One thing I really like about this drama is that even for the characters you feel frustrated about like Xiao Ding's mom, there are also moments of ugh, I get it. Like none of the characters are straight up meant to be "bad" (except for Fan but he is such a typical man LMAO). They feel like regular people making decisions based on their unique circumstances which honestly is a breath of fresh air.
They all got their own lives to live and goals and doesn't revolve their lives around the main character (which I find a lot of dramas tend to do to the point that the supporting characters felt like they exist just to support or go against the MC).
Review for episode 8-9 under spoilers (oof a roller coaster):
Episode 8:
Tian Rong working hard at her job and slowly coming out of the breakup period is great to see. She definitely has talent in real estate since she is using her research/planning to buy 3 houses now to rent them out believing the house prices will eventually go up. Her parents were against it at first but were really supportive too at the end and gave her the money they saved to buy those houses. A huge risk but they see Rong's sincerity and believe in her.
The law firm is currently working on this case with Li Ming company and Li Guang is an investor/executive there. Seems like Li Ming company has some internal conflict and Li Guang is holding back from working with the law firm since he wants to resolve the internal conflict first.
Li Guang and Mujia officially met! One fun fact we find out about him, he is a foodie and invest in the food industry a lot. The wine confusion accident was pretty funny lmao. Wine seems to be a big symbolism for this budding relationship. Mujia doesn't know anything about wine and Li Guang gave her one saying to try it out. Feel like this is part of their future relationship where she will try out something she has never done before (and finds out she does enjoy it). She later gave that wine to Lawyer Wu so I think here she is drawing a line here between them.
New info we have on Mujia. Mujia's mom said she was 6 when the parents divorced and Mujia told her mom that "The place that has you is home" awwww.
BIG YIKES, Mujia's mom didn't know Mujia and Xiao Ding broke up yet and called him and found out from him. Her mom is maaaaad at Mujia since part of the money she gave Mujia for the house came from their relatives too. Omg she blamed Mujia for the breakup wow... and she wants Mujia back with Xiao Ding (she doesn't know at this point that Xiao Ding lost all the money for the house). Oh man, this is such a reality especially back in the early 2000s, the girl always get blamed for breakups and parents worried they won't be able to marry ugh.
Oh this is embarrassing, Mujia's mom went to Xiao Ding's house and his parents were there too. At this point, Mujia's mom knows Xiao Ding lost the money. Mujia's mom basically begging Xiao Ding to take back Mujia. I am about to lose it!! Xiao Ding's mom also blaming Mujia WOW. Xiao Ding's dad ended up giving Mujia and her mom the money they gave for the house and additional money since they felt regret over this situation too. Mujia's mom was against taking the money (since she wants them back together) and Mujia took the money to end it for good (but she planned to give the money back to Xiao Ding SIGH).
Episode 9:
Oof. Conflict over the Li Ming building project since a construction worker got hurt on site and the material used was wonky. The associated company involved in this building project told Mujia not to make this a big deal since her law firm is working for Li Ming company aka she should be on their side. A roller coaster because Mujia got thanked by the construction workers since they got their compensation quick.
Lawyer Wu informed Li Guang about this and it sees like he is working on a plan to deal with this since it has to do with the internal conflict previously mentioned. Tons of players involved with different motives from those wanting to save on money so imported cheap materials, wanting the building only for the rich people, etc. Li Guang told Lawyer Wu to report them (part of his plotting because he wants to get rid of some of the investors). Mujia ended up taking the fall for this (and got suspended) but Lawyer Wu hinted to her to basically trust the process. I think this is going to be a real teaching moment for Mujia.
Housing market is continuing to rise so Xiao Ding's parents are rushing him to make sure he gets a secondhand house now before it becomes impossible to buy in Beijing (Xiao Ding has been working more hours at this time to try to get the money he lost from the stock market). Tian Rong helped him buy a house (and Mujia was okay with this). Mujia also met with Xiao Ding later to give him back the money his parents gave her. They had a toast and said "Happy Breakup" to each other.
Tian Rong is being really frugal since she brought the 3 houses so she gotta save whatever she can. From water and to her own food (she hid this from her parents, so they don't worry). She is hustling.
Omg! Ended with a cliff hanger! Mujia was walking at night and there was someone following her!
That scene was superb , landy li is good actress😃😃
Agreed! And I think the contrast to their later break up scene when Xiao Ding was sober again was great. They did date for 6 years after all, it was hard to let go.
Kind of obsessed with this drama at the moment so I just want to mention the subtle kindness the characters have for each other:
1) Mujia closing the door to Lawyer Wu's office when she was on a call with her ex-husband about the divorce so she can have her privacy and others can't overhear. 2) Lawyer Wu giving Mujia medicine for her period and medicine to sleep better at night after the breakup. 3) Mujia taking away the picture of Tian Rong and Fan from Tian Rong's bedside after Rong's breakup so Rong won't have to look at it. 4) Chen Qing's boyfriend wrapping food for Chen Qing and giving it to her first (that was when they were first introduced and it established well without words that he likes/cares for her a lot).
There are a lot more but I think this drama is really good at adding in these actions without words at all. They are things people do irl and they don't need acknowledgement but are signs of kindness/love.
Just dropping in some consensus from the C-side about this. Everyone's acting in this drama is being praised. The plot is also relatable with really good pacing. This is a youku production so it wasn't promoted heavily but it is on CCTV which is a big deal because not all C-dramas get to air on Chinese TV. There needs to be a certain quality to it. I think the drama will get more viewers via words of mouth as time goes on. But it is definitely doing decent there especially because it is not relying on traffic stars and everyone can actually act.
The boyfriend/Xiao Ding went on the blind date with the Beijing girl mentioned in episode 1. Mujia has no relationship with her. Tian Rong (her best friend) wasn't involved in this situation.
Xiao Ding didn't tell her about the blind date so yeah, he kept it from her and made plans with the Beijing girl to play games on the weekend because he saw a game sticker on the girl's phone and he played that game too.
Review for episode 6-7 under spoilers (looong because I typed this as I was watching and these 2 episodes had…
Episode 6:
Big yikes. Xiao Ding's mom and 3rd aunt got him to meet with that Beijing girl mentioned in episode 1... he told her he has a girlfriend but they still made plans on the weekend to play a game both likes... and he lied to Mujia about it. He hung up his phone call with Mujia but accepted the Beijing girl's call and played game... Disappointed but not surprised.
There goes the stock market crash. Xiao Ding's co-worker even told him to pull out already when he was already losing money but now he lost everything.
New characters! We have Chen Qing (Mujia's cousin) and Chen Qing's boyfriend who came back from overseas to stay in Beijing long term and advance their careers there. They seem like great characters so far. We also got Xiao Zhang (he is the doctor + 3rd roommate the girls are living with but we haven't seen until now). Lmao his entrance was hilarious.
We also got our second quick meeting with Mujia and Li Guang! Mujia still doesn't know Li Guang has work relationship with the law firm. Li Guang definitely thinking Mujia is cute with the way she smiled when she turned back.
Fan is an A-HOLE! He was looking down on Tian Rong for switching jobs and now with her doing real estate which she is actually interested in. Thank goodness he broke up with her so now she will be free. It will be tough for her for a bit, but it is the best for her. Glad she has a best friend like Mujia who prevents her from crawling back to the ex.
Episode 7:
The truth is out. Mujia was notified that Xiao Ding didn't pay down payment(?) for the house and she went to look for him. She couldn't find her all day and even thought he got into an accident.
Then his drunk ass had the audacity to show up and berate her and said how he did all this for HER... and how she is greedy since she used her own money to buy expensive shoes (which she needed for work). Saying how she changed since she started working at the law firm. And how she is always busy working, so they did split eventually. And then even said no more money, no more house, are you still willing to marry me (and then getting mad when she didn't answer)... I will fight him!! Mujia even gave him 2 chances to leave and talk when he is sober but nope. He kept on going.
I loveeeee Lawyer Wu. Mujia went to work overtime after that fight with Xiao Ding and Lawyer Wu found out how Mujia still came to work to complete a good report despite all of that. Mujia said it was her job and Lawyer said no, it is because you are outstanding. And gave her advice on how to distract herself at this time/put energy into other things.
Mujia and Tian Rong are the best. When Tian Rong went through it after Fan broke up with her, Mujia said "You still have Lee Mujia" and when Xiao Ding and Mujia were over, Tian Rong said "You still have Tian Rong".
Oh man, Xiao Ding's mom. On one hand, she was like Xiao Ding and Mujia are no longer on the same path. On the other hand, she also said to Xiao Ding to bring Mujia dumplings and to tell her if she wants, auntie can always make them for her and cried. SIGH.
Xiao Ding went to look for Mujia after he was sober (with the love cola that Mujia likes/reference to episode 1 and dumplings his mom made for her) to try to get back with her. But he eventually breaks up with her for good. The breakup scene is so so so sad. He was saying how he was looking at her law firm building as he was waiting, and how everyone is so fast, that she is part of that world too, very beautiful, very charismatic. That when they were in school, she did go to him for help, he was her "connection". But he is an obstacle now, can't catch up to her, and made a mess. That he has to let her go now. Honestly, I cried hard at this scene. Mujia drinking the cola and stuffing her mouth with the dumplings while crying and Xiao Ding on the bus with 2 earbuds in when he used to share it with Mujia. The acting is amazing here.
Lawyer Wu coming in with her advice again because Mujia was wondering if they broke up too quickly over this. Lawyer Wu said people should have standards and limits and using her ex-husband cheating on her as an example. And to always love themselves 100% in order to find someone that did also love them 100%.
Mujia: "I am really lucky to have met you". Lawyer Wu: "Maybe it is me who picked up a treasure".
I am seeing spoiler clips of Mujia with Li Guang from later episodes (don't want to spoil their moments) and it seems like it will be a happy ending for sure.
1
They all got their own lives to live and goals and doesn't revolve their lives around the main character (which I find a lot of dramas tend to do to the point that the supporting characters felt like they exist just to support or go against the MC).
Tian Rong working hard at her job and slowly coming out of the breakup period is great to see. She definitely has talent in real estate since she is using her research/planning to buy 3 houses now to rent them out believing the house prices will eventually go up. Her parents were against it at first but were really supportive too at the end and gave her the money they saved to buy those houses. A huge risk but they see Rong's sincerity and believe in her.
The law firm is currently working on this case with Li Ming company and Li Guang is an investor/executive there. Seems like Li Ming company has some internal conflict and Li Guang is holding back from working with the law firm since he wants to resolve the internal conflict first.
Li Guang and Mujia officially met! One fun fact we find out about him, he is a foodie and invest in the food industry a lot. The wine confusion accident was pretty funny lmao. Wine seems to be a big symbolism for this budding relationship. Mujia doesn't know anything about wine and Li Guang gave her one saying to try it out. Feel like this is part of their future relationship where she will try out something she has never done before (and finds out she does enjoy it). She later gave that wine to Lawyer Wu so I think here she is drawing a line here between them.
New info we have on Mujia. Mujia's mom said she was 6 when the parents divorced and Mujia told her mom that "The place that has you is home" awwww.
BIG YIKES, Mujia's mom didn't know Mujia and Xiao Ding broke up yet and called him and found out from him. Her mom is maaaaad at Mujia since part of the money she gave Mujia for the house came from their relatives too. Omg she blamed Mujia for the breakup wow... and she wants Mujia back with Xiao Ding (she doesn't know at this point that Xiao Ding lost all the money for the house). Oh man, this is such a reality especially back in the early 2000s, the girl always get blamed for breakups and parents worried they won't be able to marry ugh.
Oh this is embarrassing, Mujia's mom went to Xiao Ding's house and his parents were there too. At this point, Mujia's mom knows Xiao Ding lost the money. Mujia's mom basically begging Xiao Ding to take back Mujia. I am about to lose it!! Xiao Ding's mom also blaming Mujia WOW. Xiao Ding's dad ended up giving Mujia and her mom the money they gave for the house and additional money since they felt regret over this situation too. Mujia's mom was against taking the money (since she wants them back together) and Mujia took the money to end it for good (but she planned to give the money back to Xiao Ding SIGH).
Episode 9:
Oof. Conflict over the Li Ming building project since a construction worker got hurt on site and the material used was wonky. The associated company involved in this building project told Mujia not to make this a big deal since her law firm is working for Li Ming company aka she should be on their side. A roller coaster because Mujia got thanked by the construction workers since they got their compensation quick.
Lawyer Wu informed Li Guang about this and it sees like he is working on a plan to deal with this since it has to do with the internal conflict previously mentioned. Tons of players involved with different motives from those wanting to save on money so imported cheap materials, wanting the building only for the rich people, etc. Li Guang told Lawyer Wu to report them (part of his plotting because he wants to get rid of some of the investors). Mujia ended up taking the fall for this (and got suspended) but Lawyer Wu hinted to her to basically trust the process. I think this is going to be a real teaching moment for Mujia.
Housing market is continuing to rise so Xiao Ding's parents are rushing him to make sure he gets a secondhand house now before it becomes impossible to buy in Beijing (Xiao Ding has been working more hours at this time to try to get the money he lost from the stock market). Tian Rong helped him buy a house (and Mujia was okay with this). Mujia also met with Xiao Ding later to give him back the money his parents gave her. They had a toast and said "Happy Breakup" to each other.
Tian Rong is being really frugal since she brought the 3 houses so she gotta save whatever she can. From water and to her own food (she hid this from her parents, so they don't worry). She is hustling.
Omg! Ended with a cliff hanger! Mujia was walking at night and there was someone following her!
1) Mujia closing the door to Lawyer Wu's office when she was on a call with her ex-husband about the divorce so she can have her privacy and others can't overhear.
2) Lawyer Wu giving Mujia medicine for her period and medicine to sleep better at night after the breakup.
3) Mujia taking away the picture of Tian Rong and Fan from Tian Rong's bedside after Rong's breakup so Rong won't have to look at it.
4) Chen Qing's boyfriend wrapping food for Chen Qing and giving it to her first (that was when they were first introduced and it established well without words that he likes/cares for her a lot).
There are a lot more but I think this drama is really good at adding in these actions without words at all. They are things people do irl and they don't need acknowledgement but are signs of kindness/love.
Xiao Ding didn't tell her about the blind date so yeah, he kept it from her and made plans with the Beijing girl to play games on the weekend because he saw a game sticker on the girl's phone and he played that game too.
Big yikes. Xiao Ding's mom and 3rd aunt got him to meet with that Beijing girl mentioned in episode 1... he told her he has a girlfriend but they still made plans on the weekend to play a game both likes... and he lied to Mujia about it. He hung up his phone call with Mujia but accepted the Beijing girl's call and played game... Disappointed but not surprised.
There goes the stock market crash. Xiao Ding's co-worker even told him to pull out already when he was already losing money but now he lost everything.
New characters! We have Chen Qing (Mujia's cousin) and Chen Qing's boyfriend who came back from overseas to stay in Beijing long term and advance their careers there. They seem like great characters so far. We also got Xiao Zhang (he is the doctor + 3rd roommate the girls are living with but we haven't seen until now). Lmao his entrance was hilarious.
We also got our second quick meeting with Mujia and Li Guang! Mujia still doesn't know Li Guang has work relationship with the law firm. Li Guang definitely thinking Mujia is cute with the way she smiled when she turned back.
Fan is an A-HOLE! He was looking down on Tian Rong for switching jobs and now with her doing real estate which she is actually interested in. Thank goodness he broke up with her so now she will be free. It will be tough for her for a bit, but it is the best for her. Glad she has a best friend like Mujia who prevents her from crawling back to the ex.
Episode 7:
The truth is out. Mujia was notified that Xiao Ding didn't pay down payment(?) for the house and she went to look for him. She couldn't find her all day and even thought he got into an accident.
Then his drunk ass had the audacity to show up and berate her and said how he did all this for HER... and how she is greedy since she used her own money to buy expensive shoes (which she needed for work). Saying how she changed since she started working at the law firm. And how she is always busy working, so they did split eventually. And then even said no more money, no more house, are you still willing to marry me (and then getting mad when she didn't answer)... I will fight him!! Mujia even gave him 2 chances to leave and talk when he is sober but nope. He kept on going.
I loveeeee Lawyer Wu. Mujia went to work overtime after that fight with Xiao Ding and Lawyer Wu found out how Mujia still came to work to complete a good report despite all of that. Mujia said it was her job and Lawyer said no, it is because you are outstanding. And gave her advice on how to distract herself at this time/put energy into other things.
Mujia and Tian Rong are the best. When Tian Rong went through it after Fan broke up with her, Mujia said "You still have Lee Mujia" and when Xiao Ding and Mujia were over, Tian Rong said "You still have Tian Rong".
Oh man, Xiao Ding's mom. On one hand, she was like Xiao Ding and Mujia are no longer on the same path. On the other hand, she also said to Xiao Ding to bring Mujia dumplings and to tell her if she wants, auntie can always make them for her and cried. SIGH.
Xiao Ding went to look for Mujia after he was sober (with the love cola that Mujia likes/reference to episode 1 and dumplings his mom made for her) to try to get back with her. But he eventually breaks up with her for good. The breakup scene is so so so sad. He was saying how he was looking at her law firm building as he was waiting, and how everyone is so fast, that she is part of that world too, very beautiful, very charismatic. That when they were in school, she did go to him for help, he was her "connection". But he is an obstacle now, can't catch up to her, and made a mess. That he has to let her go now. Honestly, I cried hard at this scene. Mujia drinking the cola and stuffing her mouth with the dumplings while crying and Xiao Ding on the bus with 2 earbuds in when he used to share it with Mujia. The acting is amazing here.
Lawyer Wu coming in with her advice again because Mujia was wondering if they broke up too quickly over this. Lawyer Wu said people should have standards and limits and using her ex-husband cheating on her as an example. And to always love themselves 100% in order to find someone that did also love them 100%.
Mujia: "I am really lucky to have met you".
Lawyer Wu: "Maybe it is me who picked up a treasure".
I LOVE THEM.