Notable Actors/Actresses
Sun Qian: Lu Jia
Tang Xiao Tian: Xu Jia Xiu
Wang You Jun: Ye Ang Yang
Director:
Chinese Title
拾光里的我們
Network: Tencent Video,
Year: 2020
Episodes: 17/30
Recap Grade: B/C
First Impression: 2.6/5
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Xu Jia Xiu and Lu Jia are invited to their best friend's wedding. The wedding invitation scene was beautifully edited. It felt so magical. Once they learn that they are the respective party's groomsmen/bridesmaid they both refuse to attend. But they both arrive. Lu Jia lies about her career. She currently is unemployed because she quit her job in Beijing. She lies during dinner to all her friends that her current company is amazing and her boss refused an international opportunity to start a business here. That's when Xu Jia Xiu gets an email of Lu Jia's resume. He smirks to himself. During dinner, Lu Jia drinks too much and ends up pulling Xu Jia Xiu in for a kiss on the cheek. To his surprise, she kisses everyone else.
The next day Lu Jia finally realizes the interview she's applying for is at Xu Jia Xiu's company. She wanted to leave immediately but the men (Xu Jia Xiu and Ye Ang Yang) guilt trip her into accepting the job otherwise rumours will have it that she lied to her classmates.
High school flashbacks. Xu Jia Xiu had a crush on Lu Jia. Among the love letters written to Ye Ang Yang, he saw one (probably) from Lu Jia and quickly steals it.
[Ep2] After Lu Jia signs the contract to be Xu Jia Xiu's company's financial manager, he sends a message to an unknown person that now he has "it" in his hands, it won't escape. Hm. He's also extremely strict to Lu Jia (and only Lu Jia).
Ye Ang Yang has a crush on Lu Jia. He has the same memories as Xu Jia Xiu of Lu Jia back in high school but in his version, the person Lu Jia was smiling at was towards him. They walk home together after work and Lu Jia makes a very misleading comment to him, "Let's be together."
Extra scenes. Xu Jia Xiu is practically harassed everyday because of how handsome he is. Ye Ang Yang hugs him and comforts him. Are these two the true CP? There's also a new rule for employees. Dating is prohibited. Once it's found out, one of them will have to be fired. But what if the CP is Ye Ang Yang and Xu Jia Xiu? Lol.
[Ep3] Lu Jia is tired of Xu Jia Xiu. She wants to quit which is why she's suggesting for Ye Ang Yang to 'date' so that she can be fired. That way, she's not quitting and doesn't have to compensate for breaking her contract. Ye Ang Yang agrees to help but Xu Jia Xiu is completely oblivious to all the hints they're dropping. When he does finally see it, he tries to not see it. Lu Jia chases after him and he tells her that because they're both important employees of his, he will do his best to break them apart instead of firing either of them.
[Ep4] Extra scene: Lu Jia is working overtime. Xu Jia Xiu is working on her project while she's asleep. He's hovering over her on the desk. She rolls around in her sleep. Xu Jia Xiu is having a difficult time controlling himself when he's right on top of her. But he still does control himself.
[Ep5] Lu Jia brings an extremely sick Xu Jia Xiu to the hospital. He has appendicitis.
[Ep6] A recovering Xu Jia Xiu has to take cook for himself because the three people (including Lu Jia) who are trying to take care of him can't cook.
[Ep7] Lu Jia is drunk and lists all of Xu Jia Xiu's faults right in front of him. She appears in his home in her drunk state and learns why he's always mean to her. He tells her it's because he found out she gave a love letter to Ye Ang Yang. Her friend (the one who married) is excited to hear that because that means Xu Jia Xiu rejected her in high school not because he didn't like her but he was jealous. However, this episode she successfully quits his company like she has always wanted to. He's willing to let her go but she's not happy at all.
[Ep8] Xu Jia Xiu's company is in a pickle. That's why he let Lu Jia go but she forces her way back in to help his company.
Lu Jia compliments Xu Jia Xiu for being handsome when he helps a high school student solve a difficult math problem.
[Ep9] Lu Jia is determined to win Xu Jia Xiu's love but he's way to clueless to pick up on it. However, she misunderstands that he likes another employee (Janice or Lin Jiao Jiao). Fortunately, Lu Jia sorts it all out. Janice also seems to find her love interest this episode. It's the new coffee dude.
Lu Jia is trying to seduce Xu Jia Xiu with her new look but her lipstick is smudged. He tries to hint it to her but she's in her own happy bubble thinking he loves her new look. Thus, he pulls her close to rub it off.
[Ep10] Grandma knows his grandson, Xu Jia Xiu, likes Lu Jia. Grandma also likes her.
[Ep11] Grandma gives Lu Jia a drawing after Lu Jia confesses she likes Xu Jia Xiu. It's a picture of a person carrying a crab in her hand. Lu Jia thinks it means that Xu Jia Xiu likes crabs. And he does. Lu Jia thinks she has successfully captured his stomach therefore his heart. After the food, Xu Jia Xiu leans into Lu Jia. Thinking Xu Jia Xiu wants to kiss her, Lu Jia leans upwards into his lips to give him the kiss. He thought she was drunk. He only leaned in to get the tissue behind her. As he walks away, he takes the tissue to wipe his lips. Now he thinks she's the type to kiss anyone. Lu Jia is upset and practically hollers her confession that not only did she like him in high school, she still likes him now. She demands for a quick response for him. He holds onto her shoulders. She closes her eyes to wait for the kiss. He moves her slightly to the right because she's blocking his path home. Before he enters his condo, he tells her girls should still be a bit more reserved.
Lu Jia has decided to go on dates to overcome her heartbreak after her friend convinces her to. However, rewind two hours earlier right after Xu Jia Xiu entered his condo. He's leaning against his door, brimming with joy. He comforts himself that his acceptance of her sure was obvious. Where? Huh? He thinks they're dating now...
The next morning when Xu Jia Xiu finds out she's on a date, he follows her all the way to the amusement park. He repeatedly calls her and she repeatedly hangs up. He's fed up and yells out to her, "I dare you to hang up on me again." She's surprised to see him here but she's still angry at him. When her date shows up with a bouquet, Xu Jia Xiu mans up and grabs Lu Jia, claiming she is his girlfriend. Lu Jia doesn't get it. He obviously rejected her. Xu Jia Xiu doesn't get her. He obviously accepted her. These two yell and yell and yell at each other's idiocy. Lu Jia frustratingly asks him what their relationship is. Xu Jia Xiu shyly answers that they're boyfriend/girlfriend.
Xu Jia Xiu clarifies Grandma's crab drawing. It actually means that if she took one step closer to him, he'll take the rest of the 99 steps. But I think the first step is always the hardest.
Extra clip. After the kiss that night (where Xu Jia Xiu thought Lu Jia was drunk) he was happy the entire night. I feel bad for Lu Jia for liking this type of guy... his actions and his thoughts are so off.
[Ep12] Lu Jia and Xu Jia Xiu hide their relationship in the company. When they both arrive in the condo (they live in the same building) she tells him to not sleep yet. Lu Jia wanted to give him a new soap but Xu Jia Xiu already showered. She's disappointed so he's like he can shower again. Lu Jia laughs at him the next morning for smelling extra fresh.
Extra scenes. Xu Jia Xiu steals the picture from his friend's restaurant of Lu Jia kissing him (during the wedding). In fact he steals all the pictures of them together.
[Ep13] Xu Jia Xiu has to recount every detail of a certain day back in high school that Lu Jia was certain he liked this other girl. He blurts out that he thought the girl who wanted to confess to him was Lu Jia because the messenger told him she was the prettiest student in the class. All her misunderstandings of their past is cleared
[Ep14] Lu Jia’s friend is upset the pictures of them (Lu Jia and Xu Jia Xiu) at her BBQ restaurant are gone. There’s a huge piece of empty wall where the pictures were supposed to be. Xu Jia Xiu becomes defensive that the pictures are of her and him. He won’t back down. Lu Jia’s friend gives Xu Jia Xiu a passing grade for her boyfriend test.
Xu Jia Xiu now has to pass dad’s test. His is a bit more difficult. He threatens him that if he were to catch him with another girl for a third time, don’t ever think of marrying his daughter. Dad makes him drink a ton. Xu Jia Xiu signs a contract with Dad that he’ll love his daughter like a princess. Dad is pleased with his attitude. I assume he passes the test.
Xu Jia Xiu slept in Lu Jia’s room after he fell asleep drunk. When he wakes up he stares at every corner of her room. This is the room of the woman he loves. He visits the sleeping Lu Jia on the couch. He tells her he’s fortunate he met her. Lu Jia smiles. She was pretending to be asleep. Xu Jia Xiu unconvincingly says he’s sleep walking (and sleep talking).
Ye Ang Yang continues to be delusional in his love for Lu Jia.
[Ep15] Xu Jia Xiu becomes so jealous of the close friendship between Lu Jia and Ye Ang Yang, he tells everyone Lu Jia is his girlfriend. Since the company has a dating ban between its employees, Xu Jia Xiu counters that there isn’t a marrying ban. Whatever you want, boss.
Ye Ang Yang is furious when he learns Xu Jia Xiu stole the love letter Lu Jia wrote for him in high school. Both men fight for her in front of all the employees. However, when Janice talks to Ye Ang Yang, we learn he’s furious at Xu Jia Xiu for not telling him anything. Well, that was a little surprising. He doesn't care about Lu Jia at all.
Extra scene. Ye Ang Yang barged into Xu Jia Xiu’s office thinking he was harshly lecturing Lu Jia. He wasn’t. They were flirting quite sweetly.
[Ep16] Xu Jia Xiu is furious too. He won’t talk to or see Lu Jia. She finally finds him in the swimming pool. With her clothes on, she jumps into the pool. He’s still angry but he doesn’t want her to catch a cold. He lets her shower in his home. When she comes out of his shower, he’s really affected by her wet hair but he refrains himself. He smiles a bit when he helps her dry her hair.
Lu Jia finally clarifies about the love letter. It was meant for Xu Jia Xiu all along but since she thought he rejected her, out of anger she wrote the exact same letter to Ye Ang Yang. If Xu Jia Xiu hadn’t stole it then Lu Jia may have had a chance to explain it to him back then.
Next scene, Xu Jia Xiu is buying condoms. Lol, this progression. However the cashier doesn’t let him buy it. She has a crush on him. Xu Jia Xiu disappointingly hobbles away. Lu Jia is at home preparing wine and candle. Xu Jia Xiu takes extra long to prep himself in the bathroom. By the time he’s out, Lu Jia practically finishes the wine bottle by herself. Not only did their night end prematurely but Ye Ang Yang thought Xu Jia Xiu was in some sort of danger because he couldn’t contact him. Ye An Yang and Janice barge into his condo. Xu Jia Xiu was actually scrambling to clean the scene of anything romantic. Xu Jia Xiu didn’t want to stimulate his jealous brother (Ye Ang Yang)? But yet he still stimulates him the next morning. He sent him a ton of milk to make up for the milk Ya Ang Yang gave Lu Jia when they were back in high school. Xu Jia Xiu purposely bought him kid sized milk though. Ye An Yang wants out of the company. Xu Jia Xiu agrees in a heartbeat.
[Ep17] Ye Ang Yang is so angry that Xu Jia Wei doesn’t care, he changes his plan. He’s not quitting anymore. He’s going to stick around to annoy him. Everyone claps for his return. Xu Jia Xiu smiles. He’s know his buddy well.
Janice finds his Shao Yi Feng (her childhood friend she’s in love with). She had always thought it was the handsome coffee dude but it’s this other messy hair dude (with the same face as coffee dude, lol). Janice is disappointed beyond words.
Ye Ang Yang finds himself jealous of Shao Yi Feng. Ye Ang Yang’s feelings aren’t getting any rest is he? At least he gets an apology from his best friend, Xu Jia Wei.
[Ep18]
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Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-11)] Misunderstandings between high school (almost) lovers separate them. This is a drama about their reunion that doesn't quite start off on the right foot. I got pretty bored of this drama after Ep3 but I continued to let it play in the background until Ep11 caught my interest. Thus, this drama went from a 2.5 First Impression to a 2.6, lol. I still don't quite know if I like this. I thought the editing in the very beginning was beautiful but the rest of the drama didn't quite stay on par. The plot (other than the romance) isn't quite strong. This is a modern romcom that will not make me too high or too low; hopefully it hits me right in the sweet spot otherwise I may drop this. Ep11 was close-ish to the sweet spot though.
[Actors/Actresses] Tang Xiao Tian (Xu Jia Xiu) plays the misunderstood cold guy but it's a pretty flat performance from my angle. I like Sun Qian because she's pretty fresh and new but seeing her for the third time (Dr. Cutie and Sweet Taichi) acting a similar way makes me lose interest in her as an actress. I'm crossing my fingers hoping they'll win me over. Wang You Jun is another one my favourite actors and he is once again the second lead. Hopefully he gets a girl this time.
[Dropped] Alright I’m going to call it an end. It’s good but it doesn’t feel fresh. Maybe it’s because the couple got together way too soon. Maybe it’s because the secondary couples aren’t interesting. To think I have to watch 9 more episodes of stagnant plot of them being lovely doesn’t sound super exciting to me.
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