Scent of love

* Title: 戀香 / Lian Xiang
* Korean title: 사랑의 향기 / Sarang-ui Hyanggi
* English title: Scent of Love
* Genre: Romance
* Episodes: 20
* Broadcast network: TTV
* Broadcast period: 2003
* Opening theme song: Yuan Lai Ai by Ben Bai
* Ending theme song: Deng Dao Tian Qing Li Kai Ni by Van Fan

Since childhood, Cheng Tian has a recurring dream about a Japanese soldier who was in love with a Korean woman. However, their love was shunned by the society. Unable to be with her, he left to die in the war. Maybe it was because he couldn't fulfill the promise to love and cherish her always, he promised that he would find her again in their next life and give her unconditional happiness. The scent of her favorite Ballon Flower will lead him back to her.

In addition to recurring dreams, Cheng Tian has another unique ability. He has a doggy nose. His sense of smell is so sharp that it sometimes goes into overdrive. And, it always happens whenever Xiang Zi is around.

Xiang Zi is a beautiful, career-oriented woman and a hardcore alcoholic as well. She drinks when she is happy. She drinks when she is depressed. But despite her fierce dedication to alcohol, she has a younger guy falling head over heels for her. Cheng Tian is that unrelenting, naive idiot whose madly in love with Xiang Zi. He will do anything just to make her happy.
* Eddie Peng as Sakura Ryohei (佐倉良平) / Jin Cheng Tian (金承天)
* Chu Ja Hyun as Jeon Ho Yeon (전호연) / Yin Xiang Zhi (尹香之)
* Ben Bai as Sawada Daisuke (澤田大介) / Song Xin (宋新)
* Oh Se Gyu as Lee Seon Jik (이선직) / Po Cheng Jun (朴成俊)
* Damian Lau as Jin Zhi Zhong (金智中)
* Shen Shi Hua as Shen Qiao Ying (申巧英)
* Li Xin as Li Min (李敏)
* Xu Wei Lun as Wang Yi En (王以恩)
* Myung Sun Mi as Xu Mei Zhen (許美貞)
* Li Xi Zhen as Cui Qing You (催慶友)
* Thomas Gao Wei as Yin Jian Zhi (尹建之)
* Bae Mi Ja as Shen Shu Ying (申淑英)




COMPLETE STORY

An ancient legend has something about being husband and wife for 7 lifetimes. Modern love also speaks of loving till the next lifetime. Who said anything about 'love at first sight'? Isn't it the unfinished love from the past life? Otherwise, why would it be her and not another her?

This is a love story about love that wasn't able to unite in the past life and is destined to continue in the present life. A tragedy from 60 years ago, would it pull along a couple that has the destiny but no fate to be together, to head toward an ending with no outcome? Would destiny change because of mankind’s stubbornness?

Owing to the unbreakable love/hate relationship from their past and present lives, the love triangle of three people - Jin Cheng Tian, Po Cheng Jun and Yin Xiang Zhi - becomes even more entangled.

The unforgettable relationship that Jin Zhi Zhong and his old lover, Shen Qiao Ying, had led to their reunion and also contradictions and doubts. It also challenges the courage and the family relationships that they both have to face.

Love can surpass time, pass through eternity, and can only exists between two lovers as a secret fragrance that they breathe in this transmits on a message that speaks of loving each other forever.

Regardless of whether you believe it or not, that is how love exists, romantically and fragrantly, within the deepest part of each person…

1994, Seoul…

Cheng Tian was just 18 years old when he moved to Seoul with his family. Since childhood, he possessed a keen sense of smell and frequently experienced strange fragrance-filled dreams. His grandfather nicknamed him Gou Gou (Puppy) because of this reason. His best friend, Song Xin arrived in Seoul to start his first year of university. Because he was a transfer student, Song Xin is university arranged for a senior to guide him in Seoul. With nothing to do, Cheng Tian went along with Song Xin to meet the senior. Song Xin was pleasantly surprised that his senior was Qing You, a beautiful Korean girl who also brought along her two best friends, Xiang Zhi and Mei Zhen to discuss about the drama club they joined. Cheng Tian, on the other hand, got off to a bad start with Xiang Zhi and was overwhelmed by the scent from her body.

While waiting for Li Min to finish shopping, Zhi Zhong went out to smoke and he caught a glimpse of Qiao Ying on the streets. He tried to chase after her, but Qiao Ying ignored his calls as Jian Zhi was by her side.

Song Xin was smitten with Qing You and to get close to her, he dragged Cheng Tian along to audition for the drama club. There, they met Xiang Zhi is senior, Po Cheng Jun, who was working as an assistant director. Cheng Jun disliked them because he viewed them as rude and ill-mannered, but the director insisted on hiring them as his film is actors, so Xiang Zhi coaxed Cheng Tian to join them. Xiang Zhi actually had a crush on Cheng Jun and was delighted when Cheng Jun asked her out on a date. Since their encounter Cheng Tian kept dreaming about Xiang Zhi, but he didn't know those were actually flashbacks of their previous life. Though he didn't understand why, he was sure that he loved Xiang Zhi.

Sixty years ago, during the Japanese occupation era, Zuo Cang (Cheng Tianis previous life) met Hao Yan (Xiang Zhiis previous life) and it was love at first sight. Their love met obstacles because Zuo Cang was a Japanese army pilot while Hao Yan was a Korean girl betrothed to Shan Zhi (Cheng Jun's previous life). Before heading to war, Zuo Cang promised Hao Yan that he come back to marry her. Zuo Cang is comrade Ze Tian (Song Xin is previous life) delivered Zuo Cang's will encoded in a dictionary to Hao Yan. She in return asked Ze Tian to pass her embroidered fragrance bag and tell Zuo Cang that she would always be with him, even in death. Hao Yan planned to run away after all news of Zuo Cang was lost in the war as her family forced her to marry Shan Zhi. To her shock, Shan Zhi died from depression after she told him that she was carrying Zuo Cang is child. In his dying breath, Shan Zhi told his family to marry him to Hao Yan after his death. To prevent her from escaping again, Hao Yan is brother locked her away. Depressed and suffering hallucinations of Shan Zhi, Hao Yan committed suicide by hanging herself. At the frontier, Zuo Cang was summoned to the forefront of a very difficult mission. Unfortunately he was defeated in his mission and as Zuo Cang plunged in the vast ocean, he held Hao Yans fragrance bag and vowed that the be together in their next lives. Zuo Cang, Hao Yan and Shan Zhi all came to tragic ends.

During filming, Cheng Tian tried his best to pursuit Xiang Zhi. On various times Xiang Zhi was moved, but hesitated to accept him because of Cheng Jun and the senior/junior relationship stigma. While helping Xiang Zhi to search for antique tableware, his car almost knocked down an old man who fainted in shock at the sight of him. The old man was in fact Hao Yan’s brother and he was convinced Cheng Tian was the reincarnation of Zuo Cang. He asked his son to tell Cheng Tian about Zuo Cang and Hao Yan’s story, but Cheng Tian didn’t believe their story. Using his sense of smell, Cheng Tian and Xiang Zhi rescued a boy from kidnappers and Cheng Tian got to spend two days alone with Xiang Zhi. During that time, they got closer and Xiang Zhi suggested that he be an aromatherapist because of his ‘talent’. Cheng Tian then promised her the first perfume he made would be the fragrance on her body.

Knowing that Qing You was into art, Song Xin asked Cheng Tian for information about aboriginal art and he succeeded in gaining her interest. During a visit to the local temple, Song Xin kissed Qing You and this was witnessed by Mei Zhen, who was praying for Cheng Tian. This encouraged Mei Zhen to approach Cheng Tian and give him an amulet as a declaration of love. Cheng Tian gently rejected Mei Zhen, as he only loved Xiang Zhi. Mei Zhen felt sad, but nevertheless persuaded Xiang Zhi accept Cheng Tian.

Wang Yi En has just arrived from Australia to visit Cheng Tian and to celebrate his 19th birthday. Since childhood Yi En’s dream was to become Cheng Tian’s wife, but Cheng Tian only regarded her as a pesky little sister. On the night of his 19th birthday, Cheng Tian bravely declared his affection to Xiang Zhi, but was cruelly rejected by her in front of everybody. Worried about Cheng Tian, Xiang Zhi found him sitting alone in the woods. Cheng Tian gave Xiang Zhi a red Kikyo he painted (red Kikyo doesn’t exist in this world) and told her that if one sacrificed enough, they could transform anything, including Kikyo and love into any color they wished. Xiang Zhi was touched and allowed Cheng Tian to kiss her. However, Cheng Jun emerged and she rejected Cheng Tian. Frustrated, Cheng Tian spent the night in the woods painting a red Kikyo flower on a big rock. The next morning, as Mei Zhen and Xiang Zhi left for Seoul, their bus passed by the stone Cheng Tian painted and Mei Zhen took a photograph of it. Mei Zhen asked Xiang Zhi to re-consider Cheng Tian, but Xiang Zhi appeared nonchalant. Knowing Cheng Tian was unhappy, Song Xin brought him out along with Qing You to cheer him up. Coincidently Xiang Zhi and Mei Zhen also went to the same skating rink where she admitted to Mei Zhen that she had fallen for Cheng Tian, but chose Cheng Jun because he was an ‘appropriate’ choice. Embarrassed, yet wanting to approach Xiang Zhi, Cheng Tian donned a chicken costume and skated along with her. Cheng Tian gave Xiang Zhi a peck (pun intended) in his costume and before he left, Xiang Zhi figured out who he was and called out his name. Cheng Tian looked back and disappeared to cry at the stairs. He wanted to be a prince who could protect the princess, but he had to become an unidentified animal just to get close to her.

Cheng Jun met Yi En at the cinema and was attracted to her prettiness. Cheng Jun denied that Xiang Zhi was his girlfriend in front of Cheng Tian and Yi En and this disheartened Xiang Zhi. Hearing that Xiang Zhi was drunk the night before, an idea came to Cheng Tian’s mind and he asked his father to drive him to visit Xiang Zhi. He was heartbroken to find out Xiang Zhi had spent the night with Cheng Jun and fled away. Song Xin's brother fell into a coma and his father ordered him to return to Taipei. Cheng Tian's mother and grandfather wanted him to return to Taipei to study, so Cheng Tian took a last chance and asked Xiang Zhi out on a date to the theme park. Cheng Jun overheard this and intentionally asked Xiang Zhi to go out on the same day. Cheng Tian waited all day at the theme park, buying a toy each time he played a round of game until the theme park closed. Xiang Zhi was worried that Cheng Tian would wait all day for her so in last minute she dashed to the theme park, but Cheng Tian had already left in disappointment. Xiang Zhi spotted the toys Cheng Tian had hung on a tree and a message to her: “Xiang Zhi, we will meet again. Amen.”

Six years later, Taipei…

Cheng Tian had moved out and now lived with Song Xin. After his studies, he became an aromatherapist and a part-time singer at a pub. He never forgot Xiang Zhi and had spent the past six years dedicated to create a perfume of Xiang Zhi’s fragrance. While Xiang Zhi was away from Seoul to film a documentary, Cheng Jun had an affair with Mei Zhen and they agreed never to let Xiang Zhi discover this. Xiang Zhi found strands of long hair in her comb and signs of someone using her skincare, but Cheng Jun quickly diverted the topic by proposing marriage. Xiang Zhi was reluctant to marry him as she had no confidence in him. She requested for a postponement until she finished another documentary of Taipei. She asked Qing You not to mention to Cheng Tian that she was going to Taipei soon. Cheng Tian and Song Xin, while performing at Qiao Ying’s pub called Memories, were discovered by a radio producer Brother Wang, who invited them to be part-time deejays in his new radio show.

Cheng Tian, Song Xin and Qing You bumped into Jian Zhi at the art gallery. Cheng Tian was upset to discover Xiang Zhi was engaged to Cheng Jun. The radio show was a success and Cheng Tian and Song Xin almost became famous overnight.

Song Xin’s father objected his relationship with Qing You and blamed her for influencing Song Xin to ‘rebel’ from working at his company. Qing You told Song Xin that he was her everything and she could not bear to lose him. Song Xin pledged to Qing You that he would never abandon her. The next day, because Song Xin had a fever and a toothache, Cheng Tian sent him to see Yi En, who worked as a dentist. Yi En pestered Song Xin for his phone number.

Zhi Zhong, upon discovering Qiao Ying was the owner of Memories, frequently went there in hopes of meeting Qiao Ying. Yi En asked Song Xin out for a drink and while he went to the washroom, she answered Qing You’s call and nastily told Qing You that Song Xin didn’t want to answer her call because she was a nuisance. Qing You was upset and complained to Xiang Zhi that she was regretting her decision to abandon her family and career to be with Song Xin. She was doubtful of their future as his family disliked her and everyday she could only spent her time waiting for Song Xin. Song Xin forced Cheng Tian to ask Yi En out to explain the truth to Qing You. Before arriving at Memories, Song Xin asked Xiang Zhi to tell Cheng Tian to give up on her. He felt that Cheng Tian had suffered enough because of her. Therefore, Xiang Zhi deliberately challenged Cheng Tian to go along with her to collect the wedding ring for her impending marriage.

One day, Xiang Zhi got drunk and Cheng Tian let her rest overnight at his place. Xiang Zhi was touched when she saw Cheng Tianis effort to create a perfume of hers. Not wanting to hurt him further, Xiang wrote on his notebook advising him to set himself free from his fixation on her. Cheng Tianis only reply to Xiang Zhi was his heart was a cage forever open to her. While reflecting Cheng Tianis words, Xiang Zhi had a sudden impulse and went back to look for Cheng Tian, but hesitated at the doorsteps. The next morning Cheng Tian was surprised to see Xiang Zhi drunk and asleep at his doorstep. Xiang Zhi told him that she decided to return to Seoul the same day and came to say goodbye to an old friend. Cheng Tian asked Xiang Zhi for a final embrace so that he did always remember her scent. After Xiang Zhi left for the airport, Cheng Tian found the doll she accidentally left behind and realized it was the same doll he had left six years ago at the theme park. Cheng Tian hurried to the airport and thanked Xiang Zhi for responding to his feelings. All these years he thought his feelings were one-sided. Xiang Zhi admitted this, but told Cheng Tian regrettably that they had missed their timing. Cheng Tian and Xiang Zhi hesitatingly parted as friends.

Back in Seoul, Xiang Zhi caught Cheng Jun and Mei Zhen together and left Cheng Jun. Cheng Jun begged for Xiang Zhiis forgiveness, but she rejected him as she realized she never really loved him. She explained to him that her lack of courage in taking risks both in career and relationships caused her to be unsatisfied in her job and Cheng Jun gradually became an outlet for her lonesomeness. She tried to love him, but there was another person in her heart: Cheng Tian.

Cheng Tian discovered a new innovation to improve the perfume and this time it was 90% similar to Xiang Zhiis scent. Feeling excited, Cheng Tian swiftly called Xiang Zhi to inform her of his progress. Xiang Zhi was happy for him and asked him to keep in contact. Xiang Zhi’s aunt, Qiao Ying, slipped out that Xiang Zhi had broken her engagement to Cheng Jun and the ecstatic Cheng Tian booked the next available flight to Seoul to visit Xiang Zhi. Unfortunately, because Xiang Zhi's mother suffered a stroke, Xiang Zhi was absent from home and Cheng Jun took this opportunity to deceive Cheng Tian that Xiang Zhi was pregnant with his child…

One year later, Taipei…

As usual, Song Xin was too busy at work and dispatched Cheng Tian to accompany Qing You. Since his return from Seoul last year, Cheng Tian had abruptly ended all his jobs and stopped making perfume. Song Xin and Qing You felt concerned but any mention of Xiang Zhi would provoke Cheng Tian's temper, so they kept quiet. He was now a rising VJ at a Korean related television show, with Brother Wang as his manager.

Yi En accidentally bumped into Song Xin and smeared her lipstick on his collar. Qing You became suspicious and questioned Song Xin about it, but he feigned ignorance because he didn’t want Qing You to get the wrong idea. Cheng Tian was shocked speechless as Cheng Jun told him during an interview that he was still single (but he also conveniently ‘forgot’ to confess his lies a year ago).

Li Min hired some gangsters to wreak havoc at Memories. Zhi Zhong's frequent visits to Memories further provoked Li Min’s fury and this time, Jian Zhi was seriously injured and needed blood transfusion from Zhi Zhong because they both share the same rare blood type. Zhi Zhong became suspicious of Jian Zhi’s real identity, but Qiao Ying refused to admit, pleading with him not to mention it in front of Jian Zhi. Cheng Tian sensed Xiang Zhi’s scent at the hospital and decided to pay Jian Zhi a visit. He overheard Qiao Ying and Xiang Zhi's conversation about Jian Zhi and was upset to know his father had an affair with another woman and Jian Zhi was their illegitimate offspring.

Qing You was always lonely so she invited Xiang Zhi to stay with her in Taipei. Unknown to other, Xiang Zhi had been jobless since a few months ago, resulting in alcoholic problems. Xiang Zhi was sad and puzzled why Cheng Tian was so hostile to her to the extent of refusing to look her in the eye. Qing You asked Cheng Tian to help Xiang Zhi to look for a job since he worked in the entertainment circle. Cheng Tian appeared nonchalant but in private asked Brother Wang for help, reluctantly agreed to host a pet show in exchange (Cheng Tian previously rejected the show because he was sensitive to the smell of animals). Brother Wang offered Xiang Zhi a filming project regarding hypnosis, but Xiang Zhi was reluctant to accept it. It turned out that Xiang Zhi left her previous company over a disagreement while filming the same topic. Xiang Zhi was skeptical regarding hypnosis so Brother Wang arranged an appointment for her to experience for herself. Slowly, Xiang Zhi began to know what happened to her past life through a series of sessions on hypnosis…

After a confrontation with Xiang Zhi, Cheng Tian finally realized he had been fooled by Cheng Jun for a year. This gave him renewed hope in pursuing Xiang Zhi again, but Xiang Zhi was miserable because of her career and drowned away her sorrows with alcohol. Cheng Tian and Qing You tried to help Xiang Zhi back into the right path by getting her sober. Yi En couldn’t restrain her jealousy and trashed Cheng Tian's perfume lab, injuring Xiang Zhi who tried to protect Cheng Tian’s perfumes. Xiang Zhi’s tears dropped onto the perfume and Cheng Tian realized that was the final ingredient to complete ‘Scent of Love’.

Because of Cheng Tian's constant rejection, Yi En vented her frustration by pestering Song Xin to accompany her, creating a rift between Song Xin and Qing You. Cheng Tian, who considered Qing You as his sister, warned Song Xin to stay away from Yi En and instead pay more attention to Qing You’s needs. Song Xin decided take Qing You abroad to get married as her birthday surprise. On the night of the perfume launch, Cheng Tian declared his love for Xiang Zhi in front of the media and they officially became a couple. Xiang Zhi promised Cheng Tian to reduce her drinking habit and they spent a romantic night together.

On the other hand, Song Xin went back to his office to retrieve the flight tickets and proposal ring. He bumped into the tearful Yi En, who just saw Cheng Tian and Xiang Zhi kissing on national television. While they were both drunk, Yi En seduced Song Xin and they had a one night stand. Qing You, worried for Song Xin, traced his call back to the motel and went there to look for him, discovering their affair. In shock and sadness, she tried contacting Cheng Tian and Xiang Zhi, to no avail. With nowhere to go, Qing You left her final message to Cheng Tian on voicemail before jumping into the sea. Song Xin arrived too late only to discover Qing You’s slipper on the dock…

Cheng Tian, Xiang Zhi and Song Xin were devastated by Qing You’s suicide. Over-ridden by guilt and sorrow, Song Xin resigned and decided to launch exhibitions of Qing You’s ceramic works. Yi En learned her lesson and decided to give up Cheng Tian for good by returning to Australia. Qing You’s incident reminded Xiang Zhi of her painful past with Cheng Jun and Mei Zhen, increasing her lack of confidence in men. She continued to reject Mei Zhen's pleas for forgiveness. Cheng Jun came to Taipei in hopes of pursuing Xiang Zhi in her moment of sadness, much to the jealousy of Cheng Tian. However, Cheng Tian understood that Cheng Jun could help Xiang Zhi look for directing jobs in Seoul, so he reluctantly let Xiang Zhi meet him. Afraid that Xiang Zhi would leave Taipei, Cheng Tian proposed to her but Xiang Zhi was hesitant, because of Li Min’s objection and more importantly her own awareness of their past fate.

Zhi Zhong went to Seoul and discovered Zuo Cang and Hao Yan’s tragic tale. He was warned that they would perish for love because of the influence from their past lives. Upon hearing of Cheng Tian's plan to marry Xiang Zhi, Zhi Zhong tried to discourage him, but Cheng Tian refused to listen. Fearing that tragedy would befall Cheng Tian, Zhi Zhong begged Xiang Zhi to leave Cheng Tian. Xiang Zhi agrees and left Cheng Tian without a word…

Another year later…

Cheng Tian was still dejected by Xiang Zhi is abrupt decision to leave him. While filming a show, he saved Jian Zhi from falling into a cliff and fractured his limbs. Jian Zhi, feeling guilty for his frosty attitude towards Cheng Tian, visited him at the hospital. Coincidentally, Li Min and Zhi Zhong were there. Jian Zhi was disappointed by Zhi Zhongis denial toward him in front of Li Min. Song Xin returned from his travels and learned that Xiang Zhi left Cheng Tian a year ago. At the same time, Xiang Zhi and Cheng Jun came to Taipei to film a movie. Cheng Tian saw their news on the television and thought Xiang Zhi left him to be with Cheng Jun. The truth was Xiang Zhi never forgot Cheng Tian and Cheng Jun was just her colleague. Her addiction to alcohol had worsened and it begun to affect her liver and nerve system.

Yi En suddenly came back from Australia with a baby. The baby was the result of Song Xin and Yi En’s affair. Not wanting to be burdened with motherhood, Yi En decided to give the baby to Song Xin. Song Xin disliked the baby and asked Cheng Tian to take care for him. On pretext of Qing You’s death anniversary, Song Xin arranged Cheng Tian to meet Xiang Zhi at the art gallery. True enough, Cheng Tian bumped into Xiang Zhi at the entrance. Xiang Zhi told Cheng Tian she left him because she couldn’t love him anymore. Cheng Tian bitterly asked why she was still wearing the necklace he gave her when he proposed. Xiang Zhi's illness struck and Cheng Tian helplessly looked on as Cheng Jun carried the unconscious Xiang Zhi away. Xiang Zhi was warded at the same hospital Cheng Tian was staying in, just below Cheng Tian’s room. However, Xiang Zhi left early and Cheng Tian never saw her again…

Yet another year…

While helping his father to move, Cheng Tian found Zuo Cang and Hao YanIs photograph in Zuo CangIs dictionary. Inside contained a letter Xiang Zhi sent to his father after she returned to Seoul, assuring him she’d never meet Cheng Tian again. Cheng Tian confronted his father and knew the truth why Xiang Zhi left him. He told his father that one would eventually die, sooner or later. If it means death to love Xiang Zhi, then he was willing to do so. Cheng Tian tried to contact Xiang Zhi but it seems she had disappeared from the face of earth. Song Xin suggested to him to contact Cheng Jun. Upon meeting Cheng Jun, Cheng Tian received the bad news…