Be Loved in House: I Do

Good but not excellent

When I initially watched this series, I gave it a very generous 9.5 rating. This was when I first got back into watching BL series again, and the last series I watched before my hiatus was during the 2gether and TharnType era where the standards were much lower. I thought that this series was brilliant because it does not succumb to the early BL days toxic plot, it was very refreshing to see two parties who are undeniably attracted to each other without one person looking like they're about to shit themselves just thinking about kissing a dude.

However, the rating for this series went down quite a bit for me when I watched this without my rose-tinted glasses. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good series and quite enjoyable of a watch, but there are major issues that affects my watching experience. Let's get the bad out of the way first:
1. Pacing is not the best. The ending felt rushed and although I do like that they honor past relationships and did not demonize the ex, it just doesn't make sense to make half the final episode about YuZhen and his ex instead of the main couple. The flow between YuZhen hesitating to take the next step with ShiLei and then finally getting over his hesitance and fear is also not very well written in my opinion.

2. The ex's motives are weird - borderline incomprehensible to me. Spoiler: the ex pretended to be the villain to get YuZhen to move on because he felt guilty that he caused YuZhen trauma. This just doesn't make sense to me, especially with the way it was written. This could have been sold to the audience better if they either: change the ex's motives, or change the writing of the interactions between the ex and the main couple.

3. I am not convinced that ShiLei is YuZhen's first choice. This is hugely due to the editing and writing choices made for the last couple of episodes. They started out so well. The actors had amazing chemistry, they did the enemies to lovers trope well, and the progression felt organic. However, everything they built was ruined the moment they wrote ZiTong's character in. This is just something I can't get over after my second watch.

Now let's move on to the things that were executed really well:
1. The actors were absolutely adorable together. They have a very natural chemistry with each other and I absolutely adore that they nailed the dynamics of being enemies, then friends, and then love interests. Hank Wang is a standout in this drama to me - it is an absolute joy watching him on screen.

2. Characters were written well. Even when they were enemies and were technically hostile toward each other, they were never unnecessarily evil or mean which I adore. I also hate incompetence so it is an absolute pleasure to see two people who are very competent at their jobs with each other. No useless uke trope here! Shi Lei is also an assertive character - even though he is YuZhen's employee, he is also someone who will stand up to YuZhen to defend his team and to defend his stance on issues. Hugely adore this.

3. This was basically the perfect amount of romance, pining, and companionship until ZiTong's character was written in. If they eliminated the whole ex storyline, this would have stayed a 9.5 for me.

4. I did enjoy the fact that they respect previous relationships and first loves - I love that they didn't do the whole "I've never loved anyone until I met you" thing, because people can have big love stories before they find their soulmate and it does not negate their feelings for their current partner. I do not like the way this was executed, but I do respect the decision to showcase YuZhen's previous love for ZiTong.

5. Side couples are sweet.

Look, this still ranks high in my books because I am biased and choose to focus on the excellent first half of the series. I would still recommend watching this drama, but please try to turn off your brain in the second half otherwise you'd be as frustrated as I am with the writers.

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Wasted potential

This started great tbh. The premise was nice. The old enemies to friend to lovers trope. The acting was great, ost was great and chemistry between the leads was also great. So why does this has such a low rating. The pacing, story and logic is all over the place. First, this series is so slow, I for one like it better because I watched it late and could watch it all at once but to be one of those people that had to wait for a new episode every week, I would have seriously dropped it. The problem that existed in the first episode became a problem till the last episode. They drag the problem of the main lead for too long. They made them become a couple till the last fucking episode and they thought that they could make up with us with a sex scene lol. I am thirst but not that thirsty to turned a blind eye to ridiculousness. Now the logic with this series or actually main lead makes no fucking sense. So there is rule that there should be no office romance. Stress on the OFFICE pls cause this mf thought that he has the right to ban an romance, doesn't matter if the person they are dating is an employee or not. The lead thinks that he can make them single forever lol logic where? Also the thing that I fucking hated the most was that they did not made the main leads a couple at the end of the episode but they also had the fucking audacity to make Yu Zhen and his ex have more chemistry and couple scenes than Shi lei do in the entire series. This was my breaking point of actually thinking positive about this series. But despite the terrible story and plot pacing. It did manage to make me entertained, laugh and smile at the main leads chemistry. But ehh, another series ruined by terrible pacing. The only reason the rewatch value is high since the main leads chemistry is cute and there were a lot of shirtless scenes and the everyone is attractive.

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It really grew on me

When I first started watching this show I only liked it fine until somewhere around the half-way point when all of a sudden it dawned on me that I'd not only become invested in the characters lives without realising it, I'd also wholly fallen in love with the entire story.
This series has its flaws to be sure, but it also features some incredibly compelling story-telling delivered through beautiful cinematography, solid editing, and fantastic performances by the entire cast.

The set-up may seem contrived at first, but quickly paves the way for some fascinating characterisations; the story at times feels like a character study more than anything else and I personally really enjoyed that aspect of it. The characters are all given a lot more depth than strictly necessary for a light, romantic drama, as well as the agency to sometimes act outside the simplistic bounds of black-and-white morality.
Yu Zhen, for instance, is shown to be clearly aware that his "Single Rule" is not strictly legal, he simply bets on his employees being too invested in the company's continued existence to report his wrong-doings to any authorities.
Similarly, Shi Lei's meddling in the affairs of a client proves to be largely successful, but it is also made clear that his actions are ethically questionable.
And of course there's Yi Zi Tong, whom viewers appear to either despise as an unnecessary addition to the plot for the sake of drama, or appreciate as a necessary instigator of Yu Zhen's character development.
His addition to the story may in fact not have been strictly necessary, but he is a very complex and interesting character. He appears out of nowhere as Yu Zhen's self-styled saviour, presumably out of some lingering sense of guilt over how their relationship ended, and thoroughly derails the leads' budding relationship. He has nothing but good intentions, he's correct in a lot of his assumptions about Yu Zhen's mental state, but for the most part his actions seem to cause more harm than good.

It's these small, unusual elements that, to me, elevate the story way above the level of a silly rom-com.
Yes, it makes liberal use of tropes and cliches, but the characters are three-dimensional, they are flawed, likeable, often genuinely hilarious, and feel like real people, which makes the relationships depicted feel real and believable in turn - a personal highlight for me is Qiqi and Gang's relationship, which is a wonderful depiction of a healthy age-gap romance. Their age difference isn't ignored or put off as irrelevant; their different life experiences lead to differences in opinion and relationship expectations. This in turn leads to conflict, which the two then resolve through open and honest communication and compromise - it is truly a joy to watch.

So if you're looking for a rom-com with great acting, lovely queer representation (there is even a very touching coming out scene, if that sways you either way), and a very sweet slow-burn romance which has some bite and intelligence to it, then look no further.
If you just want something light and easy to watch that's perfect for a lazy weekend on the couch, then this series will deliver as well.
I will say, however, that this is a show best enjoyed in one or two sittings. The slow, gentle pacing best lends itself to binging rather than to watching one episode at a time :)

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Only for Aaron and Hank

Ok, so I watched this series because of the main leads. I believed they have a powerful chemistry. Hank is so adorable. And Aaron is the mysterious type.

Story is just so so, its kinda boring in the middle. The development of their love story is too slow. They could have added more sweet moments or some love-hate relationship more. The music is just ok.

I was hoping for season 2. Just to give justice to the missing pieces left from season 1. I hope season 2 will answer some details that is missing in season 1.

Overall, I still recommend everyone to watch this.

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I recommend it!

I've read a lot of people complaining about this series but I personally really liked it.
Yes, it's slow paced and I think the broadcasting team made a bad decision by releasing one episode a week. When I saw that, I decided to wait until the end of the series so that I can watch it in one go and that was a pretty good decision that I've made because I'm satisfied with the result.
I think it is a pretty realistic story, the characters not able to be upfront with their feelings because they're scared. It happens to a lot of people (and I'm one of it). So maybe for a show, it is annoying but I liked it a lot.
The only thing that I wasn't quite happy with was the end and the trio Shi Lei, Zi Tong and Zhao Gang. To me, it wasn't necessary as Shi Lei was already ready to confess his feelings.
Also, I was suprised to see Wayne! Is his goal to make a cameo in every BL show from Taiwan (and Japan)?

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A beautiful drama and message

Wow love the cast, loved the chemistry of both 1st & 2nd lead couples they all make you want giggle and smile when i look at there beautiful smile so Cute and innocent. Aaron lin I'm a big fan and I didn't realize that hank Wang I seen all his dramas. I am really loving this storyline of a new boss who has a rule of no dating in general. This boss Yu Zhen turns out to be shi lei landlord who is very picky about food, drink and certain elements. Yu Zhen college friend yan Zhao gang runs the coffee shop and starts flirting with yu Zhen part timer wu si qi. Also we have Bai Xian Qian who has a crush on shi Lei and he tries to let her down. As they slowly get to know each other after Yu Zhen is rushed to hosp. as he's allergic to nickel. Shi Lei is starting to look after Yu Zhen and make sure nothing is in the house has nickle in it. Then shi Lei mom comes for a surprise visit and takes care of both them as she notices them getting closer. Upon her leaving and going home shi Lei hugs her and starts crying while telling her that he's has feeling for yuzhen and then she tells him that she approves. There relationship starts slow, but yuzhen is about to remove the no dating when see Zhao gang and si Qi kissing on the steps he gets mad and storms off that shi Lei knew and didn't say anything. So now si qi is going to quit and shi Lei barges in and boss ripes up the letter. Then the next day Yi zi tong walks into yuzhen shop looking for real the designer of the stone and stirs up emotions. Then he goes to coffee shop where shi Lei is and zi tong trys to talk to Zhao gang who sarcastic to him. This is a test of love that bring up so many emotions:
1) Why did Yi zi tong disappear 7 yrs ago and then just show up to assume hell take him back?
2) Are your feelings true to shi Lei and can you start a relationship?
3)shi Lei needs to express his feelings to.
I don't want to give the ending away, but as you watch it going forward its amazing to see how some people play with emotion or they can't commit to it.
Its finished and still amazed that for 12 episode at only 23 min. touches on many topic work, family, feelings and relationships new/old. what a beautiful drama and message

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Slow-burn romance

*happy ending*
*supporting parent on one side*

What I like:
I love the acting and the cinematography of the show. The enemies to lovers trope is also a trope I really like, add to that that they also live together ❤️

I also really love Shi lei's mother.

What I didn't like:
Honestly, the seme of the second couple looks a lot like my college crush so I had a hard time watching their part. I had to skip a lot of their scenes hahahaha.

What could've made it better:
I also didn't like the appearance of the ex of yuzhen and yu zhen being so inconsistent about his 'rules' so I hoped yu zhen had a more definite reason for the no dating policy and he should've taken better care of shi lei more.

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I LOVED THE COUPLE!!!

Okay i binge watched this bl for 8 episodes and finished it next day. All i can say is the first 8 episodes were sooo good. It’s a little slow burn story but i really liked the couple’s looks and their chemistry and story was going great. I wish it lasted longer for more to see from these couple or we didn’t get the unnecessary drama. I liked the series a lot and i hope we will see them again together someday. We need a sequal!!! It is the most capturing drama that i seen in a while but there are some things that i would like too see from them in the future too, really

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