The Silent Forest

Chang Cheng chases an old man and begins beating him in front of police officers. The officers pull him off the man and take him to the police station. They discover he is deaf, which explains the misunderstanding about the wallet.

Mr. Wang, a teacher from the school for the hearing impaired, arrives and helps Chang Cheng communicate. He vouches for Chang Cheng and asks the officers to see that he meant no harm. He notes that he tends to believe the deaf.

Mr. Wang takes Chang Cheng to his new school and suggests he attend the school dance that night. Chang Cheng feels nervous about not knowing anyone. He gradually begins to engage with the crowd and enjoys himself.

On the way to school, Chang Cheng notices Bei Bei on the bus and watches her chat with friends. In class he continues to watch her and, when she seems strange, he throws paper at her to ask what's going on. She explains that she is simply holding her breath.

That night, lights flash in the bathroom as Bei Bei signals Chang Cheng to come out. They go to the school swimming pool, where Bei Bei explains the lights are just playing and that she wants to learn to swim.

On the next bus ride, a group of boys holds Bei Bei down and rapes her while Xiao Guang signals Chang Cheng to stay silent. The bus chaperone notices but stays silent. Chang Cheng watches in horror and flees.

That night, the boys drag Chang Cheng out of bed and tell him they should play together. They try to force Chang Cheng into the bathroom, but the alarm goes off and the boys scatter. Chang Cheng seeks safety and support after this coercive pressure.

Chang Cheng tells Mr. Wang about the rape, and Bei Bei, after initial reluctance, tells the truth. A flashback shows the earlier bus assault on Bei Bei and how a teacher gaslit her, insisting the boys were good kids.

Mr. Wang confronts the principal, who tries to gaslight him into silence. They interview students and discover that many have suffered abuse, bullying, and other harms tied to Xiao Guang.

Chang Cheng and Bei Bei go to the movies, but the theater double-books their seats and they leave. On the way home they see a man being beaten in an alley, and Bei Bei says she wants to go back to school.

Chang Cheng asks Mr. Wang to persuade Bei Bei's grandfather to let her go back to school. The grandfather initially refuses to read Chang Cheng's message, but eventually relents after hearing him.

In the cafeteria, Xiao Guang becomes upset by something on his phone and the group corners Chang Cheng and Bao Di. They force Chang Cheng to perform oral sex on Bao Di, while a boy films the act.

Bei Bei is raped again in a bathroom. She tells Mr. Wang that she wants to stay at school and not blame him. Mr. Wang is distressed, and Chang Cheng beats up Xiao Guang in response to the violence.

A video reveals that a teacher, Mr. Weng, has been raping and assaulting Xiao Guang since he was a child. Xiao Guang laments and says he doesn't deserve to live. The story goes public and the principal is fired.