A Better Life | Open Thread

An insurance broker teams up with the step-son of the mistress who stole her husband – to sell insurance.

Notable Actors/Actresses

Sun Li: Hu Man Li

Dong Zi Jian: Xue Xiao Zhou

Director

Wang Jun

Screenwriter

Fei Hui Jun

Chinese Title

蠻好的人生

Quite a Good Life

Genres: Contemporary, (Romance, Slight Romance?) Contemporary Romance

Network: Youku

Year: 2025
Episodes: 36

Jump to Remarks | Recs | Comments

Cast

Sun Li: Hu Man Li	Dong Zi Jian: Xue Xiao Zhou
Myolie Wu: Qiu Li Su	Gao Xin: Ding Zhi Yuan
Chen Yao: Wu Ya	Xu Wei Luo: Ding Da Er
Tong Lei: Zhong Ning	Ye Qing: Tang Ling
Fan Shi Qi: An Lin Jiang

Romcom/Romance Checklist

[In Progress]

Have answers? Submit it here

How much of the plot is angst/romance?

0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

The ML:

Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Falls in Love First / Noble Idiot / CEO / General

The FL:

Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better than ML / Noble Idiot / Business-woman

Describe the Relationship (the tropes):

Annoying Love (F/M) Rivals +++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / Harem / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Rebirth / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / Star-Crossed Lovers

Relationship Progress (officially together; first (official) kiss; breakup*):

Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36

# of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3

Ending: 

Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++

Remarks

[Drama Info]

It seems top actresses like this director? Wang Jun has filmed popular dramas like The Tale of Rose, Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, and A Little Reunion.

The screenwriter Fei Hui Jun's recent works include Our Interpreter and My Special Girl, which isn't a good look!.

The original working title was "39 and 28". Those are the ages of the FL and ML respectively. (I don't know if they're going to be in a romantic relationship, but they do have a rather twisted connection). 

Wrapped on July 18, 2024.

[Ending]

Recommendations

Preliminary recs are random / a peek at the list. These may be updated if drama is completed

Genre List:

Work/Life/Family ≥ Romance

Mistress FL	Woman	Workplace
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