The Longest Night in Shanghai

A renowned top hairstylist who believes his career is thriving, yet feels emotionally exhausted and disillusioned. He is a perfectionist and tentative in love, often relying on others, which leaves him feeling adrift when Miho pulls away. His night wanderings through Shanghai reveal a deeper yearning for meaning beyond fame.

Naoki’s longtime lover and manager, whose devotion is tested by the couple’s growing distance. She exudes competence and care but also bears the weight of unresolved desires and professional pressures. As the festival unfolds, her choices reveal her vulnerability and resolve.

A bold taxi driver who becomes Naoki’s impulsive guide through Shanghai. She wears confidence like armor, yet hides longing and fear about her own love life as she navigates the line between chance and intention. Her interactions with Naoki reveal a warmth that she guards closely.

A rival in love who secretly harbors feelings for Miho, adding quiet tension to the festival’s emotional landscape. He embodies restraint and hidden longing, challenging Naoki’s sense of security and his own perception of his relationship.

An interpreter whose role during the festival connects cultures and people. She navigates language barriers and personal ambitions, contributing to the web of miscommunications and revelations that unfold across the night.

Lin Xi’s love interest who is about to marry the next day, a source of Lin Xi’s elation and despair. His on-and-off presence drives Lin Xi’s emotional arc and accelerates the stakes of the night.

A seasoned professional who appears in the festival as part of the crew, her calm demeanor under pressure provides a counterpoint to the chaos around Naoki. She observes the human dramas with quiet insight.

A narrator who threads the events with a lyrical cadence, giving shape to the city’s mood and the characters’ inner lives. Her voice adds a reflective layer to the unfolding night.