So Young (film)  So Young () is a 2013 Chinese drama film directed by Zhao Wei. It is based on the best-selling novel of the same name "To Our Youth that is Fading Away" by Xin Yiwu. The film is Zhao's directorial debut. The film's English-language title alludes to the song "So Young" by the British alternative rock band Suede from their self-titled debut album. In addition to the novel, the film was also based in part by Zhao's own personal college experience in the 1990s. The film has become a major success at the Chinese box office, grossing over US$118 million with a US$5 million budget. Zheng Wei started her college freshman year as a civil engineer major to be in the same city as her childhood playmate, Lin Jing, whom she determined to marry one day. When Wei visited Jing at his college dormitory however, Jing's roommate told her Jing left for America. Unable to understand why Jing abruptly left without saying goodbye, Wei was left confused and heartbroken. Back in her college dormitory, Wei became close friends with her three roommates, Ruan Guan, the most beautiful and popular girl in the class; Li Weijuan, a practical and realistic girl who comes from a poor town but determined to marry well; and Zhu Xiaobei, a tomboy. The four girls talked about their goals in life, and all cheered to Ruan Guan's ambition—to have a youth that never fades away. Wei was befriended by architecture majors Lao Zhang and his roommate Xu Kaiyang. Kaiyang came from a well-to-do family and started a romantic pursuit for Wei, but Wei only regarded him as a friend. One evening Wei went to Lao Zhang and Kaiyang's dorm room to borrow their DVDs. Wei was amazed and disgusted by the messy condition of the male dorm room, except one bed and corner that is uncannily neat and clean. Lao Zhang explained that this bed belonged to their disciplined and hardworking roommate, Chen Xiaozheng. Laozhang went out of the room to find his DVDs, leaving Wei alone in the room. Wei saw a near-finished building model on the table and curiously started to fumble with the parts. At this moment Xiaozheng came back and angrily yelled out, "What are you doing?" Startled and swinging around to see who yelled, Wei knocked the model off the table. Xiaozheng managed to save his model by shoving Wei out of the way, who fell in a mess on the floor.