Zhengda (Zhou Yemang) is the eldest brother of the powerful Pang family. He is married to Xiuyi (Saifei He), smokes opium on a daily basis and orders Xiuyi's young brother, Zhongliang (Leslie Cheung), to live with them as a house servant. After Zhongliang disappears, Zhengda's health declines, and his younger sister, Ruyi (Gong Li), assumes control of the family. Zhongliang, who is now a Shanghai gigolo affiliated with criminals, is forced to reconnect with Ruyi under mysterious circumstances.