Cuifang made a wooden ramp, which helps to get Dr Su into the diner on his wheelchair. Dr Su is pleasantly surprised. He loves the braised pork. The chef tells Dr Su the dish was made by Cuifang, who comes to the diner to learn cooking every day after the diner closes. Dr Su jokes that he thought Cuifang was sneaking out to meet her lover when he heard her leaving the house early every morning. It is Dr Su who is suddenly tongue-tied.
Cuifang and Dr Su have grown closer. Dr Su tolerates Cuifang around him, making him clean and tidy. He still cannot help making a few cynical remarks, but Cuifang just ignores him. Dr Su notices that Cuifang has few nice clothes. He tells her to choose some clothes left by his late wife. Cuifang is pleased to try on the clothes.
Little Kai won a prize at school for a doll he made. He sits on the sofa waiting for his parents to come home. He refuses to let Cuifang touch his doll and argues with his granddad, and then he starts screaming. Cuifang patiently coaxes him to sleep.
Dr Su asks for rice wine to go with his five-spiced calamari. He gives many reasons for having the wine and gets his way. The postman Lu delivers a package from Cuifang’s hometown. Cuifang happily looks at the photos of her son walking. Dr Su pretends to be cynical but is also very happy for her. The chef and customers find that Dr Su has become much more pleasant than before. Cuifang seems to be content.
Late at night, Cheng sees Cuifang and Dr Su come home together. He smells the alcohol on Dr Su and angrily blames Cuifang. Cuifang tries to explain she just wanted Dr Su to be happy. Dr Su has a row with Cheng, who furiously leaves the room. Later, Cuifang finds out Cheng was upset because Dr Su had missed the farewell on the day his wife passed away, as Dr Su was doing a sixteen-hour operation trying to save a young girl’s life. Dr Su went to the diner after the operation and ordered his favourite braised pork instead.
The next morning, Cuifang cannot wake up Dr Su. The family are panicking. Big Ming, Dr Su’s former student, comes to check on him. Cheng angrily blames Cuifang. Dr Su wakes up and tells them he took a sleeping pill the previous night. Everyone is surprised to see Dr Su’s health has improved significantly.
Life goes on day by day. Dr Su continues to create drama from time to time. Cuifang does the washing for him daily. When she notices that Dr Su is upset, she tries to cheer him up. Dr Su makes some cruel jokes about Cuifang and her son. Cuifang is deeply hurt and runs out in tears.
Midnight Diner was broadcast on SBS ONE at Wednesday 7 February 2018, 13:00.