Mr. and Mrs. Su, an aging couple in post-Maoist Beijing, live in an apartment with their 28-year-old disabled daughter, Beibei, who they've kept hidden her entire life. Their son, Jian, hardly ever visits, but they believe he might once Beibei dies. Mrs. Fong, an acquaintance of theirs, calls to ask if Mr. Su is with Mr. Fong, because she's certain Mr. Fong is having an affair. Mrs. Su lies and tells her Mr. Su is out with Mr. Fong. Though the two men are friends, Mr. Fong knows nothing of Beibei. As the Sus go about their days, they each reflect on their marriage. They are first cousins, and their families did not approve of their union. When Beibei was born and the doctors recommended that they give her up, Mr. and Mrs. Su moved and hid Beibei away. Mrs. Su remembers this period as the perfect life she'd dreamed of, while her husband recalls that hiding Beibei felt shameful. After Beibei turned ten, Mr. Su suggested they have another child, but after Jian was born, they lost their passion and connection with one another, which they both mourn for. On his way home, Mr. Su sees Mr. Fong sitting dejectedly on a curb, and finds out he has told his wife of the affair. Meanwhile, Mrs. Su gives Beibei extra sleeping pills because she appears to be in pain, and Mrs. Fong tells Mrs. Su that her husband has confessed and wants his mistress to move in. Mr. Su arrives during the conversation, supporting a drunk Mr. Fong—the first outsider who has ever been in their apartment. As Mrs. Su tries to get off the phone with Mrs. Fong, Mr. Su sees that Beibei has died and gets Mrs. Su. While they sit beside Beibei's bed, Mr. Su's touch feels like it is "the same one from a life ago."