Believable and deeply realistic
I never expected to love this drama as much as I did. I initially clicked on it simply because it was a remake of the popular Korean series Misaeng and I wanted something fresh—an office drama without excessive melodrama. I haven’t even watched Misaeng, but I absolutely loved this one.
What surprised me most was how this drama seemed to just "find" me and quietly teach me meaningful lessons. I’ve worked in corporate lending, so I know firsthand how authentic the story is. The way it captured the core issues of the division was incredibly vivid. Watching it honestly made me feel “alive,” like I was back in that environment again.
That said, one part felt a bit over the top to me—the bullying of new employees. Even at headquarters, no matter how much of a “golden staff” someone is, putting their legs up on the table like Lu Si Qiu did would be pretty unthinkable, and the fact that no one dared to call him out felt unrealistic. The same goes for Lan Qian Yi being bullied into doing “housework.” Bringing tea or coffee for your boss is normal office stuff, but actual “housework” felt like too much. I’m not sure if this really happens in Chinese office culture, but in my country, that kind of bullying simply doesn’t happen.
Overall, this is an exceptionally strong office drama—especially for someone with a background like mine. If you think this kind of story would be boring, absolutely not. This is my second drama with Mark Chao, and once again, he truly impressed me. Seeing him transform from a character known for emotional vulnerability into someone visibly angry and impatient was refreshing—and he nailed it perfectly. Every actor brought their character vividly to life, making them feel real and deeply relatable. The office design, vibes, and corporate environment were spot-on, and it’s clear the production team poured immense care and attention into even the smallest details.
Bravo to everyone involved.
What surprised me most was how this drama seemed to just "find" me and quietly teach me meaningful lessons. I’ve worked in corporate lending, so I know firsthand how authentic the story is. The way it captured the core issues of the division was incredibly vivid. Watching it honestly made me feel “alive,” like I was back in that environment again.
That said, one part felt a bit over the top to me—the bullying of new employees. Even at headquarters, no matter how much of a “golden staff” someone is, putting their legs up on the table like Lu Si Qiu did would be pretty unthinkable, and the fact that no one dared to call him out felt unrealistic. The same goes for Lan Qian Yi being bullied into doing “housework.” Bringing tea or coffee for your boss is normal office stuff, but actual “housework” felt like too much. I’m not sure if this really happens in Chinese office culture, but in my country, that kind of bullying simply doesn’t happen.
Overall, this is an exceptionally strong office drama—especially for someone with a background like mine. If you think this kind of story would be boring, absolutely not. This is my second drama with Mark Chao, and once again, he truly impressed me. Seeing him transform from a character known for emotional vulnerability into someone visibly angry and impatient was refreshing—and he nailed it perfectly. Every actor brought their character vividly to life, making them feel real and deeply relatable. The office design, vibes, and corporate environment were spot-on, and it’s clear the production team poured immense care and attention into even the smallest details.
Bravo to everyone involved.
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