Rong Jinxiu (Chen Qiao’en) arrives in Shanghai in search of her half-sister, Yin Mingzhu (Lv Jiarong). Jinxiu’s family has fallen on hard times and is hoping for any sort of assistance from Mingzhu. However, Mingzhu, who is now the lover of a well-known businessman, still harbors hatred for the Rong family because they abandoned Mingzhu and her sickly mother many years before.
Mingzhu is willing to meet with Jinxiu once but does not offer any help. On her way out of Mingzhu’s luxurious house, Jinxiu literally bumps into Xiang Yingdong (Kimi Qiao), who has a crush on Mingzhu despite her being the woman of his older brother. With Yingdong is Zuo Zhen (Huang Xiaoming).
Unable to find food or lodging, Jinxiu wastes away on the streets of Shanghai and is discovered by Zuo Zhen and one of his followers, Shi Hao (Yang Le). They bring her to a high-end hotel owned by Yingdong. Thinking that she was rescued by Yingdong, Jinxiu develops a crush on him, which she confesses to Zuo Zhen.
Seven boys form a tight knit gang lead by Yen. They drink beer, smoke cigarettes and ride motorbikes: behaviour pretty much typical of teenagers. The movie is focused on exploring the nature of their friendships and how they change through time.
Although this is predominantly a film about male relationships, the role played by Xiao Yun (Yen's girlfriend) is interesting. Just as the boys struggle to come to terms with the world and their expectations, Xiao Yun struggles to break free from her relationship with Yen. Tang, Yen's best friend, fancies Xiao Yun but never has the courage to tell her. In the end Xiao Yun shows more courage than Tang in dealing with the relationship. The movie shows the difficulties both men and women face in their gender roles.
