TIME DOTH TRANSFIX THE FLOURISH SET ON YOUTH
AND DELVES THE PARALLELS IN BEAUTY'S BROW, FEEDS ON NATURE'S TRUTH
NOTHING STANDS BUT HIS SCYTHE TO MOW.
ADAPTED FROM JING M. GUO'S, TINY TIMES 1.0 ORIGAMI TIMES
Hurry up, Tang Wanru!
I'm trying! I stood up in the middle of my business!
Gu Li, are you sure your choreography is okay?
I feel so weird about it.
Of course, it's fine.
I've been reading fashion magazines since middle school.
There's no doubt about it.
My choreography is stylish.
Now, a female quartet of high school seniors,
The Generation Sisters, presenting the song "Auld Lang Syne."
Who named us?
Me, of course.
Me...
SHANGHAI TIMES HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY
We used to wander all day long
In the mountains of our hometown
We used to suffer poverty in life,
Striving for life everywhere
Friendship hits the spot Love between friends
Cheers for lifelong friendship
Sing together for our eternal friendship
Sing for our eternal friendship
Sing together for our eternal friendship
Sing for our eternal friendship
GRADUATION CERTIFICATE
Don't misunderstand. This isn't me. I'm not this pretty.
This is my friend Nan Xiang who majors in painting and sculpture.
She has an artistic flair and nice skin.
She's talented, beautiful, and my ideal model.
She likes to paint beautiful sceneries,
and many men find her beautiful, too.
Her family isn't very wealthy,
but art school burns through money.
Okay, this is not me either.
I'm not that rich. This is my friend Gu Li.
As you can see,
she's a true trust fund baby.
If I hadn't known her for more than a decade,
I would be just like everybody else
who wants to throw dumplings at her face.
I've actually done that before.
She doesn't just think about money, though.
She double-majors in accounting and international finance.
She taught herself how to do business and made a profit.
She used to dabble in sales of gold.
Recently, she's involved in the international feed market.
- Of course, this isn't me. -Tang Wanru, I'm only repeating this once.
Hurry up and get out of bed!
This is my good friend, Tang Wanru.
She's a national-level secondary badminton athlete.
But her dream is
to become a sex icon like Marilyn Monroe.
As you can see,
she's calm in situations where one wouldn't be calm
but not calm in situations where one should be calm.
That kind of girl.
Okay, this is me.
Not as pretty as Nan Xiang, not as refined as Gu Li,
and not as composed as Tang Wanru.
My name is Lin Xiao,
the most ordinary Shanghainese girl of them all.
But our story is not so ordinary.
Are you ready for it?
Lin Xiao, don't forget the milk.
Okay.
MONTHLY TIMES
THE LOST N YEAR OF GLOBAL ECONOMICS
Can you drive today?
Sure.
That's not the point.
I don't want to argue over a trivial 24 RMB.
The point is that your magazine Monthly Times
is completely wrong in the way fees and tax deductions are handled.
You don't understand what I mean. I don't need this 24 RMB.
I want a professional attitude.
If you insist on this attitude, then I have to apologize
because this will be the last time I'll write for you.
Hello!
Hello, where are you?
Central Plaza.
Are Nan Xiang and Tang Wanru there yet?
Oh, I will be there as soon as possible.
I got a crazy call this morning.
It made me so mad!
Tell you when I see you.
You'd expect more from a financial magazine.
But they're wrong with their tax calculations
and then refused to admit it.
That is as senseless
as a pet magazine running an article on braised dog meat!
Bonjour!
Monthly Comes .
Gu Li, school has started. What are you doing?
Reading a pornography magazine. You!
Hey, Ru Ru, take a closer look.
" Monthly Times ."
At my literary level, it's really hard to accept
that they put "time" with "month."
"Monthly time" is like a period.
Gu Li, if you take a magazine like this
to an uncultured student-athlete,
then that's your fault.
Lin Xiao!
This is Jian Xi and Gu Yuan,
Gu Li's boyfriend and my boyfriend.
They've been close since high school.
Two pieces of a puzzle.
Two Adonises appearing together
is too much for any young girl to handle.
Throughout our high school years,
Gu Li, Nan Xiang, Tang Wanru, and I,
plus all the girls at school,
sketched, painted, designed, romanticized them,
wrote fan fiction about them.
Finally, Gu Li and I put an end
to all these long-running fantasies
when we started dating them in high school.
But we also became an eyesore to all the girls in the school.
The four of us are talkative,
loving, and chatty...
-You got here so late. - Till now .
We're all done with registration.
I just went shopping.
You're ridiculous.
Nobody shops this early on the first day of school!
What?
You buy two meat buns every morning.
Have I ever said anything about that?
What?
What happened? Did you win the lottery?
Lin Xiao, there have been a lot of frauds lately.
I got an interview with ME.
It's this afternoon!
What's ME ?
It's a publication that's almost holy to us art students.
Don't be too happy yet. I'd suggest confirming first.
These days, scammers like to target two kinds of people.
One is senior citizens,
and the others are flowery college students like you.
Do scams have such good taste? Check out the quality of this paper!
Speaking of taste, do you plan to go in tennis shoes?
I didn't have the heart to tell you.
The granny who sells spicy skewers has a pair just like yours.
Hey, stop patronizing regular citizens!
I had to wait all night to buy
the limited edition shoes that Lin Xiao is wearing.
Also, as you well know, I can't wear heels.
Of course, she knows.
At my grandmother's funeral, you forced her to wear heels.
She fell and spilled coffee all over my grandmother's gravestone--
Stop scaring me with ghost stories.
Chairman Mao said we're better off without superstitions.
Take mine.
I'm only applying to be a minor assistant.
Just take them. Use them for self-defense if you won't wear them.
If you see a bad guy, smash his head with it.
Well, I...
Hold them!
Yes, ma'am.
You've been doing this since high school. Don't you get tired of it?
None of your business.
Okay, we're going to register first.
Let's eat together. Then you can find time for your interview.
We'll head to the cafeteria first.
You guys hurry up.
Hello, this is Lin Xiao.
Oh, I'm here already.
Do you work at ME ?
I'm here for an interview.
Right.
With an exclusive interview
with last year's nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature
and introductions for prize winners from the past 3 years,
Moyan of '12, Llosa of '10, and for '11...
Well, '11...
Tomas Transtromer.
Why don't you follow this plan? That's all for now.
Greetings.
This elevator is currently out of order.
Please take another elevator.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Hello, where is the interview?
Over there.
Is it over there? Thanks.
Excuse me. Sorry.
Can you hurry?
Next time, look at it before handing it to me!
Every time I see these swans, I always think of the words...
graceful,
noble,
and plump.
Tang Wanru's practice should be over by now.
Why hasn't she come out yet?
Am I in the wrong place?
What do you mean?
Why are you yelling?
No, I am Wei Hai.
God!
This is the first time in 22 years that someone has seen my boobs!
I was really scared.
Now the whole school knows someone saw your boob.
Why don't you say it again louder?
I'm worried about the old guy in the mail room.
Just missed this exciting broadcast.
But I really feel scared...
Okay, stop.
Here.
Thanks.
I'm Kaidi, assistant to Mr. Ming, ME Editor-in-Chief.
I will do today's interview.
Mr. Gong is not hiring male assistants.
Then why did you email me for an interview?
Honey, when I sent that email,
I didn't know that Vivian...
would be a guy.
Next time, you should just use your Chinese name, Iron Wang.
That way people won't be mistaken.
You...
One at a time, all of you.
First up, Xiao Yafang.
A cup of coffee.
Yes, right away.
No need for you to go.
Find someone here to do it.
Test.
You.
Go downstairs and get a cup of hot latte, double sugar.
Oh, okay.
Are you okay?
You're back. How was the interview?
Looks like it wasn't anything.
The first day of school went by just like that.
Our lives went on day by day,
seconds, minutes, hours,
trailing shadows as it grew and became this long era,
and we are the most insignificant existence
in this era.
Ms. Lin Xiao, this is Kaidi. We met yesterday.
We want to hire you as a special assistant to the editor-in-chief of ME.
Are you serious?
Ms. Lin Xiao, I never make jokes during my job.
I have to run some errands at noon.
I'll need you to start immediately.
Do you mean right now?
My alarm hasn't even gone off yet.
I've already begun brushing my teeth and washing up.
All right, no time to chit-chat.
Right now, right away.
Hello, Kaidi.
Listen, Lin Xiao, as I said yesterday,
I hope that you know from the bottom of your heart
that this is a demanding job.
You are Mr. Gong's weekend special assistant,
which means on Saturdays and Sundays,
you are his assistant to the job
and also his private assistant.
What level of privacy?
Any level of privacy.
Does that include sleeping together?
In your dreams!
Pick up!
Hello.
The man on the line is so strange,
yelling at me to buy him coffee.
But he doesn't say who he is.
Who am I buying it for?
This red phone is an exclusive internal line.
Only he could call it.
Who?
Does nobody here call him by his name?
Like Voldemort or something.
Do they call him the mystery man?
You have 5 minutes to get that coffee.
Also, please read and memorize this as soon as possible.
You have to remember every single line,
better than your boyfriend's birthday, zodiac sign, blood type,
even your own menstrual cycle.
But my menstrual cycle is not regular.
Number one,
he is a severe germaphobe and hates using keys.
After using a key, he will repeatedly wash his hands and disinfect.
Number two,
he likes to collect various types of cups.
Cups for coffee, fruit tea, Chinese tea, water, juice.
The nutritional formula is different.
Don't get it wrong.
Number three,
he absolutely and completely hates fish.
What's wrong with fish? Fish are so hip now.
I think he must've been bitten by a fish as a child.
He can't eat fish and won't even look at them.
Number four,
when emailing or messaging him,
try to use only commas and periods.
Act calm and prim, no matter what happens.
Perform like a robot.
Hi, Mr. Gong.
Lin Xiao, I'm on the way to the airport.
My cell phone is almost dead. I didn't bring a charger.
Please arrange for someone to send a charger
to my hotel room in Beijing.
Yes, Mr. Gong, about your cell phone...
Kaidi, do you know Mr. Gong's cell phone model?
I know all of his cell phone models.
But I don't know which one he brought today.
And his house is as bizarre as he is. Can you believe it?
He built a glass house in the CBD,
where not even a tree can be transplanted so easily.
Hello, where does Mr. Gong Ming live?
Which number? Only one number.
The entire building is Mr. Gong Ming's house.
Oh, I'm here to bring a document to Mr. Gong Ming.
I'm sorry.
Nobody can enter without his permission.
Sir, you may not know me.
I'm Mr. Gong Ming's new assistant.
Mr. Gong Ming is currently in a meeting and can't take calls.
Make an exception for me and let me in.
Young lady, just speak normally.
Don't try to sound like Yang Mi.
I can't hate that voice the most.
So are you going to let me in?
Hey! Elevator!
Is he a demon? Does he live in the Water Curtain Cave?
No, he lives on top of Mount Tai.
For an entire month,
it was like I stayed at an international spy training center
and underwent live battle on a daily basis.
This water looks so much like champagne.
It even has bubbles.
I even feel like
if Gong Ming asked me to get an nuclear bomb from Russia,
I can walk out of the office without an ounce of fear,
bring the atomic bomb to the office the next day,
and place it on his desk.
-This is my assistant Kaidi. -Hello.
Kaidi and I are like the beautiful female agents
who are always with 007,
flying and leaping off walls, up mountains, and under the sea.
One more glass.
Hello, Ms. Lin Xiao. This is Mr. Gong's document.
Oh, okay.
Your zipper has come undone.
Oh! Kaidi, the document!
Even female agents make mistakes, though.
Also, she drags others down, too.
How come you're back so late? Do you know what time it is?
You haven't slept either.
Are you making clothes?
The professional clothing elective should have a lot of expenses.
I have to do more street paintings.
Your dress looks so...
Hurry up and help me.
I was so humiliated today. See.
Go change.
Lin Xiao, I don't think this fits you well.
Yes.
Let's go. I'll help you choose.
Okay.
No problem, Kaidi. I'll hurry over right now.
Just message me the type and brand of the tie.
I'm leaving.
Wow!
Not bad!
Lin Xiao.
Did you bring the tie?
Here.
Come down.
Very good.
Who is he?
Didn't you read every edition of the magazine?
He's Zhou Chongguang, an ME columnist,
who became famous for the past two years.
So he's Zhou Chongguang.
He does look better in person!
Wake up!
Don't be fooled by his innocent little face.
Have you ever seen
a writer who uses diabetes and gallstones
to fool the editor into giving him an extension?
Who's the poor soul rushing his drafts?
Me.
But starting today, it will be your responsibility.
Let's go. We'll get this tie ironed.
I heard from Kaidi that you're responsible for my drafts.
Hello, I'm Lin Xiao.
The zipper's okay today, right?
I want to eat lychee.
Where will I find lychee in October?
On the tree!
I don't know what excuses he'll use in the future
to delay his drafts and make me suffer.
Stop thinking about it now.
Get drunk if there's wine. Sleep on the streets if you're homeless.
Isn't there a song...
I slept on the side of the road all day
What's the next line again?
"Uncle held the money and nodded my way.
I said to him, 'Uncle, good day.
Did you start doing business by the road?'"
Gu Li.
Lin Xiao! I'm scared.
Gu Li, don't...
I'm here for Nan Xiang. What's it to you?
You thought I was here for you.
Get over yourself!
Stop scolding Gu Li!
Gu Li.
You guys go first. I...
Why are you involved with this scumbag?
Have you gone crazy?
Haven't you suffered enough since middle school?
This has nothing to do with you.
You're more worked up than I am.
Is that necessary?
It's especially unnecessary!
Dumped three times, slapped four times.
I'm not the one who was beaten, go to the hospital for severe injuries,
and got kicked out of the house!
Nan Xiang, I won't be responsible
if he ends up beating you to death.
Seems a bit cold.
Throw it away if you don't want it.
Xi Cheng.
Don't come back from now on.
I don't want to see you anymore.
The Nan Xiang I knew
had given the brightest part of her youth
to someone who hurt her the most.
She once told me
that it was like cutting out
the best part of her cloth of life
and personally sewing it onto someone else's.
He was a lot of her firsts,
first time holding hands,
first embrace,
first kiss,
first time running away from home...
These overlapped with Xi Cheng's life.
I'm not as furious as Gu Li.
On the contrary, I empathize with Nan Xiang.
That night,
Nan Xiang finally chose to cut out this part of her life,
a love that has been buried deep inside her.
I understand her reluctance and pain
and understand that all her pain is from love.
From then on,
Nan Xiang never mentioned Xi Cheng again.
It seems like everybody's lives have corrected themselves.
So talented.
Come here, Gu Yuan.
Let me introduce you. This is my son, Gu Yuan.
This young man is talented and handsome.
Gu Yuan, this is Yuan Yi.
Come, sit. You should all sit.
Does your daughter have a boyfriend?
Not yet.
It's only right to find a good person.
My son doesn't have a girlfriend.
Really? What a coincidence.
I have a girlfriend.
He's joking. Don't mind him.
Have some tea.
Lin Xiao, get me a glass of water.
Oh, okay, Mr. Gong.
Buy a new one.
This is the cup brand and the address.
Go quickly.
Lin Xiao.
Jian Xi.
I'm sorry.
I really didn't want to trouble you.
But I really don't have enough money.
Excuse me, sir. You can't sit here.
Jian Xi, it's okay. It's paid.
I'll take you to dinner later.
I still need to get the cup to Gong Ming later,
in case he needs it tomorrow.
Then I'll be leaving.
Hey, Jian Xi.
Your card.
Keep it, in case you need to buy something else.
The PIN is your birthday.
Mr. Gong, I'm sorry.
I'm here to return the cup.
Where's the receipt?
There wasn't one.
It doesn't matter anyway.
Mr. Gong, do you mean to say...
that I don't need to compensate for the loss?
Just make up a receipt.
Then I'll be leaving now, Mr. Gong.
Wait.
It was supposed to be a gift,
but it's no need now.
Take it if you like.
This is my first time seeing Gong Ming,
without his branded suits and luxury cars,
so unlike his usual self.
It's like I had a glimpse of a vast but lonely sky
through a small window.
This person,
without his powerful ego,
has a gentle heart.
Just like the light shining from his window right now.
A distant and lonely planet
in the silent universe,
in the endless darkness,
softly and quietly shining.
Should I say it?
Hello.
Isn't it because Yuan Yi's car broke down?
It's dangerous for a girl to go home this late.
It should be okay for you to let her sleep in your bed.
Why can't the bed be set up in the living room?
How rude.
Make the guest sleep there?
Then I'll sleep in the living room.
She's not freaked out and you're a grown man,
so why are you freaked out?
She better not freak out.
I'm going to take a shower.
Let me remind you something.
You should stop shopping that much from now on.
I know.
You already deactivated my credit card.
But don't worry.
I won't starve to death.
Hello.
Where's Gu Yuan?
He's taking a shower.
Who are you?
Enough?
Don't you have classes this morning?
I don't feel well.
I didn't want to go.
UNIDENTIFIED NUMBER
Lin Xiao.
What's the matter with you? Answer the phone.
Hello?
It's Jian Xi.
He's looking for you.
Hello.
Nan Xiang, I have to tell you something.
Tell me later.
Nan Xiang.
Lin Xiao.
I can't believe...
I can't believe you didn't make my face slimmer!
If you are looking down at our school
from high above,
then you will see
a brilliant game of cat-and-mouse.
There are thousands of possibilities in life.
The ending can change depending on who meets whom first.
God is playing roulette,
and before the wheel stops,
nobody knows who will win at the end.
Nan Xiang.
Where are you?
How could you treat me like this? Lin Xiao, how could you?
Lin Xiao.
-You... -Lin Xiao!
Lin Xiao! Okay, that's it. Have you gone mad?
Lin Xiao, don't go.
Nan Xiang, tell her!
Lin Xiao.
If I were your boyfriend, I'd give you two slaps!
You should hit him instead!
Who knows who he slept with yesterday?
I didn't.
Jian Xi didn't sleep with other women.
It's Gu Yuan.
So you are saying...
Jian Xi... The one who slept with Jian Xi was Gu Yuan?
Okay, you mean...
that Gu Yuan is sleeping with another woman?
Oh, you're all here.
What are you talking about?
What's wrong?
Nervous wreck.
I think she just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
Gu Li, I have something to tell you.
Okay.
Jian Xi only knew after that girl picked up the phone
that he left at Gu Yuan's place.
Gu Li, you should talk to Gu Yuan.
I have something to tell you.
The school bans vehicles in the dormitory area.
Why did you drive in here?
You can't but I can,
because we're different.
Your words are...
Mom.
Did you understand what I just said?
Stop seeing Gu Yuan anymore.
Our family is not open to poor people like you.
You'd better take a good look at your own worth
before you make friends or do things with people.
Then you should take a look at your son's worth first.
How cheeky!
Mom.
Seems like my son chose to spend some money on you.
None of what I'm wearing is from your son's money.
In fact, I bought the boots that your son is wearing.
How can such an educated woman
sound so much like...
a middle-aged woman like my mom?
Don't be mad anymore.
I like you.
Not because you've always had a driver
or because you have branded bags
and definitely not because you gave me expensive boots.
Even if you don't have a single cent,
I will still like you.
Don't be childish!
Grow up.
You really think these things aren't worth anything?
Let me tell you.
Love without material things is just a pile of sand.
Even without the flowing wind, it will spill after a couple of steps.
If I was a poor student,
would you still like me?
Of course, I would!
If I was a poor man today,
would you still like me?
Would you?
I understand now.
You don't understand.
You can carelessly say things like money isn't important
or ask me if I'd still love you if you were poor.
But you can do that only because you've never been poor.
You parade 4,000 USD worth of credit,
rack up receipts without care
just for a pretty watch and a nice shirt.
You played a slovenly aristocrat in a noble manner.
Stop this act of self-satisfaction.
You've read too much Shakespeare!
Take it back!
Take it all back!
For so many years,
Gu Li and Gu Yuan were always arguing,
as if a bomb could detonate between them at any time.
But in a snap, they'd make up as if nothing ever happened.
I thought this time would be the same,
but...
These...
are all the things you've given Gu Yuan in the past.
What's the matter?
You're spacing out.
Nothing, Mr. Gong.
By the way,
I need you to run an errand for me.
I thought it would be like before,
just buying coffee or delivering a document.
I never would have thought
that he would give me a whole program
for the New Shanghai Fashion Design Competition,
organized by ME.
And the organizer was my university.
The school rep is waiting for me in the meeting room right now.
The moment I open the doors,
I'll understand
the reason Gong Ming gave me this job
is not because I am more capable than Kaidi
but because...
Hello, I'm the representative...
for ME.
Tell me,
how drunk did you get the principal?
Why did he assign an accounting and finance major
to run this fashion event?
Are all those designers cultivating hybrid rice now?
What's wrong with international finance?
What suggests I don't understand fashion?
I only have two eyes
-and... -and...
Is there anyone in fashion design who can talk about a budget?
They can only chuckle and say,
"Don't talk to me about money.
It's shallow, but art is priceless."
Priceless? Come on.
When they see rich collectors or famous CEOs,
they can't help but put a barcode on their foreheads.
Do you think the school gave a reasonable budget?
This budget barely covers for a folk dance in Tieling.
That's why we came to Pudong to look for a venue.
I sacrificed so much.
You know that I get allergic when I leave the inner city,
and roaming charges are so expensive in Pudong.
The signal is terrible.
I have to say, Pudong always smells like cement.
Lin Xiao, do you think this is just an accident?
Or are the people here intentionally trying to break me?
Gu Li, don't overthink it.
Obviously, somebody is trying to get you.
You really want to build the stage by the waterfront
and have the models walk down from the ship.
For safety, I'd suggest building an indoor stage.
Mr. Gong has approved on the outdoor one,
and it's rare to see him smile,
rarer than Halley's Comet.
You might not even see it every 76 years.
Okay, fine.
Let's discuss seating.
The seating has been modified seventeen times already.
Do you need to alter the VIP list? I'll confirm with you once more.
If you change it again, I will kill you.
One more thing.
Your hair is a little messy.
You're back.
Lin Xiao.
I have something to tell you.
Did Xi Cheng come for you again?
No. This time, it's about the fashion show.
I want to ask you a favor,
but I don't want to mix money
with our friendship.
Come on, Nan Xiang.
Haven't we always mixed money and friendship?
Remember, during high school,
Gu Li and I took your pictures
and sold them to pimpled upperclassmen
for ten dollars each?
Also, there was a time when both of us
sold Gu Li's term paper online
and bought a solar hot water dispenser with the profit, remember?
Okay.
Aren't you and Gu Li in charge of this fashion design competition?
I'd like your help. Could you let me join?
But this competition is for students of professional clothing design.
You only have it as an elective. Would you be able to join?
I know. That's why I wanted to see if you could do anything.
Oh, wait.
Isn't Gu Yuan's mother a special judge this time?
We can ask her for help.
If Gu Li finds out, won't she kill you?
She will.
You two are just regular nepotists.
What are you doing here, Grandma?
What do you know?
I am the princess.
Did Lin Xiao really do that?
Of course, she left in a hurry this morning.
She's a hen and still turned herself into a weasel.
Lin Xiao is a hen?
Lin Xiao, is this really okay?
-Thank you so much. -Trust me. I work...
for a fashion magazine and I understand fashion.
I'm in.
Thank you, Lin Xiao.
Really? But Ye Chuanping already refused me.
Why?
Because your brain was squashed by the door.
If it wasn't for me,
you two would be curled up and crying.
You asked Ye Chuanping for help.
That's not helping her.
You're putting yourself down and insulting me as well.
Gu Li, don't be mad.
Lin Xiao and I just didn't want to trouble you,
so we decided on our own.
Gu Li, thank you.
But how did you do it?
I asked Professor Sun, who's in charge,
by using truth and emotions.
Really, Gu Li, you're too eloquent.
Of course.
Everyone on this 9.6 million square kilometer land
knows about Gu Li's sweet talk.
Plus, Professor Sun is my uncle.
So in the end, I couldn't do anything and relied on Gu Li.
It's because I can't accomplish anything.
Your naive attempts make you cute.
A superwoman like Gu Li
might not attract boys anyway.
You think that I can't accomplish anything either?
That's not what I mean.
That's what you mean. You're laughing.
Lin Xiao.
You still have to go to work. I should leave you alone.
Am I cute for being so helpless?
Is that the Lin Xiao that Jian Xi likes?
Do I like myself like this?
What a pretty piece of clothing.
I've never worn such nice clothes.
I'll make it for you.
Even if you make it for me,
I wouldn't have an occasion to wear it.
I think I will wear training clothes for the rest of my life.
Christmas time came around as the fashion show drew near.
It's the most beautiful time in Shanghai.
The entire city shimmers like it's covered by golden specks.
During Christmas, Gu Li and I are usually busy
preparing presents for our boyfriends.
This year, however, we have the same new goal.
It's all arranged. Take a look for any problems.
Not bad.
A little better than Lucy.
Pretty good.
Pretty good. Good, Lin.
How about this angle? What about that?
Okay, quiet down.
-Did you get a clear shot? -Oh, yes.
Close up.
Take a look, the last one.
Okay.
You. Talk. Gu Li, is this you?
So early in the morning. Were you hit?
It's New Year. Who would be so heartless?
Did you call the police yet?
Okay, well, that's useless anyway.
Meanness and bitterness is a matter of integrity.
The police can't arrest her.
Gu Li, don't tell me that you can't see Tang Wanru has put make-up on.
Don't joke around.
Seriously.
When did you get a sugar daddy?
Sugar daddy.
A sugar daddy will choose me over the others.
That's true. You look like the seductive type.
Okay, stop digging holes for yourself.
Today is Christmas Eve.
Before, we would spend it with boyfriends. This year--
This year, she was the only one left with a boyfriend,
so we changed wine with tea.
Let's have a Merry Christmas and may we live forever.
A week ago, Zhou Chongguang agreed to write a special article
and come to the show as a VIP.
Now you're telling me that he hasn't written the article
and is unwilling to be the VIP?
The film company closes at six.
Publishing and proofreading takes about two hours total,
so starting now, Lin Xiao,
you have seven hours to get Chongguang's draft.
If it's not done by the deadline,
then it's over for you.
Zhou Chongguang, I hear you flushing the toilet.
Living draft.
Dead editor.
Your house...
Has it been hit by an atomic bomb?
With such terrible living conditions, how could I write?
The last cockroach in my house ran off yesterday.
Its last words before leaving were,
"I can't stand it anymore."
How about this?
If you turn in the draft,
I'll agree to help you clean.
I regretted saying that right away.
It's like dominoes.
Once the first tile falls, the second will follow.
Soon, just to get his draft,
I will agree to every one of Zhou Chongguang's conditions.
I don't want to write. I can't think of what to write.
Zhou Chongguang, I know you're famous.
People have come to you for your writing.
You've already promised us work, so please complete it.
I also want to finish my work.
Who else would want to help you clean your house?
A simple "I don't want to,"
can cause many people to lose their jobs.
When you want to write someday, many people will line up for you.
Of course, it doesn't matter to you but what about us?
Normal people like us may be striving for a dream or job
which you singlehandedly wreck.
Want some ice cream?
Yes.
Why are you still here?
Wait for me.
This is the draft I wrote before.
Handwritten. No time to type it.
If you can use it, then take it...
Yes.
Thank you.
About the fashion show press conference...
Tell Gong Ming that I will not go.
Why?
Gastric cancer.
Stop playing around.
Mr. Gong.
I got the draft from Zhou Chongguang.
No need.
Kaidi took the one she compiled to the publisher.
Anything else?
No.
Then I'll be going.
Okay.
This mass email
was sent by Gong Ming
to make up for Chongguang's missing section.
He wrote the article himself and picked the pictures.
I think I finally understand
the phrase "he always likes to prepare a Plan B"
that appears in the document about Gong Ming's likes and dislikes
and its meaning.
Are you willing to take this woman as your wife?
Your endurance is great.
What?
Don't get me wrong. I don't mean endurance in bed.
I have a present for you.
This is too pricey. I can't--
This is a token from me.
Thank you, Ru Ru.
Ru Ru.
Wei Hai...
Yao Yao, why are you here?
A Christmas present?
I didn't get you one.
This is everything you've given me. Now I'm returning it to you.
You asked me out just to give me this?
What else do you think?
Jian Xi.
Sorry.
Sorry, Jian Xi.
There are no more seats.
I'm sorry.
It's all because of Gong Ming. Gong Ming wanted me to...
Don't say his name. I don't want to hear it.
Jian Xi, you don't understand.
Give me your bag.
What?
What, did I misunderstand?
You got it all wrong. It's not what you think.
Jian Xi.
If she didn't answer,
then I wouldn't have known where to go.
This is the only number
that I've memorized.
Hello?
Lin Xiao.
Don't cry.
Come to my place first.
Okay.
Hey.
Yes.
I'll come. I'm coming.
Do you have wine at your house?
Do you have cake?
I want to eat stinky tofu.
Drive faster.
Tang Wanru.
Gu Li, I want this one.
I can't believe it.
This Christmas,
two single men are staying together.
Two heartbroken men.
You and Lin Xiao are heartbroken, too?
Kaidi.
Kaidi, there's someone outside for you.
-So pretty. -So cold.
Lay down.
So pretty. Step aside.
So cold.
-So cold. -I'm freezing.
We're going to drink all of Gu Li's wine today.
You've got guts. You drink. Drink it up.
Zhou Chongguang said he has gastric cancer, that liar.
Guo Jing Ming just said he has gastric ulcer.
-Gastric ulcer! -Gastric ulcer!
What's so good about Wei Hai? To hell with him.
Honestly, girls, am I not good?
Not good.
Worse.
I hate you!
Stop pretending to be drunk. If you stain the dresses,
I will cut off all your hair to make a new dress.
Oh, forgive us, Your Majesty.
So cold.
Come on, you three.
Don't ever think about leaving me in this lifetime.
I'm the gum in your hair.
To get rid of me, you'll have to cut me off.
We used to wander all day long
In the mountains of our hometown
We used to...
It's snowing.
Striving for life everywhere
Friendship hits the spot Love between friends
Cheers for lifelong friendships
Sing together for our eternal friendship
Lin Xiao.
Pick up the phone.
Hello, Kaidi.
Didn't we agree to meet at 11? It's not even bright out yet.
What are you talking about?
Lin Xiao.
You should have checked the weather forecast a week ago.
I can't believe you don't know about a snowstorm this big!
Say something!
Sorry.
Set up according to the first design.
Here's the seating arrangement.
Yes, okay.
Mr. Gong, this side is ready for set-up.
You can come anytime.
I already prepared the backup stage.
Kaidi, go help the set-up now.
Lin Xiao, you stay and take care of the rest.
Let the staff carry the clothes to the new stage.
Notify all the designers at the same time.
When you're finished, come meet with us.
Better put the big box a little closer.
You can put that last one here.
Hey, Kaidi.
Hey.
Hey, Kaidi, my reception is bad.
We're almost done moving.
I have the designers' roll. I can contact them.
Ms. Lin, we're done moving most of the clothes.
Then we can go.
Okay, I'm about to head over there.
Let's meet at the venue in a bit.
Hello, Gu Li.
I've found the place you mentioned.
But here, is it here?
It doesn't seem like the press conference.
So where are you?
Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao, stop spacing out.
-Come up, the stairs are over there. -Okay.
Hello, Tang Wanru, don't scream so loud.
I just got Lin Xiao.
Stay where you are. We'll come to you right away.
Lin Xiao.
Where's Kaidi?
I just saw her hanging on a pole and screaming.
I blinked and now she's gone.
Tang Wanru is already waiting. Let's go.
You're wearing so little. Are you not afraid of the cold?
Of course I am, but I'm more afraid of looking ugly.
Wow.
How did you finish setting up with so little time?
What do you mean? I spent a while preparing.
I thought it was far-fetched
when you came up with the waterfront idea.
If it weren't for me, you'd have gone crying to Gong Ming.
Lin Xiao, Gu Li.
Tang Wanru.
What's wrong?
There are all these models around. I was shocked.
Stop joking around. Where's Nan Xiang?
She just went up. She asked me to come down and get you.
Okay. Quickly.
Gu Li, Lin Xiao.
-Hi, Nan Xiang. -Nan Xiang.
Here, over here.
Kaidi.
Why did you get here so late?
The VIPs will be here soon. Start getting ready quickly.
Oh, yes, let me bring Gong Ming in.
Lin Xiao, a speech draft is in a bag up there.
You must give it to him before he gets onstage.
Okay.
Lin Xiao, let's go, quickly.
Nan Xiang, your clothes will be here soon.
Yes, okay.
Tang Wanru, follow me.
Oh, we're going to see them naked. I'm so embarrassed.
Don't be. You're not the one stripping.
May I?
You can strip but I wouldn't dare look.
I'm going to look for my clothes. See you later.
-Okay. -Okay.
I'll help.
You better get changed soon before Gong Ming gets here.
It's like you're wearing a resignation letter right now.
I'll wait for you by the door. Find me after you've changed.
This is no good. Change it.
Oh, you're Gong Ming's new assistant.
I'm Lin Xiao. Hello.
Hello, call me Doris. I'm Gong Ming's ex-assistant.
I noticed you're attentive to Kaidi. You two have a good relationship.
She takes care of me well.
She used to take care of me, too.
That's what caused me to leave ME.
Mr. Gong has arrived.
Mr. Gong, I will escort you to your seat.
You suggested this venue when you first helped Lin Xiao plan,
but it was rejected at the time, right?
You're not the only one in this world who has a Plan B.
How is that possible?
How is that impossible?
Little lady.
You want to play with them.
You are not vicious enough.
Got it.
I'm here with my mother.
This is my son's new girlfriend, Yuan Yi.
I've heard so much about you.
Didn't you ask me before why my car is allowed at your school?
That's because your principal asked me to be your final judge.
As a staff here,
shouldn't you welcome us to our seats?
This way, please.
-Chongguang. -Chongguang is here.
Here.
Chongguang has been escorted in.
I almost thought you would come in a vest and slippers.
What, shocked by my good looks?
Who would look good in that kind of attire?
You even put on fake eyelashes.
These eyelashes are real.
Stop joking around. You sit in the fourth one over there.
I'm going. I still need to get the speech draft to Gong Ming.
I thought you weren't coming. Does Lin Xiao know?
I could hardly recognize Lin Xiao.
Enjoy the show.
Don't overthink it.
What happened?
Gong Ming is not reading anything I've written.
Sir, is there still a case of clothes in the back?
No, all the clothes are here.
Thank you so much.
What I need is a speech draft,
not a self-introduction.
This is what you gave Mr. Gong.
Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao!
Nan Xiang, what are you doing here? You're the third to go on!
Lin Xiao, my clothes are missing.
What do you mean your clothes are missing?
My clothes are not backstage.
Lin Xiao!
What do you mean it's missing?
My clothes were left at the other stage. Nobody brought them over.
How did this happen?
Lin Xiao rushed out earlier. Where did she go?
She went to the other stage to look for Nan Xiang's clothes.
But she'll be back too late.
Nan Xiang's up soon.
Hello.
Gu Li, I've found Nan Xiang's clothes.
But you need to buy me some time.
Lin Xiao said she's found the clothes and she's on her way back.
I'll try to change the order of things.
Tang Wanru, wait at the front for Lin Xiao.
Cars can't come through, since the area is blocked off.
Okay.
I'll go with you. I'm worried but who will...
I'll go.
I'll find Kaidi and try to push Nan Xiang later.
Okay.
I will go with you.
Let's go, hurry.
There's an issue with Nan Xiang's clothes. Can you have her go last?
Hello, Lin Xiao. Where are you? Are you her yet?
Sir, how long is it until we get there?
Miss, there's a traffic jam. We can't move.
After this exit, we're off the highway.
Please help, I beg you.
I have no other way even if you beg.
Lin Xiao.
Gu Li.
Stop crying. Get the clothes and move.
Give me the big one. You can't carry it.
You... How can you get on the highway?
Stop wasting your breath. We won't be able to go if the cops come.
What are you waiting for?
Run!
Hurry.
Made it. We made it.
-We made it. -We made it.
Hurry and change.
The last designer's model has finished her appearance.
The designer is closing up onstage.
Put the clothes on.
Hurry.
Ladies and gentlemen, please wait.
We have prepared a special feature for the end of today's show.
Before then...
Before this...
It's our pleasure to have the well-known writer, Mr. Zhou.
Please speak a few words about the upcoming feature.
Please give him a warm welcome.
What should I say?
I don't know.
I hate you.
You're welcome.
Cut out all the lights, except the one above Chongguang.
Yes.
We live in a vast universe,
with stardust and light particles floating through it all.
Our existence is smaller than these.
One does not know when life's direction might change,
sinking like ink into the darkness,
dragged into a deep abyss by disappointment,
trapped into grave by illness,
trampled to pieces by frustration.
You are jeered,
mocked,
disliked,
hated,
patronized,
abandoned.
But we kept hope in our hearts,
a heart that would not stop beating.
We still make little efforts in the midst of great despair.
This feeling of perseverance
becomes specks of starlight in the darkness.
Zhou Chongguang.
We are all
small specks of starlight.
Oh, my god. There are three more pieces.
Nan Xiang asked me to tell you
that these three were prepared especially for you three.
My inspiration came from the girls around me.
One of them felt she'd only fit in a training suit
and never got a chance to wear a glamorous skirt.
Some girls seem cold on the outside,
yet they have a heart that burns like fire.
They look sophisticated and charming in all their self-confidence.
She has always been her friends' reliable ally.
Some girls may lack confidence.
However, they still strive for the future.
They have beautiful dreams and inspire others with their drive.
Some girls may be poor,
but they still believe
that they can achieve their dreams despite the cruelty of reality.
This brings out the beauty in everyone.
I wanted to design clothes for these girls,
whether they're ordinary or beautiful,
poor or rich.
I hope they can see their most beautiful selves.
This girl has a lot of talent. You should sign her.
-One, two, three. -One, two, three.
They still look young,
just like they were in high school.
No.
They've grown to be better.
Lin Xiao.
Kaidi.
I apologize for earlier.
I will submit my resignation letter to Mr. Gong tomorrow.
Sure.
But before you do,
I should clear something up with you.
A copy of this footage
is now sitting in the boss' email.
I'll pretend I didn't hear anything about your resignation.
Kaidi.
No need to express gratitude.
If you want to say anything,
please put on your shoes first.
Mr. Gong, why did you come?
Mr. Gong.
There are a lot of girls around me who wear heels.
But you're the only one with tennis shoes.
I've discovered many things about you
that other girls do not have.
I think these things are wonderful and precious.
Jian Xi.
Subtitle translation by Katherine Tse