I agree with your assessment of XiXi and Duan Xu. And I also want to add I didn’t like the way Teng crossed…
Same, I disagreed with most of what Teng said. He has been passive agressive with his words and makes Xixi feel bad for making him "wait". Him being extensively good to her pressurises her into accepting him as her fiance. Xixi is a really kind lady who doesn't know how to reject such a dude. Typically for such a dude IRL it would've easily been a business marriage because of Xixi's family assets, but the scriptwriter decided to portray Teng as the "perfect marriage candidate" so...
I also didn't like that Teng straight up pushed Xixi into one of the highest position without her knowing/consent. Granted that she has been improving (small courtesy to Duan Xu's nagging), but being in such a high position all of a sudden is a huge pressure for anyone.
Small detail from Xixi's dressing shows that whenever she's sad (=not her usual happy self), she doesn't wear a headband. When she broke up with Liu Ke, she at least clips the left side of her hair but with Teng, neither does she clip her hair nor does she wear headbands. (Her earrings got ridiculously big for some reason) It is only when she's happy then she wear those headbands and with Duan Xu, she wore it for almost every scene with him. (Except for two scenes I believe.)
Explaining Duan Xu's story from his POV and Xixi's POV about Teng, long essay, minor spoilers.
Duan Xu, a realist person, focuses on earning money to repay debts (200K) his parents owed from purchasing too much health products. My dude has been dealing with life alone since adulthood and at the age of 32, he doesn't even have partner or have any plans to marry. He fears marriage actually. He knows someone of such family background like his, cannot marry lest he brings trouble to the female's family.
However, his outlook on life, world and values are really solid, I'd say rare for someone of his family background IRL. (Blame the scriptwriter for writing such a family.) Duan Xu in the workforce is really solid too, he's earning 5 figures excluding commissions as a Manager, as to why at the age of 32 he is still repaying debts of 6 figures, and only has 3K savings, you can tell how horrible his family is.
DX's and DXX's BG relationship was never meant to be smooth sailing from the start. The main reason is because of the difference in their family background. Dai Xixi doesn't find this an issue though, she has never lacked money, so she doesn't value money of high importance and hence, she never choose a dude based on materialistic criterias. She genuinely likes Duan Xu, and is brave in actively pursuing for her love. She believes that as long as two people love each other, they can overcome all of life's tests.
Duan Xu too, genuinely loves Xixi. He has been alone and lonely, until Xixi appeared. You can say, Xixi is his sun who lit up his boring life. He loves her using his method, even if he never said "I love you" explicitedly to her, you can tell by his actions that he really, really loves her.
First he always urges her to improve herself (take exams to get certificates etc) and take charge of her life. He'll always have her back even if Xixi doesn't know (ie DX took the fault for himself when his boss Hu asked regarding collaboration with Teng's company). The way he acted up when he realised his colleagues are giving Xixi additional work on top of his and Xixi never complained, you can tell Duan Xu's heart hurts without him knowing. He doesn't express his feelings well, which is why he hides his care behind bickerings and naggings. (I can elaborate even more but it'll be too long..)
When in relationship, Duan Xu has been relenting multiple times regarding marriage. He is one who fears marriage and for him to go from BGR to engaged, in a matter of days~weeks, is a huge step. He's doing all these to give Xixi the security she needs. Do note that they havent been dating for long, Id say a month at most? Will you marry someone only after a month of dating? Not many will. Also considering Duan Xu's family situation, he knows he has to settle that first, he only needed more time for his commissions and year end bonus to finally finish repaying the 200K debt. Unfortunately, his family decided to throw their son under the bus, by asking for a loan of 100K from Xixi's family. That was the bottomline for Xixi's parents as well as Duan Xu.
Xixi's parents do not approve of this relationship, and you have to understand that we Chinese place high importance when it comes to family blessings for marriage. Xixi's parents wanted Duan Xu to resort to any method to break up with Xixi. Duan Xu did fought for Xixi, he didn't just give Xixi up, but because Xixi's father was adamant about them breaking up, Duan Xu couldn't do anything more.
Imagine your life as Duan Xu's, having no light for many years, not loved by parents, and here comes your sun Xixi, who you wish to protect dearly, only to end up having to push her away because you don't deserve such sunlight. Its a horrible feeling, to have seen the light the hope and then be thrown into darkness. Duan Xu hurts too.
Duan Xu's ex-gf appearing on the day they broke up was NOT part of Duan Xu's plan. It was a coincidence... that helped the break up. The child called everyone "Dad" probably because he isn't that great with Chinese yet. There's a Chinese saying "its better to suffer short-term pain rather than long-term pain" and the quickest way, was right by his doorstep so Duan Xu just went with the flow. Stupid man, drunk and not using his brains. That was an idiot move I admit. But best believe his heart hurt too.
The thing about Teng. Teng claims that Xixi hasn't been herself but, he hasn't seen how Xixi is with Duan Xu. Xixi is herself whenever she's (working) with Duan Xu, she has worn whatever she wanted. The only time she didn't do as she liked was when she's with Liu Ke. Duan Xu never restricted what Xixi can or cannot wear/do. Duan Xu loves her for how she is. Y'all ever notice that after Xixi got together with Teng, she never used her "aegyo voice" anymore? Her voice is a tone deeper than normal, she doesn't pout, sulk or smile anymore. Her smiles are forced and only done so when she reminded herself to. Teng doesn't know Xixi, even when Teng invited her over to his house, he's chopping Tomatoes. The camera panned to Teng chopping Tomatoes thrice. Xixi doesn't like Tomatoes.
Materialistically, theyre compatible, but Xixi, an idealist, doesn't care for such material stuff, she can get anything she wants by herself. Which is why when Teng gave her an apartment, she wasn't moved by him at all, because she has the ability to buy one that she's satisfied with herself. Honestly if Teng was pursuing me after I broke up with Duan Xu, I'd accept him, because I'm not from a wealthy family and place money of high importance when it comes to living life as a realist. If Teng gave me an apartment, I'd be touched. Xixi's different, she places her ideal life of high importance. She wants to marry to the person she loves, not just marrying for the sake of marrying, if not she wouldn't have wasted 5 years on Liu Ke.
Also, who simply asks for a girl's hand in marriage when they only met for 4~5 times these days?? If I didn't know Teng better I would've said Teng is eyeing Xixi's family assets. Their relationship would've also turned into a business marriage. I don't like people who rush into marriage, so this was a huge minus for me.
Duan Xu as a realist takes serious consideration regarding marriage, has plans to one, finish repaying his debts by (lunar) year end, two, save up for marriage rather than rushing. He wants to give Xixi the best he could, not just sloppily engage and register marriage without holding a wedding, without an apartment, without a diamond ring. Xixi is Duan Xu's princess, he spoils her like she's his daughter (in chinese we call DX 爹系男友, boyfriend-who-acts-like-your-dad kind) so naturally he'd want to give the lavish wedding & honeymoon Xixi deserves even if Xixi said that she doesn't mind not having them. Afterall, its a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Everyone can tell Xixi isn't happy at all, it says a lot when someone who places marriage of high importance, isn't excited at all about her own marriage. Even her friend, Wen Ru Xue, told her "you're Mrs Teng, as well as his business partner, very incredible" rather than "you're blissful". She has been faking a strong facade in front of everyone including Teng, keeping her joyful self locked. It was only at the very end, where her aegyo voice finally came back...
Thank you for reading, just wanted to let out some steam.
Dai Xixi is a modern life princess. She is a simple-minded and kind lady. She has been protected too well by her parents and hasn't seen or experienced how evil life really is. Which is why she sees and believes the good in everyone, stays optimistic regardless of situations and is an idealist kind of person. This is her strong point and also her weak point. She focuses too much on living her "ideal" life (to marry and have kids before age of 30) because she has been brainwashed that such life is the "correct" life, having been brought up by wealthy healthy loving parents. Please pardon Xixi, she'll grow up, but she'll also lose her original happy-go-lucky innocent self...
the official weibo acct of this drama announced a few days ago that the drama will be getting 3 more episodes, a total of 46 episodes for this drama rather than 43. episode 45 will air on 26th march while episode 46 (final) will air on 27th march.
the drama's in the speculated list of dramas to air for March along with some other dramas that have started airing/have a scheduled airing date already (爱的理想生活, 恨君不似江楼月, 荣耀乒乓, 你是我的城池营垒, 司藤 etc)
Apparently this drama is scheduled to air this month (March), honestly can't wait, this will be my 3rd drama by Dou Xiao after Legend of Chu Qiao and Legend of Xiao Chuo
Imagine having watched till episode 51 and getting the news that YOUKU CHANGED THEIR AIRING SCHEDULE, AGAIN?! why the HELL is this drama under Youku, lord. Episode 52 and 53 earliest, will only be on the 15TH FEB, that's like 11 days later, heck???? And episode 54~59 will be on Chinese New Year DAY ONE, who the heck has time to sit down at 10am to watch on Chinese New Year day ONE??? Jesus christ Im about to cry
having it under tencent/iqyi wouldn't really make it update faster though, they both do vvip and in my experience,…
yeah youku simply sucks at marketing their shows unfortunately, and unfortunate that this huge production drama is under their care ;_;
A Girl Like Me's updates are similar yet not really similar to TRP's bc one, their schedule ensures that VVIP gets to watch every single paid episode before VIP does. their VVIP will always be finishing more episodes than VIP at any point in time of the drama airing.
whereas TRP's VVIP and VIP members have the choice to watch from the same episodes every week bc of how stupid the sched is.. (by the time VVIP members get more episodes, VIP members area already on the same watching pace as VVIP and that is stupid if they were going to do VVIP features) which is also why most people are willing to wait the week out, get 2 new episodes daily rather than pay for the 10 VVIP at one go since ultimately both parties are going to be on the same standing at the end of the week, stupid marketing strat honestly
tencent's airing schedule is typically the same, the difference is only with waiting times either being a minimum of 2~3 days or maximum 4 days depending on the actors like you said, which is also what I hoped TRP's sched to be like, a 4 day wait for both vip and vvip..
I didnt watch JoL in full nor keep up with the releases bc the drama was so long and by the time I waited for more episodes I had no hype for it already, and also the ending + painful wait for season 2 isnt really my cup of tea considering that Ive learnt my lesson from watching Legend of Chu Qiao (and that drama is no where getting its s2 any time soon lmao I think ZLY totally forgot about that drama already;;;;)
the mini leaks are what keeps the current viewers going honestly, Id appreciate that but I do see why new viewers wouldnt like that... besides, another strat to keep viewers is via bloopers but youku isnt releasing any of that, lord. we're at episode 41 and we dont have any main casts' bloopers, like, ????
but yeah I was also on the verge of dropping bc the ML had so less scenes lmao and there were a number of draggy scenes that lasted several episodes while the novel merely used a few lines and pages to get over with
having it under tencent/iqyi wouldn't really make it update faster though, they both do vvip and in my experience,…
yeah I do think youku started vvip too early for TRP but if they started it they shouldve continued it properly.. TRP also has a few leaks here and there but theyre only on Tues & Wed of the week the 10 episodes are to be released..
TBARP's under iqiyi and their VIP and VVIP got new content at the same time (ie Wed-Fri showtimes and VVIP gets extra paid content on Fri, and on the subsequent Wed. VVIP still gets more extra paid content), maximum waiting time is 4 days only.. or if you seen recent's hype drama under tencent Legend of Fei, they too, have new VVIP content on top of the VIP content that's released for the week even after the extra episodes, maximum waiting time is 3 days.
that's how youku was supposed to do it but they kinda screwed it by making people wait one entire week and the hype is kinda gone now (which is the reason why they bumped more release dates and lowered the vvip price)
Yeah I feel the same way as you..under youku is so devastated..its seems tencent focus only big actress/actor…
same... I was too tempted by the editors on Douyin who made the drama look absolutely great to watch, and it is.. and I found myself watching all the way to episode 17 on the first week of release... big mistake. I simply never learn :")) but the wait from episode 17 to 18~31 was alright because it was only 4 days. the wait from ep 31 to 32~41 was an absolute torment because its SEVEN. whole. days!! T_T and now I have to wait another 7 more days for 42~51...
having it under tencent/iqyi wouldn't really make it update faster though, they both do vvip and in my experience,…
tencent/iqiyi wont make you wait exactly a week, 7 days, for more episodes, their maximum waiting time is 4 days for VIP and VVIP.. also, youku's marketing is highkey trash, not sure if you realised they havent released much bloopers and behinds, especially for the main couple.. they only waited till the drama hype was kinda meh before increasing update days but the funny thing is.. because my watch schedule is the same with VVIP, which means I paid money to watch the 10 episodes on Thursday, I have to wait 7 days for 10 more episodes, whereas VIP only needs to wait 2 days for more episodes, what kind of logic is that? tencent wouldve added VVIP's 10 episodes to be on the same release schedule as normal VIP, same goes for iqiyi..
but yes youku is the one who updates their airing slots the most (4 times already for this drama alone), other platforms do too, just kinda rare and typically theyre for vvip so.. but ugh this 7 day wait for a 68-episodes long drama... really wished they kinda followed Ruyi's RLITP airing schedule
Yeah I feel the same way as you..under youku is so devastated..its seems tencent focus only big actress/actor…
same.. I'm putting that drama on hold until there are like 20+ episodes.. its a shame bc the drama is all over my Douyin feed rn and by the time the releases get to episode 20, the hype's all gone and I probably wont feel like watching it... its a stupid cycle of mine.. btw Zhang Zi Yi is also a big actress, just not in the cdrama industry, she has quite a number of notable films/movies haha
from the first time Song Huai En saw Awu at the festival (ep 2), he liked her already, take extra notice at Song's expressions when Awu took her mask off to describe Xiao Qi
Why do I have bad feelings about General Song and Awu trusted maid wedding? Everything about it is iffy.. general…
no, Yu Xiu won't turn against Awu, she commited su*cide.. Song Huai En is just a trash can lmao he's literally using Yu Xiu in order to stay closer to Awu bc he likes her. He liked her from the first time they met at the festival.. and I'm so mad that he asked for Yu Xiu's hand in marriage while thinking of Awu, literally men are trash definition..
I also didn't like that Teng straight up pushed Xixi into one of the highest position without her knowing/consent. Granted that she has been improving (small courtesy to Duan Xu's nagging), but being in such a high position all of a sudden is a huge pressure for anyone.
Small detail from Xixi's dressing shows that whenever she's sad (=not her usual happy self), she doesn't wear a headband. When she broke up with Liu Ke, she at least clips the left side of her hair but with Teng, neither does she clip her hair nor does she wear headbands. (Her earrings got ridiculously big for some reason) It is only when she's happy then she wear those headbands and with Duan Xu, she wore it for almost every scene with him. (Except for two scenes I believe.)
Duan Xu, a realist person, focuses on earning money to repay debts (200K) his parents owed from purchasing too much health products. My dude has been dealing with life alone since adulthood and at the age of 32, he doesn't even have partner or have any plans to marry. He fears marriage actually. He knows someone of such family background like his, cannot marry lest he brings trouble to the female's family.
However, his outlook on life, world and values are really solid, I'd say rare for someone of his family background IRL. (Blame the scriptwriter for writing such a family.) Duan Xu in the workforce is really solid too, he's earning 5 figures excluding commissions as a Manager, as to why at the age of 32 he is still repaying debts of 6 figures, and only has 3K savings, you can tell how horrible his family is.
DX's and DXX's BG relationship was never meant to be smooth sailing from the start. The main reason is because of the difference in their family background. Dai Xixi doesn't find this an issue though, she has never lacked money, so she doesn't value money of high importance and hence, she never choose a dude based on materialistic criterias. She genuinely likes Duan Xu, and is brave in actively pursuing for her love. She believes that as long as two people love each other, they can overcome all of life's tests.
Duan Xu too, genuinely loves Xixi. He has been alone and lonely, until Xixi appeared. You can say, Xixi is his sun who lit up his boring life. He loves her using his method, even if he never said "I love you" explicitedly to her, you can tell by his actions that he really, really loves her.
First he always urges her to improve herself (take exams to get certificates etc) and take charge of her life. He'll always have her back even if Xixi doesn't know (ie DX took the fault for himself when his boss Hu asked regarding collaboration with Teng's company). The way he acted up when he realised his colleagues are giving Xixi additional work on top of his and Xixi never complained, you can tell Duan Xu's heart hurts without him knowing. He doesn't express his feelings well, which is why he hides his care behind bickerings and naggings. (I can elaborate even more but it'll be too long..)
When in relationship, Duan Xu has been relenting multiple times regarding marriage. He is one who fears marriage and for him to go from BGR to engaged, in a matter of days~weeks, is a huge step. He's doing all these to give Xixi the security she needs. Do note that they havent been dating for long, Id say a month at most? Will you marry someone only after a month of dating? Not many will. Also considering Duan Xu's family situation, he knows he has to settle that first, he only needed more time for his commissions and year end bonus to finally finish repaying the 200K debt. Unfortunately, his family decided to throw their son under the bus, by asking for a loan of 100K from Xixi's family. That was the bottomline for Xixi's parents as well as Duan Xu.
Xixi's parents do not approve of this relationship, and you have to understand that we Chinese place high importance when it comes to family blessings for marriage. Xixi's parents wanted Duan Xu to resort to any method to break up with Xixi. Duan Xu did fought for Xixi, he didn't just give Xixi up, but because Xixi's father was adamant about them breaking up, Duan Xu couldn't do anything more.
Imagine your life as Duan Xu's, having no light for many years, not loved by parents, and here comes your sun Xixi, who you wish to protect dearly, only to end up having to push her away because you don't deserve such sunlight. Its a horrible feeling, to have seen the light the hope and then be thrown into darkness. Duan Xu hurts too.
Duan Xu's ex-gf appearing on the day they broke up was NOT part of Duan Xu's plan. It was a coincidence... that helped the break up. The child called everyone "Dad" probably because he isn't that great with Chinese yet. There's a Chinese saying "its better to suffer short-term pain rather than long-term pain" and the quickest way, was right by his doorstep so Duan Xu just went with the flow. Stupid man, drunk and not using his brains. That was an idiot move I admit. But best believe his heart hurt too.
The thing about Teng. Teng claims that Xixi hasn't been herself but, he hasn't seen how Xixi is with Duan Xu. Xixi is herself whenever she's (working) with Duan Xu, she has worn whatever she wanted. The only time she didn't do as she liked was when she's with Liu Ke. Duan Xu never restricted what Xixi can or cannot wear/do. Duan Xu loves her for how she is. Y'all ever notice that after Xixi got together with Teng, she never used her "aegyo voice" anymore? Her voice is a tone deeper than normal, she doesn't pout, sulk or smile anymore. Her smiles are forced and only done so when she reminded herself to. Teng doesn't know Xixi, even when Teng invited her over to his house, he's chopping Tomatoes. The camera panned to Teng chopping Tomatoes thrice. Xixi doesn't like Tomatoes.
Materialistically, theyre compatible, but Xixi, an idealist, doesn't care for such material stuff, she can get anything she wants by herself. Which is why when Teng gave her an apartment, she wasn't moved by him at all, because she has the ability to buy one that she's satisfied with herself. Honestly if Teng was pursuing me after I broke up with Duan Xu, I'd accept him, because I'm not from a wealthy family and place money of high importance when it comes to living life as a realist. If Teng gave me an apartment, I'd be touched. Xixi's different, she places her ideal life of high importance. She wants to marry to the person she loves, not just marrying for the sake of marrying, if not she wouldn't have wasted 5 years on Liu Ke.
Also, who simply asks for a girl's hand in marriage when they only met for 4~5 times these days?? If I didn't know Teng better I would've said Teng is eyeing Xixi's family assets. Their relationship would've also turned into a business marriage. I don't like people who rush into marriage, so this was a huge minus for me.
Duan Xu as a realist takes serious consideration regarding marriage, has plans to one, finish repaying his debts by (lunar) year end, two, save up for marriage rather than rushing. He wants to give Xixi the best he could, not just sloppily engage and register marriage without holding a wedding, without an apartment, without a diamond ring. Xixi is Duan Xu's princess, he spoils her like she's his daughter (in chinese we call DX 爹系男友, boyfriend-who-acts-like-your-dad kind) so naturally he'd want to give the lavish wedding & honeymoon Xixi deserves even if Xixi said that she doesn't mind not having them. Afterall, its a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Everyone can tell Xixi isn't happy at all, it says a lot when someone who places marriage of high importance, isn't excited at all about her own marriage. Even her friend, Wen Ru Xue, told her "you're Mrs Teng, as well as his business partner, very incredible" rather than "you're blissful". She has been faking a strong facade in front of everyone including Teng, keeping her joyful self locked. It was only at the very end, where her aegyo voice finally came back...
Thank you for reading, just wanted to let out some steam.
the drama's in the speculated list of dramas to air for March along with some other dramas that have started airing/have a scheduled airing date already (爱的理想生活, 恨君不似江楼月, 荣耀乒乓, 你是我的城池营垒, 司藤 etc)
A Girl Like Me's updates are similar yet not really similar to TRP's bc one, their schedule ensures that VVIP gets to watch every single paid episode before VIP does. their VVIP will always be finishing more episodes than VIP at any point in time of the drama airing.
whereas TRP's VVIP and VIP members have the choice to watch from the same episodes every week bc of how stupid the sched is.. (by the time VVIP members get more episodes, VIP members area already on the same watching pace as VVIP and that is stupid if they were going to do VVIP features) which is also why most people are willing to wait the week out, get 2 new episodes daily rather than pay for the 10 VVIP at one go since ultimately both parties are going to be on the same standing at the end of the week, stupid marketing strat honestly
tencent's airing schedule is typically the same, the difference is only with waiting times either being a minimum of 2~3 days or maximum 4 days depending on the actors like you said, which is also what I hoped TRP's sched to be like, a 4 day wait for both vip and vvip..
I didnt watch JoL in full nor keep up with the releases bc the drama was so long and by the time I waited for more episodes I had no hype for it already, and also the ending + painful wait for season 2 isnt really my cup of tea considering that Ive learnt my lesson from watching Legend of Chu Qiao (and that drama is no where getting its s2 any time soon lmao I think ZLY totally forgot about that drama already;;;;)
the mini leaks are what keeps the current viewers going honestly, Id appreciate that but I do see why new viewers wouldnt like that... besides, another strat to keep viewers is via bloopers but youku isnt releasing any of that, lord. we're at episode 41 and we dont have any main casts' bloopers, like, ????
but yeah I was also on the verge of dropping bc the ML had so less scenes lmao and there were a number of draggy scenes that lasted several episodes while the novel merely used a few lines and pages to get over with
TBARP's under iqiyi and their VIP and VVIP got new content at the same time (ie Wed-Fri showtimes and VVIP gets extra paid content on Fri, and on the subsequent Wed. VVIP still gets more extra paid content), maximum waiting time is 4 days only.. or if you seen recent's hype drama under tencent Legend of Fei, they too, have new VVIP content on top of the VIP content that's released for the week even after the extra episodes, maximum waiting time is 3 days.
that's how youku was supposed to do it but they kinda screwed it by making people wait one entire week and the hype is kinda gone now (which is the reason why they bumped more release dates and lowered the vvip price)
but yes youku is the one who updates their airing slots the most (4 times already for this drama alone), other platforms do too, just kinda rare and typically theyre for vvip so.. but ugh this 7 day wait for a 68-episodes long drama... really wished they kinda followed Ruyi's RLITP airing schedule