The War of the Roses

The play tells the story of Li Jie, a top law student at a political and legal university, who decided to fight for a research recommendation to continue her studies twenty years ago. With her elegant appearance and naivety, she immersed herself in academics and achieved significant accomplishments, gaining the favor of the most prestigious professor, Zhao Zhenghua. This caused her roommates, Zheng Nan and Wen Shan, who also wanted to secure a spot in Zhao Zhenghua's team, to feel anxious. The two teamed up to falsely accuse Li Jie, resulting in her expulsion from the university on charges of academic fraud. Li Jie’s family refused to listen to her explanations because of their daughter's tarnished reputation. Despondent, Li Jie contemplated ending her life but was saved by a passerby and taken to the hospital, where she was informed that she was pregnant. Due to her weakened state, Li Jie was unable to terminate the pregnancy, and during her time with the new life inside her, she began to reflect on the past. Realizing the darkness and complexities of human nature, she came to the startling conclusion that perhaps the pure little life inside her was her last hope. Thus, she left Lin City, decided to forget the past, and start anew. Li Jie changed her name to Li Yiming and gave birth to a daughter, Li Anle. Twenty years later, Li Anle grew up healthy and happy, graceful, lively, and cheerful. Just when Li Yiming thought everything had returned to normal, Li Anle returned home covered in scars, reliving her mother's experiences from twenty years ago.