Chou, a sensitive teenager, desires for independence.

The 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis negatively impacted Chou’s family's finances, worsening the tense atmosphere at home. Chou secretly worked at a billiard hall and bonded with Button, a gang leader.

But he faced challenges like Button's military service and conflicts with peers. When Chou was caught smoking and working at the billiard hall by his father, their relationship strained further.

At school, Chou is in B-class while his crush, Min, excelled in the A-class. Min’s departure due to fears of war and a teacher's attempt to force Chou to quit school added to his uncertainty about the future.