HOP2020

Are we watching same drama? Anyone with commitment phobia wouldn’t be asking to date openly or even ageee to exclusivity when the FL gave it as a condition for their secret relationship. Do you actually know the meaning of having a phobia of commitment? It means you don’t even want a committed relationship or be seen with the person you’re having something with. But so far, up to Ep.10, ML is the one wanting openness and the FL wants everything hidden. She is the one actually being immature.

Yes, you like your superior and sleeping with him, then own it with your full chest. She’s not some high schooler. Or an inexperienced person (she had a boyfriend that she broke up with because he didn’t want to move to Beijing with her). She is also not a small town girl. She’s from Harbin. That’s not a small city in China either.

She’s just indecisive. She thinks being an independent lady means not accepting any form of help (real life isn’t really like that).
She also only started dating him when she was already working there and only got promoted after she transferred out of his team. So, basically she had proven herself and her worth to the company. Hiding the relationship made no sense.

Unfortunately this is real life done people are like this. When their supposed partner then gets tired or frustrated, they play victim 🤭.

Yeah, she’s the one setting the tone and rules of the relationship. The ML wants to openly date her from the get go. Even asked to be dropped off together at work, but the FL refused and wanted to be dropped off first.

Also, the ML was the one who found a compromise that their relationship be secret before the FL agreed and then said they will be exclusive. Even ML said if they want to date other people, then the person has to inform the other person truthfully before moving on. That’s a big compromise for a relationship.

But, I do understand FL. She’s torn between her feelings and being seen as an independent hard worker. She doesn’t want to be accused to getting ahead based of her manager. I can understand that conflict.

I do think she should be bold enough and damn whatever people will think of her and date him openly. That way they would have avoided any misunderstanding.

FL wants to eat her cake and have it. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.

Yep! I felt like you too when her chapter ended.

He did more as a kid 🤭. Such change in personality and he was just occupying screen time.

This was a really good show. Of course it had its flaws, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

NB: The perfect villain in this drama was the Fu daughter in-law who was a widow. The actress was exceptional in portraying this role. No where near the Yu’s 🤭.

And in reality/real life, relationships are rarely slow burn like C-dramas show. Not even in China 🤭.
And you’re right, these are two grown adults and not some high schoolers.

After finishing this show, I’ve even become more pissed at the unnecessary killing off of one of the main characters.

No explanation, no reasoning behind the crime, just nothing! It even proves more that it was just included for shock value. It was not even tied to the entire story or any plot at all.

Definitely reduced my rating for the show.

Don’t even get me started with the unpolished finishing. I mean, I know it’s focused on the criminal law reforms, however, it is still a drama and a story is being told. The producers should as well finish the story properly instead of acting like we are watching a documentary on China’s criminal law system and reform.

Made no sense to kill off one of the main characters. That’s a big flaw in this drama. Seems producers just wanted to drop a bomb for bomb sake. SMH

I agree 👏! I am also looking forward to the new episodes. So far, I’ve seen the growth since their Nanyu internship days.

I agree! Looking forward to the other episodes as well.

Up to ep. 8 so far, and the criminal cases I’ve seen, makes me want to pull
my hair out. So aggravating! Don’t even get me started with the people working in the justice system, who don’t want to do any work and just want the easy judgment so they can move on. My gosh!

Although it seems where I’m watching it is so behind. They have only 10 episodes uploaded so far.
Probably will have to watch this on a Chinese site to continue.

Kinda a bit disappointed with the high ratings of this one. Started out really good, then went down hill mid-way in, and minimally went up before the ending.

I rolled my eyes a lot with the kind of plot armour given to the FL, like WTH was that 🤦‍♀️.

Stuck it out — mostly to see how the emperor’s role will be resolved.

Yes, set up by Madam Yu to teach FL and ML that choosing to start from the bottom and being righteous is a fool’s errand.

She made that statement in her carriage when returning to the Capital and the main couple where going to military post far away.

She thinks they should have chosen a worthy reward from the crown prince.

She also doesn’t like how FL got something on her with Yake (daughter in-law) signed confession letter. FL outsmarted her 🤭.

Ok, I’ve become obsessed with this one. It reminds me of a Splendid Match that aired earlier this year. Hopefully it will get a better ending than the former.

Yes. You are right. Once he discovers she didn't listen to him, he will immediately realise she's not the docile spouse (who will always listen to him) that he wanted.
That's where her problems begins. Because she will have no backing at all.

Madam Yu plays in the capital politics. Of course she will be worse 🙊.

Because the Yan wife they brought down, gave her a reality shock with her speech. She was already falling for ML and Mrs Yan, gave her a wake up call. And to be honest, it's good for waters she about to enter into.
FL doesn't want to go somewhere quiet and live a peaceful happy family life. No, she's ambitious and to do that, she needs to heed Mrs Yan's advice on women's place in the society.

I do believe that even with cultural limitations at the time, there were women who broke the glass ceiling. They may not be prominent or even few, but definitely there are. I once watched a Youtube Doc on Chinese unmarried women at the dynasty times who thrived alone.

Even in today's world, there are women in strict cultures who deviate from societal expectations and limitations. It is normal human behaviour. Everyone is not born a conformist – no matter the era.

However, this is not to say that some C-dramas do not exaggerate and use modern day's lens in making their historical drama.

Envy! Envy can make one imagine different things as reality and believe it. She envied the FL (even though FL is actually caged in her family and only able to manoeuvre the family politics because she was smart and perceptive) and that's why when those things were said to her (by the witch daughter in-law), she believed them.
FL was already aware that the 2ML doesn't like her, which was why she never tried to curry his favour and instead went to his mum. FL understood what the whole thing was.
2FL on the other hand is ruled by envy, and even when the FL wasn't after her and minding her business, she kept poking the bear and tried to act like the "ultimate winner", until FL fought back.
I love what FL told her " that even without her forcing her to sign the confession and clearing her name, she still will not live a smooth life in the Yu family because her future mother in-law looked at her the way her grandma looked at Zhao bought daughter inlaw". That really stung! But it's the truth.

Sadly she didn't learn anything and proceeded to sell more book. 🤣