Jun-Yu: I am the Rider King! Take my challenge! Look, Ruo-Shi, watch how I defeat you in this race. Hey! My bike is almost at the finish line—go on, try to catch up!
★★★
With a face filled with irritation yet somewhere deep inside a faint trace of joy, Shi-Han returns home and sits on the sofa. It feels as if spring has touched her dry heart—the boy from the park with the green bike has stirred something within her. She sits watching TV, but her shameless heart keeps drifting back to that boy. Especially that moment in the park—when the girl stumbled toward him, he didn't pull her up himself; he only touched her briefly, as if just to make sure she was safe.
Shi-Han's parents never had a good relationship. Her father was simple and straightforward, but his simple heart had turned bitter after realizing that Shi-Han's mother had betrayed him. The university had closed for winter break, so after a long time Shi-Han brought her university friends Xiao-Tong and Kai-Wen to her home in Beijing. But today her father returned home drunk. Very drunk. He staggered near the drawing room door and almost collapsed. Shi-Han rushed to him—
Shi-Han: Dad! Dad! What is this state you're in? You came home drunk again! After so long I brought my friends home, and you didn't even think about my dignity?
Shi-Han's Father: Dignity? Did your Li-Hua think about my dignity? She had an affair and put all the blame on me! Do I have no dignity, Shi-Han? When Li-Hua didn't think about me, why should I think about anyone else?
Xiao-Tong and Kai-Wen had gone to a nearby restaurant and could return any moment. If her father said something in front of them while drunk, Shi-Han would be too ashamed to face her friends. Thinking this, she supported her father and led him toward his room—
Shi-Han: What nonsense are you saying, Dad? You're drunk. Come inside. And don't say another word. Just be quiet.
★★★
After putting her father to bed, Shi-Han returns to the drawing room and sits silently on the sofa, her mood heavy.
Just then, a boy enters, schoolbag on his shoulder, whistling casually. On his way to his room, he notices Shi-Han sitting there sadly. He steps forward, drops his bag onto a single sofa, then jumps onto the three-seater sofa and lays his head on Shi-Han's lap. Shi-Han says nothing, quietly allowing him to occupy her lap. Gently stroking his hair, she asks—
Shi-Han: Where were you, little brother? Why did you come home so late today?
Hao-Ran: I stopped by a shop on my way back from tuition to buy some logos. That's why I'm late. But what happened to you, sis? Why are you upset? Ohhh, I get it—you're bored because I wasn't home and your friends aren't here either?
Shi-Han lowers her voice.
Shi-Han: Hao-Ran… Dad came home drunk again today.
Hao-Ran lifts his head from her lap and sits beside her.
Hao-Ran: Oh, so that's why you're sad. But Dad often comes home drunk. Don't feel bad about it. You came home after so long—don't sit here looking gloomy. I have an idea to cheer you up. Let's design logos together.
Shi-Han stays silent. Hao-Ran gets up, takes two logo designs from his bag—one simple, one difficult. He keeps the simple one and hands the harder one to Shi-Han.
Hao-Ran: Here, sis. I'll design a dragon. You design a helmeted rider on a green, black, and blue bike. We have fifteen minutes. Whoever finishes first— the other person has to obey one wish.
Shi-Han: This game is so boring. And you've done these designs before. I'm not playing something you already practiced.
Hao-Ran raises three fingers solemnly.
Hao-Ran: I swear, I bought these on my way back from tuition today. I've never designed them before. Please, just once—design with me.
Shi-Han: Are you telling the truth? If you're lying, remember—I know martial arts.
Hao-Ran (a little nervous): I'm telling the truth.
Believing him, the two siblings begin designing their logos together.
★★★
Meanwhile, Jin-Yu has almost finished cooking. In Ruo-Shi's room, Jun-Yu is racing two remote-controlled bikes on a toy racing track. It's as if he has turned into a child while playing with Ruo-Shi.
Jun-Yu: I am the Rider King! Take my challenge! Look, Ruo-Shi, see how I defeat you! Hey! My bike is almost at the finish line—go on!
Ruo-Shi quietly controls her bike. Just as Jun-Yu's bike approaches the finish line, it suddenly falls over. Seizing the chance, Ruo-Shi crosses the finish line and jumps up in joy—
Ruo-Shi: Yay! I won! Uncle lost! Uncle lost! See who beat Uncle!
Jun-Yu had started this race to cheer Ruo-Shi up after her parents argued in the evening. In reality, he isn't a child, yet losing still makes him pout playfully. He lowers the remote just as Jin-Yu calls from the dining table—
Jin-Yu: Jun-Yu! Brother! Bring Ruo-Shi and come eat. Dinner's ready!
Jun-Yu sets the remote down and smiles at Ruo-Shi.
Jun-Yu: Winning and losing happen all the time. Let's eat first. We'll race again later.
Ruo-Shi: Okay! But next time you'll lose again, Uncle!
★★★
At the dining table, Jun-Yu notices Jin-Yu still looking upset from the evening's incident. To cheer her up, he puffs his cheeks and complains like a child—
Jun-Yu: Sis, look! Your daughter cheated and won the race! Now she's challenging me again after dinner! Scold her! I'm your brother first, then she's your daughter—you should take my side!
Jin-Yu bursts into laughter.
Jin-Yu: My little brother, staying with my daughter has turned you into an even bigger child than her. It's just a toy race! You're a real rider. Listen—I want you to register for the CRRC competition this year. Win that race and show Ruo-Shi who the real Rider King is. I believe you'll win.
Encouraged by his sister, Jun-Yu smiles faintly. Ruo-Shi looks around and notices someone missing.
Ruo-Shi: Mama, where's Papa? I don't see him at the table.
Just then, Jun-Yu sees Zhi-Yuan returning home.
Jun-Yu: There he is! Ruo-Shi, go call your dad.
Ruo-Shi runs and grabs Zhi-Yuan's hand.
Ruo-Shi: Papa, are you still angry at Mama? Won't you eat with us? Look, Mama even made your favorite rice noodles and chicken fry! She's not angry at you. Please forgive her and come eat.
Unable to refuse his daughter's soft plea, Zhi-Yuan joins the table. Everyone sits in silence. The atmosphere feels heavy.
Finally, Zhi-Yuan breaks the silence—
Zhi-Yuan: Jin-Yu… I was wrong. I was under a lot of pressure. I saw something and misunderstood. I was afraid you might get involved in trouble. That's why I acted harshly. I shouldn't have treated you like that. Please forgive me.
He hugs her gently.
Jin-Yu: It's okay. I know you were worried about me. I didn't do anything wrong. Don't think too much. Let's eat.
The tension slowly fades.
Suddenly, Jun-Yu presses his fingers to his temples, wincing in pain.
Ruo-Shi: Uncle… what happened? Is your head hurting again?
Jun-Yu often had headaches before, but today it seems worse. Jin-Yu immediately becomes concerned.
Jin-Yu: Jun-Yu? Are you okay?
He forces a small smile.
Jun-Yu: Sis… I came here during the university break so you'd take care of me. But instead you're busy romancing your husband. Watching you two made my head hurt!
Everyone bursts into laughter. Jin-Yu lightly hits his back.
Jin-Yu: Naughty boy! You scared me pretending to be sick! Don't forget—I'm your big sister!
Jun-Yu: Ah! Sis! Let go! Brother-in-law, save me! Your wife is going to beat your sweet brother-in-law to death!
Zhi-Yuan laughs.
Zhi-Yuan: Jin-Yu, who gave you permission to hit my brother-in-law? Let him go.
The playful mood returns. Eventually Jun-Yu apologizes sincerely—
Jun-Yu: Brother-in-law… I'm sorry. I was rude earlier. I can't tolerate anyone disrespecting my family. But I shouldn't have raised my hand. I'm sorry.
Zhi-Yuan: It's alright. You're like my younger brother. Just don't take my wife away from me.
Peace finally settles over the family.
★★★
For the first time in her life, Shi-Han plays something as "boring" as logo designing—and she loses to Hao-Ran.
Shi-Han: Fine, I lost. Tell me, what do I have to do?
Hao-Ran: You promised. Whatever I ask, you'll do.
Shi-Han: Say it.
Hao-Ran looks at her seriously.
Hao-Ran: I want you to fix your relationship with Mom.
He hands her the bike logo. But Shi-Han throws it away angrily.
Shi-Han: Impossible! If you had asked for my kidney, I would've given it to you! But what you're asking can never happen! That woman hurt me too much!
Hao-Ran's eyes fill with tears.
Hao-Ran: You hit me, sis… I gave you the harder design on purpose so you'd lose and I could ask this. But answer me one thing—why can't five hearts under one roof ever unite? Is this what a family means? Sometimes even a prison feels more peaceful than our home.
His words pierce her heart. Shi-Han realizes her mistake.
Shi-Han (thinking): What have I done? He's suffered just like I have…
Her voice trembles.
Shi-Han: I'm sorry… I couldn't control my anger. But relationships can't be forced with conditions. When hearts heal, bonds heal naturally.
Just then, Li-Hua returns home from a party, dressed elegantly. Ignoring the tension, she speaks while walking to her room—
Li-Hua: Hao-Ran, I saw Shi-Han's friends coming back from the restaurant. Have dinner and sleep. Shi-Han, when are you returning to Shanghai? Since you arrived, I haven't been able to focus on my work. And you even brought friends.
Already furious, Shi-Han snaps—
Shi-Han: My presence bothers you that much? I won't go back to Shanghai. If I'm such a problem, you leave!
Li-Hua steps forward and slaps her.
Li-Hua: Insolent girl! How dare you speak to your mother like that?
Hao-Ran intervenes—
Hao-Ran: Sis, don't talk to Mom like that. If you behave this way, what example will I learn from you?
Shi-Han falls silent, conflicted. Somewhere deep inside she wants to believe her mother—but something holds her back.
Li-Hua: It was my mistake leaving Shi-Han with Jian-Guo's mother when she was little. Her grandmother couldn't teach her values. She has forgotten that I am her mother.
Silence fills the room.
★★★
After Li-Hua and Hao-Ran leave Shi-Han alone for a while and go to their own rooms, Shi-Han finally lets the emotions buried deep inside her heart spill out—
Shi-Han: I miss you, Mom… Even though we live so close to each other, this distance between our hearts is unbearably painful. Mom, why didn't you keep me by your side when I was little and teach me your values? I wanted to grow up guided by you… I wanted to be raised by your teachings…
Shi-Han loves her mother Li-Hua deeply as well. Yet, for some unknown reason, despite living under the same roof, there exists a distance between mother and daughter as vast as the sky and the earth. After everyone leaves, Shi-Han finally breaks down in tears. At that moment, Xiao-Tong and Kai-Wen return from the restaurant.
The main door had been left open. Xiao-Tong had already sensed that something must have happened in the house. However, she doesn't make a big deal out of it and enters the house while chatting casually with Kai-Wen.
Xiao-Tong: Kai-Wen, say whatever you want, but teasing Shi-Han about that boy really worked. Because of that, we had such a nice dinner at the restaurant today, didn't we?
Kai-Wen: Yeah. Shi-Han really needs a boyfriend right now. She would look perfect with that guy.
Xiao-Tong: Shi-Han, where are you? We brought food for you from the restaurant. You think we're that selfish, but I'm not that selfish at all—
Before Xiao-Tong can even finish her sentence after entering the house and calling out to Shi-Han, her eyes fall on Shi-Han sitting on the sofa, crying. Xiao-Tong knew a little about Shi-Han's family conflicts. But Kai-Wen knew nothing, and Xiao-Tong doesn't want Kai-Wen to find out about Shi-Han's family problems.
Xiao-Tong: Kai-Wen, we already had dinner. Why don't you go and organize your luggage? Shi-Han and I will pack ours and go to sleep soon.
Kai-Wen: Okay, sure.
After Kai-Wen goes to her room, Xiao-Tong sits beside Shi-Han and asks—
Xiao-Tong: Shi-Han, what happened? I can tell you argued with Auntie today. Did she say something to you? Why did you fight with her? Tell me.
Shi-Han: So I'm the only one who ever causes trouble, right, Xiao-Tong? You're the only witness to how much I struggled growing up because of Mom. I've become used to fighting with her. Even after all those arguments, she never changed. But today… today I made a mistake.
Xiao-Tong: When Auntie has finally found her own peace and is living well in her own way, why do you keep fighting with her? If she can live well in her own way, why can't you live well in yours? And what mistake did you make today?
Shi-Han: Today Hao-Ran made me promise that I would settle all the conflicts with Mom. But in a fit of anger… I slapped him. Since childhood, Hao-Ran has grown up just like me—without having big brother Wen-Hao or me by his side, struggling alone in this family. That's why there's always been a kind of loneliness inside him. Despite all the fights between Mom and Dad, despite enduring so much, Hao-Ran still tries to maintain good relationships with everyone. He even wanted me to reconcile with Mom and tie this family together in one thread. But what have I done today? Now you understand why I don't want to come home, don't you?
Xiao-Tong sits beside Shi-Han, wraps her arms around her, and comforts her.
Xiao-Tong: Time heals all wounds, Shi-Han. Stop overthinking this. We'll return to Shanghai tomorrow. I'm going to pack my luggage now. And listen—you brought food from the restaurant, right? Take that food to Hao-Ran, say sorry to him, and have dinner together. You'll see, he'll forget all his hurt feelings.
__________________________________
upcoming seen
Jun-Yu: Sir, I'm in my room right now. The only person standing beside me is my sister. If there's anything confidential you want to say, you can say it. You can trust my sister.
Sir: Jun-Yu, tomorrow you, Wan-Qing, and I are going to a secret laboratory. When you come tomorrow, I'll explain everything face to face.