I really wanted to give this a 10, but the FL’s mannerisms and acting — that level of exaggerated, almost caricature-like infantilization — gave me genuine second-hand embarrassment and made me feel deeply uncomfortable while watching. It completely ruined my overall impression of the drama. She behaved in a more immature and childish way than even her younger self shown in the flashbacks, as well as her own younger sister. Huge applause to the ML — his performance was phenomenal — and also to the supporting male cast, who did an excellent job. I love them all. 8/10 with regret
I absolutely couldn’t stand the FL (I mean the character, not the actress). What an awful personality: selfish, spoiled, arrogant, conceited, and childish. That alone would be bad enough, but on top of that she’s completely fake and hypocritical. Fake virtue, fake modesty, fake prudishness, fake kindness. Hypocrisy at its finest. Are we really supposed to believe that her obsession with “reputation” is genuine? Because to me it just looks like a performance. She does whatever she wants, including all the things she claims are improper, as long as no one finds out. And somehow that’s what “having a good reputation” means? Just making sure no one knows? What makes it even worse is that she blames the people who expose her behavior for “ruining her reputation” — when she actually did all those things. She wasn’t framed. She secretly meets a man alone, sneaks out at night, visits a brothel and even the madam, looks at erotic drawings, and even sneaks into a male military garrison in disguise. And somehow none of that is considered wrong or improper by her standards, despite the clear social norms of that time. But the real “crime” is that someone revealed it? That’s what supposedly destroys her reputation? The double standard is unbelievable. She is also unbelievably conceited, clearly seeing herself as superior to everyone else — in looks, in status — as if everything should simply be handed to her, including the perfect husband. Her “requirements” for a man worthy of her say everything about the scale of her ego. And her idea of something being done “personally” is… questionable, to say the least.
There’s more, but honestly, she’s not even worth spending any more time on. I’ll just add that the level of her theatrical fake fainting, forced modesty, constant eye-lowering, and pretending to be shy is simply unbearable. Everything about her screams falseness and double standards. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a thoroughly off-putting female lead.
I came here because of all the positive reviews and repeated recommendations, but it turned out to be completely not my cup of tea. I pushed through to the end, I struggled to stay engaged, but I was terribly bored — I didn’t enjoy the couple, the romance, the characters, or the endlessly dragging corporate/business/office plotlines. But please don’t let my opinion discourage you — watch it yourself, it might turn out to be just right for you.
Overall, it was fine, especially the comedic parts, but I have mixed feelings about the ML and FL. I really like strong female characters, confident, who don’t let others walk all over them, but here, although a few times (not all the time, just in a few moments, and that’s my opinion) she tried to act like one, it came off more as rudeness, lack of manners, and excessive arrogance. For me, it went a bit too far in the other direction. I appreciate strenght, confidence, boldness, especially independence and freedom but NOT excessive pride, arrogance or plain lack of manners. The ML was quite unclear as a character, too. At first, he seemed like the stronger personality — determined, composed, distant, that type. But once he fell in love, he suddenly became soft in my eyes, submissive even, and all the mystery and gravitas created by his family history and revenge arc just vanished. (And he knew martial arts or not???) Chemistry? Honestly, I tried to feel it. And when I was just about to feel the romance, suddenly there was a misunderstanding or conflict between them which ruined the affair . And the kisses? A tragedy. I truly don’t need intimate scenes for a romance to be good, as long as the couple has chemistry. And here, I would’ve preferred zero kisses at all rather than what we got. Just… meh. The first 20 episodes were very good, but then I felt like I was watching a completely different show. The tone changed entirely. The only thing that kept me watching until the end was the adorable and hilarious Ban family and their interactions.
I actually enjoyed this drama, just like that. Despite what people say — that it’s too long, has plot holes, or other criticisms — as a whole it gave me a really nice atmosphere of friendship, team spirit, and a cast of genuinely likable characters. For me, the main couple had this calm, patient, caring bond full of mutual understanding. It was so warm and sweet to watch them together. Healing and growing together. I loved how they constantly looked after and protected each other. And Hu Yitian smiles a lot more here, which was a lovely bonus.
Oh, the one out of 30 dramas where it's FL who does the romantic effort. Sure, please change it for yet another…
I totally understand people enjoy different FL types. My comment was only about my personal preference – nothing more. I’m glad others see the charm in this character even if I don’t 😊. Regarding the FL, it’s not about her taking the initiative or putting in the romantic effort. It’s about the way she does it, and that way is—for me—very hard to accept. If the ML behaved like that, I would also feel the same second-hand embarrassment. That’s just how it is for me.
I’m apologizing in advance to everyone, but this type of FL is the one I dislike the most, and I just can’t see anything cute or sweet in her. To me it comes across as pushiness, fake childishness, forced cutesy behavior, annoying, irritating, cringe. Level of second-hand embarrassment I felt was extremely high. And she never changes even as an adult women, a wife to be and a mother to be...
She behaved in a more immature and childish way than even her younger self shown in the flashbacks, as well as her own younger sister.
Huge applause to the ML — his performance was phenomenal — and also to the supporting male cast, who did an excellent job. I love them all. 8/10 with regret
Are we really supposed to believe that her obsession with “reputation” is genuine? Because to me it just looks like a performance. She does whatever she wants, including all the things she claims are improper, as long as no one finds out. And somehow that’s what “having a good reputation” means? Just making sure no one knows?
What makes it even worse is that she blames the people who expose her behavior for “ruining her reputation” — when she actually did all those things. She wasn’t framed. She secretly meets a man alone, sneaks out at night, visits a brothel and even the madam, looks at erotic drawings, and even sneaks into a male military garrison in disguise. And somehow none of that is considered wrong or improper by her standards, despite the clear social norms of that time.
But the real “crime” is that someone revealed it? That’s what supposedly destroys her reputation? The double standard is unbelievable.
She is also unbelievably conceited, clearly seeing herself as superior to everyone else — in looks, in status — as if everything should simply be handed to her, including the perfect husband. Her “requirements” for a man worthy of her say everything about the scale of her ego. And her idea of something being done “personally” is… questionable, to say the least.
There’s more, but honestly, she’s not even worth spending any more time on. I’ll just add that the level of her theatrical fake fainting, forced modesty, constant eye-lowering, and pretending to be shy is simply unbearable. Everything about her screams falseness and double standards.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a thoroughly off-putting female lead.
But please don’t let my opinion discourage you — watch it yourself, it might turn out to be just right for you.
The ML was quite unclear as a character, too. At first, he seemed like the stronger personality — determined, composed, distant, that type. But once he fell in love, he suddenly became soft in my eyes, submissive even, and all the mystery and gravitas created by his family history and revenge arc just vanished. (And he knew martial arts or not???)
Chemistry? Honestly, I tried to feel it. And when I was just about to feel the romance, suddenly there was a misunderstanding or conflict between them which ruined the affair . And the kisses? A tragedy. I truly don’t need intimate scenes for a romance to be good, as long as the couple has chemistry. And here, I would’ve preferred zero kisses at all rather than what we got. Just… meh.
The first 20 episodes were very good, but then I felt like I was watching a completely different show. The tone changed entirely. The only thing that kept me watching until the end was the adorable and hilarious Ban family and their interactions.
Despite what people say — that it’s too long, has plot holes, or other criticisms — as a whole it gave me a really nice atmosphere of friendship, team spirit, and a cast of genuinely likable characters.
For me, the main couple had this calm, patient, caring bond full of mutual understanding. It was so warm and sweet to watch them together. Healing and growing together.
I loved how they constantly looked after and protected each other.
And Hu Yitian smiles a lot more here, which was a lovely bonus.
My comment was only about my personal preference – nothing more.
I’m glad others see the charm in this character even if I don’t 😊. Regarding the FL, it’s not about her taking the initiative or putting in the romantic effort. It’s about the way she does it, and that way is—for me—very hard to accept.
If the ML behaved like that, I would also feel the same second-hand embarrassment. That’s just how it is for me.