List of Looking Back in Anger episodes

Looking Back in Anger was a Chinese television series.

The Parents

The series starts off with scene of business tycoon, Ding Yau Kin (Felix Wong), waiting for a telephone call. It then moves into a flashback to Kin's childhood years. The young Kin (played by Gregory Lee) was born into a poor and struggling family. Kin's parents are always fighting over money because his father, Ding Wing Cheung (also played by Felix Wong) is addicted to gambling and has used up the family's savings, much to the displeasure of his wife, Mui Fun Fong (Yammie Nam.) However, despite Ding Wing Cheung's weak personality and lack of self-control, he is still a caring and loving father.

Desperate for money to spend for the New Year, Mui Fan Fong, an ex-thief, steals a man's purse. When she is caught by the police, it turns out that the purse belongs to a murdered man, and Fong is framed for the murder. Shing, ashamed of his addiction, cuts off his fingers in front of the shocked Kin. Even though she is pregnant, Fong is forced through a humiliating trail, helped by retiring lawyer Chu Siu-shan (Cheng Gwan Min) who defends her against the ruthless prosector, Fung Sai Bong (Ngok Wah).

Fong nearly wins her freedom when suddenly an eye-witness, Mr. Szeto (Lok Ying Kwan), is put on the stand and accuses her of the murder. It turns out that Mr. Szeto had molested a deaf-mute student of his, and has lied about seeing Fong commit murder in order to get immunity. Fong loses the trial and is sentenced to death by hanging once her son, Yau Hong, is born.

Chu uses up all his resources to appeal her case, and finally moves Mr. Szeto into revoking his statement. Fong is rescued from the gallows by the warden just in time. The true murderer finally confesses to the crime to Fong's lawyer before dying of cancer in the hospital. As the lawyer is the only witness to this statement, he has to refer the case to a colleague. Unfortunately the colleague is very distracted by his wife's affair with his brother, and ends up losing the appeal. Fong is dragged off to the gallows again, with the sympathetic warden waiting for another phone call to stop the execution, but it never comes. Before Fong dies, she makes Kin promise to always protect Hong.

Upon his wife's death, Cheung goes mad and tries to kill himself and his sons, and luckily is stopped by his childless ex-boss, Chun (Wu Fung), who takes in the two children after Shing is admitted to an asylum. His wife, Wun (So Hung Shuen) is ecstatic even though she already has two other adopted children.

Aunt Wan

Chun dies suddenly from a brain haemorrhage following a stroke, and the family is bankrupted. Gossipers tell Wan that it is all because of Hong, who is a jinx. Wan is shocked, but refuses to abandon Hong.

Taking her four children, Wan travels to Macau to seek help from her brother-in-law (Kong Ngai), who insults her and tells her to become a prostitute. She leaves angrily and works very hard menial jobs to support all four kids.

Years later, Wan is working as a cleaner in a hospital with Nurse Lan, whose daughter is Chiu Kar Mun (Maggie Siu).

The four children she had taken in are all grown up. Kin (Felix Wong) works multiple jobs over the years from a young age to help Wun support the family. Hong (Deric Wan) has just finished high school. Chan Siu Ling (Hor Kar Lai) works as a bank teller, and Zhou Zhi Mun (Leung See Ho) is still in high school.

After the years of hardship, Wan has grown cold, distant and very moody, leading to communication barriers with the children. Luckily, Kin is there as the glue to stick the family together.

Wan's brother-in-law has now fallen into hard times, and begs lowly for Wun to take in his daughter, Lee Wah (Kathy Chow). Wan forgives him and takes the nerdy, timid Wah in. Wah quickly gains a place in everyone's hearts.

Ding Yau Hong - The Change Within

Not content to live in cheap accommodations forever, Hong wants to apply for a law degree. Wan opposes this plan, believing that Hong should stick to his class and find a job like Kin. But Hong wants to prove his self-worth, and Kin supports him all the way, and he is accepted at the university. Hong may be ambitious, but he sees Wan's hardship and sacrifice, as well as her dislike of him, so he wants to prove to her that he will not be a liability and gain her praise. Kin works in the university cafeteria (with Gordon Lam and Cutie Mui).

Once in university, Hong is immediately singled out as an outsider by his rich classmates (Frankie Lam and Evergreen Mak), as well as the snobbish Sam Fung (Ng Kai Ming), who Hong sucks up to in order to fit in.

Hong finds out that Sam's father is actually the ex-prosecutor Fung Sai Bong, who has now turned to business and trade and is very rich. Casting old grudges aside, Hong tries to get close to him to gain job opportunities. Bong takes an instant liking to the diligent Hong. This angers Kin, who hates the whole Fung family. Hong won't let go of this opportunity to work in Bong's company and quarrels with Kin.

Once exposed to the upper class, Hong becomes more and more obsessed with money and status, and manipulates Wah, who has a crush on him, to do all his projects while he is out socializing with the upper class. He also has his sights set on pretty, intelligent medical student, Chiu Kar Mun (Maggie Siu), who already has a doctor boyfriend. By using the doctor's jealous tendencies, Hong makes him go mad and claims Kar Mun as his own.

He finally fails in his course once Wah realizes that he is a jerk and stops helping him, and he drops out, seeing a brighter future working under Bong.

The Love Triangle

Kin has always had a crush on Wah, but she has always only had eyes for Hong. Kin is approached by his best friend who works in a TV station, to appear on a TV show where the lives of three people with the same birthdates are compared. The other two are the mighty and wealthy heiress Ngai Chor Gwun (Carina Lau), and an arrogant designer, Mr Yeung (Gilbert Lam).

Gwun and Kin gradually become friends despite their large social differences, and Gwun secretly falls for Kin. However, Kin ends up with Wah, when she finally realizes he is worth loving. Kin supports Wah through her advertising course, and Gwun remains a friend to both, hiding her feelings.

Ngai Chor Gwun

Gwun (Carina Lau) is the elder daughter of tycoon, Ngai Kwun (Kwan Hoi San), who is a distant relative and business rival of Fung Sai Bong. Gwun has a stepbrother Kit (Canti Lau) who is highly intelligent, responsible, mature and has a flair for business. Tired of being constantly over-shadowed, Gwun does not even try to gain her father's approval. She becomes increasingly lazy and distant from her family, which causes her father to criticize her even more. She thinks Kwun doesn't love her at all, but in fact he does. She also keeps a close relationship with Kit, who helps her out a lot.

Depressed after Hong and Wah start going out, Gwun considers dating a rich man (Gallen Lo) and even agrees to his proposal, but chickens out at the last minute. Kwun is angered, and Gwun moves out and realizes that her past idol life was too boring. She starts becoming independent with the help of Kin. She finds a job as magazine journalist, and is happy her with her boss (Michael Tao) who likes her.

The First Betrayal

Hong works under Fung Sai Bong's eldest son, Michael (Lee Shing Cheung). Bong tries to take over the Ngai business empire, but Kit gains evidence of Michael's dirty dealing and forces him to call the project off. In anger, Michael turns the steering wheel when Hong is driving, and runs over Kit. They destroy all the evidence in the sea, but Hong has left his lighter in the car. Michael cuts him loose, telling him to solve the problem by himself.

Hong uses Kin's love for him as well as his promise to his dying mother to always protect Hong, and manipulates him into taking the rap for Kit's death, though Hong genuinely feels sorry, and tries to make up for it by giving more money to Wan, who throws it in his face and kicks him out. Once Kin finds out it was Kit who was killed in the car accident, he falls out with Gwun, who fails to persuade him to let Hong take responsibility for his own actions.

Kin is sentenced to jail for two years, and in jail he forms a close friendship with several men. One is Lee Kar Ding and another is Hor Gwai Lum, each of whom has his own story to tell. Kwun, who has also been arrested for corruption charges, eventually meets Kin in jail, and his dislike for Kin gradually lessens and he learns to appreciate him. Even after reconciling with her father, Gwun still refuses to return to the family company, so her stepmother takes over.

The Second Betrayal

Ling tries out for TVB acting classes, and gets promoted. Wan is very against this, but relents when she sees Ling's sincerity and interest. She is also persuaded by Kin's best friend, who loves Ling. She explains her concerns as stemming from the fact that Ling's biological mother was a famous actress and singer, who became someone's mistress and abandoned her child to marry rich in Thailand. Wun is worried that the pressures in the entertainment field will soon push Ling into following her mother's path.

All is well until Ling's biological mother, Fong Hung (Chan Lai See) returns to Hong Kong. Ling is disappointed to find her a manipulative and materialistic person, but soon understands the pressures that her teenage mother had to endure (being a single mother,) and forgives her. But it turns out that Hung is a heavy gambler, and owes loan sharks a lot of money. Under Hong's guidance, Ling becomes Michael's mistress to pay off her mother's continuing debts, ending her sweet budding romance with Felix's best friend. Wan is enraged and disowns her.

Meanwhile, the youngest brother, Mun, finds his biological parents, who have become rich over the years, but his newfound siblings look down on him. To prove himself, he becomes Michael's personal assistant – a high-paying but humiliating job. Wan disowns him too.

The Third Betrayal

Kar Mun becomes very weak and dependent on Hong after so many years, and Hong is beginning to tire of her. A new opportunity comes in the form of the lonely but favoured second daughter of the Fung family, Cindy (Kiki Sheung). Hong tries to dump Kar Mun while pursuing Cindy, but the clingy Kar Mun suddenly informs him that she is pregnant and needs to get married.

Hong goes to Malaysia with Kar Mun. She uses her uncle, a Malaysian general (Chu Tit Wo), to force Hong into marriage. Desperate, Hong plans the perfect murder, and pushes Kar Mun off a moving train to Malaysia, framing her for committing suicide due to guilt over conceiving a child in an affair with another man. Hong happily returns to propose to Cindy, and the two overtake Michael's place in the company, causing Michael to become increasingly abusive towards Ling and Mun.

Ups and Downs

Kin returns to a relieved Wan and happy Wah, who is finishing off her course. He is still working multiple jobs to make ends meet, and runs back into Gwun. They become friends again. Gwun still has a crush on Kin. Kin meets up with his friends from prison and start up a food stall which becomes very successful. Wah becomes jealous of Gwun's closeness with Kin.

Kin and Wah grow apart as her career grows more successful. Afraid that she might change, Wah proposes to Kin, but on the eve of the wedding, Kin discovers a letter by Wah to her friend saying that she only wants to marry Kin to repay him for his help, and also highlights other concerns for their future. Kin wants Wah to be happy, so he cancels the wedding. Wah goes off to Malaysia to work.

Ling gets pregnant and is dumped by Michael. She tries to commit suicide, but Gwun persuades her to live on. Supported by both mothers, she quits acting and opens a shop. Kin's best friend who still loves Ling proposes to her repeatedly, and even wants to take her son as his own, but out of guilt and shame, she refuses. Mun meets a girlfriend (Carol Yeung). Building up his self-confidence and dignity, he quits the job and helps Kin out.

Kin and Gwun get drunk and sleep together, causing both of them to feel awkward afterwards. Gwun's boss tells Kin that Gwun has been in love with him for a long time. Moved, Kin chases after Gwun, who rejects him, feeling that he is only pursuing her out of obligation after sleeping with her. But eventually, he convinces her that his feelings are sincere, and they get together.

Kin and his friends move onto opening a restaurant, but his chefs bail out on him, so they have to resort to using Chinese steam-bowl to save the business which strangely, attracts a lot of customers. Gwun supports him all the way, and Kwun gradually accepts Kin. Kin and his friends become rich.

Downfall of Ding Yau Hong

Cindy proves to be a good wife, as she successfully patches up the relationship between Hong and the rest of his family. Hong is sort of moved by her actions, and his siblings all like her, but they still continue to hate her father and brother.

Meanwhile, Wan goes to Malaysia to visit Nurse Lan. She finds an alternate suicide note written by Kar Mun hidden in her clothes. This note outlines Hong's betrayal and his plan to marry Cindy. Stupidly, Wan calls Hong, confronting him with this knowledge. He rushes to [Malaysia] to get the note away from her. In another act of stupidity, Wun follows Hong into the woods, threatening to turn him in to the police, and Hong strangles her to death.

Kin hears the news and rushes off to Malaysia to investigate. He enlists the help of Wah and eventually finds the note, as well as a small boy who witnessed the murder and identifies Hong as the killer. Wah also finds out why Kin didn't marry her back then.

Kin goes back to Hong Kong and sues Hong for the murders of Wun and Kar Mun. Cindy is horrified and upon close observation, she recognizes Hong's true face. Since there is a law that an English-illiterate witness cannot confirm an English statement, the evidence of the boy's testimony cannot be used to convict Hong of Wun's murder. However, he is found guilty of Kar Mun's murder. Due to lack of evidence he cannot be extradited back to Malaysia, but if he ever sets foot in Malaysia again, he will be executed.

Kin beats up Hong in front of the court. Cindy requests a divorce from Hong, which is supported by her father, even though she finds herself pregnant. Hong desperately tries to get Cindy back, but she is not Chiu Kar Mun, and remains determined and strong-willed. Hong loses his position in the Fungs' company, and sets up his own with a friend. It doesn't go well, as he tries to use Kin's steam-bowl empire to help his own company, but ends up being cut out of the deal by Kin's friends.

Cindy is very depressed and resorts to drinking. Hong uses her alcoholism to threaten to challenge her for custody of their son and blackmails her for millions of dollars. Just when Cindy aims to quit drinking, she dies from a heart-attack. As they are not properly divorced yet, Hong gets all her money.

Hong runs into business troubles, and resorts to kidnapping his own child for ransom. But Bong uses permanent ink to mark the money, and Hong's accomplice is caught. Hong escapes and tries to leave Hong Kong illegally by boat to Thailand, but he still needs money for the passage. He also realizes that he truly cares for his son, who is all that he has left in the world.

One night, Hong attempts to get the money off his siblings. Attempting to escape, he and Kin fight at an elevator shaft. Hong falls and breaks his arm and leg. He is jailed.

Return of the Jealous Cousin

Wah eventually returns to Hong Kong to pick up her parents, and meanwhile, tries to get Kin back. She sees Gwun as a third wheel and Kin as hers, but Kin asserts that he only loves Gwun. Wah leaves for Malaysia with her parents, but the plane crashes and she is the sole survivor, paralyzed from the waist down.

Wah uses her disability to cling to Kin. Kin feels guilty and tries to satisfy all her demands, giving Wah new hope that they can be together. Wah becomes increasingly possessive of Kin and hostile towards Gwun, who just wants to help. Kin does nothing to reassure her, and Gwun finally calls him on it, throwing their wedding invitations in his face.

Kin finally confronts Wah about his feelings. He confidently says that he only loves Gwun, and will only marry her. Wah gives him her blessing, and attends the wedding. But that night, she gets depressed and commits suicide.

Revenge of the Evil Brother

Kin helps out Kwun in the company. After letting go of his hatred, he even helped out Fung Sai Bong, causing reconciliation between the Ngai and Fung families. Kwun is very happy. Years later, Kwun dies, and leaves everything to Kin and Gwun. The couple have a son, and a happy marriage.

While driving in his car, Kin spots Hong begging on the streets. He discovers that Hong has been secretly visiting his own son, and pities him. He gives him a lowly job at one of his restaurants, and otherwise ignores him, as Gwun still really hates him for killing Kit.

Hong is enraged that Kin enjoys a happy family, a fancy car, a big mansion and is featured on the cover of all the influential magazines. Plotting revenge, he poisons Kin's family while he is out for dinner at the restaurant where he works, framing it on a mentally-unstable colleague. His plan is to murder them all, so that the family fortune would pass to the next blood-relative, which would be him.

Kin and Gwun both survive, but their young son doesn't make it. Kin finds electronic bugs in his study and after talking to his lawyer, deduces that it was Hong behind the poisoning. He is deeply conflicted.

The Last Betrayal

Kin offers Hong an office position, much to the dislike of his partners, and they slowly plot against him, not knowing that this is all a ploy to trap Hong into thinking that he has Kin's absolute trust. Gwun is enraged because she doesn't know what is going on, but finds solace in volunteering for the church. Meanwhile, Hong bonds with his son,Keung, and plans to challenge Bong for custody. He is happy when the kid calls him "Father."

Kin and Hong head for a business meeting in Australia, but Kin deliberately traps Hong in an elevator, causing him to miss a direct flight. He has to settle for a non-direct flight - which stops over in Malaysia. Kin forces a scared Hong onto the plane, and after landing, Kin confronts Hong and Hong is arrested.

Hong repents in prison and begs Kin to bring his son to see him one last time before his execution. Michael has been diagnosed with terminal gastric cancer, and is suffering greatly. Kin has a talk with a broken Bong about karma, and Bong lets Kin take Hong's son to see Hong.

Hong cries desperately upon seeing his son, who doesn't understand what is going on. Hong begs Kin to save him, but Kin tells him that it is time he stopped protecting him, and let him walk alone. Hong is disappointed but doesn't seem to have much hatred left. He is led to the gallows - just like his mother.

The Mysterious Ending

Gwun separates from Kin upon finding out that he did not consult her on such a serious matter. She wants a divorce, but Kin doesn't. She leaves for Ethiopia to do volunteer work. Kin says he will wait for her at the church where they got married, ten years later, on their shared birthday.

The TV producers approach Kin again to do a ten-year reunion of the old show. Mr. Yeung has been bankrupted since but is a much more sensitive and caring person now, and Kin cries on air, begging Gwun to return.

The story finally comes out of the flashback, returning to the first scene where Kin is sitting by the telephone. Gwun calls him and tells him that she is coming home. But that day, both he and Mr. Yeung have a car crash. Ethiopia also has a serious earthquake and related landslides, killing hundreds. They have lost contact with Gwun. Mr. Yeung dies, but Kin survives. He still clings into the hope that Gwun is alive and will return to him.

Ten years later, there is still no news of Gwun. But Kin still hopes and is ecstatic when the tenth birthday comes and he gets ready to go down to the church. Man and his girlfriend are married, and after so many years of waiting, Kin's best friend finally gets a nod to his marriage proposal from Ling, with the help of her son who sees him as a father.

Kin happily waits in the church, getting more anxious as the clock ticks closer to midnight and his hope slowly dies. He waits past midnight, and eventually falls asleep on a pew.

A lady in red appears at the door. She approaches the sleeping Kin, touching his face lovingly. Her tears drop onto his face, and she leaves. Kin wakes up and finds a note saying Gwun has died. But he refuses to believe it and calls out for her to come back.