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This was an adaptation of short fiction Mi Mi (The Secret) by Xu Xu.
On the eve of his departure for Singapore, architect Xu Dehuai had a gathering with his good friends at home, including Su Jisui and Luo Jiahe. Xu and Luo were schoolmates and lovers at college, and after graduation Xu met real estate businessman Su and became good friends. Luo was also a close friend of Xu's wife. |
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At the mahjong table, Xu's wife showed her friends a brand-new imported
lipstick. After midnight when the gathering was over, she complained
that the lipstick was missing. Xu did not pay much attention and went
to sleep.
One month later when Xu returned home, he found that Luo had been blacklisted from all social gatherings because all acquaintances were assured that Luo was a pickpocket who had stolen Mrs Xu's lipstick and another friend Daisy's stockings. Xu thought it was nothing but a slander. One day Su asked Xu to accompany Luo to do some shopping. At the department store Luo stole a bottle of perfume and was caught red-handed. Xu was shocked but pleaded for her. When home Luo wept and told Xu her secret: |
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When Luo was small her father took a concubine, thus leaving her mother
in despair and sadness. To cheer her mother up, Luo would steal anything
new and interesting which her father had bought for the concubine. And
her mother would praise her for doing so. As time went on stealing had
become an irresistible temptation for Luo.
Sympathetic of Luo, Xu urged her to return the lipstick and stockings, and promised to keep secret. When home, Xu sneaked into the bedroom and put his wife's lipstick at the back of the dressing table. At another occasion when there was a gathering in Daisy's house Xu put her stockings in the bathroom. Later the friends resumed their invitations to Luo. |
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One day Su and Luo were invited to a house-warming party which Xu also
attended. However, Luo tried to steal again but was stopped by Xu. Since
then Luo became so frustrated that she refused to attend any social
gathering. Xu was worried and tried to persuade her to speak to her
husband. Luo refused and became increasingly depressed, so much so
that she even attempted suicide. Xu managed to stop her, and continued
to encourage her to speak up. Finally Luo told her husband the secret
and led a new life.
Starring: |