When Cui performs her aria from "The Shade of Willow," the whole house is spellbound.

Her portrayal of Zhu Yingtai has been hailed as moving, and her singing, beautiful.

While Liang Shanbo is still in a joyful mood because of their meeting, Zhu Yingtai is in deep sorrow.

She tells him her father has arranged for her to marry the son of a wealthy family.

When Liang is about to leave, Zhu urges him to stay and says she will walk with him for a distance.

And then comes her most heart-wrenching aria, her endless sorrow at being forever parted.