Cherry Red

This film (drama)Also known as樱桃正红，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2005Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.1(For reference only)。

College student Meng Xing plans to study abroad for a master's degree, but her father, who holds a senior position, is suddenly placed under investigation by the prosecution. Instantly, the family is in disarray and deeply affected. Meng's father is detained for accepting bribes, the Meng family is searched, their assets are frozen, and Meng Xing's trip abroad turns into a dream. Meng's mother suffers a serious illness due to the shock. Meng Xing asks her friend Yuan Zheng to inquire about her father's situation, but the news is not optimistic; Meng Xing believes that it is people like Yuan Zheng who led her father down a path of no return, causing a rift between them. To pay her mother's hospital fees, Meng Xing seeks a loan from her father's friends, but faces humiliation and resolves to be independent. However, without a diploma, she struggles to find a job and can only work as a tutor at night. The facts of her father's bribery have been established, and the prosecution has filed a public prosecution with the court. Her father's actions have overturned his status in the eyes of his children. Meng Qi secretly tears up his college entrance application in despair about the future. One night, on her way home, Meng Xing unexpectedly meets Shi Yifei under coincidental circumstances, and they develop mutual affection. Yuan Zheng settled Meng's mother's medical bills and brought her home from the hospital. Meng Xing is shocked to learn that Meng Qi has given up his chance for admission, and in anger, she accidentally hits her brother, leading to both siblings crying together. On the eve of her father's public trial, he suddenly passes away from a heart attack, leaving the Meng family with a great mystery. The Meng family moves to an old building, and Meng's mother's mood worsens. Meng Qi often goes out and does not return, while Meng Xing silently endures all the changes. Shi Yifei inadvertently discovers Meng Xing's true identity and is shocked; he is determined to help the Meng family through their difficult times. Meng Xing, running a high fever, braves the rain to repay Yuan Zheng, leading to a resolution of their past grudges, and Meng Xing agrees to take a job at the company. Clothing boss Pan Daqing recognizes Shi Yifei's talents and continually persuades him to join his company, but Shi Yifei, devoted to journalism, remains unmoved by the temptations of the business world. Meng Xing works diligently but faces exclusion from secretary Qi Xiaohui at the company. Yuan Zheng's assistant, Dong Senlin, is working on a major project, injecting significant funds into the company. Meng Qi, feeling pessimistic and confused, finally runs away from home after being unable to bear his mother's harshness. As cherries turn red, Shi Yifei and Meng Xing quickly fall in love. However, Meng's mother has set her sights on Yuan Zheng, placing Meng Xing in a difficult position. Meng Qi is trapped in a scheme and incurs a huge debt, to which the creditor comes to collect. At a crucial moment, Yuan Zheng appears like a savior, and Meng Xing sheds tears of grievance in front of him for the first time. Yuan Zheng's assistant, Dong Senlin, messes up the project, putting the company in crisis; Yuan Zheng immediately makes the decisive move to dismiss all employees, including Meng Xing, while Qi Xiaohui vows to stand by Yuan Zheng through thick and thin. Meng Xing decides not to add to Yuan Zheng's burdens and seeks her own way out. Xia Lengqingguo and Pan Daqing encounter each other and end up in a dispute without any deal. After leaving the company, Meng Xing can't help but think of Yuan Zheng. Shi Yifei understands Meng Xing's worries and earns some money through Pan Daqing. Yuan Zheng accepts Meng Xing's repayment with mixed feelings, but when he learns that Meng Xing is about to get married, he is plunged into great pain. Yuan Zheng gives Meng Xing a jade sculpture passed down from his family as a wedding gift. He then drowns his sorrows in alcohol and collapses in a bar, only to be dragged back by Qi Xiaohui. Qi Xiaohui facilitates Yuan Zheng's collaboration with the American side, helping him turn from crisis to safety. With no way to repay Yuan Zheng, he hastily marries Qi Xiaohui. Shi Yifei helps Meng Qi register a photography studio, and Meng Qi regains his spirits and wants to make a big success. After getting married, Meng Xing takes on all the household chores and also becomes an English teacher at a private school. Shi Yifei, however, often finds himself in trouble due to his reports. Meanwhile, Yuan Zheng lives under the domineering and capricious nature of Qi Xiaohui, and their marital affection depletes over time. Three years pass quickly, and Meng Xing and Yuan Zheng unexpectedly meet again. Seeing Meng Xing still pure as water, Yuan Zheng feels a sense of nostalgia wash over him. Shi Yifei's repeated failures at work make him consider changing jobs. Finally, disregarding Meng Xing's opposition, he decisively joins Pan Daqing's company, while Xia Lengqingguo also directs her gaze toward the charismatic Shi Yifei. Utilizing the keen insights and connections of a reporter, Shi Yifei secures several significant projects, winning the favor and trust of Pan Daqing, as well as admiration from Xia Lengqingguo. Meng Xing watches her husband change and grow increasingly inflated, leading to concerns and escalating conflicts in their values. Classmate Yu Xiaoyu returns from the south with emotional wounds, and Meng Xing eagerly helps her find a job, but Yu Xiaoyu chooses to work at Meng Qi's small photo studio. Qi Xiaohui soon realizes that Yuan Zheng is still hung up on Meng Xing. To vent her dissatisfaction, she flies to America alone. After Pan Daqing produces a solo album for Xia Lengqingguo, the two go on a trip. Unexpectedly, Pan Daqing's car encounters an accident, resulting in death; Xia Lengqingguo is severely injured. The company is taken over by the Pan family, and Shi Yifei leaves the company with nothing. Xia Lengqingguo encourages Shi Yifei to start his own company and invests her savings as shares. In their entrepreneurial fervor, they eventually cross ethical boundaries. Shi Yifei's betrayal of Meng Xing leaves him tormented. He finally confesses everything about his relationship with Xia Lengqingguo to his wife and asks for forgiveness; Meng Xing firmly demands a divorce in anger. Xia Lengqingguo, having heard that Shi Yifei and his wife have separated, not only feels no regret but intensifies her pursuit. Yuan Zheng learns about Meng Xing and confronts Shi Yifei, leading to a dispute. As a result, Shi Yifei mistakenly believes that Yuan Zheng has an affair with Meng Xing, and he proposes divorce to her instead. Qi Xiaohui also issues a final warning to Yuan Zheng about marriage, while Meng Xing blames Yuan Zheng for getting physical with Shi Yifei, leaving Yuan Zheng in a dilemma. Heartbroken, Meng Xing signs the divorce agreement. After the divorce, Shi Yifei feels as though he has lost weight. Xia Lengqingguo is scheduled to travel to Southeast Asia for performances, and she proposes a wedding before leaving; on their wedding night, Shi Yifei gets wildly drunk. Meng Xing realizes that Shi Yifei will not return again, and she moves out of the love nest they built together, living with her mother instead. After Xia Lengqingguo goes abroad, Shi Yifei gets into a car accident while driving and answering a company call, being hit by a truck head-on. Shi Yifei loses consciousness and is taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, while Meng Xing rushes to the hospital regardless of everything. Shi Yifei's life is no longer in danger, but he suffers a spinal injury and may be paralyzed for life. To take care of Shi Yifei in the hospital, Meng Xing gives up all her work and becomes gaunt. When Shi Yifei wakes up, he feels deep gratitude and anxiety. Dong Senlin faces exposure due to inability to pay off huge debts, which also implicates Yuan Zheng; Yuan Zheng is arrested by the authorities, and Qi Xiaohui leaves this sorrowful place in despair with their son. Yu Xiaoyu resigns from Meng Qi's studio because she can't accept the sibling romance, causing Meng Qi to lose control of his emotions and suddenly faint. When Meng Qi goes to the hospital for a check-up, he learns that he has a brain tumor; the doctor advises him to undergo cranial surgery, but the risks are significant. In despair, Meng Qi takes his camera and wants to escape to a faraway place. To save Shi Yifei, Meng Xing reluctantly pawns the jade Buddha Yuan Zheng gave her as a wedding gift, not realizing it is an antique worth over 100,000 yuan, which solves her urgent financial needs. After leaving Meng Qi, Yu Xiaoyu is unhappy; she unconsciously comes to Meng Qi's photo studio, only to find it empty. Unable to resist, she chases after the soon-to-fly Meng Qi. Meng Qi finally finds the courage to face his illness. He agrees to undergo the cranial surgery. However, the hospital states that Meng Qi's brain tumor is growing too quickly, and surgery is no longer an option. His mother pleads hopelessly for divine protection. Shi Yifei regrets the mistakes he made. Not wanting to burden Meng Xing and their daughter with his disabled body, he attempts to starve himself to death. When Meng Xing scolds him, she reveals Meng Qi's condition, causing Shi Yifei distress, and he finally agrees to eat again, demanding only red cherries as food. The police capture Dong Senlin, clearing Yuan Zheng's case. Knowing his life is coming to an end, Meng Qi tells his mother that he does not want to lie in the hospital, but to use his valuable time to see more of the beautiful mountains and rivers; thus, he sets out with Yu Xiaoyu. At this point, Meng Xing is able to manage tutoring as well. She hires a masseur to massage Shi Yifei every day and implements a rehabilitation plan. Qi Xiaohui formally divorces Yuan Zheng, having transferred most of the company's assets abroad, leaving Yuan Zheng with an empty shell of a company and their four-year-old son. Yuan Zheng finds out that Meng Xing is taking care of Shi Yifei; although he feels conflicted, he still wants to help Meng Xing out of her financial difficulties. Shi Yifei, leveraging extraordinary willpower and cooperation in treatment, overcomes various hardships, and his health miraculously improves. He sincerely hopes to reconcile with Meng Xing, but she firmly rejects him. Around this time, Xia Lengqingguo sends news that she will return to the country, forcing Shi Yifei to leave Meng Xing and their daughter and return home. After Xia Lengqingguo returns to the country, she sees her husband looking radiant and doesn't believe the story of his miraculous survival from death’s door. Influenced by Qi Xiaohui, she sues Shi Yifei and Meng Xing for illegal cohabitation, causing Meng Xing great emotional distress. In order to protect Meng Xing's innocence and goodness, Yuan Zheng gathers evidence from various sources. His support provides Meng Xing with the greatest comfort in her goodwill. Meng Xing discovers that Yuan Zheng has kept photos of her, and her feelings for him suddenly flow from her heart, leading to a deep embrace between them for the first time. Meng Xing is finally set to face off against Xia Lengqingguo in court, but she does not attend because Meng Qi's condition worsens and he is on the brink of death. Meng Xing accompanies her brother on his final journey, fulfilling his wish to donate his retina. When Xia Lengqingguo learns through inquiries that her wrongful accusations harm a good person, she withdraws her lawsuit in court. Meng's mother looks at the person who has regained his sight and feels that life has been extended, hope has returned to her heart. Meng Xing and Yuan Zheng must finally confront their feelings. Together, they establish a seedling kindergarten, and when the sound of singing emerges, Shi Yifei unexpectedly sends red cherries from the southern country, which Yuan Zheng knows now symbolize more than just love...