rock and sank into the sea.
Ms. Chen and her family were...
At that time...
I couldn't accept the fact.
It felt as though my entire life had fallen apart.
I wanted to stand up.
But...
I had no strength at all.
I told myself that I needed to stand up.
Just pick up the brush...
and you can get rid of the traumatic experience.
But when I picked up the brush,
I couldn't draw anything.
I didn't know what to draw.
I knew...
I was done for.
I could never draw again.
At that time...
who knew that a painter who rose to fame...
was slowly vanishing from the world of painting.
If I couldn't draw,
what else could I do?
I'm like the guard of the Imperial Tomb.
I guarded this empty house.
I'm afraid that one day...
Ms. Chen's soul might come back here...
but she couldn't find this house, her family.
and me.
She couldn't find the way home.
Mr. Zhong.
I am really touched by your persistence.
Architecture represents a part of an era.
The people and things in the house...
are the soul of an era.
Mr. Zhong.
Please believe in me.
I believe that I have the capability...
to help you restore this house...
into the one that you remember.
That's right, Mr. Zhong.
It's such a nice house.
It has such a beautiful story behind it.
It should be preserved.
Preserved?
The memory of this house...
will never fade away...
until the day I die.
After I die,
I want my soul...
and Ms. Chen's soul...
to meet...
in this house.
Mr. Zhong.
We won't rent or buy this house.
We'll just help you restore it.
Are you willing to?
No need. Thank you.
My days are numbered.
I've nothing to ask for in life.
I'll just live the remaining days like this.
It's quite good.
Why is the heel broken?
It's so annoying.
It's so embarrassing.
What kind of quality is this?
(Chen Xiao Yan)
Hello, my dear.
When I was walking, I broke my heel.
Buy me a pair of shoes.
The size is 36.
Hello?
This is the time to witness our friendship.
I just broke my heel.
Buy me a pair of shoes.
The size is 36.
You're always free.
All you know is playing games.
If you don't come, then our friendship ends now.
Why aren't you coming?
Hello?
All right.
I've no time to talk crap with you.
What should I do?
Are you still unhappy?
Fu Xiao Ning.
You beat around the bush.
You took the effort to show me to the house yesterday.
Do you have something to tell me?
If you do, quickly get to it.
Stop wasting time.
I have nothing to say.
No, you're being so serious.
It makes me feel nervous.
You really have nothing to say?
I've given you the chance.
If you're not telling me, then you'll miss the opportunity.
I really have nothing to say.
Hold on.
(Ms. Luo)
Hi, I'm Fu Xiao Ning.
Fu Xiao Ning, I just broke my heel.
Buy me a pair of shoes. The size is 36.
I'll send you the location in a bit.
If you don't come, I'll get anxious.
I will not wait for you if you are late.
Well. All right.
Hold on. I'll come over at once.
All right. See you.
Baby, I have an appointment with a client.
She wants to see the house today and asked me to go over.
I need to head over.
Who's the client?
Which house she wants to see? I'll come along.
No need. I might not be able to strike the deal.
I'll just go by myself.
We're short of staff in the store.
Let's not get hold up on the same case.
Go back first.
Sort out the clients that we've brought to see the houses.
Call them and follow up.
Ask for their feedback.
Let's listen to other people's feedback.
And recommend new houses for them.
Make an appointment with them.
All right. I'll wait for you at the store.
All right. I'll meet up with the client.
Go back first.
Don't be unhappy.
I'll be quick.
Hi, sir. Please head up there.
Sir, keep up with the car in front.
All right.
Where are you? Don't come if you're still not showing up.
He's so slow.
(Big Toe)
Thank you, sir.
Hi, sir. This is the new arrival.
It's very comfy and breathable.
You can buy it for your girlfriend with a peace of mind.
It's not for my girlfriend. I'm buying it for a friend.
Okay.
Do you have high heels?
The high heels are over there. Come and take a look.
These are the new arrivals that sell very well.
- I'll take this. - All right, sir.
What's the size?