KnitTeaTankLock

Disliked ML hair in his face. It happened more than once. You are warned: there is repeat unflattering fringe/bangs/bowl hair. Things are tough but I got through and so can you.

Had to work hard on my suspension of disbelief at times but was enough fun it was worth it.

this does miss some bits near the start that explain the blind date thing

I came across this on YT as "My Stray CEO" and half hoped for some Momo vibes but instead it was grossout/slapstick humour that really didn't work for me in a story that got more OTT culminating in a quintet of "beggar" rapists haha -NOT. The only I thing I liked was random fencing and competitive broody Grandpas.

Only watched until ep3 but I thought the "sick Gao Tu delivers document to Hua Young" scene would go differently... seems like I unconsciously boarded the doomed ship

TY! Note to self- add Completed when page exists

My second version of this story - I was drawn to the concept of FL origin as a General in this but in terms of execution preferred Lan Lan one. Really disappointed in the "general" aura, more constipated indignant high schooler than commanding warrior, and in her flashbacks she's even more childish. Then I'm supposed to believe she suddenly abandons the lifetime of feudal conservativism she's been adhering to thus far, not only asking to sleep with a man before marriage but even refusing his proposal afterwards? Body shaming was really bad in this one too, worse than the bitchy height remarks in Lan Lan one. Only thing I liked was arrogant ML being pulled around by his tie and looking happy about it (twice).

Overall middle of the road with some cute moments and a stupid ending. The main couple and best friend had some quite good banter. Comeuppance was lame and imbalanced, not really the sense of catharsis I hoped for- OTT for some and barely there for the main evils. I guess this was more about her growth from guilt hostage punchbag to standing up for herself (which was portrayed quite well until the very end where a cardboard standee of her could have done the same job of seeking justice) .

I had to toggle between 3 different links to try and work out some of the subtitles as each was garbled in its own way. One significant moment is when her fiancé makes her a risky deal that will win him arranging the marriage . After she completes her end of the deal I'm pretty sure (from her eyes/stance and attitude afterwards) that instead of marriage, she uses it as a final payment to end things. But what she defiantly said (in each link) was "sunny", "debauchery" or "it's cleared up". As for Fu Si Jiu discussion on phone (with his ?sister? in Cantonese?) beyond even frankentranslation.

Best bit for me was when XXC tries to emotionally blackmail FL to come to him, injuring himself "all for her sake". FL tells his aide to put him on the phone and he perks up thinking his moral kidnapping has finally succeeded. She tells him "If you're not having treatment then leave the hospital , stop wasting medical resources." I mean, sure that's significant moment for her journey and all that, but FINALLY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF DRAMAS SOMEONE SAID IT.

Think this is "Done With Being Your Unrequited Crush" on IQIYI

Fun!! I'm drawn to this actress's eyebrows, they curve upwards like little smiles when she's trying to be a persecuted rabbit. For once the persecution was a smiley ML shirtlessly nibbling at her misguided loyalties.

Just in case you didn't find a good option- I had the same problem and it turns out IQIYI doesn't show me vertical drama "shorts" section on PC/TV even though I pay for VIP , they are only available on app on tablet/phone. This one is called "Fall Twice In Love" on IQIYI.

FL character is hard to sympathise with, and ML "strong intervention" is hard to justify, as at the end she still exhibits little growth or agency and everything remains controlled and solved by ML. The one thing she attempts herself she spoons it over something important -which is repeatedly thrown in her face - so it's hard to believe she forgot/wouldn't bring to ML attention beforehand even if just to test him.
I liked the couple's chemistry chemistrying in random places, and the acting in one of the pivotal moments was good enough to get me in the feelz for them both. I also liked the refreshing fun with his parents esp his mum, and the softly spoken elegant evil of the main female antagonist (disliked the hamminess of male antagonist). Overall it's a meh from me.

I regret wasting time on this. Simultaneously too much and also not enough. The only good thing was the solidarity between hostesses.

RE: the "too much": I ffwd through a lot and it was still too much misery for my tastes. Maybe it would have been better if we'd had the ML inner monologue to balance hers and explain...anything? . Or he'd done more to redeem himself other than hypocritically beat up someone who had effectively done the same as him save with less SA?

RE: the not enough: As I was watching I thought "any minute now his aide is going to elope with her and start a crazy pursuit of possessive rage" (both cos of the sympathy eyes he was giving and the general darkness of the drama). But no.

Then I thought maybe the cute Dr might just do an unhinged version of SML and kidnap Zhou Si Nan (pretending it was out of historic crush for her and current concern for his patient but really out of sublimated desire for Yu Zhi). Alas not.

By the end I was low key shipping her with the "pervert", I thought that she'd be empowered by the qipao/cheongsam she was wearing, channel the Mother-dearest vibes , vent her helpless fury in a diatribe of scolding and have the mama's boy eating out of her palm and doing her bidding in a shock twist. But apparently that was too out there whereas him keeping a pet tank of water on the roof wasn't.

After all the suffering the actual end was: the jerk accepted tea where previously he'd refused it. Tada! And the brutalised girls were moved that such a handsome noble would deign to grace their wretched abode with his stately presence and, despite his germaphobia, not refuse their humble servility. I love tea and all but after all that he couldn't even brew it himself??.

FL Line that I'm still amused by a day later: "Flirting is my hobby. It's your fault that your heart was moved"

Fun! Agreed with everything in @emberzmars review . I particularly liked that FL doesn't shy from using brute aggression to those who plot against her yet holds back when it means converting hostile encounters into business wins. I liked her "don't tone police my justified rage" vibe; although she clearly had the ability for verbal fencing and counter scheming, why waste time and smarts doing so with irredeemable low lifes when you can just flip the table and go?! I liked how the ML was insistent without forcing, then retreated without coldness - he wasn't kidding when he said not to underestimate a man's ability to learn (and his use of that line was adorable).

(or near end of ep5)

7min 40secs what I have I just seen???

Better than average - even the villains acted pretty well and the leads had convincing chemistry. Wang Yi Ran was especially mesmerising combining edgy with affectionate, (oh my! *fans self*).

Title of link I watched described it as "sold to 60 year old man, she seduced his son for freedom, was spoiled by him" but it was not really a naughty stepmother story despite how the opening scene appeared (did that ever happen in the drama?), closer to Save Myself (Ke Chun and Yu Yin) as a revenge/empowerment story.

Special mention owed to the baths; at least 3 different styles and 2 different petals, used for freedom, reminder of grudge, seduction, healing, and ofc cleansing.

The background plot and the ending especially were a mess, with tropes I strongly dislike being done badly, bad choices and selfish people getting no consequences, some unexplained loose ends.

But the couple themselves and their journey was done better than this framework deserved and was refreshingly realistic. I liked that there was calm mature vibe between them, no violence/abuse and their misunderstandings made sense. You could see why they divorced, and why they still had hope. The sadness around this decision was conveyed pretty well, I could feel her exhaustion and his battle between helplessness, possession and wanting to make things right.

This might be boring/slow or a bit heavy if you're in the mood for a normal vertical drama frolic but I liked the change of seeing two gentle introverts fight lowkey style over the long haul, her for self fulfilment and him for her.

Their communication flex was lovely to see. FL explained her reasoning more than is common for these dramas and articulated her needs, when she needed space or wasn't ready. ML called FL out on interpreting him according to her assumptions even though he was trying to win her back- he apologised authentically rather than coaxed but he also said when he wasn't happy. I especially liked how they talked out the impact of third parties.

I also liked that they didn't turn into different people, he didn't suddenly become someone who forced himself on her even when he "losing control", or someone extroverted who would do the kinds of excessive public displays of affection that she'd previously envied, but he learned to show her in his own way without suffocating her and she learned to trust its worth and stop hiding.

The bullies call him an "ominous freak" because of his ethic/tribal clothes and being an orphan. Turns out they are right, as we see him plotting and mafia bossing around and, later, using sinister snake magic to attack (as well as below assaults).

So racism: check and
victim blaming orphan prejudices confirmed: check.
Bullying implicitly shown as justified.

The girl who comes to his aid is then "rewarded" as an adult by rape as per @thehepburn comment , with intention to noncon impregnate, and she is also poisoned with a parasite.

So on top of those non-con assault issues, we have confirming fears about risks for "good Samaritan" bystanders offering help check.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Wang_Yue )