俗世情真

NICK WU, vice-president of Tung Chuen Company, is arrested for taking and processing illegal substances. With his girlfriend ALLY acting as his defense attorney, NICK recounts how it all happened…. NICK and his assistant LIU CHI KAN inspected business at his buddy CHENG KA CHEONG’s publishing house, where he met CHEONG’s wife OI CHUN and daughter LOK TUNG. Learning that the wife suffered a depression, NICK agreed to offer CHEONG a loan against the opposition of his father WU KOON TING and his staff KAU WING HANG, who brought the bailiff to seal up the company. CHEONG tried to kill himself by burning charcoal at home which left him in a coma. MAN, a social worker from the Children’s Home, brought TUNG to visit her father in hospital. NICK kept an eye on the meeting. CHUN arrived shortly, wailing while holding CHEONG in her arms. She disappeared shortly, and was later saved from jumping off the building by MAN and NICK……

NICK is sentenced to perform 240 hours of community service. KAN throws him a celebration party. Though in ALLY’s company, NICK’s mind is preoccupied with something else. The father and son meet again in the company, TING expresses his wishes for NICK to sort out his life. He brings NICK to meet the new owner of the publishing house MRS CHU. From her, NICK learns that his father has taken advantage of his friendship with CHEONG to line his own pocket from the takeover. NICK resolves quit, despite KAN’s and ALLY’s persuasion. NICK’s car hits a taxi on his way to find the Children’s Home. He is made to pay the taxi-driver $4,000 as compensation. Mistaking a parent MA TSUI FA for MAN, NICK is made to paint a children’s room. MA scolds his clumsiness. MAN takes TUNG to see a psychologist. TUNG is diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic syndrome. TUNG is comforted by NICK’s friendliness……

NICK keeps TUNG’s wetting the bed from others. MAN is aware of the lie but doesn’t say a word, though she secretly blames NICK for covering the lie for the girl. NICK and TUNG go to the courtyard to pick up a sheet blown away by a gust of wind. TUNG insists to play on the swing and gets injured. MAN and NICK rush her to hospital. The little girl also gets to see her father, CHEONG. Just as he wakes up from his coma, KAN loses no time to bring him the takeover contracts. MAN reproves his insensitivity. MAN asks NICK to give her and TUNG a lift back to CHEONG’s company to retrieve some photos. NICK meets KAN and they quarrel over the takeover. Their conversation is overheard by MAN, who threatens to transfer NICK away. NICK pays CHEONG a visit. CHEONG understands his difficulties and signs the liquidation papers. With great enthusiasm, KAN explains details of the takeover to an uninterested CHU……

CHEONG returns to the publishing house. TUNG and MAN play a practical joke on KAN at the grand opening party. MAN invites NICK back to the Home, NICK agrees. NICK resumes his post at Tung Chuen. TING accepts all suggestions he makes. A spoilt child called FONG SUET FUNG is sent to the Home after his mother has gone missing. His ill temper makes him at odds with other children and causes a scene at the welcoming party. When FUNG complains about FA’s ironing skills, MAN decides to make FUNG learn his trade. Though unwilling, he accepts her teaching. MAN puts FUNG on a minicab to school, and learns that his is in fact Professor FONG HONG TUNG’s grandchild. Despite telling MAN that he wouldn’t shoulder any responsibilities of the child, he shows up at the Home and takes FUNG away, saying that he would apply for the child’s custody……

FUNG makes TUNG take him to the fun park. There, FUNG forces the old man to go on a plunging down game and plays hide-and-seek with him. TUNG can’t find FUNG and alerts MAN and NICK. Exhausted, TUNG faints. MAN and NICK arrive shortly to find TUNG catching his breath. Undaunted, TUNG files for FUNG’s custody. At FUNG’s farewell party, the mother FONG FEI shows up unexpectedly to take her son away. TUNG intercepts. The father and daughter have a row, resulting in FUNG leaving with FEI. TUNG tells MAN that FEI used to be a pornography star. But later FEI is expelled by her landlord and has to send FUNG back to the Home. To make ends meet, FEI decides to sell her expensive watch and finds an interested buyer in KAN. As they can’t agree on the price, KAN leaves FEI his business card. FEI drops by at Tung Chuen to find KAN and chances on NICK. She wants to borrow money from him but he tactfully declines……

ALLY is furious that NICK doesn’t offer her any explanation on FEI’s claims. TING reminds NICK of the importance of choosing the right girl. NICK is sick of FEI’s pester. FUNG mistakes him for bullying his mother and throws hamburgers at him. Man stops him. Loan sharks call the Home demanding FEI to pay the loans. Concerned with FUNG’s safety, MAN goes to pick him up from his school but bumps into a gang of debt-collectors. FEI drives FUNG away from the scene, and turns to NICK for money. NICK again declines. MAN calls FUNG and learns that FEI is taking him to find TUNG. She asks NICK to join her at TUNG’s school. The rascals give chase and beats TUNG up. NICK arrives to save FEI et al from immediate danger and gets beaten up himself. The police arrive to take the rascals away. NICK suggests FEI to declare bankruptcy and make TUNG a guardian of FUNG. MAN and NICK’s intimacy makes ALLY distasteful……

NICK receives a call from his uncle WU KOON CHAK asking for his approval of a loan made to truck-driver SUEN MAN HOI. NICK investigates into HOI’s financial status and rejects the application. HOI visits his daughter SUEN SAU SAU at CHAK’s art studio and blames him for referring his application to NICK. CHAK drives SAU to school, but feeling a sharp pain in her stomach, SAU is hurried to hospital. CHAK’s meddled explanation of his relationship with SAU arouses the hospital’s suspicion. He has to ask MAN and NICK to come and clear matters up. As soon as HOI learns that CHAK and NICK are related, he asks CHAK to act as the guarantor of a loan. CHAK accepts unwittingly. CHAK suggests sending SAU to the Home. Because of his care, even more meticulous than her own father’s, the girl blends in easily. CHAK also enjoys the company of the children……

NICK puts CHAK up in a hotel to stay away from troubles. Meanwhile, He asks KAN to negotiate with the loan shark on CHAK’s behalf. Upon receiving a call from the loan shark, TING reprimands his son for settling the scores at the company’s expense. NICK is disheartened. TING’s girlfriend CHIU PO YAN urges him to pay for the refurbishment of CHAK’s studio. NICK is thankful of her kind gesture. HOI turns up at the studio, accusing CHAK for failing to pay his debt and threatening to take SAU so they can end their lives together. CHAK asks for NICK’s help, and kneeling down, he begs TING to lend him three million dollars. TING agrees. TASK demands to accompany HOI to the loan shark, and indeed HOI schemes to appropriate the money. In an ensuing fight, CHAK is slightly injured, while NICK alerts the police to arrest HOI. SAU is put up at the Home. Ever since the vandalism, no one dares to show up at the studio……

FA dresses up to attend her son LO TIN YAU’s graduation ceremony, bringing together her husband LO CHOI, NICK and children of the Home. The fuss annoys YAU. Also present is Gordon, who is fuming with jealousy over MAN’s affectionate attitude towards NICK and the children. MAN recommends CHAK to the Home to teach drawing, but he performs poorly at the interview. Before he leaves, CHAK teaches a naughty child drawing instead of throwing things around. This episode impresses the chief KUK MEI YEE. Just a day before the closing down, CHAK joins the children at the studio. He paints his face like a clown and shares his feelings with the children, whose faces are also beautifully painted. Everyone is reluctant to leave. YEE arrives with a contract for CHAK. FA and CHOI are worried over YAU’s credit card debts. FA tries to borrow money from her colleague WONG MIU, but is rejected. MAN lends her the money……

KAN asks YAU to pick up some documents from ALLY’s law firm. On his way back to TUNG CHEUN, YAU drops one of the documents in the streets. It is picked by a passer-by who returns it to ALLY. YAU rebuts ALLY’s admonition, and because of his attitude problem, NICK fires him. Due to YAU’s neglect, NICK has to travel to Taiwan to patch things up. Returning to the Home, he is confronted by FA who asks if he could let bygones be bygones. He tells her that YAU’s mistakes are grave and unforgivable. FA holds grudges against NICK, but hearing MAN’s accounts of the event, she apologizes to him. A new boy at the Home CHAN KING YEUNG has a fiery temper that puts him in conflicts with other children. YEUNG’s father CHAN CHI KIN beats his son up in public. MAN realizes that YEUNG has a bad model in his father. Meanwhile, KIN turns to the loan shark in order to raise money to pay his staff.

FA and CHOI heave a sigh of relief when YAU finds a coordinator job in a credit company. YAU and colleagues show up at the doorstep of FUNG MEI HING, KIN’s mother. She is too terrified to let KIN know. YAU’s leniency is mocked by his colleagues. YEUNG engages in a fight with other kids. CHAK gives him counseling and encourages him to draw a picture of love and peace. After receiving yet again call from the credit company, HING decides to pay KIN’s debts with her life savings. HING goes to the bank and withdraws money from her account. The bank staff suspects she falls victim to a swindler and alerts the police. HING is taken away for questioning. MAN and YEUNG meet HING at the police station, but HING won’t say a word despite MAN’s repeated questionings. MAN follows HING and discovers to her horror that the money is handed over to the creditors. She is shoved to the ground in the chaos. HING pleads for MAN’s safety……

GORDON brings food to the Home, hoping to reconcile with MAN. That granted, GORDON vows to marry her and buys a flat as their new home once he gains a promotion. But as he tries to embrace her, she pushes him away. An anguished Gordon leaves. KIN decides to accept the compensations for putting his sushi bar on sale, but ALLY explains that his decision comes too late and the terms are no longer valid. Feeling cheated, KIN shakes his fist at ALLY and other shareholders. He is charged with physical assault. YEUNG and HING seek MAN’s mediation. MAN asks to meet ALLY through NICK. Agreeing to the meeting, ALLY is unmoved by MAN’s lobby and insists in pressing the charge. GORDON seeks to make peace with MAN, but to his distaste, MAN’s mind is consumed with YEUNG’s troubles. NICK takes YEUNG to the studio to learn drawing, but a distressed YEUNG hits other kids……

KIN treats everyone to sushi for YEUNG’s farewell. MAN expresses her concerns and urges NICK to clear up ALLY’s misunderstandings. But their conversations turn into a bitter quarrel. ALLY’s father HANG invite both her daughter and NICK to dinner so they may reconcile over the meal but the latter turns down the arrangement upon receiving CHAK’s invitation him to the party. GORDON calls MAN up with news of his promotion, wishing to bring MAN to see a new property development project and taking her to dinner as celebration. MAN also declines in view of the party. YAU takes home his salary, to FA’s and CHOI’s delight. ALLY and her father invite KAN to dinner instead. Though KAN tries hard to please ALLY, she is not impressed. CHAK pays YAN his rent. YAN in turns gives it to TING, but TING refuses to take the money. A friend of ALLY seeks to purchase the building where the studio is located……

MAN spots CHAK inside a property agency. CHAK is vexed with finding his studio a new home. He also tells her about the takeover, his being the half brother of TING and the story behind the building. Sensing his worries, MAN tries to seek the truth from NICK. NICK reasons with TING. TING in turn lashes at KAN for making an important decision behind his back. He further asks NICK to explain to CHAK that the building is not for sale and to replace KAN in handling takeover projects. MAN and Gordon meet ALLY at the property developer’s. ALLY offers to handle the mortgage papers for them. KAN schemes to misappropriate funds of Tung Chuen, which in turn will be injected into a joint credit company set up with loan shark BROTHER LUNG. LUNG asks YAU to prepare a proposal for obtaining the loan. Impressed by its creativity, NICK approves the application.

YAU’s proposal gains KAN’s praises. YAU suggests that they lend out the loan. KAN not only takes YAU’s suggestion, but also promotes him. YAU returns to the Home a very proud man. FA mocks NICK for underrating his son. CHOI LAP PUN, chairman of a financial investment group, comes to NICK to discuss ways of raising funds. ALLY happens to have arranged to discuss the same issue with her friend MA KIT FONG, PUN’s wife. NICK decides to meet both husband and wife at the same meeting but a row breaks out between the couple. As their divorce proceeds, they fight over their teenage daughter CHOI SIU MEI’s custody, literally. MEI is sent to the Home. MEI finds it hard to adjust to the new environment and when she meets NICK, she takes him fancy. One day, MEI is harassed by a gang of youngsters; MAN tries to help her out but to no avail. CHOI appears to fend off the gang……

MAN is embarrassed and troubled by MEI’s criticism of her personal life and the children’s reenact of her intimate moments with GORDON. She tries to explain matters to MEI. MEI acquires banned substances through her bad influence, and this comes to the knowledge of NICK. NICK tries to seize the drugs but MEI insists that he takes her clubbing. NICK waits for the opportune moment to take back the drugs but to no avail. MAN leaves GORDON upon receiving NICK’s call, but GODRON follows hot on her heels. MEI spikes NICK’s drinks. GORDON sees an intoxicated NICK and brings it to the attention of the police. NICK flees before the police arrive and bumps into MAN. Not wanting to be arrested again, NICK asks MAN to take him home. Puzzled by NICK’s disappearance, GORDON calls MAN up, but MAN declines his staying over on the pretext of not feeling well……

ALLY suggests FONG to surrender MEI’s custody to PUN in exchange of a loan from Tung Chuen. Meanwhile, she tries convincing NICK to grant the loan, but without success. She seeks the company of a friend CHUNG while drinking her dejection away. KAN happens to see ALLY and frowns at her intimacy towards CHUNG. Following the two to a gym, KAN tries to impress ALLY but makes a laugh of himself. ALLY sets up a date with CHUNG to make KAN mad with jealousy. KAN brings NICK to the gym. NICK meets CHUNG while waiting at the lounge for KAN. CHUNG forms a good impression of NICK. ALLY finally convinces PUN to give up the loan, but NICK makes it clear that the loan to FONG is still being considered. PUN is all steamed up having learnt ALLY and FONG’s scheme. Knowing it is money that PUN hankers for, KAN refers him to LUNG’s credit company. NICK blames ALLY for egging FONG on to give up her custody rights and having her secret agenda……

Scared out of her wits, MEI returns to the Home and pours a bucket of water over herself. CHOI tries to stop her but stumbles against MEI. He sees MEI weep at night and blames it on his clumsiness. He tries to confess to FA but FA is fast asleep. YAU gives FA a counterfeit handbag. Not knowing that it’s a fake, FA treasures the gift and puts it away in the wardrobe. FA discovers to her horror that the handbag has gone missing without being aware that she has put it in the laundry together with other clothes. She finds the same handbag in MEI’s wardrobe and points her accusing point at MEI. The truth is ferreted out at last. MAN consoles MEI and learns that she had been sexually assaulted. MEI leaves the Home. Everyone goes searching for her and finds her on a rooftop. CHOI tries to hold her back, and MAN notices MEI’s strange reactions towards him. At the police station, PUN and FONG demand to know the person who assaulted MEI……

The prime suspect of MEI’s misfortune, CHOI comes under fire from FA and MAN, who demand him to leave the Home. CHOI has no means to defend himself. MAN is troubled by MEI’s case, and her distrusts in CHAK and NICK surprise even NICK himself. CHOI pours his sorrows to NICK. NICK believes his innocence. CHOI is involved in a drink-driving accident. FA comes to his help and they reconcile. NICK urges MAN to view the whole thing objectively. MAN takes MEI to see a psychologist. MAN understands her distress as she suffered a similar trauma in her childhood. GORDON tells MAN that as the hope of a promotion shatters, he can no longer afford the mortgage. She offers her help. GORDON is moved. MEI meets CHUNG again. Losing her control, she runs wild, with MAN and NICK giving chase. MEI confides in MAN and in a moment of insanity, she slashes MAN with a knife. MAN passes out.

NICK sends MAN to hospital, thinking she is overwhelmed by work pressure. In her dream, MAN is haunted by memories of her being sexually assaulted as a child. Cold-shouldered by NICK, ALLY seeks CHUNG’s company when the police come charging him with sexual assault. To Nick’s displease, ALLY becomes his defense attorney. ALLY stands by CHUNG and wants to prove that a social worker is not necessary right. MEI recognizes CHUNG at once, but CHUNG insists MEI is just trying to get back at him for catching her shoplifting red-handed. CHOI begs FA to come home with him. FA agrees and together with MAN, they offer him apologies. FA is concerned with YAU’s increasingly coarse language and behavior. ALLY goes to the Home to investigate MEI’s case but is chased away by FA. NICK’s displease with ALLY evolves into a bitter fight. In court, MEI behaves as if she’s losing her mind. ALLY blames MEI’s delinquency on the two irresponsible parents……

ALLY puts CHOI on the witness stand, thus revealing that MEI has wrongly accused him of molesting her and that her testimony is not trustworthy. In view of MEI’s disturbed state, the district attorney suggests her cross-examination be done through video-conferencing. But it doesn’t undermine ALLY’s pointed attacks. NICK wants ALLY to soften up her hostility but she insists she’s acting in her client’s best interest. PUN and FONG patch up with each other, to MEI’s delight. Nevertheless, MEI is haunted by her nightmares later when PUN is constantly disturbed by loan sharks. A worry-laden MAN accompanies her to court and chances on ALLY. She asks ALLY to show some mercy but she returns them with more sarcastic remarks. Despite ALLY’s hostile cross-examination, MEI tells her side of the story with MAN by her side: CHUNG will let go the shoplifting charge only if he can lay his hands on MEI. The judge shows sympathy for the girl……

NICK tells ALLY he wants to break up with her. He and MAN have a heart-to-heart talk on their respective unhappy childhoods. ALLY is jealous of their intimacy and asks to meet MAN. She takes MAN for a ride with her sitting behind the wheel. As the car races the highway at full speed, it collides with CHUNG’s vehicle, injuring all three of them. NICK rushes to the hospital to find ALLY uninjured, and MAN loses her sight temporarily due to an injury to the optic nerves. Again, NICK and ALLY quarrel. NICK declares his love for MAN. She is at once shocked and pleased. FA is impressed by NICK’s care of MAN and urges her to accept his love. Seeing her daughter distressed, HANG encourages ALLY to focus on her career and leave personal affair aside. MEI decides to further her studies in Canada when the case comes to an end. MAN is happy for her decision. KAN comes pressing PUN to pay his debts, assuming the loan is lent out by Tung Chuen.

PUN resolves to pay LUNG the money he owes him, but the escalating interests are beyond him. KAN orders YAU to collect the debts even if he has to resort to some nasty means. YAU dumps heaps of offal outside PUN’s house. MAN tries to catch up with YAU but he runs away. YAU injures a policeman while fleeing. Furious, KAN orders LUNG, YAU and their men to hide out. The police come to the Home for YAU but can only obtain KAN’s business card from FA. Just as NICK senses something fishy in KAN’s proposal, the police come to his office to take KAN away in connection with YAU and LUNG’s case. NICK also finds out about the credit company KAN operates outside Tung Chuen. Disillusioned, GORDON quits his job and plans to pursue his studies overseas. He asks ALLY to sell the flat, but ALLY says not only the down payment will be forfeited, the price difference also has to be settled. GORDON asks MAN to share some of the expenses……

MAN obtains a loan from a bank despite the high interests. FA vents her frustrations over YAU on the children of the Home. NICK offers to pay the loan for MAN. MAN is drawn closer to him after learning that his unhappy childhood was overshadowed by his mother’s premature death. YAU’s hideout is discovered by some villagers. To steer away from troubles, KAN tells YAU to travel across the border to the mainland. YAU bids farewell with his parents reluctantly. MAN, who happens to be at the scene, urges him to turn himself to the police. No sooner have his collaborators tried to take him away than the police come and arrest the gang. KAN barely escapes and finds himself nowhere to hide. He turns to NICK, who takes him to the police and hires HANG as his lawyer. To redeem Tung Chuen’s reputation, TING entrusts KAN’s case to HANG and promises to reinstate KAN’s post so long as he pays back the money. KAN gladly accepts the terms……

YAU is sentenced to jail. He promises FA and CHOI that he will turn over a new page. FA nurses grudges against TING’s cover-up of KAN’s wrongdoings and blames NICK, too. MAN consoles him. YEE, YAN and MAN organize a children’s art exhibition to raise funds for the Home with the sponsorship of some high society ladies. But YEE is unhappy that the women steal the limelight of the event. Thankfully YAN mediates between the two parties. HANG suggests that TING expands his credit business to the mainland and asks ALLY to lend a hand, while NICK is busy preparing the exhibition. NICK tells TING that he has neither interest nor ambition to succeed his father’s business. It comes as a heavy blow to TING’s deteriorating health. NICK is absolutely devoted to the show and tries his best to entertain the guests. MAN is moved. A cleaning lady LEE LEUNG HO falls ill at the venue……

NICK is immersed in his memories for his dead mother; MAN gives her words of comfort. TING asks NICK to put efforts in his career but NICK challenges his indifference to the death of his own wife. HANG urges TING to push their expansion scheme ahead and to install a successor. CHI HO is put up at the Home while his mother stays at hospital. MAN gets wind that CHI HO’s father KWAI is serving time in jail and pays him a visit. But KWAI has no intention to take care of his wife and kid. CHI HO tells MAN that because he hates his father, he refuses to be taken care of by him. KAN feels alienated by his unwelcoming co-workers and loses his influence. He is further cold-shouldered by ALLY and his father. KWAI visits the Home upon his release. His poor attitude incurs the children’s displeasure. MAN sets up a meeting for KWAI and CHI HO in hospital, but KWAI fails to show up. CHI HO is hugely let down……

TING is diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The doctor suggests an operation sooner rather than later. TING tries to delay the operation on the pretext of his hectic work. YAN invites TING to see the exhibition. It brings him great joy to see a loving couple in NICK and MAN, in contrary to ALLY, who tries hard to suppress her hatred. The exhibition receives a lukewarm reception. TING donates five million dollars to meet the target sum. His offer is declined by YEE and CHAK, who think he, an overbearing person, has ignored the feelings of others and his act has undermined the efforts of the children. TING is mad at YEE and CHAK. KWAI visits CHI HO at the exhibition and absconds with the money raised. CHI HO stays by his mother’s deathbed, both worried and ashamed of what has happened. KWAI is eaten by his conscience and decides to return the money to the Home stealthily……

MAN throws a barbecue party to celebrate the successful conclusion of the exhibition. Everyone is thankful for YAN’s hard work, but YAN fears she might have offended TING. CHAK also feels guilty for sowing discords between YAN and TING. CHAK offers TING his explanations but TING tells him to mind his own business. NICK is displeased with TING’s yelling at CHAK. KWAI expresses his remorse to the mother and son. He makes an honest living and the family is happily reunited. MAN tells NICK he should take a cue from the family and learns to forgive his father. NICK won’t listen to MAN’s advice. Despite his deteriorating health, TING has to take care of the joint venture himself for NICK has made it clear that he will not succeed his business. KAN impresses TING with his expertise in mainland trading and is allowed to take part in the joint venture……

With the scheme exposed, ALLY and KAN offer their apologies to NICK, but NICK finds them unforgivable. Witnessing TING’s declining health, NICK asks TING to be less devoted to his work, but TING refuses. TING banishes HANG and ALLY from the firm, and in an ensuing struggle, TING suffers a stroke which leaves him in a coma. Overwhelmed with guilt, NICK seeks vengeance. MAN tries to stop him but to no avail. Under the pretext of TING’s failure to function as the group chairman, HANG calls for an election meeting. NICK can’t take the helm because of his criminal record. HANG is elected as chairman. As HANG contemplates transferring away the corporate funds, NICK, YAN and CHAK team up to stop him, armed with TING’s previously signed documents to prove their majority ownership of the company shares. NICK feels ambivalent now that his community service has almost come to an end. TING wakes up from his coma but his speech has yet to recover……

KAN colludes with a gang of robbers and schemes to kidnap NICK. CHI HO is overjoyed that his mother conquers liver cancer and his father his demons. NICK revamps the company and sweeps clean of HANG’s alliances. CHAK tries to stop him but he won’t listen. The Home has thrown NICK a party but NICK is too busy to attend. A sweet call from MAN and the children changes his mind. NICK hurries there and is kidnapped on the way. MAN loses her cool. CHAK and YAN decide to pay the ransom to redeem NICK. ALLY accidentally comes in the knowledge of HANG and KAN’s kidnap scheme and tries to persuade them to abandon it. One of the kidnappers turns out to be a friend of KWAI. KWAI tips MAN on their hideout. MAN goes alone and gets caught by the kidnappers, who try to force themselves on her…. The police arrive in the nick of time to rescue MAN and NICK. But MAN suffers a relapse from the trauma…