No Pain No Gain

A feel good story but sometimes too farfetched

Now going into this I had no idea what this was except it had high rating.

Well the first episode explains the premise which was this guy is recruited to run a company and he has to lose money to win in life and so he ventures into this running a game development company.

The problems I have

- Story is flat
- The competing company fell apart and it wasn't one of those corporate battles/drama
- The character development of the main lead is dry
- The angle they come from to show running a company not like a tyrant is nice but farfetched
- The solutions are farfetched and how the team wins

Honestly, I didn't binge this and I just slow burned it as a side series because I expected nothing but winning. The thing with this series is it is like if god was on earth and there was no big problems that god cannot solve which is why I didn't enjoy it all that much but I did give it a 7.5 only because I feel like if you need something not so serious you can watch this and just cruise.

In fact the entire series I felt like calling it flat is more like saying you cruise through the story.

I would have loved to see a mix of comedy and suspense like if they did things like

- Focus on just game development industry and real world issues
- Only one antagonist which is a competing company
- Quicker main lead character development where he decides he'll lose so his people can win
- Less casting because there's way too much and due to this the main cast is diluted
- Tinge of love-y dove-y between a male and female lead in the work place but no kiss scene maybe a end hand hold

I would really like a show that felt like we "employees" could watch and be like yea f that CEO type of person. I never felt that way watching this but I really wanted to feel that way so maybe that's why I'm disappointed.

Read More

I hope I can find a workplace like Tengda someday.

Just imagine what kind of company would want to lose money? Yet in this drama, the more the company loses, the more Pei Qian profits. At first, I thought 5,000 yuan wasn’t that bad, at least it’s a monthly salary. But then I got curious and converted it into my country’s currency, and I was honestly surprised by how low it actually is. That probably explains why Pei Qian works so hard to make his company lose money.

Even though the beginning had plenty of funny moments that made me laugh, as the story progressed and Pei Qian’s smile slowly faded, the humor became less frequent, though it was still there. But it’s okay it was still enjoyable for me.

While watching this drama, I actually felt jealous of the Tengda employees. Even though they’re fictional characters, I was still jealous. I wish I had a boss like Pei Qian and a working environment like Tengda. I don’t mean things like going home early or arriving late like in Tengda’s rules, because jobs like that rarely exist in real life. What I really mean is the positive working environment there. Kind coworkers, a good boss, very high salaries, and great office facilities.

It’s not that my own workplace is bad it’s actually good but the atmosphere at Tengda still made me wish I could work somewhere like that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It kept me looking forward to the next episode every time.

Overall rating: 9.5/10.
I actually wanted to give it a 10, but there were a few parts that felt slightly lacking, so I decided on 9.5 instead. 😄

Read More

Creative, smart, humorous and refreshing alternative to romantic dramas

This series was so enjoyable that I felt compelled to write a review and share my excitement about discovering such an addictive show. I looked forward to every episode.

The story captures many elements of modern work culture, corporate strategy, and different types of relationships, all woven into a funny and creative storyline. It also serves as a refreshing alternative to the many romance-focused dramas, offering something different while still keeping the storytelling engaging.

I also enjoyed how the series showcases modern China, including its innovative architecture and technology.

The casting is excellent, and the lead actor does a superb job expressing his character’s perspective throughout the series. It really makes you cheer for the average person who is simply trying to make it big in the world—or even just to make a living.

The music isn’t the series’ main selling point, so it doesn’t affect my overall rating. Every other aspect of the show has made me a huge fan.

Read More

A Resplendent Utopia of Satire Comedy

Truth to be told, I totally have no slightest idea of this drama’s existence until I personally see Tencent’s February watchlist on Weibo. I tried every single endeavor to absorb myself in the OG source, to no avail as I’m not that overzealous of spending a generous amount of time to complete the whole 2000 chapters in one go. Nevertheless, the drama still gives me a memorable experience and I must say it’s one of the most meticulous drama ever produced in C-drama land. Let’s get down and see my take on it, shall we?
Disclaimer: As I’d said in the comment section before, I have no single penny to pay for neither express package nor VIP subscription, which means I have to wait the illegal sites to upload those videos. Per this day, I’ve only watched until ep 21 and will be waiting for the rest of the episodes in the following days. But I’ve decided to write this review while I’m having a ton of spare time (it’s Chinese New Year LMFAO).

The story is centered around the freshly-sacked corporate worker Pei Qian, who was a game designer in his previous company, Fuhui. He was kicked out because of writing a self-help guide for fellow workers on how to fighting for their rights in a ruthless working place. After being made redundant for several days, Pei Qian is suddenly invited to be a CEO for a startup company under the financial aid of the enigmatic billionaire Mr. Sima. However, there is a special clause where Pei Qian must make sure his company is going bankrupt so that he can earn some remuneration for himself. Thinking that losing money is as easy as a piece of cake, he establishes Tengda Corporation in a whim and recruits slackers and job-losers instead of high-end professionals. Joining his comrade are his goofy BFF Ma Yang, the unknowingly hardworking novelist and screenwriter Huang Sibo, the couch potato Bao Xu, the eccentric coder Lv Mingliang, the cat lover Li Yada, the clumsy yet kind-hearted accountant Hao Qiong, the intellectual and stubborn-as-a-mule chaebol heiress Lin Wan, the no-nonsense special assistant Xin Hailu, the wacky frenemy and Fuhui’s heir Li Shi, and more on the go. Nonetheless, things never go according to Pei Qian’s wish as Tengda’s income keeps shooting up in every sector including gaming, internet café, private restaurant, fitness center, web novel platform, film production, and real estate business (through Sibo’s lover Hu Yue’s effort by creating a vlog to promote the Four Wall Apartment). Despite knowing that he won’t get a lot of money as he expects, he feels proud for his workers who have all worked hard to prove their worth to him even when he demands nothing from them.

So, “No Pain No Gain” becomes the maiden avant-garde in C-drama world to utilize satire comedy as a means to convey a deeper emotional message related to our daily life, which involves the grueling vicissitudes of life, the rat race within every single blue-collar worker (visibly shown in SkyFire Studio arc), and the delight of watching the employees wholeheartedly devoting their time to please their boss. Furthermore, “No Pain No Gain” isn’t afraid to embrace the cruel reality of life, which has been avoided by most dramas, to connect more seamlessly with the watchers young and old alike. At first, it’s all about comedy, laughter, joyous moment of the life. But, as the drama keeps rumbling on and on, it starts to lean more to a melancholic phase as we see how Pei Qian is portrayed as an ordinary person with a little money to fend for himself (which he spends for his apartment mortgage), instead of a ruthless domineering CEO we’ve always seen in mini dramas before.

For the acting department, I want to say that all of the casts’ performances are laudable especially for Peng Yuchang. It’s been a while since I last saw him in “The Outcast/I Am Nobody”, but he still has the similar charm as back then, being able to embody Pei Qian’s character flawlessly as well as portraying his micro-expressions to the point of exceed expectation. I’m looking forward to his new drama “Wan Gu Zui Qiang Zong” too. As for Jelly Lin, I’m not sure what to say, but I suppose her acting as Lin Wan is kind of lacking a bit or perhaps the forced romance vibes makes me troubled. The rest of the casts do an absolutely good job and I’m surprised to see several names as supporting characters as well (namely Wu Junting, Chang Long, and He Ruixian).

OSTs, background settings, costumes are mesmerizing and depict the urban life of China accurately, to the point that I have no more complaints to yap about.

Overall, it’s a big 10/10 for me. It’s such a shame that “No Pain No Gain” is a super-duper underrated hidden gem buried beneath those high-profile dramas. I hope that one day, it can gain a strong foothold in the C-drama world and be the best of the best. I’m not sure if this drama is your cup of tea or not but do try several episodes if you’re that curious. I bet you’re going to be hooked sooner or later. Okay, time to end my review here, good luck and happy watching!!! Happy Chinese New Year in advance too!!!

Read More

One of the better non-romance dramas I've watched!!!

I ABSOLUTELY adore the dynamic between the employees of Tengda, it was so fun to watch them interact and go through life together! Despite being colleagues, they felt more like family instead which I loved so much. The premise was so interesting that I immediately downloaded all episodes and watched it, and I would say it lived up to my expectations for the most part. I started this drama because of its premise, stayed for the characters, but almost dropped it due to side plots that I thought took away from the main story.

I LOVED the first half of the drama, but it got too convoluted with all the unnecessary side plots, such as PQ going to work at Sky Fire (what??), and the Sima brothers arc. It became a bit of a drag watching those parts because certain characters were so annoying to watch. Also, the supposed twist at the end felt weak, but I was pretty satisfied with the ending. I do think it was weird that the drama started off in the future talking about the success of Tengda while showing PQ looking weary and sick of everything, but the ending did not touch on that or even relate back to that scene which made me very confused because the ending made it seem like PQ was finally contented with what he had, but the first scene of the drama contradicts that ending? Hm...

Although they hinted at romance between certain characters, they did not develop that storyline much. Surprisingly, I did not mind that because I thought it was better without romance. I felt that romance would have taken away from the story, and that the drama absolutely did not needed that, but I felt that they should not have hinted at it if they were not planning to develop that part of the storyline any further. Felt like an unfinished piece of work.

Either way, it was at the end of the day, still a lighthearted and fun drama that I really enjoyed, so definitely give this drama a watch!

Read More

underrated must Watch Gem

Reseña de No Pain No Gain (年少有为)

​Definitivamente, este drama me encantó, y más aún porque justo en la universidad estoy viendo la materia de Fundamentos de Administración. Me sirvió muchísimo para analizar de forma práctica la identidad corporativa y entender qué hace que una empresa sea fuerte o débil.

​Lo más divertido y fascinante de la historia es ver la dinámica del protagonista, Pei Qian: como su objetivo era que todo saliera mal para ganar su bono personal, les daba incentivos exagerados a sus empleados, les prohibía hacer horas extras y les otorgaba vacaciones constantes, pensando que así la empresa colapsaría. Sin embargo, ocurrió exactamente lo contrario: esos beneficios generaron una motivación genuina y una gratitud enorme hacia el jefe, transformando a Tengda Group en la empresa ideal donde todos trabajaban con pasión.

​Por otro lado, el drama da un giro muy profundo con el personaje del Señor Sima (Chairman Sima / Sima Ming), quien resulta ser el verdadero "titiritero" detrás de todo este experimento financiero y social:
​El experimento y la lección empresarial: Sima creó un contrato donde ganarías más dinero si mandabas la empresa a la quiebra para poner a prueba la codicia humana. Lo que no esperaba era que la honestidad y el trato humano de Pei Qian demostraran que el verdadero valor empresarial reside en la empatía y no en la explotación. Además, usó este terreno de pruebas como una lección de humildad para sus propios hijos ambiciosos y manipuladores.

​El significado del agua y la mansión: Toda la dinámica del Señor Sima en su mansión deteriorada tiene una simbología increíble. Él vivía aislado en las alturas, tirando agua desde su ventana a la gente de abajo, representando cómo los poderosos afectan la vida de la gente común sin importarles su sufrimiento.
​Por eso, el momento en el que el protagonista confronta al Señor Sima y cierra la llave del agua fue una escena que sencillamente 🤯 me voló la cabeza. Simboliza el punto exacto donde Sima detiene sus manipulaciones desalmadas y reconoce la integridad de Pei Qian.

​Un drama inteligente, divertido y con un trasfondo sumamente profundo sobre el mundo de los negocios. ¡Totalmente recomendado!

Read More

So good!

After I Am Nobody, I wanted to see what actor Peng Yu Chang had done before and after, so I came across a drama about video games. The main character makes a deal with a big businessman: he has to create a company with the goal of doing everything he can to lose money. But instead, everything his team does turns into a huge success. So I decided to give this drama a try!

And damn, it’s really good! The ML is great, of course, but the whole cast has such crazy chemistry. It’s so much fun, and after a couple of episodes, you really get the feeling that you’re part of the team, working alongside them on their future video games. It’s hilarious watching the ML get more and more frustrated because his company keeps growing faster and faster!

Such an entertaining drama!

Read More

reluctant hero takes center stage

This drama has topped my list as one of my favorite stories that have come out in recent years. With relatable comedy, quick witted dialogue, and likeable characters this show carries itself through with laughter at its core and life lessons genuinely expressed. A fun and silly take on the reluctant hero that is out to make money for himself but ends up creating a village around himself that gives back sincerity. In a world of bosses only looking for profit Pei Qian becomes the boss that cares for his employees and forms a formidable team of misfits to rival the biggest companies; all by accident.

Pei Qian is the type of main character that is easy to watch and root for. He is funny and relatable in the way that makes him feel realistic. The people around him are often the most ridiculous characters but every one of them grow on you as the watcher really quickly. This is the type of show that brings you joy by watching and leaves a lasting impression on occasion with its unexpected life lessons. In an effort to do the opposite of what is 'profitable' Pei Qian often ends up creating an innovative way to give others exactly what they didn't know they needed. From a game that tests your sanity but makes you ponder where you spend your time to a gym that instead of forcing body image and insecurity creates a place for rest and recharge. His wacky ideas become innovation and often have the opposite effect he was wanting but for his employees he becomes this revered and approachable person that is their protector and safe haven.

This silly show is fun and heartwarming and I highly recommend it. My only complaints are in the latter episodes that slow down the pace but it is necessary for the growth of Pei Qian's character. That and the FORCED romantic story line that is completely unnecessary.

Read More

Losing Money to be a Tycoon

Well, since I’m the first one here, let me be the guiding light as someone who has read the manhua, watched the donghua, and read all 1,674 chapters of the light novel.

Let’s start with what’s different and what’s straight-up bad.

1. The SYSTEM
In the original, Pei Qian had a system, and the system was basically the personality of Mr. Pei himself. What made it hilarious was the constant misunderstanding. The system provided him with funds, sure, but it actually made sense why Pei Qian was trying to lose money while no one else knew about it.
Now? We get this Mr. Sima nonsense. It makes everything feel cheap, outright disgusting, and lowers Pei Qian as a character.

2. Absolute control over Tengda
One of Pei Qian’s core personality traits is that he never relinquishes even an inch of control over Tengda. This is one of the spines of the novel. One of the things that made Pei Qian… Pei Qian.
Secretary Xu was an employee of Tengda. Pei Qian didn’t report to anyone. His word was absolute.

3. The “polymath” misunderstanding
Because of that absolute control and his absurd Midas touch, a massive misunderstanding arose: everyone believed Pei Qian was a polymath. This misunderstanding dragged in the employees, then subtly the entire world.
That’s how he was able to portray himself as a genius without actually trying. Remove this, and the entire illusion collapses.

4. Character origins are butchered
Lv Ming, Lin Wan, Hao Qiong, Huang Sibi, etc. — their origins and personalities are way different. Their original character traits are basically nonexistent. They feel like completely different people who just happen to share the same names.

5. Lin Wan
In the novel, she’s optimistic, capable, and actually useful. Here? The forced romance subplot is honestly killing me.

All in all, these five points summarize everything that’s different. And make no mistake: even though this looks like a “summary,” these points are the backbone of the original. Once you change them, no amount of linear storytelling can ever reach the same destination.

Now, let’s talk about what’s actually good.

1. The humor stands out, especially because the show fully commits to silliness instead of pretending to be serious.
2. The wordplay, poetry, and layered jokes are genuinely clever and make the dialogue feel smart and distinctive.
3. The writing feels refreshing and unpredictable compared to the usual formulaic dramas, and it doesn’t rely on romance to carry itself — the story and comedy do the heavy lifting.
4. It has a clear personality and tone that separates it from mainstream, crowd-pleasing shows.
5. The comedy feels intentional and confident, trusting the audience to keep up instead of over-explaining every joke.

In the end, this isn’t a bad show, but it’s not a faithful one either. It’s fun, it’s clever, and it definitely has its moments but it’s built on the wrong foundation. If you’ve never touched the original, you’ll enjoy it to no end. If you have, you’ll feel exactly where and why it went wrong, and once you see what was lost, no amount of polish can fix it.

Read More

Peng Yu change never fails with that expression

I have tried countless comedy but when it becomes serious I totally drop it immediately. I thought it was gonna be different this time but sadly it wasn't.

No one can make me laugh like peng yu cheng does, when i saw him in the poster I immediately tried this (lmao in I am nobody). The way he delivers his lines is so funny and his expression is so on point which i think what other actors lacks when acting in comedy and is hard to be immersed.

Watch it for Peng Yuchang's brilliant performance, but feel absolutely no guilt about hitting the drop button the second the tone shifts. It’s a fun ride until it isn't.

Also hated that subtle romance LOL

I recommend you to try watching this, it's such a fun watch.

Read More