When Love Comes

Dark Face becomes the son-in-law of Da Ma Hsueh-feng's family after marrying into the clan. He and his lover Zhi-hua have a child named Laichun, linking the two families by blood and affection. Da Ma accepts Zhi-hua as a second wife and brings Laichun into the household, expanding the family's circle. The family runs a seafood restaurant, setting the stage for their daily life and strains.

Laichun's uncle is autistic but has a talent for painting, offering a quiet, creative counterpoint to the family's turmoil. He sometimes takes Laichun out for birdwatching, giving her moments of calm and perspective. Their outings hint at a gentler thread running through the living environment.

Laichun grows up disinterested in studying and feels a widening gap between herself and her parents. She experiences insecurity within the crowded, deteriorating household. Her on-and-off relationship with Mou Zongfu compounds the sense of being adrift.

On her birthday, Laichun is scolded by Er Ma Zi-hua for chatting about her sex life with classmates. The scene underscores the harsh judgment she faces at home. The moment marks a turning point where her private life becomes a public family concern.

Laichun takes a pregnancy test and discovers she is pregnant. The revelation leaves her stunned and unsure of what to do next. She urgently tries to contact Mou Zongfu, who has already drifted away from responsibility.

Mou Zongfu runs away with another woman, refusing to take responsibility for the unborn child. The betrayal intensifies the family’s sense of crisis and anger toward Laichun.

Long-suppressed resentments and dissatisfaction among family members erupt into conflict. The pregnancy acts as a flashpoint, exposing fault lines between Dark Face, Da Ma, and Laichun. Dark Face shouts at Laichun in the heat of the moment.

Facing her father's stern reproach, Laichun contemplates abortion as a way out of the family's shame. The option reveals the depth of despair she feels about the future. The moment underscores the harsh choices imposed by a judgmental environment.

During a heated family dinner, Laichun lashes out and wounds her stepmother with hurtful words. The exchange exposes the pain and power dynamics within the blended family. The scene catalyzes a shift toward potential reconciliation.

The family is forced to reconsider their ways of living together as tension eases slightly. Subtle openings for empathy emerge amidst the ongoing crisis. The atmosphere begins to tilt toward a more hopeful direction.

Dark Face is hospitalized after a sudden illness and dies, leaving the family to cope with loss. His death acts as a catalyst for re-evaluating relationships and responsibilities. The event shifts the dynamic toward a more empathetic, hopeful outlook.

In the wake of Dark Face's death, Laichun gains a deeper understanding of her father and both mothers. She decides with her family to keep the baby, signaling a new, unified direction for the family.