Hard Fate

Jewelry designer MOK HEI YEE has been dogged by bad luck ever since her childhood. YEE meets a merchant named LEUNG PAK YIN at a jewelry exhibition. She is not aware that YIN is an expert on jewelry and tries to show off her knowledge in front of him. YEE’s father MOK SAI LUNG is a taxi driver and her brother MOK HEI MAN has been unemployed since his graduation. YEE’s great aunt SUEN YIN TSAU has been suffering from Senile Dementia and YEE alone has to support the whole family. YIN’s business partners SHU HUNG and CHUN NAM have bought a raw stone for HK$10,000,000. Despite YIN’s opposition, NAM decides to cut the stone. As expected by YIN, the stone is of poor quality. After knowing that the company she is working for is going to implement a staff reduction program, YEE tries to make up with YIN. Sadly, all her efforts are in vain and she is finally dismissed from her job. TSAU is cheated out of her precious jade ornament ‘Hon Shan’……

TSAU refuses to go back to the elderly care home and begs YEE to help her locate the missing ‘Hon Shan’. TSAU came from a wealthy family that had been engaged in the jewelry trade. But as the family fell into poverty, TSAU’s mother forced her to marry SIU TUNG, the son of the owner of a cotton mill, just for the sake of money. To avoid an arranged marriage, TSAU decided to run away. She took with her the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’, which were handed down from her ancestors, and fled from home. Along the way she met a rickshaw driver named TAK CHEONG…. YEE is so amazed by TSAU’s story and swears to help her locate the missing jade ornament. YIN plans to carve a jade sculpture out of the raw stone bought by NAM and HUNG and wishes to give it the name ‘Hundred Birds Heading for the Nest’. NAM, however, does not welcome his idea. YEE goes to the jade market to look for MING, hoping to get back TSAU’s ‘Hon Shan’……

Having just lost her job, YEE is already quite upset. Now she is even more perplexed as she worries that LUNG has got conned by MING. But when TSAU tells her the story of the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’, she soon becomes a bit relaxed. KIT not only persuades NAM to sell the raw stone that he bought, but also seizes the chance to mock YIN’s secretary SHUK KWAN, who, many years ago, chose to give up him for YIN’s sake. YEE, who is desperate to get back her savings, has followed MING to Jieyang. Disappointingly, MING has already spent almost half of the money in purchasing stones. YEE knows there is no way back now. She has no choice but to stay and select stones with MING. YEE meets YIN who has come to Jieyang to look for the carver. YIN promises to help with the stone selection, which has got YEE much less stressed. YIN is shocked to hear that the carver has already signed a contract with KIT……

YEE is worried that she has chosen a valueless stone but MING insists that she has made the right decision. KIT convinces HUNG to sell the raw stone and HUNG finally gives in to his persuasion. YIN understands HUNG’s situation and makes it clear that he does not blame him. YEE tells LUNG how she chose and bought the stone in Jieyang, which thrills him greatly. TSAU has again run away from the elderly care home. She comes home and shares with YEE her love story with CHEONG. YEE prays to the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’ hoping that they will bring her to her Mr. Right in the near future. MING’s friend SIU KEI has become homeless. MING then asks the flat owner Madam MAU to put KEI up in her apartment. KIT comes to see YIN hoping to buy a stone from him, but YIN turns him down at once. KIT flies into a rage and points out that YIN has gobbled up the family business Yuk Lung Hin……

KIT asks MING to buy a stone from YIN on his behalf and in return he will give MING HK$300,000 as commission. This really gives MING a great thrill. MING invites LUNG and his family to dinner. YEE acts as if she doesn’t care but deep down she is overjoyed about that. TSAU sees through her and reminds her not to let love pass her by. MING is pondering on how to buy a stone from YIN. He is so puzzled that he goes to confide in YEE. YEE thinks he is going to declare his love to her but she has got him wrong and is therefore very disappointed. MING goes to see YIN and asks to buy a stone from him. YIN believes there are some strange goings-on and looks a little pensive. YEE has been looking for a job, but with no luck so far. She has left her design sketch behind and YIN gets it by chance later on. TSAU is desperate to find ‘Shap Tak’ so that the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’ can be together again……

MING always seems to be casual about everything and YEE finds it quite hard to understand him. Now the sudden appearance of SZ has made YEE even more confused about her relationship with MING. SZ pretends to be MING’s childhood friend SHUK FUN, the girl who grew up with MING in the orphanage. She keeps pestering MING, which annoys him beyond measure. MING offers to take YEE to the Peak to do research and makes it an excuse to ask her out for a date. YEE has got fed up with his honeyed words and decides to give up on him. TSAU knows that she will die very soon and so refuses to return to the elderly care home. She hands ‘Hon Shan’ over to YEE, hoping that she will meet her Prince Charming very soon. YEE happens to discover that YIN has stolen her design but MING and LUNG do not believe so. YEE is so angry and immediately goes to ask YIN for an explanation. But on the way she slips over and hurts her head……

TSAU leaves behind the key to the safe deposit box, from which YEE has got some clues. She tries to track down CHEONG’s whereabouts, hoping that this would help locate ‘Shap Tak’. The jade auction is coming soon and YIN would like to modify the traditional jade jewelry design so as to capture a younger market, which, however, is strongly opposed by NAM and HUNG. YEE does not want to let YIN down and works ceaselessly to improve the design. MING shows great care and concern for YEE but YEE does not seem to realize it. SZ keeps bothering MING and even starts to investigate his background. She is surprised to discover that her father has been MING’s benefactor for ten odd years. This makes her suspect that MING is her father’s illegitimate son. Having heard what MING said, YIN decides to adopt YEE’s design for the upcoming auction. YEE is thrilled to pieces yet she is not aware that MING has done her a favor……

YEE has worked so hard for the auction. She is under tremendous stress and finally decides to resign from the job. YIN pleads with her to stay and gives her a few words of comfort. With his support and encouragement, YEE seems to have renewed her strength and resolves to carry on to the end. LUNG heads for Guangzhou to look for CHEONG, in the hope that this would help him locate the missing ‘Shap Tak’. He intends to sell the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’ for a high price but by chance he discovers that TSAU’s husband is not CHEONG but someone else. MING takes SZ back to the orphanage to visit Sister MA. SZ is very relieved that nobody in the orphanage has discovered her real identity. SZ has gradually developed a special affection for MING. Her heart is filled with passion but deep down she knows it is impossible for her to be in love with her half-brother. This indeed vexes her greatly……

KIT has got deeply into debt and fled to Jieyang. YIN fears that KIT would make a reckless attempt to get what he wants. LUNG meets Madam SAM, who used to be TSAU’s housemaid in her younger days. From SAM he learns about TSAU’s traumatic past. What is more surprising is that SAM has been keeping ‘Shap Tak’ which TSAU had left behind when she tried to run away. Having secured ‘Shap Tak’, LUNG seeks to cheat YEE out of ‘Hon Shan’. LUNG has finally got the ‘Twin Fairies of Harmony’ and he plans to sell them to a significant client. YIN hurries to Jieyang trying to stop KIT from smuggling jade stones. But KIT is not thankful to his brother and goes on to ridicule him mercilessly. Having not seen YIN for three days, YEE misses him so much, which makes MING so jealous. SZ finds out that MING fancies YEE and she offers to help him woo his dream girl. YIN helps KIT out of his financial difficulties and KIT is deeply touched by his generosity……

YIN and YEE take taxis to their respective homes. Along the way they have heard a news report on the radio, from which they know there is a very serious car accident. YEE is afraid that YIN is one of the victims of the accident while YIN fears that YEE has got hurt in the car crash. They are very worried about each other. YIN falls ill and YEE volunteers to look after him at home. Coincidentally, this is discovered by KWAN. KWAN reveals to YEE that she has been very close with YIN, hoping that this would make YEE give up on YIN and withdraw from the relationship. YEE does not want to be an obstacle between YIN and KWAN and decides to submit her resignation, which puzzles YIN for a while. MING tries to comfort YEE, but in vain. YEE is ungrateful to him and gives him a good telling-off. YIN misses YEE so much. He invites her to the auction but YEE has not made any promise that she will attend……

YEE looks extremely radiant these days. Thinking that YEE has found her true love, MING decides to give up. SZ, however, urges him not to let go too soon. KIT has returned to Yuk Lung Hin but HUNG thinks that he is not that reliable. Since YIN puts absolute trust in KIT, HUNG dare not say anything against him. KWAN feels heartbroken when she discovers that YEE has been going out with YIN. She is sent to hospital after taking an overdose of sleeping pills. YEE pays KWAN a visit but her appearance has angered KWAN. KWAN gives her a slap and tells her off for stealing her beloved man. SZ has secretly recorded MING’s declaration of love for YEE and in turn passes the minidisk to her. YEE is shocked to the core after hearing MING’s declaration of love. On one hand, SZ is glad and relieved to know that MING is not her brother but on the other hand, she is full of remorse, regretting having given the minidisk to YEE……

YEE arranges a dinner for LUNG and YIN. LUNG is not aware that YEE is going out with YIN and he keeps complaining about YEE’s boyfriend before YIN, which makes YIN very embarrassed. For MING’s sake, SZ decides to stay in Hong Kong and starts looking for a job. MING promises to treat SZ to lunch but suddenly YEE calls him up asking for help. SZ gets so jealous when she knows that MING has just slipped away to meet YEE. She honestly admits to MING that she is in love with him, which shocks him to the core. MING is at a loss and runs away at once to avoid her. Realizing that MING has rejected her, SZ feels desperately heartbroken. SZ is offered a job as a magazine reporter. She goes to do an interview with YEE about her newly opened jewelry shop, during which she deliberately criticizes YEE’s designs. YEE suspects that SZ is in love with MING and this makes her understand why SZ has been so hostile towards her……

MING feels so embarrassed when he finds that YEE has already heard his declaration of love. YEE tells MING off for giving SZ confusing signals and keeping her waiting without an answer. She goes on to encourage SZ to show her power, and since then, the girls have become very good friends. MAN has lost a batch of jade stones and owes Boss LAU, the merchant, a great debt. LUNG and MING have no clue as to how to help him. SZ reveals to LAU that YIN is her father, hoping that her intercession would be of help to MING. Sadly, nobody believes her words. Despite the heavy rain, SZ stays in the street all night long waiting to see LAU. MING is deeply touched and immediately wraps his arms around her. After his return to Hong Kong, YIN gets aware that LUNG has got into debt. He offers to pay off LUNG’s debt and LUNG is incredibly grateful to him for his generous help. YIN is astonished to discover that SZ is MING’s girlfriend……

MING can hardly accept that YIN is married and the father of SZ. What is even more unbelievable is that YIN used to be his secret benefactor during his days in the orphanage. Thinking that YEE has got cheated, MING decides to tell her the truth. YIN stops him and promises that he will find a way to work it out if he is given some more time. He swears that he has applied for a divorce order and will separate from YUNG very soon. Now that YIN has placed his trust in KIT, KIT can do whatever he likes. He gangs up with NAM to embezzle money from Yuk Lung Hin. SZ would have almost met YIN and YEE. Luckily MING is there and with his wit, he can successfully prevent them from meeting each other. YEE is sent to hospital after she is knocked down by a car. Unfortunately, ‘Hon Shan’ is lost in the accident. SZ is shocked to hear that YIN is going to divorce her mother YUNG. YIN, who is in a bad mood, loses his temper and shouts at KWAN……

YIN tries to give justification for what he has done but SZ does not accept his explanation. YEE is considering breaking up with YIN. MING tries to intercede for YIN and reminds her to be sensible and to think twice before she makes the decision. YEE’s jewelry shop is on fire. Thinking that YEE is working inside, YIN rushes into the shop to save her disregarding his own safety. YEE is shocked yet sad to know that she has got pregnant. She can hardly face YIN when they meet in the hospital. YIN waits for YEE in the rain, which surprises and deeply moves her. YEE finally gives in to his sincerity and goes out to meet him. YIN promises her that he will get a divorce as quickly as possible. MING tries to defend YEE and YIN in any way he can, which infuriates SZ immensely. YEE has made the tough decision to break up with YIN and to raise her baby alone. YUNG refuses to divorce YIN after knowing that he has had an affair with a girl……

YUNG follows YEE around, during which she mistakes MING for YEE’s secret lover and takes a pile of photos of them, which are handed over to YIN later on. YIN tells YUNG that MING has been going with their daughter SZ and YUNG in turn urges SZ to break up with MING. By a ruse, YUNG has obtained YIN’s permission to put up at his home. YIN notices YUNG’s strange behavior and suspects that she has a mental illness. YUNG disguises herself as LUNG’s neighbor and manages to enter his home. YEE returns home and is shocked to see YUNG sitting in the living room. YUNG loses control of herself and shouts at YEE. She has secretly stolen YEE’s pills, which are prescribed for pregnant women, and has replaced them with potentially harmful steroids. To prevent her from being continually harassed by YUNG, YIN advises YEE to put up at a hotel. YEE is about to head for the hotel but all of a sudden, YUNG turns up and throws her down the stairs……

YUNG is found dead while YIN is sent to hospital for the emergency operation. SZ and YEE break down crying and their teardrops fall like rain. KWAN blames YEE for breaking up YIN’s family. She points out that YEE has indirectly caused YUNG’s death and YIN’s coma. Such allegation has made YEE feel so guilty. SZ tries to hide her sorrow and blunt her pain by throwing herself into work. All of her friends have become very worried about her. While YIN is still recuperating in the hospital, KIT instructs MAN to sign the receipt for a batch of inferior jade stones. MAN believes he is highly regarded by KIT, without knowing that it is just a trap. YIN wakes from the coma and is thrilled to see YEE again. The couple hold each other in a close embrace and start to cry. SZ has seen everything. She is furious and stomps off in a rage. YIN is so perplexed as he cannot remember what happened before he and YUNG fell off the building……

SZ alone heads back to Canada bringing along with her YUNG’s ashes and YIN is so sad to see her go. YEE, who has been in a disturbed state of mind, asks MING to help locate the missing ‘Hon Shan’. Tycoon YUEN SAI PANG offers to buy ‘Shap Tak’ for a high price, which makes MING suspect that he has got ‘Hon Shan’ with him. In order to show that he is still at the helm of Yuk Lung Hin, YIN insists on attending its annual dinner. During the dinner, YIN has suddenly lost his sight. KWAN senses that there is something wrong with YIN and immediately sends him to the hospital. The extravasated blood in YIN’s brain has affected his optic nerves and has in turn caused his blindness. KIT is happy to know that YIN has gone blind and he immediately takes the chance to mock and humiliate him. KWAN tries to look for evidence to testify against KIT……

YIN is going to have another operation. SZ is very worried about her father, so MING tries to give her a few words of comfort. KIT’s plot succeeds – Yuk Lung Hin has suffered a great loss and its reputation has been tarnished. Now that he has got what he wants, KIT asks to withdraw from Yuk Lung Hin. Again and again KWAN stops YEE from calling the police. Though she knows it is KIT who has stolen the stones, YEE cannot do anything for there is no evidence to prove the allegation. YIN’s operation is very successful and he has restored his sight. YIN knows Yuk Lung Hin is undergoing a terrible upheaval and he vows to lead it out of the crisis. PANG tries to convince MING to sell ‘Shap Tak’ by offering him a number of financial advantages. MING, however, does not change his mind and PANG is so impressed by his personality……

YIN decides to buy a jade stone, with which he hopes to earn back the money he has lost. He is confident that he will succeed. MING shows a few pieces of jade jewelry to the rich ladies. He has made a deal with one of the ladies, from which he has earned HK$3,000,000. MING and SZ are chuffed to pieces when they get the check. MING passes the check to YIN, hoping that the money can help him a bit. YIN, however, refuses to accept the money. YIN has bought a raw stone from Burma, which he thinks is of excellent quality, but out of the blue, the stone is an inferior one. YIN is very disappointed and deeply embarrassed. He has lost a great deal of money and he hopes he can solve his financial problems after inheriting YUNG’s property. YEE and YIN are getting married. On the wedding day, YIN tries to look happy and relaxed but deep down he feels extremely distressed and is burning with anxiety……

YIN vaguely remembers that he had a quarrel with YUNG on the roof of the building and that a man with a birthmark on his face had been around at the time they were quarrelling. SZ asks YIN about YUNG’s diary but YIN seems to be trying to conceal something. YIN has found the only witness to the incident, BILL, who has a birthmark on his face. BILL tells him all the details of what happened that day. Having heard what BILL said, YIN feels astonished and heartbroken. SZ advises YIN to try hypnotherapy again but YIN has found a number of excuses to turn her down. YUNG’s father Big Brother MA has a stroke and has obtained the court’s permission to freeze YUNG’s assets, which really shocks YIN. MING knows Yuk Lung Hin is facing a financial crisis and thus reveals to YEE that he would like to invest in Yuk Lung Hin. With MING’s help, YEE has found CHEONG who has been keeping ‘Shap Tak’……

MING has invested in Yuk Lung Hin and has made a big deal with a client on his very first day of work. BILL tries to blackmail YIN but YIN does not give in. SZ meets BILL by chance and soon becomes suspicious of him. In order to find out the truth, SZ decides to start an investigation. Having heard that an existing client NGAI strongly believes in Feng Shui, MING suggests YIN alter his design. But YIN is too proud to take his advice. YEE modifies the design following MING’s suggestion and passes it to YIN. Though reluctant to abandon the original design, YIN finally gives in to YEE’s persuasion and adopts the revised design. NGAI has chosen MING’s design, and YIN, thinking that he has lost to MING, gets more and more jealous of him. SZ has located BILL but BILL refuses to reveal anything unless she promises to pay him a certain amount of money. YIN is enraged when he knows that BILL is going to reveal the truth to SZ……

SZ is going on a date with MING but MING has got something urgent to deal with and needs to leave at once, which infuriates SZ. SZ’s grandfather MA has passed away. SZ is deeply saddened by his death and immediately flies to Canada to arrange his funeral. MING goes to see her off, and for this reason, he has missed an appointment with a very significant client and has in turn lost a deal. YIN, who has been jealous of MING, seizes the opportunity to slag him off. From the things left behind by MA, SZ has found a video cassette revealing how he and YIN used to smuggle jade stones in Burma. But before all the details are known, the video is finished. SZ reads YUNG’s diary again, from which she learns that YIN had indirectly caused the death of his friend CHUNG SING when they were in Burma. MING is invited for an interview with the media……

YIN has been very grumpy recently. He suspects YEE has had an affair with MING and gives her a terrible dressing-down, which irks YEE greatly. YEE thinks he is being so unreasonable and decides to return to her father’s home with TUNG. SZ has been very perplexed these days. She needs someone to confide in but it is with regret that she cannot share her worries with MING. MING does not understand how she feels and has had a lot of doubts in his head. MING submits his resignation to YEE and YEE tries to persuade him to stay, but in vain. YIN asks MING to stay but deep down he is very happy to see him go. PANG, who would like to run a jade jewelry business, very much appreciates MING’s talents and invites him to collaborate with him. From the things left behind by YUNG, MING has discovered a photo of his father SING. He is shocked to know that YIN is the man who has caused SING’s death……

YIN claims that MING beat him up after he had rejected his request to withdraw from Yuk Lung Hin. HUNG believes YIN’s words and blames MING for having no gratitude to YIN. YIN pretends to be drunk and tries to intercede with YEE for himself. YEE believes that YIN did not mean to cause SING harm and she is of the opinion that MING has misunderstood YIN. YEE tries to explain to MING for YIN while MING reminds her to beware of her husband. SZ and MING have found BILL. BILL tells them the truth and promises to testify against YIN. YIN is arrested but LUNG does not believe that YIN is the killer of YUNG. He suspects SZ has deliberately set YIN up so that she will be the only one to inherit YUNG’s money. YEE is so confused and finds it difficult to establish who is telling the truth and who is not. YIN is taken to the court and BILL’s statements have put him in a very unfavorable situation……

YIN comes around and pretends that he has got back his memories. He says he recalls what happened the day YUNG died and asks to give evidence in the court. He claims that he did try to rescue YUNG and that SZ has deliberately set him up for she is not happy with the allocation of the legacy. His words have infuriated SZ immensely. YIN is found innocent and is released immediately. He is happy about the verdict while SZ is so angry and denounces him as a heartless, scheming monster. Yuk Lung Hin has been losing money and YEE notices that YIN has become more and more irritable. SZ and YIN meet in the legal firm but they see each other as strangers. MING has earned enough money to buy a house and his friends suggest that it is the right time for him to propose to SZ. YIN is looking for a superior Kam Sze jade stone but PANG manages to get it first. YIN begs MING to give it up but PANG refuses……

YEE can hardly believe that YIN is going to collaborate with KIT. She asks YIN for an explanation and YIN states that Yuk Lung Hin means everything to him and that he will take any risk to save his business. MING has an appointment with a renowned model, which upsets SZ a bit. SZ gets jealous and asks him about the arrangements for their wedding. But disappointingly, MING says he has no plan to get married. SZ is so angry that she means to drink herself into oblivion. Thinking that she has broken up with MING, MAN plucks up the courage and expresses his love for her. SZ, however, rejects him without delay. MING agrees to marry SZ, which gives her a great thrill. MING asks YEE out for a gathering, during which he reminds her to beware of KIT. YIN finds out that YEE has gone on a date with MING. He is enraged and gives YEE a telling-off. YEE is so unhappy that she goes to confide in CHEONG……

YIN has long planned to take revenge on KIT. He has informed the PRC policemen well in advance so that they can catch KIT at the spot. SZ discovers that MING has secretly ordered a ring. She suspects he has an affair and asks him for an explanation. But out of her expectation, the ring is for her. KWAN pays KIT a visit, with his baby in her arms. Since KIT refuses to see her, she can only ask YIN to pass a letter to him, which makes YIN cogitate for a little while. MING proposes to SZ with a total of ten rings, which thrills her utterly. YIN announces that he is going to sell Yuk Lung Hin and this comes as a real shock to everyone. YEE happens to discover that YIN has hired a private detective to follow KIT and that he is determined to drive KIT to destruction in order that he can gobble up his money……

YEE fears that YIN would harm TUNG, so she asks SZ to look after TUNG for her. YIN claims he has repented of his sins and promises YEE that he will be a better man. He begs YEE to let him see TUNG but YEE refuses. YIN learns from MAN that TUNG is living with SZ and he manages to take her away from SZ’s home. SZ chases after YIN but on the way she is knocked down by a car. SZ falls into a coma and it really breaks MING’s heart to see her suffer. TUNG has disappeared, which has driven YEE crazy. YIN reveals to YEE that TUNG is currently in Taiwan and he promises to bring her to see TUNG if she comes back to him. YEE pretends that she has forgiven YIN but in reality she has been searching for the whereabouts of TUNG. MING manages to disrupt the sale of Yuk Lung Hin, leaving YIN no way out. Thinking that MING has foiled his plan, YIN flies into a rage and gives him a punch. MING goes on to prepare for the wedding……

YIN means to put YEE to the test and deliberately reveals TUNG’s whereabouts. YEE hurries to the nursery but TUNG is not there. YIN asks for YEE’s forgiveness and begs her to come back to him. Soon the couple have got into a quarrel. YIN slaps YEE hard across the face and YEE falls unconscious right away. YIN comes to terms with the fact that his marriage is over but losing YEE is really a terrible blow to him. YIN goes to visit SZ, who is still in a coma. He breaks down in tears when he sees his unconscious daughter lying on the bed. YIN has left a tape with YEE and YEE fears that he will hurt TUNG and himself. YIN deeply regrets what he has done. He, taking TUNG with him, is about to jump off the roof of a multi-storey building. MING and YEE hurry to stop him but they arrive too late…. YEE has got over the trauma and is ready to return to Yuk Lung Hin. SZ is going to have another operation……