Bu Guan Jin: Jiang Xiao Guo
Guan Xiao Tong: Liang Shuang
Li Geng Xi: Luo Yan
Dong Si Yi: Duan Jia Bao
Jin Shi Jia: Zhou Xun
Wang An Yu: Duan Zhen Yu
Director
Li Zhi
Chinese Title
Chinese Title
Twenty Not Confused
Luo Yan and Da Bao apologize to Xiao Guo for not defending her from before. Our three girls make up (: Although Xiao Guo got her money back, she doesn't buy the newest iPhone. She ditches the high school reunion to join her girlfriends for dinner instead.
[Ep2] Xiao Guo is caught in another awkward situation. She catches her manager having perverted fetishes. She was willing to hide it for her job but once she realizes that the manager is married that crosses her line. She quits her job to expose him. He's not the only cheating man who she caught: Liang Shuang’s boyfriend is another one.
[Ep3] Da Bao takes Xiao Guo and Luo Yan to watch her younger brother's fencing match. Initially Xiao Guo wasn't interested but when Da Bao mentions how he's supposed to inherit her family's business, Xiao Guo's interest immediately lights up. This girl, lol. She's not even that into gold digging. Xiao Guo and Luo Yan assume the fatter boy is Da Bao's brother, but nope he's the skinny handsome one. He's Duan Zhen Yu. His only good traits at the moment are skinny and handsome. In other words, he doesn't really have any. He's haughty and indifferent. He only wears his shirts once. He's basically in a different world and completely out of Xiao Guo's league. She recognizes that fact upon the first minute they shared together. While he's having lunch with the four girls (including Liang Shuang), random girls bug him for his WeChat ID. Liang Shuang pretends to be his girlfriend to shoo them away. Liang Shuang helped him because she pities him. Beautiful people like them have to suffer like that all the time. Xiao Guo and the others are speechless at the pair of narcissistic beings in front of them. Despite sitting beside a beauty like Liang Shuang, Duan Zhen Yu hasn't reacted to her at all. The only time he showed a decent amount of emotion was when he casually overheard Xiao Guo's ex cheating on her. He smirked and laughed to himself. I am shipping these two already.
[Ep4] Xiao Guo attends class for Da Bao. Duan Zhen Yu is in the class too. He helps Xiao Guo hide her identity otherwise it’d get her sister in trouble too. His friends misunderstand and approach Xiao Guo revealing that her brother called her fat. Xiao Guo is offended for Da Bao so she makes up a lie that Duan Zhen Yu used to be a crybaby. Her story of him grows more dramatic by the second. Duan Zhen Yu sarcastically laughs and plays along with her. Temporarily. He gets his revenge on her by slyly making her pay for their dinner, heh. Thus, she had used up the money that she had saved for months to buy a new pair of heels for her upcoming interviews. She gets a petty revenge on him by stepping on his foot with as much force as she can. He at least accompanied her to a rundown store to buy herself a heel that looks like the pair she had wanted. Wait. Why can’t he just buy it for her?
[Ep5] I like Xiao Guo’s confidence in herself to perform well among strong contenders. She has complete trust in her abilities that it doesn’t matter who she works with she will still shine. And shine she does. She saves her group and wins the presentation. Zhou Xun grants her the win because she deserves it but he is wary of her sly ways (it's a misunderstanding on his part though).
[Ep6] Luo Yan/Liang Shuang's video has gone viral but all for the wrong reason. Luo Yan is framed as the girl who wants attention. When Xiao Guo wants Liang Shuang to delete the video, she refuses to. Her video is gaining traction, there's no reason for her to take it down, especially when she's getting monetary value from it. She reminds Xiao Guo that she's the one who encouraged her to upload it to expose the pervert. Luo Yan assures Xiao Guo she's fine but when no one's looking, her vulnerability shows. She is affected by the hate comments on her.
Xiao Guo and Da Bao are true friends. They won't let Luo Yan suffer alone. They turn their hair hot pink to match Luo Yan's. Even though it's just a wig, it's the thought that counts.
Xiao Guo is drunk from drinking with the client. Zhou Xun wants to send her back to her hotel but she's too drunk to give him her hotel card. She gives her hand to him instead of the card. With no other choice he brings her to sleep on his hotel couch. When she wakes up, Zhou Xun has cooked her hangover soup and feeds her. It was her dream. He can't be that nice.
Luo Yan's father had died a long time ago and she's recently found out her mother is dating. Although she tells her friends she doesn't mind her mother dating, she does. She searches him up and finds out he has a lecture. She attends it to check him out and becomes impressed with him. As she's leaving the lecture hall, it's raining. Lu Ran picks her up with chicken raincoats. They're so cute. I'm talking about the chicken raincoats.
[Ep17] Duan Zhen Yu realizes the presents aren't from Xiao Guo. He's extremely upset and takes his anger out with training. However, one message from Xiao Guo makes him smile. She asked him if he liked her birthday present. He quickly dashes to the garbage to find her present. It's poorly wrapped. The present is also cheap but I love the idea behind it. She gives him a backscratcher; her message is "To Old Little Brother, Wishing everything is successful; no need to beg others." He loves the present and uses it immediately. There's really nothing else to give a rich kid who only wears his clothes only once.
Da Bao hires a fan to motivate Liang Shuan to continue her original beauty videos. Look at how cute Da Bao and Xiong Zhi are. They're totally not suspicious. Thus Liang Shuan dissolves her contract with her company that makes her eat all the time. Now her bank account is in the negatives. She needs to sell her bags to make ends meet. The girls help her auction her bags. Liang Shuan lifts her blanket for the picture backdrop. Shi Tou does the hard labour of lifting her bag for each shot. Xiao Guo is the photographer. Whenever Liang Shuan wavers on selling a particular bag, Xiao Guo suggests asking her rich buddy, Da Bao, for help. That motivates Liang Shuan to sell her bags even more. However, even if she sells all her bags, it won't cover the cost of her one-sided contract termination.
Duan Zhen Yu invites Xiao Guo for lunch. She doesn't have time. He tells her he'll treat her. Now she has time. He treats her to a convenience store lunch though. He's unsure about his future in fencing but with her motivation, he sees hope again. She's hopeful because she is also wishing the same for her own situation: to overcome this cold, cold winter. Happy again, he steals the last of her warm food. Xiao Guo is upset. He laughs that it was only one piece. Yes, but it was the yummiest and juiciest piece. These two are sooooooo cute
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] I love campus dramas when they're done well. I connected with Xiao Guo from the first episode. As the episodes go by I watch her with admiration. She has so many good qualities packed into that tiny body of hers. She's loyal, optimistic, forthright, and intelligent. She fights for justice, never backs down, and strives for any opportunity. She has two potential partners: Duan Zeng Yu and Zhou Xun. The interesting part of this drama is I have no idea who she's going to end up with. So far, I'm getting the giddy vibe from Duan Zeng Yu and her but I won't rule out Zhou Xun. I like the other girls as well. Da Bao is a treasure worth protecting. Luo Yan has the least impression on me for these episodes but that should change soon. I like that we have a tomboy in this mix of girls. Last but not least, Liang Shuang, the spoiled princess who's not actually a princess at all. She's from a poor family but she packages herself beautifully. Although Liang Shuang does pride herself on her beauty, she has never taken it for granted. The more beautiful she is, the harder she works on maintaining it. Because of that attitude of hers, I do like her. I hope she softens her edges soon though.
[Actors/Actresses] I've seen Bu Guan Jin (Xiao Guo) in "Chasing Ball". I really liked her there so I'm glad she's the main character here. My personal opinion of her is that she's one of the top actresses within her bracket. Guan Xiao Tong (Liang Shuang) also headlines this drama. I used to dislike her because she kept ruining dramas I wanted to watch but having not seen her for a few years, I'm willing to watch her with an open mind. So far, she's pretty good.
Network: MangoTV
Recap Grade: A
First Impression: 4.5/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Jiang Xiao Guo is scraping for money. Her dated phone dropped into the toilet (after she did a #2) but she still grabbed it out. To enhance its stench, she sprayed expensive perfume all over it. She also has to wait an extra ten seconds in order for her to pick up incoming calls. Still, she won't give up her phone – until her ex (who cheated on her) invited her to a high school reunion. She can't look shabby in front of him. Xiao Guo decides to ask her classmate back for the 300RMB she had lent. However, that classmate is a fox in rabbit clothes. She uses the fact that she's poor to gain sympathy from others. Thus she becomes the person in the right for not returning money she borrowed and Xiao Guo is the person in the wrong for demanding the money back she had lent. I don’t even know how to recap this objectively. I get so annoyed when I see people self-victimizing to earn pity for themselves. Xiao Guo has every right to be angry at her classmate but no one is on her side, even her friends drag her away from the scene like she is in the wrong. It’s this scene and the one where she jumps up and down to express her agitation at her mother that made me root for Xiao Guo. I don’t know about other daughters, but I get exasperated like her when my mom doesn't understand technical stuff. Although my mom is a hundred times better than her mom.
Duan Jia Bao is filthy rich. Her friends calls her Da Bao (Big Treasure). She’s not the nasty rich type but the silly cute one who would spend all her money on her friends without any question. Jiang Xiao Guo warns her that those friends who spend her money aren’t real ones but Duan Jia Bao is in denial. However when she witnesses her friend using her, she realizes Xiao Guo and Luo Yan are her real friends. I really like how Duan Jia Bao ditched that fake friend at the karaoke and made her pay for all her friends after ordering like crazy. Serves her right. She’s still so nice to etransfer her portion. If Lu Yan hadn’t stopped her, she would have etransfered the entire bill amount.
Luo Yan is more tomboy-ish of the three with her shirt hair. She loves manga and gaming. Her family is also well off. There’s not too much about her right now.
Xiao Guo is in an awkward situation. She had followed the classmate who owed her money all the way to a shoe shop. Right when the classmate was paying for her new pair of shoes, Xiao Guo intercepts and takes back her 300RMB. The classmate’s friend stands up for the thieving classmate. Luckily, Xiao Guo has her friends too. Da Bao tells them off and supports Xiao Guo. Xiao Guo counters that friend why she hadn’t lent money to the classmate and if it’s such a small amount why hadn’t she helped her pay it back temporarily. That friend turns silent.
Liang Shuang is the fourth roommate. She hasn’t lived on campus for two years but she’s suddenly back. The girls have been using her bed as storage space. Liang Shuang throws all their belongings down not caring at all if she broke anything. Our three girls' heaven turns to hell this instant. Liang Shuang declares to the girls she must sleep before 10:30 and orders the lights to be closed. She’s the spoiled sleeping beauty. The other girls can’t even chirp a word.
Xiao Guo failed another interview but she refuses to give up. She stops the CEO, Zhou Xun, at the elevator and presses all the buttons so he’s forced to listen to her. Smart. I’m liking her more. Zhou Xun is also impressed. If she can go to such lengths for a job, he trusts she will do the same for his company.
Liang Shuang learns from Xiao Guo her boyfriend is cheating on her. After confirming it for herself, she uses the diamond ring her boyfriend had given her to scratch his car. She doesn't let this breakup affect her for too long. She quickly finds herself a job. When Xiao Guo had made a small comment that she may have stolen her spot in a previous interview, Liang Shuang defends herself. Beauty is a skill itself. While they were up at night, she forced herself to sleep at 10:30pm. I agree that discipling myself to sleep at 10:30 is practically impossible. While they enjoy late hot pot nights, she didn't let herself eat at night. While they were still sleeping in, she has already completed her morning jog. Despite looking cool about the breakup on the outside, she is heartbroken. She really did love him. When they first met, she was only a part timer at a gas station, no one special, but he was gentle to her. She's drinking alone to overcome her sorrows with no boyfriend and no friends. Only Siri (or whatever Huawei's version of Siri is) is with her.
The two other roommates also find themselves a potential man. Da Bao finds herself a chef (Xiong Chi). Such a perfect man for her who loves eating; by the way, the actor is the general from Eternal Love of Dream. Luo Yan finds herself a fellow gamer (Lu Ran).
Liang Shuang saves Luo Yan from a pervert on the bus. She has recorded everything on her phone while she was trying to broadcast herself. Her new job is related to being a social media star. Luo Yan had wanted to stay low and have the video deleted but Liang Shuang secretly uploads it.
[Ep7] Zhou Xun's misunderstanding of Xiao Guo deepens. He thinks she's lazy and completely reliant on connections.
Luo Yan is blamed for being sexually harassed. It's her fault for wearing a dress baiting the guy to touch her on the bus. Even mom thinks that. Luo Yan doesn't understand what she did wrong (I don't either) so she dyes her hair hot pink. She returns to her dorm with every intention of lecturing Liang Shuan but she chickens out when she actually sees her. Liang Shuan didn't do a thing but just her presence is scary.
Liang Shuan's morality finally wakes up when her contractor starts insulting Luo Yan for initiating the sexual harassment. She gives up the commercial even if she has to compensate for breaking the contract. Liang Shuan is aware she's wronged Luo Yan. She was tempted by the momentary stardom. Now she finds it hard to apologize, especially with her arrogant personality. Liang Shuan isn't nice, she doesn't care about being nice. She's materialistic. However, she does have her morals even if it's deeeeeep down.
[Ep8] Xiao Guo and Da Bao retrieve the bus's surveillance camera to prove that Luo Yan is indeed the victim. Xiao Guo had planned out everything she needed to say to Liang Shuan to make her share the video using her profile but to their surprise, Liang Shuan agrees without another word. She was waiting for this chance to compensate. She was also one of the commenters who supported Luo Yan.
Da Bao is lectured at work. A celebrity is complaining that a newbie actress is getting better treatment than her when she's more popular. Da Bao is the manager in charge of that celebrity in question. When the boss questions her why she's spoiling the newbie, Da Bao explains that it's herself that can't stand economy class for her flights. The five star hotel was also because Da Bao is used to that treatment. Hahaha. The problems of the rich that I cannot pity.
It's Xiao Guo's 22nd birthday. Her friends loudly sing happy birthday in the middle of the night disregarding Liang Shuan's complaints. She brings her birthday cake to work for lunch but when she's looking for it, it's not in the fridge anymore. She turns around and finds her boss, Zhou Xun, eating her cake thinking it's his cake. Xiao Guo quietly slips out a card from the bag and inside is a note from her friend wishing her a happy birthday. Zhou Xun pauses and then continues to eat the cake like nothing happened. He changes the topic to business and before he briskly walks away he wishes her a happy birthday. When he's back in his office, he finds his friend eating his cake. Haha. He blames his buddy for making him lose face.
It's also Xiao Guo's manager's (Yang Xiao Rong) 32nd birthday. Xiao Rong finds out late and can only give Xiao Guo an unopened lipstick as a present. She tells her that at her age (32) it's hard to go up or down. Together, with her manager, Xiao Guo finally gets a chance to sign an important contract. Xiao Guo is the first intern to have her proposal approved by Zhou Xun.
There's a celebratory dinner tonight. Luo Yan treats to thank her best friends for clearing her name. Xiao Guo wants to treat too because it's her 18th birthday. Duan Zhen Yu doesn't let her comment go by unnoticed and scoffs at her for pretending to be young. Da Bao wants to pay because her brother made it to the finals for his fencing. Luo Yan makes the final decision that the one who should indeed pay is .........Xiao Guo! Duan Zhen Yu snickers. The one who ends up paying is nobody. Xiong Chi says the dinner is free (technically it's sort of on him). I can't be the only one wishing it's Xiao Guo and Duan Zhen Yu at the end right? I love him snickering at her. Although...logically the better match is Zhou Xun. I like him too but he doesn't get those snickering scenes. I love and hate how there's nothing in the OST that hints to who she ends up with except for the few scenes between her and Zhou Xun. That actually makes me believe she'll end up with Duan Zhen Yu more.
The three girls show up in hot pink hair to cheer for Duan Zhen Yu's finals. However, he injures his arm and is hospitalized. Xiao Guo is the first one running to the hospital and the first one who's found him. He's okay though. He's got a case of tennis elbow and needs to rest.
[Ep9] Xiao Guo's mom is in the city to attend a wedding for a few days. She buys her daughter a Gucci bag which happens to be the same bag Da Bao bought for herself. Xiao Guo is absolutely elated to bring it to work and show it off. When there's a single dot of oil that's not noticeable to the normal human eye (Luo Yan's), Xiao Guo is frantically cleaning it.
Meanwhile Da Bao doesn't care about her bag one bit. She even lies that it's fake to get on her coworkers' good side. Thus she gets the chance to go home together with them but she immediately regrets it. They're riding rental bikes home. Da Bao has never rode one. She tries her best to leave and get a taxi home but her coworkers insist. Poor Da Bao, haha.
Xiao Guo had successfully convinced her client (Lei Deputy) to sign a contract with her company but it's soon exposed to Lei Deputy that she had lied about her identity. Because Xiao Rong forgot about the meeting, Xiao Guo had to pretend to be her. Now that it's revealed, her company is about to lose the contract. Not only that, Xiao Rong placed all the blame on Xiao Guo for ruining the contract. Xiao Rong tells her privately that she's doing this because she's a mother. She has to keep her job for her unborn child. That doesn't mean you can hurt others with your motherly love, lady.
Xiao Guo soon realizes her Gucci bag is fake, especially when she compares it with Da Bao's. Xiao Guo also thinks it's the fake bag that exposed her identity to Lei Deputy. Luo Yan makes a passing comment that she can just turn her handle white to make it look real. That earns a glare from Xiao Guo. Scared, Luo Yan pouts and looks away. Pft.
Xiao Guo isn't the only one depressed this episode. She's sending chicken soup to Duan Zhen Yu for Da Bao and coincidentally finds out his right hand cannot fence anymore. She lightheartedly says with a bit of hard work, he can train his left hand. He tells her to leave. He's not a man that believes in hardwork. He believes in talent. This guy. He and his sister are not of this world. Before Xiao Guo leaves, he asks her to not tell his sister. When the camera zooms to him and we finally get to see his face, his eyes are red. He's crying.
This episode's theme was a mother's love for their daughter. Xiao Guo's mother had bought her daughter a real Gucci bag (it was Da Bao's bag that was fake). Luo Yan's mother also highlighted all the important content for her to study in the books she gave her. Meanwhile Liang Shuan's mother is worried about her life in Shenzhen alone and had wanted to introduce her to a friend (a boy). These are mothers who love their daughters. Xiao Rong isn't one of them.
[Ep10] Xiao Guo visits Duan Zhen Yu in the hospital. She's not that nice. She has a favour: she wants to borrow his car – not like he can drive it anyways. Xiao Guo reveals that she wants to fix what she did wrong for her company. He has one condition for lending his car: he wants to accompany her so that he can see her fail. She picks up the fencing equipment he threw in the garbage and strikes a deal with him that if she succeeds then he has to train for fencing again. He accepts the bet.
Xiao Guo and Duan Zhen Yu follow Lei Deputy to a bar. The two wait for Lei Deputy to be done with his business meeting at this fancy bar. Xiao Guo orders pistachio because that should be the cheapest. However, when she sees the price she gawks at it. In Chinese, pistachios are called "Happy Nuts". She makes a spiteful joke that these pistachios must be particularly happy for it to be this pricey. As she's spying on Lei Deputy, she notices that he's forced to drink when he can't anymore. Thus, she lies to his clients that she's his secretary and takes his drinks for him. Duan Zhen Yu tries to stop her and explains he's Lei Deputy's driver, heh. It's much later when she finishes drinking for him does she realize Lei Deputy has already signed the contract successfully; her taking drinks for him is completely unnecessary. Lei Deputy is about to leave but Xiao Guo is too drunk to speak coherently. Duan Zhen Yu does the one thing he's certain can wake her up as he holds her face in his hands. He slaps her – no – he whacks her face. Hahaha. This surprises Lei Deputy but it does the trick for Xiao Guo. She's awake and begs him to give her company another chance. Lei Deputy promises to consider her company once more.
The next day, Lei Deputy is at Xiao Guo's company. She snaps a picture of this and sends it to Duan Zhen Yu to show off her success. Duan Zhen Yu smiles at her message. She's completely forgotten he slapped her last night. Taking advantage of her blackout, he lies that she puked all over his car and promised to treat him for dinner. Xiao Guo follows up on that promise because she's happy about her contract. He also reveals he's planning to train for fencing with his left hand.
Unfortunately, Xiao Guo's happy bubble pops. It wasn't her credit at all that Lei Deputy is willing to sign with her company. Zhou Xun had found a school for his son to attend. He also used sincerity to convince Lei Deputy. Zhou Xun is a smart and fair boss. He knows that it was Xiao Rong's fault the contract failed and that she didn't do anything afterwards to save the company (unlike Xiao Guo). He also knows that it was Judy who sabotaged Xiao Rong and Xiao Guo by exposing Xiao Guo for faking her identity. Both of them are instantly fired. Xiao Guo is next to be summoned into his room. She thinks he's firing her too but he's just telling her to rest up. He can tell she's still hungover from last night (from taking drinks for Lei Deputy). Xiao Guo is ecstatic she gets to stay.
That night at dinner with Duan Zhen Yu, Xiao Guo confesses it wasn't her who convinced Lei Deputy. He doesn't care. Seeing her hard at work was what motivated him to fence whether or not she was successful. He also believes he'll be better at being hardworking than her, especially with his talents. Pft. She has another confession to make. Xiao Guo had confessed to his sister about the extent of his injuries. Duan Zhen Yu glares at her. He doesn't want Da Bao to know because all she does is cry, nag, and then concede her share of their inheritance (like that will help with his injuries). In the end it will be him who has to comfort her. Before he can reprimand Xiao Guo for it, his sister comes running in the restaurant and does exactly what he had predicted her to, ha.
[Ep11] Duan Zhen Yu seems to have forgotten to get revenge on Xiao Guo for telling his sister. Instead he sincerely asks her over lunch how she got used to being a failure such that she had to work hard to achieve what she has today, haha. I guess that’s sort of a revenge. Xiao Guo had given him some meat because she pitted him but after those words, she took the meat right back from between his chopsticks. I love their bickering. He wants to add her as a friend on this new app to increase her social status. He’s clearly making fun of her thus she coldly rejects his friend's request.
Xiao Guo has no manager now and asks Zhou Xun who she should follow. Zhou Xun happens to be looking for a business travel mate thus she promotes herself that she can do anything. Xiao Guo scores herself a job: she's to go with him on a business trip. It's not all good though. While he gets to stay in a five star hotel, she's scootered off to live in a three star hotel next door. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the client they're trying to sign has a low opinion of Zhou Xun and only talks to Xiao Guo. This client is boy crazy and rates all her men. In her rating system, Zhou Xun, who’s handsome and capable, only ranks 5.9/10. And she doesn't friend men lower than a 6th rank. Heh. He finally finds a conversation he can join in with the two girls: Meteor Garden. He compliments Jerry Yan but the girls are talking about the 2018 remake (Dylan Wang).
While Xiao Guo is on her business trip, Duan Zhen Yu is training hard for fencing for the first time ever. He wonders how his friends, who always put themselves through these gruesome training, still suck
Liang Shuan befriends another social star but this person steals her idea for a commercial. Da Bao had warned her from this social star but Liang Shuan had dismissed it. I can't believe it's Da Bao who's giving her advice about who her real/fake friends are.
[Ep12] This is an episode of starting anew.
Da Bao is fired from her job, Then Liang Shuan, as predicted by Da Bao, is betrayed by her superficial friend. And so Da Bao becomes Liang Shuan’s manager (Liang Shuan had bribed Da Bao with a VIP concert ticket for her favourite singer). This is kept a secret from the other girls.
It's been days and Zhou Xun still won’t let go of being rated a low 5.9. He asks Da Li why and she finds him cute. On the way home, Xiao Guo asks him what he thinks of her. He’s taken aback at how direct she is but she only means work wise. She doesn’t want to be anyone else’s intern but his. She openly tells him she admires him.
Xiong Chi is fired from his job for helping Da Bao. However, he’s not upset at all, it allowed him to find a new job that’s closer to the cuisine loves. This motivates Da Bao to continue to be Liang Shuan’s manager when she offers her the official job after their successful commercial together.
Duan Zhen Yu gives a 90-degree bow to his teammates to apologize for his previous ignorance. He now understands how much they had to train to attain the skills they have. As an apology he treats everyone to karaoke. While everyone is partying, he’s back in the gym by himself to train. Does he not want others to see how hard he’s practicing?
There’s a practice match for Duan Zhen Yu for his left hand and he invites Xiao Guo but she’s late. The score is 15:1. The one-point belongs to Duan Zhen Yu and he’s elated. Xiao Guo is confused. He lost big time. But that one point is the first time he scored with his left hand! The buddy who won is interested in Xiao Guo and he promises to help Duan Zhen Yu train for a month if he helps him befriend her. Duan Zhen Yu makes it three months and calls it a deal.
[Ep13] Xiao Guo is assigned to the front desk (Wendy is sick) when she wanted to be Zhou Xun's personal secretary. Xiao Guo wanted to refuse the employee who assigned her the position but the employee assures her that it's not appearance that matters, ha, meaning she has none. Still Xiao Guo doesn't give up and interviews for the position she wants. Luo Yan asks what's so good about being Zhou Xun’s secretary. Xiao Guo doesn't care about the money, she cares about the valuable experience she'll learn from him. Luo Yan understands: Xiao Guo doesn't care about the money, she cares about the big money. Bingo.
This is an episode of cheating. Da Bao is officially Liang Shuan’s manager but every time Xiao Guo or Luo Yan walls in the form, Da Bao quickly darts back to her desk. Liang Shuan thinks Da Bao working for her is more like cheating with her. Meanwhile Luo Yan thinks her mom is someone else’s mistress.
[Ep14] Duan Zhen Yu helps his friend ask Xiao Guo what she likes. She doesn't care about the guy. She has her own worries. Her company invests in other companies and her duty was to examine which company is worth investing. She's about tell the startup company that they've been rejected but when she visited that company, she can see every employee pouring their hearts into their work. She could see their eyes glow. She tells Duan Zhen Yu that their eyes remind her of his eyes when he fences. Duan Zhen Yu looks awkward as he slowly takes in her compliment. He smirks at the end. He instinctively comforts her. He tells her she's not garbage, she's empathetic and brings warmth to other. Xiao Guo stares at him. Duan Zhen Yu realizes he's out of character and clarifies it's his friend who said all that. Lies. She leaves him and taps his head calling him "Little Brother" before she leaves. After he leaves does he realize he's forgotten to ask her what she likes for his friend. "for his friend".
Liang Shuan has an eye for a manager. You should always find a rich manager with rich connections and you'll never fail that way. However, she is grateful she has Da Bao as her manager. When she gets into a fight, Da Bao throws herself into the fight to protect Liang Shuan. Liang Shuan treats Da Bao as a friend and Da Bao does too but when Da Bao is in front of her friends, she can't admit she's her manager. Instead she goes with the lie that Liang Shuan is bullying her. When Liang Shuan hears her talking behind her back, she exposes Da Bao of being her manager. Thus, Da Bao is caught for lying and loses all her friends in an instant.
This was an episode of rejection: Liang Shuan feeling rejected when Da Bao doesn't accept her in front of her friends, Duan Zhen Yu's buddy's pursuit of Xiao Guo that will soon be met with rejection, and Xiao Guo's assignment to reject a startup company.
[Ep15] Da Bao tries to apologize to Liang Shuang but she rejects it, "I understand but I won't forgive you". Liang Shuan wants more than just an apology – she wants a few more apologies. Aw. So do Xiao Guo and Shi Tou (I will be calling Luo Yan as "Shi Tou" now).
Duan Zhen Yu is now against helping his friend pursue Xiao Guo. He's making her sound awful to his friend. When Da Bao invites her brother to ask about how he is, he confesses there is something bothering him but before he gets to share his woes, Da Bao starts spilling everything about herself. Ha. He's been listening to her sister talk for over an hour and she's only been talking in circles. He gets up to leave but before he does, he walks back to comfort his sister and pat her shoulders. Aw.
Lu Ran is the first guy to be romantic in this drama. To make Shi Tou happy, he leaves messages in all sorts of books to cheer her up. (Shi Tou is unhappy about her mom’s relationship and Da Bao’s lies)
Xiong Chi's father is upset that his son is a chef. Being a chef himself, he doesn't want his son to follow the same path. Da Bao was trying to help the father and son make up but ends up injuring herself so much she has to be taken to the hospital. She doesn’t exactly help the father and son resolve their issue but Xiao Guo and Shi Tou were so worried about her, they automatically make up.
[Ep16] If Da Bao wants to continue to be Liang Shuan’s manager then Xiao Guo is completely behind her. Liang Shuan is in a bit of a pickle when she’s accused of starting the fight. Xiao Guo, our smart little girl, uses the app her company had rejected in investing to prove Liang Shuan’s innocence. She masterly kills two birds with one stone.
Liang Shuan thanks Xiao Guo and Shi Tou for their help while purposely neglecting Da Bao. She gives them expensive gifts and offers to treat them for dinner but treats Da Bao invisible. Da Bao whimpers at her but Liang Shuan refuses to accept her back as her manager.
Xiong Chi confesses to Da Bao but gets his target wrong; he recognizes the wrong chubby girl. His dad also approves of his career choice and it’s all thanks to Da Bao motivating him.
After the Liang Shuan incident, the app explodes in popularity. Zhou Xun admits it’s too late to invest in them now but Xiao Guo makes him eat every word. She’s also very cute at it. Xiao Guo and the startup company’s boss are cute as well. They have made the exact same New Years Eve wish with the same wording: to make more money. She gives him a high five but he’s reaching out for a handshake and then when she’s giving a handshake, he’s waiting for a high-five. Xiao Guo instantly gives up and shows him the way to Zhou Xun instead.
Duan Zhen Yu has a New Years Eve wish too. He won’t tell his buddy though. Then Xiao Guo overhears his fangirls complaining about him not accepting their gifts. The girls pay Xiao Guo to give their presents to him. The way her eyes glitter at money make me laugh. Innocent Duan Zhen Yu happily receives them. His wish has come true! xD He thinks Xiao Guo likes him.
Liang Shuan is scammed by her new company. I take back the compliment I gave her for having an eye for a manager. Now she totally regrets letting her emotion take over in firing Da Bao.
Xiao Guo, Shi Tou and Da Bao are celebrating New Years together at a hotel. Liang Shuan is alone in the dorm waiting for them past 10:30 but she won't admit to that. Da Bao tells the girls he's heard Xiong Chi's confession but she doesn't know if she loves him.
Da Bao invites everyone to karaoke to celebrate Duan Zhen Yu's birthday. Duan Zhen Yu drops all his plans (not that he had many) once he hears that Xiao Guo is also attending. Liang Shuan is happy to receive the invitation as well but she doesn't show it. These two are the only people who are happy though. Shi Tou is still upset about her mother's issue. Da Bao is upset that Liang Shuan is still mad at her. Xiao Guo is upset that her CEO Ding from the startup company betrayed her to sign with another company. However, when she receives an email that she's to be in Zhou Xun's team she's so elated she hugs Duan Zhen Yu. There's such a cute smile on him. He gives her a present in return and it's a new purse. He noticed in her wall post that her bag broke. She throws him another big hug. Duan Zhen Yu grins another cute smile.
Xiong Chi was the only person not invited to karaoke but he had waited for Da Bao that night to give her food he made for her. He figured out she heard his confession. As he's leaving, she calls after him. She has something to say to him but tells him to turn around, "Let's try". Aw.
[Ep18] Duan Zhen Yu and his backscratcher is hilarious. Duan Zhen Yu thought his friend used his backscratcher and so he points his fencing sword at his neck. Turns out every trainee bought themselves one. A trainee even gathers everyone's backscratcher into one jug. Even then, Duan Zhen Yu can recognize his. He's been staring at it night and day, there's no way he can't recognize it. So cute.
Da Bao begs Shi Tou to ask her mother for help. Her mom is a lawyer. Shi Tou won't budge. She still doesn't want to see her mother. Xiao Guo also begs and with both of them convincing her, Shi Tou finally gives in. Shi Tou's mom advises Liang Shuan on how to negotiate with her manager. When Liang Shuan calmly and sincerely speaks to the manager, she realizes the manager does care for her. He doesn't want her to focus on beauty videos because it's an over-saturated field. He lessens the termination fee and tells her that if she ever wants to return, his doors will always be open for her. Liang Shuan is completely taken back at how caring he is but she will still do what she loves. Liang Shuan doesn't hire Da Bao as her manager though. Liang Shuan wants Da Bao to be her business partner, her equal. Aw. Da Bao and Liang Shuan are a pretty cute CP.
Shi Tou confronts her mother about being a mistress. Mom can't explain anything. Shi Tou throws away all her money at her mother and walks off on her. Shi Tou now has difficulty paying taxi fares. Lucky that when she's down, she still has Lu Ran to comfort her. These two are practically in a relationship but not yet in a relationship.
Zhou Xun is experiencing his rounds of difficulty. He's betrayed by his own teammates and his investments fail. He is thus fired. Before he leaves the company, Xiao Guo motivates him. She also realizes it was him who secured her intern placement despite having committed a grave mistake.
[Ep19] This episode's theme: The 'cold' and the warmth that comes after.
Liang Shuan makes a comment that if Xiao Guo wears her tasteless inner leggings for warmth then she'll have no future. Liang Shuan's predictions are on point. At work, everyone who was loyal to Zhou Xun is laid off. Xiao Guo's predicament won't be any better. That is until Xiao Guo makes her move. She quickly licks the boot of the new man in power. She's so cute at this, I can't hate her for turning on Zhou Xun that quickly. However! She's still loyal to Zhou Xun. She's his little spy in the company.
Shi Tou doesn't have money to buy food on this cold night. She bargains with the stall owner for some hot potatoes. Luckily, Xiao Guo, a regular customer, comes by and helps her bargain. Thus, Shi Tou gets to have a little bit of warm food to survive the cold night.
Da Bao is so lovable she definitely deserves a Xiong Chi. He feeds and blows her soup so that it's cool enough for her. When Da Bao tells her to point out Liang Shuan's qualities, Xiong Chi has nothing to say. Liang Shuan glares at him, haha. Da Bao then asks Xiao Guo and Shi Tou to point out her specialties for her broadcast. Xiao Guo asks if she can tell the truth. Liang Shuan says, of course. Xiao Guo and Shi Tou lists her faults on and on and on. Haha. Da Bao agrees with them and decides to use this as her selling point. Thus, Liang Shuan advertises herself as the angry beauty.
Liang Shuan is suffering from the cold winter as well. Her angry beauty video becomes so popular another social media star steals her idea and wins a clothing brand sponsorship with it. The clothing brand doesn't care about who the originator was, they only care about who has more fans. Liang Shuan insults them and the manager tells her to remove their brand's clothes then. For her pride (which she holds highly of), Liang Shuan removes them. She also doesn't have the money to buy them. Thus, she walks out barefooted in the cold winter night with only a white sleeveless dress. Her ex, who happened to be at the clothing brand company, sees her and helps her out. He's so caring that I wouldn't blame her for falling in love with him again. Sucks that he cheated before. Liang Shuan, who's all warm now in clothes that he bought her, asks him to have some coffee with her.
Xiao Guo is stuck in a freezer after being assigned a tedious task by the new CEO. Her phone died in the cold. She wonders to herself how the potatoes in the ground survive the cold winter while she's shivering in the freezer alone.
[Ep20] This episode's theme: Mistress (小三) & the spring that will arrive.
Liang Shuan's ex is trying to win her back. Liang Shuan is apprehensive though. He opened a company to produce stars like her. He offers her a contract. Basically, as long as she's willing to be his girlfriend, she can achieve the dream she wants. He does seem sincere about it though, except he still has a fiancé. The next morning, Liang Shuan dresses up to meet him at an event. Da Bao tails her all the way to the elevator asking her to reconsider taking his offer. Liang Shuan doesn't reply. However, shortly after the event, she returns all the clothes he bought her and leaves. She's rejecting his offer. Da Bao hugs her for returning to the dorm. Liang Shuan confesses that if she did take his offer, she'd have to live with the title of being his mistress. Her pride can't take that. With that, she calls it quits to her dream of being popular. That's when she tops the search rankings. A random kid had appeared in her video making it go viral. Ah so this is how Liang Shuan's romantic line will begin.
Shi Tou's mother's boyfriend explains his love story to Shi Tou. They are soulmates, equals, and lovers. Shi Tou isn't convinced. No matter how romantic the story is, the unchanging fact is he's married and her mother is his mistress.
By the way, Liang Shuan is now officially part of the girl's group chat.
Back to Xiao Guo in the freezer. Xiao Guo's phone finally turns on. Duan Zhen Yu calls her to tell her spring has finally arrived for him. He can participate in a competition. But Xiao Guo is dying in the cold. He drives to her and saves her from the cold freezer. He turns up his car's heat and rubs her hand to keep them warm. Awkwardly, she takes her hands back. Oh no, is this a sign she's not accepting him? A few nights later, Xiao Guo asks her friends what it means if a guy doesn't reply after countless messages. Liang Shuan automatically assumes she likes this guy. Xiao Guo denies it. This guy is Zhou Xun. Shi Tou thinks this coworker of hers must be in debt. Thus, that night, Xiao Guo transfers 20RMB to him. That gets a response from Zhou Xun. Pft. Xiao Guo quietly squeals under her blanket. She finally feels motivated. Does she secretly like him? Awwwwww. What about my Duan Zhen Yu?
Zhou Xun gloriously returns to work. Xiao Guo finds herself imagining that Zhou Xun is nice to her. In reality, he's still aloof towards her. Regardless, seeing him at work makes Xiao Guo feel like winter is finally over and spring is to come.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] I love campus dramas when they're done well. I connected with Xiao Guo from the first episode. As the episodes go by I watch her with admiration. She has so many good qualities packed into that tiny body of hers. She's loyal, optimistic, forthright, and intelligent. She fights for justice, never backs down, and strives for any opportunity. She has two potential partners: Duan Zeng Yu and Zhou Xun. The interesting part of this drama is I have no idea who she's going to end up with. So far, I'm getting the giddy vibe from Duan Zeng Yu and her but I won't rule out Zhou Xun. I like the other girls as well. Da Bao is a treasure worth protecting. Luo Yan has the least impression on me for these episodes but that should change soon. I like that we have a tomboy in this mix of girls. Last but not least, Liang Shuang, the spoiled princess who's not actually a princess at all. She's from a poor family but she packages herself beautifully. Although Liang Shuang does pride herself on her beauty, she has never taken it for granted. The more beautiful she is, the harder she works on maintaining it. Because of that attitude of hers, I do like her. I hope she softens her edges soon though.
[Actors/Actresses] I've seen Bu Guan Jin (Xiao Guo) in "Chasing Ball". I really liked her there so I'm glad she's the main character here. My personal opinion of her is that she's one of the top actresses within her bracket. Guan Xiao Tong (Liang Shuang) also headlines this drama. I used to dislike her because she kept ruining dramas I wanted to watch but having not seen her for a few years, I'm willing to watch her with an open mind. So far, she's pretty good.
Wang An Yu (Duan Zhen Yu) is such a cutie. It was my first time seeing him in Dreaming Back to Qing Dynasty and I'm glad he's back again with hair. That smirk he flashed when he heard Xiao Guo's boyfriend cheated on her made me giddy. Ding Shi Jia (Zhou Xun) is not the best looking guy but his acting makes up for it if not more.
[Midway Review (Episodes 1-20)] This is my happy drama. I love watching an episode or two per day. Xiao Guo continues to be my favourite character. She's slyly righteous all the time. Her romance with Duan Zhen Yu gives me butterflies. My heart is all for Duan Zhen Yu, the cute rich kid. But in Episode 20, Xiao Guo's heart seems to be going in the direction I was not anticipating. I'm not fretting though, there's still twenty episodes left!!
With the exception of Liang Shuan's romance, the other two girls' love interests are pretty much settled. However, another CP I particularly adore is Liang Shuan and Da Bao. Da Bao is so lovable! And rich. Ha. Da Bao is the friend Liang Shuan needs. Only she can handle Liang Shuan's arrogance.
I usually pay the most attention to the romance but this one makes me care about everyone's lives, especially Xiao Guo's internship experience. I really enjoy her scenes with Zhou Xun even though I'm all for Duan Zhen Yu. Liang Shuan’s pursuit of her dream is engaging too. She's determined and knows what she wants in life. Every (significant) character in this drama has their own flare, their own charms and their own dreams. Loving this!
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