A Little Red Flower

Wei Yihang, a cynical and reclusive teenager, has been in remission since his brain tumor operation two years ago. After meeting fellow brain tumor patient Ma Xiaoyuan, Wei begins to open up socially, as the pair share various imaginary travel adventures and try to live life as “ordinary people” which they are unable to be because of their respective illnesses.

At the same time, Wei begins forming a deeper understanding and appreciation of his family, who have unconditionally supported him during his medical difficulties. At one point, Wei sees his grandmother volunteering to sell her house to fund his medical expenses, with his uncles and aunts saying they would do the same, sending his father into tears.

Soon after, Wei is allowed to travel to a lake in Qinghai that he once saw in a hallucination where he was playing with an unknown girl. Ma and Wei set off their journey together. However, Ma faints on the train and is sent to the hospital, where she is given a grim prognosis.

Wei accompanies and cares for Ma during her final days, including shaving his head and conjuring a “potion of no return”. During this time, Wei and his mother discuss the difficult topic of death, with Wei’s parents recording and sending him a video depicting their life in case of Wei’s death. Wei cries as he watches their video, now comforted by the fact that his parents will be able to carry forward even if he is no longer around.

After Ma dies, Wei packs up her belongings. One year later, Wei finishes his classes in college. He then makes a trip to Qinghai by himself, where he finally arrives at the lake he frequently hallucinates. There, Wei sees images of himself with Ma playing in the waters. It occurs to him that those images are not hallucinations, but life in a parallel universe where he, Ma, and all his fellow cancer friends are healthy and living ordinary lives.

Last Updated: September 09, 2025 at 11:11