Portrayed by Axity Yik-Ling Chong

Shum Ying is a complex and emotionally demanding role spanning over two decades, from a hopeful 16-year-old student to a devoted single mother in her 40s. Born into hardship after her father abandoned the family due to gambling debts, Ying grows up hating gambling. She is a passionate piano player and dreams of studying at a performing arts academy. At 16, she meets her first love, Szeto Kau. By 19 they marry, but at 20, anger over Szeto Kau taking over a mahjong parlor leads to their divorce, leaving her pregnant and determined to protect her daughter from repeating her family’s fate.

She immigrates to the United States, gives birth to her daughter Ka-Ming, and raises her alone, working tirelessly while navigating the quiet struggles of single motherhood. Years of sacrifice shape her into a strong yet tender woman. Her story tragically ends at 40 when she is diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer.

This role demands contained, internalized acting, with subtle shifts in voice, evolving body language, and restrained emotional expression across different ages. Even in her most heartbreaking moments, Ying’s tears remain in her eyes and never spill freely, creating a deeply moving performance. The actress must convincingly portray physical and emotional aging from teenager to mother, including learning piano to reflect Ying’s lifelong passion.

Shum Ying is a rare opportunity for an actress to portray a fully human, nuanced character whose life journey, including love, heartbreak, endurance, and mortality, requires maturity, subtlety, and extraordinary emotional truth.