Ling (Li Tziang), a young woman forced to work as a nightclub hostess to support her ailing parents and young siblings, hides the truth about her job from her family. She meets a sailor (Ping Fan) at the club, and the two quickly fall in love. However, just as he is about to propose, a drunken night causes him to miss their appointment, shattering their plans. Heartbroken, Ling faces another tragedy when her mother falls critically ill. Despite her efforts to raise money for treatment, her mother passes away. Her father, now aware of her real occupation, is ashamed yet sorrowful, unable to change Ling’s situation as the family remains burdened by debt and dependent on her income.
