When Wang He Di leaves the small village he grew up in, to find work in the streets of glamourous and dangerous Shanghai, the first thing that catches his eye is the beautiful Shen Yue, a young woman also trying to make her fortunes in the "Paris of...
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1937
"Qínqín are you ready to put on your shoes yet? Mrs Kwan has made breakfast for you!"
Yue is shouting and opening the door to her little's girl's bedroom, only to find her lying down on the bed in her brand new school uniform, with her eyes closed and her thumb in her mouth. Yue exasperatedly puts her hands on her hips and in a commanding tone says,
"Yuèqín! There is not time to play games young lady, it's time for you to eat breakfast otherwise you will be forced to go to your first day of school on an empty stomach, because you certainly shan't be late for it if I have anything to do with it!"
Yuèqín lifts her head up a little, eyes still partially closed and thumb still in her mouth, looking piteously at Yue.
"But I'm still so sleepy Mama. I'm so, so tired." She yawns solemnly. " I really, really, really, don't know what to do?" She says in the most cutest sing-song angelic voice the six year old can muster.
Every time her baby girl justifies her actions ever so innocently, Yue's heart can't help but melt, but she knows she mustn't fall for it because Yuèqín is a chip off the old block when it comes to trying to get her way.
Yue turns her head to the side to secretly smile and then decides to play along for a little bit.
"Oh is that right my Baobao?"
"Yes Mama."
The little girl nods fervently, laying her head back down and closing her eyes again.
"Aw, well then you must sleep, of course you must, but then daddy will be so sad."
"Daddy?" Replies Yuèqín, jerking her head up and removing her thumb from her mouth, her eyes burning with curiosity. "Why will Daddy be so sad?"
"Because Daddy is very, very, very excited about your first day of school." Yue says, in the same sing-song voice. "You see, he can't wait to pick you up afterwards and take you to lunch and then buy you some ice cream." She pauses. "But if my baby needs to sleep, then my baby needs to sleep. Daddy will just have to find something else to..."
"It's okay Mama I think I'm wide awake now." She responds, sitting up abruptly, yawning more dramtically now and stretching her arms wide. "I will have my breakfast now, please may you help me with my shoes and can I get the ice cream with the rainbow sprinkles?" She asks with hopeful eyes.
Yue smiles at her precious little girl and gives her a peck on the nose, saying,
"Of course you can my little bao bun, you can have whichever ice cream you want."
Yuèqín is firmly ensconced at the kitchen table eating her breakfast, and this gives Yue the opportunity to go and help He Di put on his tie. He sees her walking toward him through the mirror and he immediately smiles at her.
