There's an old apartment in my hometown
that was deserted when I was a child.
It's one of those apartment buildings that
the Hong Kong people came to build in the 90s.
One day I walked into it,
and saw the whole place all tidied up,
while she was there busy cleaning.
I saw her and asked,
"What are you doing here?"
She replied me with the same question,
"And what are you doing here?"
Then we just sat there like two silly idiots
underneath the staircase.
We didn't talk much,
but both of us felt really happy.
Then she asked me carefully
if someone might come.
I reassured her that no one will.
We spent more time there
until suddenly someone barged in,
and I just started running.
I ran, ran and ran…
When I turned back and looked,
I couldn't see that apartment anymore.
So I just kept on running,
until I was finally out of the place.
Niu, get the door.
It's not locked.
Welcome home.
Honey, don't make a scene.
Where were you this afternoon?
Sorry that I came back late.
Muzi must have been busy.
Here, have some soup.
I'll help myself.
(Calling "Yu Fei")
Zhao Muzi, your period is here.
Where's Naoki?
He'll be back later.
He's going back to Japan in a few days
for some visa issues.
Will you wait for him?
Will you?
If it were me, I would.
Zai-zai, where's your dad?
He's coming. He's slow.
You came by yourself?
No, my sister came with me.
Okay, go on in.
One, two, three, go ahead.
One, two, three, turn.
OK, next one.
One, two, three, go.
One, two, three, turn.
Would you send me the video later?
Sure, just give me your number.
Great, thanks.
Got mine.
Are you from the north?
I'm from Shandong.
Was it that obvious?
You don't have an accent,
but you definitely don't sound like a local.
How long have you been here?
More than ten years.
Came for work?
For study at first.
Then I opened a bar with a friend,
and just stayed ever since.
I was about your age when I came.
How old do you think I am?
About twenty?
Twenty-two.
Wonderful age.
Just graduated?
Where is your bar?
On Stadium Road.
Come and bring some friends.
Sounds good.
Do your parents know you smoke?
When I came back last summer,
my mom's boyfriend gave me my first cigarette.
Here.
Thanks.
Where's Dad?
He has a show in Shanghai,
so he probably won't be home tonight.
I'll get Niu from school today.
Everything's been good with you guys lately?
It's not about good or bad.
Your dad's an old man now.
He has changed quite a bit.
When do you plan on telling Niu that we're half-siblings?
Wait until she's a bit older.
It's not like she can't feel anything.
I would doubt that.
I'm heading out. Take your time.
It's so spacious in here.
Yeah, it's big alright.
But whenever it rains, look,
it leaks everywhere.
They never put out notices
when they demolish mountains nearby.
Muzi...
How's it been with Yu Fei?
We haven't had sex yet.
Till now?
So it's like half a year
with no sex life?
Want me to give you a hand?
- Give me a break. - Stop embarrassing yourself.
- Cut it out. - Relax.
Though I really do need a kid.
I've told you about this.
Who would raise the child then?
My parents.
All they want is to have a grandson.
Why do you try to make babies with everyone you meet?
What?
- What "what"? - Making babies with everyone I meet?
How could you say such a…
I mean... wow...
Are you listening to yourself?
Are you?
I was just chatting with her.
Ever thought about how I'd feel?
What do you expect?
It's just a marriage of convenience.
- It's been so long since I last saw her. - A stranger just shows up...
and you solicit her for a baby.
Keep it down, will you?
How?
My parents are over 70 now.
You should have told me first, no?
So you could have planned it?
While you are making your solid plan,
we are losing time and chances.
Then what? 10 or 20 years will be gone.
Why don't you just live by yourself?
Grab a woman and make a baby.
Why waste your time with me?
It was in 1994...
that I started dating in middle school.
She was my first love.
As time goes by...
After you have a family and a kid,
you can't think about these things anymore.
Is your wife also here in Hangzhou?
Yes.
I see.
Hello?
Hello!
Who is this?
Is Zhao Muzi at home?
I'll get it, Niu... hello?
I'm her college classmate, Yu Fei.
She isn't home now. Should I leave a message?
No, it's fine. Thank you.
Alright.
Come here, Zhao Muzi.
(New Message Notification)
Don't start with such a high pitch...
Hey boss, my friend's messing around.
I'm sorry about that.
Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
That cutie boy...
Come downstairs and sing!
Sing with that mic!
If you see someone you like downstairs, I may know him.
You know him?! I'm telling you
I really got the hots for that cutie-pie...
You've got to help me out!
He has 99 girlfriends.
This group of girls is his stable clientele.
Badass, right?
Don't listen to his bullshit.
These two fellas...
I'm telling you, there're actually 109 of them.
The "girlfriends" they are talking about
mean something else to me.
How do you know that's not what we meant?
If a girl like you comes for a drink,
and we are very good friends,
whenever someone gives you a hard time,
someone I don't know,
I will act as your boyfriend so to take care of you,
and nip his dirty thoughts in the bud.
That's why I've got a lot of "girlfriends",
but it doesn't mean anything.
Then how come someone like you
decided to get married?
You're really going to sniff me out?
I ditched my wedding in Hangzhou.
He plays the tale of a knight,
in which he saves 99 girls.
Yesterday and today
Fleet to an end of no return
As the red leaves fall
To a long sleep under the dust
Beginnings and ends
Always remain the same
As you drift afar
Beyond the clouds
The sea of sorrow
Turns up waves of love and hate
We are no more than just
Prisoners of fate
We long for each other
But forever stand apart
Perhaps I should believe that
It's all meant to be
You're back.
You went to Shanghai?
Just came back this morning.
A bit tired.
You were performing?
And meeting a few friends.
You were with your students?
I brought two students with me.
Where did you find this?
In the old apartment.
Mom sent me to get it.
What does she want with this?
I don't know.
You want to give it to her yourself?
This is my drawing.
Your drawing of her, right?
Why are you two sitting in the dark?
Niu, come and wash your hands.
Okie.
I'll be upstairs.
When are you coming back?
Will you come with me?
I will go cook some dumplings.
Fetch me another pack of smokes, will ya?
Thank you. You sang very well.
I got nervous.
It was pretty good.
Put your coat on.
I'm fine.
I'm exhausted.
I'm sorry.
Let me take you to a place.
Where?
Come.
Here is the kitchen,
which is connected to the balcony,
so it's very well ventilated.
The owner seems to have cooked a lot.
The female owner was quite a chef.
I present to you the 80's rosewood sofa.
The owner's daughter lived in this room.
And that's my parents' room.
What's wrong?
I don't like this.
You don't like what?
I don't like you like this.
Like what?
I don't know, I just feel...
My drunken gaze
Sways ever so slowly
My delicate cherry lips
Blaze with crimson red
Hello?
Are you with your mom?
Yeah, I'm with her.
Okay.
Have you seen her?
I just put the drawing at her front door
and left.
I wouldn't know what to say to her anyway.
Alright, be safe.
Call me if you need me.
Bye-bye.
I'm hanging up.
I feel so lonely, you know.
I'm the only one walking this path.
You aren't here.
You think I'm being difficult?
That's not what I meant.
When I'm not at home,
it's because I'm out with friends,
which honestly is for this family, too.
A lot of what I do relies on my friends.
That's not how you support your family.
If I were to stay at home all the time,
what kind of a man would that make me?
Doesn't Niu need your company?
Don't you know how much it means
to have a father in a child's life? - If I had the time...
It's not the first time you're a father!
I'm fine.
Don't touch me.
Give it to me.
I know where it is.
Give it!
What are these?
Where's the key?
How are things between you and your wife?
Not bad.
It's mostly about raising the kid together.
Why don't you draw anymore?
When I was young,
and still with your mother,
I liked to draw.
Later on when I began doing music,
I had no more time to draw,
and didn't think of drawing anymore.
Have you ever thought of staying single?
Not actually.
It's still nice to have someone.
All these years,
have you ever blamed us?
Yu Fei, do you love me?
Huh?
What did you say?
Let's go.
After I finish this one.
Hey!
Cheers.
Where do you want to go?
It's getting late.
Let me drive you home.
I want a cigarette.
Okay.
Let me accompany you home today.
Sure.
Which floor do you live on?
The sixteenth.
Bye.
Thank you.
If one day
I'm gone,
what will you do?
After Chinese New Year,
I will rent out the old apartment.
The windows there need fixing.
Why?
Last time I was there,
the windows were all rusty.
I tried to open one and the whole panel fell down.
Luckily no one got hurt.
Where did you two go that night?
Karaoke.
Got drunk?
Totally wasted.
Don't you want to see her?
She's dating a Japanese guy?
They've been together for quite a while.
I saw her sending him off at the door.
It's a bit chilly.
I'm going in.
A boy came to see you a few days ago.
He came twice but you weren't here.
He looked nice.
When I was young,
I went to Beijing to see your mom, too.
The other day,
she was very ill,
and in a horrible mood, too.
That night,
it was almost two or three,
on top of taking a lot of drugs,
she was also drinking.
She was in a totally hysterical
but also very fragile state.
I said, "I will stay the night to keep you company."
Because I felt that she was very...
She just had me worried.
However,
she insisted on me leaving.
But I was adamant about staying.
So the two of us were in a tussle.
In the end I couldn't fight her, like always.
She was exhibiting some kind of a...
a sort of destructive nature.
Then...
I just left.
Because I saw her in her bed,
almost in a spasm,
like a neurotic patient lying there
and starting to twitch
in a morbid condition.
On my way back around 3 AM,
when I left her place,
which isn't far from mine,
it took me about 40 minutes of a walk,
and all along the way,
I thought to myself,
how stupid
that it all has been.
Shit!
Watch your steps.
All good?
Thanks.
I'll be here, is that okay?
Yes.
Alright, imagine it's a sunny afternoon.
We have a glaring sun above us.
You two look into the distance
where you will find your happiness.
I mean, it's just around the corner.
This time, put the light down.
Let's take a shot of you tossing the veil.
Remember to crouch after you toss it.
Let her take your cigarette.
Thank you.
You two just look at me.
Okay.
Leave some room for my arm.
Is this alright?
Yes, it's perfect.
Muzi, you can keep down now.
OK, ready, look into camera...
One, two, three.
Wow, what a shot.
Alright, now the bride peeks at the groom...
Let's do that again.
What's up?
I used to...
love someone very much.
How long ago was that?
Four or five years.
I don't think I'll ever fall in love again.
Once is enough.
Yu Fei!
What you were saying was...
that...
you don't want...
a long-term relationship.
You just want someone to be there?
I don't expect you to commit to me.
And I can't promise that to you, either.
Are you fucking out of your mind?
Your dad really wants to rent out the old apartment?
He probably needs the money.
He asked me to eat at his place today.
I will go out with Thomas then.
Do you always pay for him when you go out?
Or because I was there last time?
Because of you, of course.
Watch out for the distance.
Don't get any closer...
Sis, where were you these days?
I was at a friend's place.
A boy friend or a girl friend?
That's a secret.
Come on...
She is a lady.
I'm getting suspicious.
Believe it or leave it.
She's got a backyard where cats always visit.
I like cats. May I come to vist you?
Of course.
I won't tell Mom.
Muzi, could you give a hand?
Daddy, the lighter.
Mom, I've brought Niu to see you again.
I used to dream
of a spiral staircase at this home.
In the center of the staircase hanged a girl.
When I walked up the stairs,
her body would turn against me.
I continued my way up,
and she just kept on turning.
Her face...
I never got to see what her face looked like.
You just disappeared,
like you've never existed before.
I want to drink a beer.
Vaarwel.
Zai-jian.
What are we going to eat?
Many restaurants may have closed.
We might only get ramen.
Sure.
What time is your train?
We have time.
Look, it's beautiful over there.
This is your city.
But every time I come back,
it feels more different than before.
A few days ago, I met someone.
Where are we?
The South Lake.
It didn't feel so long a trip.
I saw your dad last week.
To pick up my sister from school?
He was at my bar.
With his student?
They stayed for quite a while.
The girl drank a lot.
Then she started crying.
It was sad to watch.
Did my dad give her a shoulder?
He drank a lot, too.
You really remind me of someone.
Is that so?
But then I found out you are not him.
It's been a good few years since we parted.
I can't remember much.
To this day, I still don't know what I meant to him.
The water here is so clear.
I'll give you a goodbye gift.
Start counting.
Okay.
I'm getting it, you keep counting.
8, 9, 10...
Oh my dear
Please believe that
If I didn't have you
My heart shall turn blue
Oh my dear
If I didn't have you
My heart shall turn blue
Your beloved
Is sighing
Please don't turn your back on me
So heartlessly...