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.
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
