Fang Daming (Mu Li) is a lonely, unemployed man contemplating suicide after his girlfriend leaves him. He learns that his young autistic cousin Xiaoming (Wenbo Xu) has been orphaned. A couple has agreed to adopt him, but they won't be available for another month, and Daming is Xiaoming's only living relative who's around to take care of him in the meantime. Over the course of the month, Daming gets to know Xiaoming and helps him out in school, but Daming's inability to get over his ex-girlfriend gets between the two of them.
Ming and Ming contains examples of:
- Eyes Always Averted: Xiaoming rarely looks people in the face, causing Daming to complain about his lack of manners when they first meet.
- Flipping the Table: When Daming tells Xiaoming that his foster parents will be picking him up soon, Xiaoming flips the desk he's using to do homework.
- Idiot Savant: Xiaoming can multiply and divide large numbers in a few seconds.
- Punch a Wall: Early in the movie, Daming arrives at his apartment to find that he's been evicted. He angrily hits the door.
- The Quiet One: Xiaoming dislikes talking so much that he's exempted from answering questions in class.Daming: In the last week I've heard you utter ten sentences, and nine of them were to yourself.
- Special Thanks: A long list of names, all of which are in Chinese except for "Jose" and "Robert."
- Symbolically Broken Object: Xiaoming accidentally breaks the glass covering a picture of Daming's ex, to his dismay. Later in the movie, Daming realizes the relationship is over and throws the picture in the trash.
- Tragic Keepsake: Xiaoming's mother gave him a swan necklace which he wears everywhere. He becomes upset when Daming tries to touch it.
- Your Favorite: To celebrate Xiaoming's first taekwondo class, Daming serves all his favorite foods for dinner, including shrimp and rice.
