Fan Fiction |
by ianne
Dao Ming Si enters Lei’s bedroom. He climbs on one side of Lei's bed and deliberately wakes Lei up.
DAO MING SI
Lei, wake up! Why are you still sleeping? Wake up now!
LEI
What the-? It’s early in the morning, let me sleep, ok?
DAO MING SI
Don’t! It’s no longer early, it’s already late. Tell your servant to ready the car. I have to pick up Shan Cai, she registers in Ying-De today.
LEI
(refuses to get up)
Why don’t you go tell them yourself?
DAO MING SI
They are your servants, not mine.
LEI
Just grab my car keys on the side table and go! I need to sleep still.
Dao Ming Si climbs down Lei’s bed and grabs his keys. He is about to exit the door but walks back to Lei's bed.
DAO MING SI
Actually there’s something I need to talk to you about. Quite important really, regarding our situation: you, me and Shan Cai. I feel really bad about it, I mean…
Lei slowly gets up. He anchors his upper body with both hands on his bed.
LEI
It’s ok. As long as I see Shan Cai smiling, I’m fine.
DAO MING SI
(pauses to signify he understood)
Lei, thank you for looking out for Shan Cai during…when I haven’t. She suffered a lot because of me and I know you’re the one who was at her side, helping her to be strong. Despite everything, I know you are the best person I can entrust Shan Cai with. You’re not just a good friend to me, but to her as well. That’s why I feel bad--
LEI
You don’t have to, Ah Si. Actually I’m glad enough to realize that I was in love with her. I am satisfied with that. After Jing, it never crossed my mind that I’m capable of loving another. But thanks to Shan Cai, now I know I could. I share the happiness you and Shan Cai feel, so I give you my blessings.
DAO MING SI
Thank you, Lei. Are you sure you’d be alright?
LEI
If you let me sleep already!
Dao Ming Si laughs. He throws a pillow at him while Lei pulls up his blanket up to his neck.
DAO MING SI
Ok, you sleep already!
Dao Ming Si leaves. Lei lay on his bed, his face half-buried on his pillow, and his eyes still open. He recalls the times he had with Shan Cai while Dao Ming Si was lost.
MONTAGE – STOCK FOOTAGE (METEOR GARDEN 2):
1. Lei and Shan Cai at a bridge after he saved her dad from getting into jail
2. They drive to the end of the road
3. In the hospital when he is drawing a picture of the beach for her
4. Finding Shan Cai in a town outside Taipei and lives with her at the cottage
5. Buying her flowers with the money he earned from selling vegetables
6. Giving her back the meteor star ring and asking her to come back to Japan with him
7. Shan Cai asking him to wait a second as she gets the flowers he gave her and he replied, “I’m waiting for you always.”
8. They leave the cottage and head back to Taipei
END MONTAGE
Lei finally closes his eyes and goes back to sleep.
EXT./INT. YING-DE UNIVERSITY - DAY
Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai drives down Ying-de’s campus main road entrance in Lei’s convertible.
MAIN BUILDING ENTRANCE – STAIRS
While climbing the stairs, Dao Ming Si hands Shan Cai a check. Shan Cai just looks at it.
SHAN CAI
What’s that?
DAO MING SI
Stupid woman, don’t you even know what a check is?
SHAN CAI
Of course I know that’s a check. But why are you handing it to me?
DAO MING SI
Woman, you’re irritating. It’s for your tuition fee!
SHAN CAI
No need. I have money saved up from working at the travel agency. Besides, you should be saving up your money.
DAO MING SI
What the heck are you talking about? It’s only natural I take care of your needs.
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si, I told you, I already have money for my tuition fee already. You should learn how to handle your finances. You’re no longer a high master.
DAO MING SI
So now you are looking down on me?
SHAN CAI
Hey, that’s not fair. After everything, you think I’m only with you because you’re rich? Do you think I’m that kind of person? Forget you.
Shan Cai walked away from him.
DAO MING SI
Hey Shan Cai!
SHAN CAI
Just wait for me there!
INT. REGISTRAR’S OFFICE
Shan Cai arrives at the registrar’s office and stands at the end of the line.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
You Dao Ming Si, even Ah Xing wasn’t able to rub off that 'arrogant master personality' of yours. But then, it’s that arrogant personality that makes him Dao Ming Si. If he doesn’t have that, then he isn’t Dao Ming Si.
INT. YING-DE HALLWAY – TO THE LOCKERS
After registering, Shan Cai searches for Dao Ming Si and finds him standing in front of the lockers. A couple of students bows down to Dao Ming Si frightened and walk away quickly. Shan Cai runs up to him.
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si! You are not creating trouble, are you?
DAO MING SI
Are you a pig? Why should I create trouble? Trouble finds me easy enough.
SHAN CAI
(teasing)
You must miss handing out red tags, don’t you?
DAO MING SI
Did I ask for your opinion? Let’s just go.
DAO MING SI
(pushes Shan Cai)
Quick!
EXT. YING-DE GROUNDS – DAY
They roam around Ying-De and end up at the boardwalk from where Dao Ming Si threw the meteor necklace back then. Dao Ming Si leans his back on the railings. Shan Cai stands beside him, (facing the body of water where the meteor necklace landed before) and rests her folded arms on the top of the railings.
SHAN CAI
This is great, just one more term and I’d be graduating. But I feel nostalgic too. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to miss Ying-De.
DAO MING SI
Really? Even if you were tortured here?
SHAN CAI
‘Coz that’s your doing, giving me the red tag and all.
(softly chuckles)
I don’t know how or when, but I’ve grown to love this place. Even though I had to leave it a couple of times, and there are times I thought I can’t continue to study here due to large expenses. But now, I will actually make it through here.
Dao Ming Si stares at Shan Cai thoughtfully as she speaks about her stay with Ying-De, which was also a metaphor for her relationship with him.
DAO MING SI
Shan Cai, I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you.
SHAN CAI
(surprised, then jokes)
Well, you should be. But if it wasn’t for the red tag, we wouldn’t be together right now.
DAO MING SI
I don’t mean that. Well, that too. I mean, when I lost my memory and hurt you bad—
SHAN CAI
Forget it.
Dao Ming Si insists on apologizing. Shan Cai looks at Dao Ming Si funny, knowing that this guy, who used to hate apologizing, has said sorry a couple of times already.
SHAN CAI
If apologies work, what’s the use of the police?!
They laugh. Then Dao Ming Si takes out the meteor necklace from his pocket and put it on Shan Cai.
DAO MING SI
I will take good care of you.
They hug each other.
SHAN CAI (V.O.)
I feel so good. Happiness overflows from my heart. Dao Ming Si and I can finally be a normal couple. But could he really just abandon his family? That doesn’t seem right. What about his sis? And what will his mom do?
(sighs)
Forget about the future that’s not here. What’s important is now and right now I’m with Dao Ming Si.
They release each other from their embrace.
DAO MING SI
Where’s your meteor ring? Give it to me.
SHAN CAI
(removes ring from her finger)
Why?
Shan Cai has a sudden thought and instinctly she moves the ring away from him.
SHAN CAI (CONT’D)
You’re going to throw it away like before, aren’t you?
DAO MING SI
No!
Dao Ming Si grabs the ring from her hand. Dao Ming Si removes the necklace he is wearing and Shan Cai sees the pendant is Dao Ming Si’s meteor ring. Dao Ming Si put her meteor ring together with his as pendants of his necklace and wears his necklace again.
SHAN CAI
Why did you do that?
DAO MING SI
This is our new beginning, our fresh start. Our opportunity to finally do things right for us and our relationship. You have to graduate. I need to get a job, save up, and be able to buy a decent house before we get married. Remember the time I got people to snatch you and bring you to the Dao Ming mansion? I told you I will give you a good life. I still intend to do that. I don’t want you to suffer anymore, especially with me. I will do things right, for us and the family we’re going to make.
SHAN CAI
You thought of all of this?
DAO MING SI
(nods)
Yes. We will have a big happy family.
SHAN CAI
Big?!
DAO MING SI
Yeah, five kids.
SHAN CAI
Five?!
DAO MING SI
How many do you want?
SHAN CAI
One.
DAO MING SI
You’re so stingy. How about four?
SHAN CAI
Two.
DAO MING SI
Three.
SHAN CAI
Two kids and we’d get a dog.
DAO MING SI
A dog?!
(ponders for a moment)
I’d get to name it?
SHAN CAI
As long as I get to name our kids. I don’t want them having stupid names.
DAO MING SI
We’d get the big one, not a cute little poodle who acts like a priss.
SHAN CAI
Whatever.
DAO MING SI
That’s a deal?
SHAN CAI
Yeah, sure.
INT. DAO MING SI’S APARTMENT
Dao Ming Si moves into the house he rented before, the one that is next to Shan Cai’s. F3 help him move in.
XI MEN
Why don’t you just stay at Lei’s place? You sure you can live here?
DAO MING SI
Come on, of course I can.
MEI ZHUO
You forget, he lived in a crappier place when he was Ah Xing. But really, Ah Si, why don’t you just live with any of us three? We got a lot of rooms and there’s the pool house, why put up with this?
(shifts his gaze to lei)
Lei, what do you think?
Lei looks at Dao Ming Si and stretches his right arm. He makes a thumbs-up sign, followed by a thumbs-down sign. Xi Men and Mei Zhuo guffaws.
DAO MING SI
I know you are being good brothers, but I really need to do this and start being independent. If I moved in one of your homes, then my moving out of the Dao Ming mansion would be meaningless. I want to prove that I can take care of myself and Shan Cai.
LEI
What are your plans?
DAO MING SI
A job will be a start.
XI MEN
There’s a managerial position open in my company, why don’t you have it?
DAO MING SI
I can’t. It will be just like if I moved in with one of you.
MEI ZHUO
What then?
(scoffs)
Take up some blue-collar job?
DAO MING SI
I could. What’s wrong with that? I did it before, I can handle it.
LEI
You should at least be able to use your BA degree. If you plan to take care of your and Shan Cai’s future, a blue-collar job won’t do it.
Dao Ming Si sees Lei’s point and got a little frustrated.
DAO MING SI
I’d find something, somehow. Besides, if I work for one of your companies, it will cause a stir and my mom will find out. I know she’s going to find me sooner or later. I just want it to be later.
INT. PASTRY SHOP - DAY
Shan Cai wipes the counter top and Xiao You mops behind the counter.
SHAN CAI
Xiao You, do you really think you’re ok working here?
XIAO YOU
What are you saying? I’m happy to be working with you here again, just like old times. Besides, it’s only part-time. I have the entire day to look for an actual job.
SHAN CAI
Right. How’s that going anyway?
XIAO YOU
It’s ok. I have an interview tomorrow and another one the day after.
SHAN CAI
That’s good to hear. Xiao You, Jia You! I wish you good luck!
XIAO YOU
Thanks, Shan Cai. I’d definitely do my best. Are you and Dao Ming Si doing ok? He moved to the house next to yours, right?
SHAN CAI
Yes, so far. We’re actually doing great. But he’s kinda frustrated about his job-hunt. When potential employers learn he is Dao Ming Si, they don’t hire him. They think he should be working in their family business. And his job opportunities are limited ‘coz he doesn’t want to be discovered by his mom so soon.
F3 enter the pastry shop.
MEI ZHUO
Hello, hardworking virgins! Hey, Xiao You, you’re here too. I wondered who is the one working with wild grass Shan Cai. Hey, Xi Men, Xiao You’s here.
Xi Men greets her with a polite nod. Xiao You does the same.
LEI
(to Xiao You and Shan Cai)
Seeing both of you here, it’s kinda like the old times.
XIAO YOU
(smiles)
Yeah, that’s right.
SHAN CAI
Hey, what are you busy corporate men doing here?
XI MEN
We’re looking for Ah Si. We thought he might be here.
SHAN CAI
Why? What’s up?
MEI ZHUO
We have a big surprise for him.
Shan Cai and Xiao You look at each other, and then curiously at F3.
SHAN CAI
What surprise?
LEI
His job problem, we have found a solution already.
EXT./INT. DAO MING SI’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Shan Cai and F3 arrive at Dao Ming Si’s apartment. Shan Cai takes out her copy of his house keys and unlocks the door. Then they enter.
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si, where are you?
DAO MING SI (O.S)
In the kitchen!
KITCHEN
F3 and Shan Cai step into the kitchen and see Dao Ming Si getting dinner ready.
DAO MING SI
Hey, you guys are also here. Come sit down, let’s eat.
MEI ZHUO
Ah Si, you cooked dinner?
DAO MING SI
It’s only fried chicken. No big deal.
XI MEN
From frying an egg, you now can fry chicken too.
LEI
Ah Si, you are really becoming more domesticated.
DAO MING SI
Did I ask for your opinions?!
They laugh. They sit down already and begin to eat.
SHAN CAI
Wow, this chicken tastes good!
DAO MING SI
I was afraid it might be still raw on the inside or burn it, so I'm glad you like it. But eat slowly, ok?
SHAN CAI
I’m not eating fast.
DAO MING SI
Whatever. You’re skinny anyway, so you should eat. Here.
Dao Ming Si put another piece of chicken on her plate. Xi Men teases the couple.
XI MEN
Aw, how sweet.
MEI ZHUO
Well, you can also have that, you know? Shan Cai, did Xiao You tell you anything about why she is back?
XI MEN
Hey Mei Zhuo! Shut up, ok?
SHAN CAI
Actually, Xiao You only said her parents asked her to return here to buy their old house back.
MEI ZHUO
Just that? Nothing about Xi Men?
SHAN CAI
(evasive)
Nothing much.
XI MEN
Can we talk about something else?
DAO MING SI
Why did you guys come here tonight anyway?
LEI
We have some news for you.
DAO MING SI
Is it my mom? She asked you guys about me? She found out where I am, hasn’t she?
SHAN CAI
Dao Ming Si, don’t be nervous, hear them out first.
DAO MING SI
You know about this?
He sees Shan Cai nodding excitedly and realizes it’s good news. Lei hands him a folder.
DAO MING SI
What’s this?
XI MEN
Take a look.
Dao Ming Si opens the folder and sees business permits, property title, insurance papers, certificates and licenses, etc.
LEI
We bought a pub downtown and placed it under the names of us four. Since the three of us are busy with family business, we would like you to manage it.
Dao Ming Si looks at them gratefully, speechless.
MEI ZHUO
Since we love to hang-out at pubs so much, we might as venture into that business.
SHAN CAI
What will you name the pub?
F4
Of course, F4!
DAO MING SI
This is so great. But if we name the pub F4, won’t it be obvious to my mom where I am?
LEI
It won’t be. Even when you were missing, we always presented ourselves as F4.
XI MEN
That’s right. We beat up others who dare call us otherwise. It’s only that son of the new rich Qing He we let get away with it.
MEI ZHUO
And you will be working behind the scenes, so to speak.
DAO MING SI
Thank you, you are really my good brothers.
F4 and Shan Cai raise their beer cans and made a toast.