A young and rich CEO is aroused by his secretary who's a single mom, divorced, and six years her senior.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Jiang Meng Jie: Ling Xun Xun
Liu Te: Cheng Li
Mi Lu: Zhou Quan
Li Qing Tian: Zhou Quan
Jiang Meng Jie: Ling Xun Xun
Liu Te: Cheng Li
Mi Lu: Zhou Quan
Li Qing Tian: Zhou Quan
Director:
你成功引起我的注意了
You Have Successfully Aroused My Interest
Network: Sohu
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Ling Xun Xun is 29, divorced with a child. Her ex-husband is raising their son because she has no job, no income. Although she graduated from a prestigious university, she married straight out of graduation and has zero job experience. When she accidentally crashes into Cheng Li's car, she shamelessly nabs an interview chance. During the interview, she accidentally hits her head against his chest. She falls over. He kneels down, touches her bangs and asks her in a smooth voice, "Is your hand harder or is it my chest harder?" The first conventional sweet moment. He asked because he wanted an apology for her bumping into him since her skull is harder than his ribs. She failed the interview but showed up for work anyways. He really doesn't want her but when his mom barges into his office it's Ling Xun Xun who saves him. Cheng Li abhors being in the same space as his mom and with Ling Xun Xun's help he decides to give her a chance at being his secretary. So what is this job. It is to be this rich, egoistical, selfish boy's 24/7 live-in-secretary. It involves being available at any moment he needs her, doesn't matter what time or what place. As Ling Xun Xun is packing her bags ready to live at her boss's mansion, she explains to her best friend, Zhou Quan, what this job is by using Wen Secretary's job in "Well Intended Love" as an example. She is Wen Secretary; Cheng Li is Ling Yi Zhou. There's no romance in this type of job whatsoever. This show can't make it anymore obvious it wants to be another Well Intended Love.
First day at work, she injures his forehead for suddenly breaking the car. However, he's impressed with her coffee-making skills. She is the first person ever to not be yelled at. Ling Xun Xun spent a lot of effort to gather information about his taste, she even visited his old housekeeper in the hospital to research her boss. She attended a party with him. Remind me, why does a secretary need to attend a party? Cheng Li makes a bet with his friend that his secretary will wear the embarrassing maid outfit. She ignores her pride and wears the degrading dress. It's so ugly. Cheng Li won the bet but he isn't happy. He wasn't actually expecting her to wear it.
Ling Xun Xun cleans up after the party; she's still in that humiliating dress. It starts to rain. Next day she ends up hospitalized from overworking herself and also from the cold rain in a skimpy dress. Zhou Quan lectures Cheng Li without giving him a chance to speak. Zhou Quan's anger simmers when he tells her he plans to give her a week off. The man does appreciate her a little. Ling Xun Xun spots her boss visiting her through a crack in her hospital door and smiles. She doesn't think he's that bad.
[Ep2] Cheng Li gives Ling Xun Xun one week's time to sign a contract with "Eric" or else she's fired. He reminds her to use her people skills well. The only person Ling Xun Xun knows is Zhou Quan, who by the way is a capable lawyer, but she doesn't want to bother her for everything. She depends on herself and ends up getting molested by a pervert. She doesn't give up and finally finds "Eric" on her own. It's Hui Yi Wang. He's actually a long-time friend of Zhou Quan and is willing to help her. Contract done. Cheng Li is proud. He doesn't show it though. Their team celebrates at KTV. She gets surrounded by multiple men and he heroically saves her. They escape together in his car. She bandages his injured hand. When she's not looking, he's smiling like a kid.
The next morning, Ling Xun Xun watches him eat her breakfast. He's happily chowing down her food. Ling Xun Xun has a proud mom look all over her face. On another note, Cheng Li is also quite proud of her. Turns out he knew of Zhou Quan's identity and her relationship with Hui Yi Wang. They're friends of ten years. He had wanted Ling Xun Xun to use their relationship to help his company get the contract. Zhou Quan isn't mad at him for using Ling Xun Xun (she never used the relationship anyways). She's thankful that Cheng Li for motivating Ling Xun Xun to rediscover her worth. She leaves her bestfriend in Cheng Li's care.
[Ep3] Cheng Li buys clothes for Ling Xun Xun. His excuse for giving her clothes is because she has the pride of being his secretary. He also invites her for dinner to celebrate the contract. However, when Hui Yi Wang asks Ling Xun Xun out for dinner in front of Cheng Li, CL permits her to have dinner with Hui Yi Wang instead. Hui Yi Wang promises him he'll return her by 12. Both men had reserved dinner at the same place. Cheng Li shows up with a friend instead and is surprised to see his secretary there as well. He smiles when he thinks Hui Yi Wang's pursuit of her has failed. Hui Yi Wang never had intentions to pursue her anyways. It was a mission given by Zhou Quan to make Ling Xun Xun look desirable, competent and attractive at work if a man of his caliber asked her out.
She returns home a little after 12 and he's already nagging her for it. Later the kiddo is watching a horror movie. There's a scary scene and he calls her over ordering her to not leave his sight. These two sure are getting closer. The next night he revamps an entire room for her to indulge in her love for painting.
[Ep4] Cheng Li isn't that bad of a guy at all. He gave his tuition to support Wang Dong (the original secretary) while he had to work all sorts of part time to support himself. This is why Wang Dong is loyal to Cheng Li. Cheng Li also outsmarts his mom in business and it's an eye opener how deep his knowledge runs and how good his people skills are.
Cheng Li is angry at Ling Xun Xun. She was outside drinking with a co-worker (the supposed gay one, Mike who has a makeup channel) and returns too drunk to open the door. She's disturbing his neighbours so he has no choice but to drag her dead body in. That's not what he's angry at though. She chose to sleep in his bed telling him she doesn't consider him a man. She doesn’t remember this though. She only knows she woke up in his bed. The entire morning, she's begging for forgiveness with sticky notes here and there. He's adamant on firing her or at least that's what his mouth says. When his secretary, Wang Dong, tells him he has to continue to use her because he's set to quit to chase his boxing dream. Cheng Li grunts but he smiles when no one's looking.
Meanwhile Ling Xun Xun is typing her resignation letter. Wang Dong convinces her that Cheng Li does like her (as his secretary). If not for that, he wouldn't have let her in his home so soon. Thus she continues her work. Cheng Li sees her hovering around and tells her he doesn't want to see her face but he does take the coffee she brewed for him. Ling Xun Xun takes his words seriously and shows up in a mask at work henceforth.
Second couple: Hui Yi Wang and Zhou Quan had an argument. She called him for rescue because only he can see her most embarrassing moment. She doesn't want other people to see it. He likes her and this to him is an insult because she doesn't see him as a man she wants to impress.
[Ep5] Lights are out at home and Cheng Li has fallen ill. He's got a physiological trauma from darkness. Ling Xun Xun took care of him the entire night. He finds comfort to wake up with her at his side. He does complain about the bandaging on his hand and wonders how she was a housewife with her skills; she must have married a chaebol. She dismisses it and feeds him congee. She comments on how he's similar to Dou Dou (her son) whom he misunderstood as her dog. He retaliates, "Are you insulting me right now?" Ha. It's revealed that they attended the same university. He may have seen her on campus. Despite being 23, he leaped two years in school hence he could have met LXX in his first year while she was in her fourth.
With his hand injured, he can't do his tie. Ling Xun Xun helps him and this is the first time they both feel butterflies. He's quick to recover; he tells her she better pay up her taxes for staring at him. This tax is called the "Beautiful Man Tax". It also turns out his hand isn't actually injured. He just wants special treatment from her.
Mom is suspicious of Ling Xun Xun's intent but Cheng Li takes her side in everything. He has absolute trust in her. When mom returns home, she takes out an old picture of Ling Xun Xun when she was young. Hmmmm.
[Ep6] Cheng Li tells Ling Xun Xun he can't choose her artwork to represent their company. He explains to her in the car ride that he can't choose it because she’s the artist, it wouldn't be fair. There's more for Ling Xun Xun to be disappointed about. She discovers that Cheng Li betrayed Hui Yi Wang's company. She can't accept his business ethics and resigns.
Ling Xun Xun belatedly learns Cheng Li had bought her painting. He bought it to show the artist he hired to use it as inspiration because the content of Ling Xun Xun's artwork is what he wants only her skills aren't quite there yet. Then Ling Xun Xun learns Hui Yi Wang knew of Cheng Li's plans all along, there was no betrayal. She regrets resigning but at the same time she received another job offer. Without much deliberation, she refuses the job offer. She asks Cheng Li for another chance but he's stillpretending to be angry. He goes through a sleuth of interviews for a new secretary but no one can replace the void Ling Xun Xun has left him. He drops his pride and calls her first after rehearsing a dozen time on how to ask her to come back
Ling Xun Xun belatedly learns Cheng Li had bought her painting. He bought it to show the artist he hired to use it as inspiration because the content of Ling Xun Xun's artwork is what he wants only her skills aren't quite there yet. Then Ling Xun Xun learns Hui Yi Wang knew of Cheng Li's plans all along, there was no betrayal. She regrets resigning but at the same time she received another job offer. Without much deliberation, she refuses the job offer. She asks Cheng Li for another chance but he's still
Second couple: Hui Yi Wang almost kisses Zhou Quan but he backs off because he knows she's drunk. He does carry her home in a oh so manly way. However, she's not that drunk. She was aware of everything. The next day, he confesses to her. She doesn't know how to accept it because she doesn't want to lose him as her beat friend. He doesn't either. Therefore, they're still friends after they both confessed. Totally makes sense. I think Hui Yi Wang looks the best in this drama.
[Ep7] Ling Xun Xun is nervous to receive his call but manages to put on a strong front. She's ecstatic when she finally gets a chance to hang up on him. However, she's like his dog and runs over to her master to fix his TV and make him breakfast while he's asleep. Happy to know she still cares for him, he spies on her at work and is delighted to know she isn't happy at her new job (because he isn't happy without her either).
He uses a random excuse (something is broken) to invite her over to his place. She runs to him immediately. Over a few drinks, he tells her he wants her back as his secretary. When she's drunk he makes her sign a contract to work with him again. He almost kisses her but she falls off his shoulder before he could. When she's back at work the next day, he's doing a celebratory dance in his office. Hui Yi Wang wants to celebrate for her return to work and invites her to dinner but Cheng Li won't let this happen the second time and invites himself to their dinner. The three-way date is awkward. Ling Xin Xun calls Zhou Quan for help but she leaves her to drown alone in the awkwardness. That's totally a best friend, ha.
After the dinner is over, Cheng Li whisks her home. The car swerves dangerously and Cheng Li's hands fly to hers. He wants to protect her. When they're safe again, his hand is still over hers. Nervous, she turns her palm upright and their fingers interlace. However, our older, divorced, single mom isn't ready to accept his love and retreats her hand.
Third couple: Bao Xiao Jing (a famous star *I have her name wrong* Will fix once I hear her name again) and Wang Dong. She doesn't exactly like Cheng Li but to have him taken, she doesn't feel a little disappointed. Meanwhile Wang Dong definitely likes her.
CL: I'm missing a girlfriend, will you take that offer?She walks out on him unable to accept his confession. He catches her between him and the wall and asks her "Are you interested in me?". She tells him no and so he pulls her closer, so close there's barely any space between their faces "What about now?" She pushes him away.
Romance aside, business problems arise. Both Cheng Li's company and Hui Yi Wang are in deep water because of a supposed relationship between Hui Yi Wang and Ling Xun Xun. The only solution is to layoff Ling Xun Xun. However, no one can mess with Ling Xun Xun with Cheng Li there. He protects her at all cost and proudly reveals to everyone Ling Xun Xin is his girlfriend. He even punishes the man who sabotaged her in the boxing ring.
[Ep9]
[Ep10]
[Ep11]
[Ep12]
[Ep13]
[Ep14]
[Ep15]
[Ep16]
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-8)] This drama has successfully aroused my interest to some degree. Albeit the quality isn't that great and the leads aren't that good looking but it has a decent story. I think the side characters are stronger actors that the leads. The sweetness in this drama doesn't give me a cavity. It pales in comparison to other much sweeter dramas – cough, Intense Love that's currently airing and especially Well Intended Love. The sweetness here comes off more genuine though. Among the impossible love story the drama makes these characters believable.
[Dropped] I keep thinking I'll be able to pick this back up again but it's just last on my priority list. I just can't squeeze this in. Simultaneously it also means I'm not that invested in this drama. It should be decently good to fairly good from the reviews I've gathered though.
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