Character Relationship Map: Darkness and Light

Characters

• Kang-yi (played by Lee Kang-i) — protagonist

  Kang-yi is the story’s central young woman, whose distance from family life after returning from Singapore gives way to a romance with a lively young man she recognizes from the neighborhood. She show...

• Ah Ji (played by Kao Meng-Chieh) — supporting

  Ah Ji is Kang-yi’s younger brother, who tries to draw her into the family’s everyday life when she seems distant. He notices her growing affection for the young man and loudly reveals her feelings. La...

• Kang-yi's Father (played by Tsai Ming-shiou) — supporting

  Kang-yi’s Father is a strict, sometimes drinking, blind member of the household. He warns Kang-yi to be careful, yet also urges those around him to treat the children gently and says he understands wh...

• Kang-yi's Mother (played by Yue-hsia Hsieh) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Kang-yi's Mother → Kang-yi (mother)
• Kang-yi's Father → Kang-yi (father)
• Ah Ji → Kang-yi's Father (Family Father And Son) — Ah Ji's joyful welcome emphasizes the family's reunion after the father's serious illness.

  Ah Ji joyfully welcomes Kang-yi's Father home in the closing moments.

• Ah Ji → Kang-yi (Family Younger Brother) — Ah Ji notices Kang-yi's feelings for the young man and later calls him to say that Kang-yi is crying and ask when he will return.

  The plot explicitly describes Ah Ji as Kang-yi's younger brother and shows him trying to draw her into family life.

Story Analysis

Kang-yi's changing affections unfold alongside family tensions, illness, and a reunion that restores the household's closeness.

Plot Progression

1. A Distant Return — Kang-yi returns from Singapore withdrawn, while Ah Ji tries to draw her back into family routines. The household's teasing reveals the strain of her distance.
2. Affection and Jealousy — A young man arrives and Kang-yi begins spending time with him around Keelung. Ah Ji exposes her feelings, and an old school friend's jealousy leads to a public confrontation.
3. Trouble at Home — The young man's connection to local gang disputes adds tension as the family continues its daily routines and faces financial worries. Kang-yi's Father warns her to be careful.
4. A Painful Vigil — Kang-yi's Father becomes critically ill, and a doctor warns that his condition is dangerous. The family prepares his belongings as relatives and friends gather for prayers.
5. The Family Reunited — Ah Ji calls the young man and tells him that Kang-yi is crying. In the closing scenes, Kang-yi's Father returns home and the household welcomes him back.