A 1970s marriage-first-love-second romance with the Fang siblings.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Chinese Title
The Love of a Pure Era
Network: Tencent Video
Cast
 |
 |
| Chen Fei Yu: Fang Mu Yang |
Sun Qian: Fei Ni |
 |
 |
| Guo Xiao Ting: Fang Mu Jing |
Wang Tian Chen: Qu Hua |
Mini Recaps
Fei Ni (Sun Qian) waves her banner like her life depends on it, shouting herself hoarse on the sidelines of Ye Feng’s basketball game… because she’s in love with the boy? No. She’s in love with university. Ye Feng just happens to be both a member of her factory’s basketball team and the son of Xu Hong Qi (Liu Min Tao), the factory director. Their factory has exactly one university nomination slot, and Xu Hong Qi controls it. (This is the 1970s before 1977, so gaokao hasn’t resumed yet. She can’t just study for high marks to get in.)
Feng Lin is a university graduate who acts superior to Fei Ni when she's actually – clearly – inferior. Director Xu Hong Qi taking her side just makes the injustice painfully obvious. I did not expect to dislike Liu Min Tao's character, especially in Ep1.
Enter ML. Fang Mu Yang (Chen Fei Yu) arrives in Jiangcheng to visit the families of his colleagues in their stead. Six years ago, he lived in this city too, but his parents were “sent down,” stripped of their residency rights (下放改造) – urban intellectuals who were punished and reassigned during the Cultural Revolution. Because of politics, they had to leave their cities to rural areas to do manual labour, undergoing "re-education". At a young age, he himself was sent to the countryside (插队), where youths worked with farmers for years as a living. Back then, he pawned his books to Fei Ni – after she bargained him down, of course – promising he’d come back to redeem them. When she hears his stomach growling, she ends up giving him back all the money anyway. She’s soft-hearted like that. She originally wanted him to owe her interest, but she gave up on that idea. He already owes her too much; expecting repayment feels utterly hopeless. But Fang Mu Yang makes her a promise.
Fang Mu Yang: Wait for me to come back. All the money I borrowed from you, I’ll repay you double.
And Fang Mu Yang is back six years later ~~ with far more money than he owed. Aw. He won’t even spend seven cents on a proper place to sleep and is prepared to spend the night outside in the storm. Because every cent is meant for his first love. Ironically, he ends up safer than the people indoors because the storm is tearing down houses. Fang Mu Yang heroically rescues trapped residents. And – gasp!– did he catch this couple cheating mid-disaster?! And now karma is trapping them under a fallen tree?? No. They're just un-married. Different era, different definition of scandal, lol. The girl is supposed to run out for help, but freezes instead, unwilling to risk her reputation for two lives. This girl? Feng Lin.
Hero Feng Mu Yang lands in a coma. Already, ML? Lol. Director Xu Hong Qi looks toward Feng Lin to care for the factory hero, but she refuses. Even though she did call for help in the end (only after her boyfriend was safe and clear from the site), she doesn’t want Fang Mu Yang to recognize her. Fei Ni immediately volunteers ~ Because what else? University. These are her volunteer hours.
When Fei Ni realizes the hero is Fang Mu Yang, all the messy memories of her first impression come rushing back. Thanks to him, our sweet Fei Ni ends up miserable, hobbling home in muddy clothes with a hurt ankle. He's the kind of boy who tortured his first love. Aww, that's kind of cute xD.
After Fei Ni's full time job at the factory, she's Fang Mu Yang’s full-time nurse. Turning him every two hours. Washing him. Yes, washing him. But when it comes to the most sensitive spot...can she actually do it? For university, she tries! 💪
Fei Ni: Nurse!!! University has its limits too.
Other than that one battlefield, Fei Ni is incredible. She plays music for him, reads aloud, shaves him, and then cuts off his thumb – a piece of it while trimming nails with a huge pair of scissors. Oopsies. He survives.
Fang Mu Yang has a girlfriend?! Well, no. This Ling Yi girl just doesn't correct Fei Ni's assumption. Sly. But now Fei Ni's panic mode is activated because if the girlfriend is here, then he doesn’t need her… and if he doesn’t need her… WHAT ABOUT UNIVERSITY?! xD Thankfully, she's leaving.
Feng Lin is the girlfriend to fear. Her boyfriend (tree-crushed guy) needs a university degree so he can earn marriage approval from Feng Lin's parents. And so she fast-tracks the nomination for him. Fei Ni, caught unprepared, misses the submission deadline because she's been busy taking care of Fang Mu Yang. That evening Fei Ni cries. And right on cue… Fang Mu Yang wakes up. Weak to a girl’s tears even while unconscious.
Except Fang Mu Yang has amnesia. But Fei Ni's university dream has renewed hope: she can go if Fang Mu Yang fully recovers. Fang Mu Yang hates the carrots (good for the brain, Fei Ni says), but for Fei Ni, who's trying so earnestly, he promises he'll do his best. For her. Aw!
But his sister, Fang Mu Jing (Guo Xiao Ting), decides to send him to a senior care home. Fang Mu Jing is surgical – cold, precise, no emotional cushioning. Meanwhile Fei Ni is just standing there like her entire future is being wheeled away on a hospital bed.
Fei Ni actually understands the sister. Fang Mu Jing isn’t cold-blooded – she’s rational. This is simply the best arrangement she can make within her limits. So Fei Ni comes up with a plan: teach Fang Mu Yang how to live independently. A whole checklist of daily survival skills. He’s lost his memory, not his abilities. So please… don’t send him to a senior home. Sister agrees!
Fang Mu Jing is actually carrying a lot more pain than she shows. It only breaks out after she leaves on the train. A hoodlum steals her seat and throws away her ticket, and she just… snaps. She cries that trash like him gets to exist freely, while her brother – who did nothing wrong – can’t even live a normal life. She gets so emotional yelling at him that she faints. Enter Qu Hua (Wang Tian Chen), a doctor, who takes care of her. The brother found a "nurse." The sister found a doctor. Symmetry. But when he casually asks if she studied math in university, she immediately goes guarded. Turns out she cut ties with her family in order to study because her parents were labeled 黑五类 (= "five black categories," a cultural Revolution term and the categories are: landlords, rich peasants, counterrevolutionaries, bad elements and rightists.).
Fei Ni teaches Fang Mu Yang how to cut his nails – an essential skill. Being a man who repays his debt, he cuts off her thumb too, lol. Just a piece. Not a purpose.
Fang Mu Yang’s memory still hasn’t recovered, but he learns ridiculously fast. And he discovers one magical sentence: “I’ll tell my jie you took really good care of me.” That line unlocks everything. Fei Ni will run errands, fetch pork cutlets, coffee, even “wine”. all luxuries.. She’ll even sing for him. Hahaha. She's cute here! And he's actually enjoying the spicy vinegar wine.
 |
| “I’ll tell my jie you took really good care of me.” |
Fei Ni convinces Fang Mu Yang to pretend his memory has recovered, then she gets her fast-track ticket to university. Except Feng Lin isn’t fooled for a second, and exposes it to Director Xu Hong Qi. Uh oh.
The Bad.
Fei Ni’s university nomination gets revoked, and Director Xu Hong Qi is deeply disappointed in her. Which… fine. But does she seriously not see that Feng Lin also had her own agenda the whole time?
Not new, but the teacher Fei Ni has always admired – the person who inspired her dream of university – works as a janitor. Dreams feel fragile.
On the family side, Lin Mei breaks up with Fei Ting (Fei Ni’s brother) and goes on blind dates because he isn’t coming home. And he isn’t coming home because he doesn’t have a house, which means he can’t marry her. But the reason he doesn’t have a house is because he refuses to kick Fei Ni out. In fact, when someone had to be sent to the Big Northern Wilderness (北大荒), it was originally Fei Ni’s assignment. Fei Ting took her place, and she took his factory job instead. He really loves his sister. And the parents let the son go in her place too. This family… I like them a lot. But when Fei Ni learns she herself has become Lin Mei’s obstacle to marriage, she makes a decision: she’ll give up her university dream and start going on blind dates (so she can move out).
Immediately Fei Ni gets a blind date: Ye Feng. He jumped on the to meet her.
The Good.
Fang Mu Yang is slowly remembering fragments. A silhouette. A feeling. It's Fei Ni. She's the person his memory keeps circling back to – before amnesia and after.
When Fei Ni doesn’t show up, Fang Mu Yang goes straight to her home. It’s a showdown with Ye Feng where Dad Fei felt so uncomfortable, he had to retreat. A very innocent Fang Mu Yang also tells Fei Ni that if she needs someone to watch movies with or even go on blind dates with... he can do that too.
Another unexpected positive: Ye Feng turns out to be a no. When he realizes Fei Ni might lose her job once Fei Ting returns, he immediately worries his mother would never approve of a jobless daughter-in-law. Even he looks disappointed. Ah, but then Ye Feng’s mom actually does approve – on one condition: Fei Ni cannot go to university because she’d be away for years. Ye Feng agrees. On Fei Ni’s behalf. Who asked you, sir.
Fang Mu Yang is slowly remembering fragments. A silhouette. A feeling. It's Fei Ni. She's the person his memory keeps circling back to – before amnesia and after.
When Fei Ni doesn’t show up, Fang Mu Yang goes straight to her home. It’s a showdown with Ye Feng where Dad Fei felt so uncomfortable, he had to retreat. A very innocent Fang Mu Yang also tells Fei Ni that if she needs someone to watch movies with or even go on blind dates with... he can do that too.
Another unexpected positive: Ye Feng turns out to be a no. When he realizes Fei Ni might lose her job once Fei Ting returns, he immediately worries his mother would never approve of a jobless daughter-in-law. Even he looks disappointed. Ah, but then Ye Feng’s mom actually does approve – on one condition: Fei Ni cannot go to university because she’d be away for years. Ye Feng agrees. On Fei Ni’s behalf. Who asked you, sir.
The next day: a triple date, haha.
The three of them – Fei Ni, Fang Mu Yang, and Ye Feng – go on a movie date. It’s some loud action flick that completely loses Fei Ni. She’s nodding off while Ye Feng is glued to the screen, totally oblivious. Of course Fang Mu Yang notices. He quietly catches her head mid-tilt so she doesn’t end up sleeping on Ye Feng’s shoulder. Then Ye Feng finally turns, and Fang Mu Yang immediately goes “tatatata,” imitating gunfire so Ye Feng snaps right back to the movie. So… who exactly hit their head here? xD
But what Ye Feng can offer Fei Ni – stability, a job, a house – is too practical for her to ignore. So she cuts ties with Fang Mu Yang by spending one last day with him. And it’s a full-course date too. But he keeps pretending she’s telling him too much information he “can’t remember,” asking her to tell him tomorrow… or the day after… just stretching time however he can. Then he insists he still doesn’t know how to tie his shoelaces. Except Fei Ni is serious this time. She leaves on her bike. He runs after her and immediately trips on those same laces.
After losing Fei Ni, Fang Mu Yang's memory fully returns. And what does this man do? Climbs a tree outside her place to get her attention so she’ll come down. That’s when he learns the real reason she wants to marry – not for love.
Fang Mu Yang: Fei Ni, don’t rush. Once I have a job and a house, I’ll come back for you. Before that, you mustn't marry anyone else. Fang Mu Yang has never broken a promise!
But Fang Mu Yang also hides the fact that his memory returned. Because Fei Ni once said that when he recovered, her mission would be complete and she wouldn’t need to care for him anymore. Sly boy :) So before she finds out, Fang Mu Yang is off to find a job and a house. He's a bit of a nepo baby with connections (just like Chen Fei Yu himself lol). But his Uncle Fu, newspaper director, can't be overpowered in that way. Fang Mu Yang still has to train for two months before he can work at the newspaper using his drawing skills. And since he's the factory hero, he qualifies to get a house from the factory.
2CP. Wait a minute! Fang Mu Jing gives me Ling Yi vibes. Fang Mu Jing invites Qu Hua to lunch after learning his background – doctor, military family, high-ranking cadre kid. He’s trying to keep distance after she accused him of manufacturing coincidences between them, but now she’s the one approaching him. Except her target is very clear, and he immediately understands what she’s worried about: whether he told her professor that she secretly taped her family photo back together after promising she had cut ties with them. He didn't tell. He also asks her on a date. And she agrees…Hmmm. Because she likes him or his background?
 |
| 3CP. I did catch Ye Feng is in the far right xD. But the mom is clearly more important. |
3CP. And then we actually transition to Ling Yi, lol. So Show is winking at us that Fang Mu Jing is pulling a Ling Yi. She only got interested in Ye Feng after learning he’s Director Xu Hong Qi’s son. Both Fei Ni and Ling Yi approached Ye Feng because of his mother lol. Poor Ye Feng? Maybe.
While Ye Feng invites Fei Ni home, his mother, Xu Hong Qi, brings Ling Yi home. Low. When Xu Hong Qi casually sends Fei Ni to the kitchen to cook, Ye Feng interprets this as “my mom treats you like a daughter-in-law already.” My dude. Being handed a wok is not approval. Then he really goes for it. Says women should honour their husbands, raise kids, and that going to university is basically just a step toward finding a better husband. Ling Yi....totally just did go to university to upgrade her marriage prospects. Then as Ling Yi performs on the accordion like cultured background music, Fei Ni demolishes the fish she cooked. Afterwards, she politely excuses herself. Love it!
And the food and drinks Xu Hong Qi belittled compared to Ling Yi’s “artistic” gift? Fei Ni packs them up and takes them back. Straight to Fang Mu Yang. Hahaha. But Fei Ni is still annoyed the fish was nothing compared to the beef her father fed Ye Feng.
Ye Feng is exposed. First, there's Ling Yi who's “interested,” but visibly struggles to locate a single admirable trait, haha. Then the next day, Ye Feng publicly demands Fei Ni get on his bike instead of Fang Mu Yang’s. If she wants university, she’ll need his mother. A minute ago he was disgusted she still wanted to study. Now it’s leverage. Fei Ni chooses Fang Mu Yang. DUH.
Ye Feng is exposed. First, there's Ling Yi who's “interested,” but visibly struggles to locate a single admirable trait, haha. Then the next day, Ye Feng publicly demands Fei Ni get on his bike instead of Fang Mu Yang’s. If she wants university, she’ll need his mother. A minute ago he was disgusted she still wanted to study. Now it’s leverage. Fei Ni chooses Fang Mu Yang. DUH.
Fang Mu Yang is denied the house. Because Feng Lin whispered poison to Xi Hong Qi: bad reputation, political risk, he’s getting too close to Fei Ni, what will people say. It’s such a reach I can barely summarize it, but Xu Hong Qi buys it and retracts the housing. However! Fei Ni has a way to resolve this.
Fei Ni: We’ll marry.
What! Fake marriage – she clarifies. Because Xu Hong Qi’s rule is married factory workers get housing. If they’re legally married, her excuse evaporates. Fang Mu Yang’s heart is exploding, but he still checks if she’s sacrificing too much. No. It's mutual benefit. And so he agrees to her condition that she gets half the house. He would happily give her the entire thing. Then he immediately asks when they’re getting the marriage license.
Fei Ni squints. Suspicious. Did his memory come back? Yes. Completely. He remembers that she loves him and that no one loves him more than she does – which is a bold lie – but it softens the moment enough that she lets it slide. But she's back to being serious. She adds one more condition. And he already knows it. He will never stop her from going to university. In fact, he'll fully support her.
Fang Mu Yang visits Fei Ni’s parents with the exact food and drinks Fei Ni gave him. Which was originally her dad’s. Full-circle dowry recycling redistribution.
2CP. Qu Hua tells Fang Mu Jing they’re unsuitable on multiple levels. Then he proposes. Because he’s not a pragmatist. Her response is equallyinsane logical. She has other options like her colleagues, professors, a doctor who’s already a director, and in fact, she is a pragmatist. He counters that if she’s truly pragmatic, he’s objectively her best choice. She pauses. And instead of rejecting him, she asks for time. And time equals three hours. Qu Hua already knew Fang Mu Jing had an answer the moment she asked for time. He just doesn’t know the answer. Then she provokes him.
 |
| They are not in a relationship where they can drink together yet. So Fang Mu Yang sits separated by a wall window xD |
2CP. Qu Hua tells Fang Mu Jing they’re unsuitable on multiple levels. Then he proposes. Because he’s not a pragmatist. Her response is equally
Fang Mu Jing: If you don’t know, you don’t know how to ask?Qu Hua: Fang Mu Jing, will you marry me?Fang Mu Jing: Yes.This entire proposal arc feels like two people negotiating instead of confessing love xD.
Mother Fei finally learns why Fei Ni is rushing into this marriage – so her brother can marry. Her eyes immediately well up. Not over her dead body is her daughter sacrificing herself like this. And also… if her daughter had to marry, couldn’t she at least choose someone better than Fang Mu Yang? Fei Ni doesn’t agree. In her eyes, there’s nothing wrong with him. When he was working in the fields, he earned a university nomination. When he ran into danger to save people, he didn’t hesitate for a second.
Fei Ni: Someone [great] like him — why can’t I marry?
Behind her, Fang Mu Yang is tearing up. Mother Fei agrees!
Fei Ting slowly walks up to Fang Mu Yang and threatens that if he ever treats his sister badly, it won't be a tree he’ll be tied to. He'll be tied up and thrown into the lake.
Fang Mu Yang: Rest assured. Even if you do, I won't ever have the heart to hurt her. That line is huge because brother love here is already max level.
So they marry. In 1975, they're officially husband and wife. And I love the way Fang Mu Yang (Chen Fei Yu) tries to smile – big grin mixed with cold sweat panic.
To protest, Fang Mu Yang and Fei Ni drag their bright red wedding blankets into Xu Hong Qi’s office and camp there. They'll sleep there until justice is served. To sell it, he takes off his clothes since he has a white undershirt anyway. Fei Ni starts doing the same. No. Absolutely not. He will NOT let other people eat his xifu'r's tofu = take advantage of his wife.
 |
| Being caught in bed with a whitebeater is not Chen Fei Yu's best look. |
Fang Mu Yang finally meets Feng Lin. Him: Ah. So she’s Feng Lin. With his memory intact, he drops a veiled threat about that night… and that tree… (when she slept with her boyfriend). Immediate effect: she “volunteers” to give up her house. LOL. Hahahaha. Who would have thought Feng Lin would be unintentionally funny with how "righteous" she sounds xD. And she frames it as if she’s sacrificing for Xu Hong Qi so it won’t put her in a difficult position. And Xu Hong Qi eats it up: “I’m very proud of you.” You two deserve each other!!
An enraged Feng Lin takes it out on the wall with yellow paint. But Fang Mu Yang's a genius! He turns the mess into art. Romantic art. He painted the yellow meadow Fei Ni proposed at. Aw. AWWW.
2CP. Fang Mu Jing is married too. And NOW she learns she's a stand-in for Qu Hua’s ex who looks just like her – Yan Yan. :O He accuses her of using him too: the moment she accepts his proposal, the next she submits her project application using his background. She'd never marry him if not for his father’s status. She fires back with the same knife: If she didn’t look like Yan Yan, would he have married her?This mutually damaging couple.
1CP. Fang Mu Yang and Fei Ni are playing with a condom. Anyway. Fei Ni is carefully budgeting their money, and Fang Mu Yang just hands over everything he has because she said he’s careless. She accepts it matter-of-factly, not realizing he meant it in the very traditional “wife manages all finances” sense. Then while she’s doing accounts, he’s cleaning. They’re already functioning like a married couple except they're not playing the condom the right way.
And it’s not all angst for the 2CP either. Fang Mu Jing shows up after a brutal surgery day in a soft yellow dress, bringing Qu Hua fresh clothes. He looks at her and smiles.
Qu Hua kisses Fang Mu Jing, passionately, but then he realizes something is off. She isn’t resisting, but there isn't warmth either. He stops. You don't love me one bit. She answers his statement with a question, "Then do you love me?" This conversation needed to have happened before the I do. She respects that he doesn't love her and asks him the same respect because she doesn’t love him either. After that hot kiss, she gets out of bed and goes straight back to solving her math equations. Math must be so much easier for her xD.
Father Fei's master plan was to get Fang Mu Yang drunk and interrogate him about his past (e.g. secret wives). Also too late of a convo to be having LOL. Instead, the dad gets drunk and spills his past – exes, almost marrying Luo Yu Fen and becoming rich, but then he wouldn’t have had Fei Ni and Fei Ting, boohoohoo. Bwahaha. Now Fang Mu Yang knows all of his secrets. Including where he hides his money. So Fang Mu Yang leaves him a note: I know everything now, so we’re on the same team. This backfired hilariously, lol. And also so sincerely! This dad xD.
Sis Fang Mu Jing packs her bags to Jiangcheng because her brother is holding a wedding. Wait – what? How did the sister know before me? xD Qu Hua asks if he needs to go. She counters with, Do you want to go? He says, If you want me there, I’ll be there. So she goes, Then don’t be there. Lol. The truth is that hard. And then he shows up on her train anyway as a surprise. The whole time she’s buried in her book and doesn’t even notice the passenger in front of her has been swapped out for her own husband. Aww. He claims he’s also going to Jiangcheng for work. Pure coincidence. Same train, same ticket, even extra cabin tickets available. Totally coincidence. :)
Fang Mu Jing really attracts the worst train passengers. This one drops his feet in her face and spits sunflower seed shells onto her bed. Qu Hua steps in (again!) – this time openly as her airen (愛人). Husband privileges unlocked.
Qu Hua asks Fang Mu Jing if it isn’t bizarre that they're husband and wife but still sleeping in separate rooms. Fang Mu Jing lets him into hers. He suggests they switch to his room instead. Here we go again. She refuses – Jiangcheng is her territory, he’s the guest, so naturally he stays with her. He counters that his room has a washroom. She calmly says she doesn’t need one. Why go against a washroom. She gives him until 11:00 p.m. before she locks the door. He snaps back that he’ll give her until 10:30 before he locks his. So guess who’s knocking on whose door? Qu Hua. At Fang Mu Jing’s washroom-less room. And it’s past 11:00. His watch says there are still fifteen seconds left. She informs him his watch is inaccurate. Trust the mathematician. But hey, Qu Hua gets the washroom.
The next day at her brother’s wedding (held at Fei Ni's factory), Fang Mu Jing is hovering quietly at the sidelines – content to be invisible. Not Qu Hua. He refuses to let her regret not standing properly beside her own family and so he loudly announces both of them, proudly introducing himself as a doctor from a military family.
Meanwhile, Fei Ni is crying at her surprise wedding. Correction: she’s crying over the fish served at every table. That’s her university fund swimming away. It’s funny – but it’s not, really. She is upset that he took her money. Fang Mu Yang meant well; he just wanted to give her and her family the wedding their precious daughter deserved. He promises to earn it back for her. She silently forgives him.
2CP.
Knock knock. It’s Qu Hua. Not even 10:00 yet, lol. Fang Mu Jing opens the door… and lets him in. All the way in. To her bed.
3CP.
Feng Lin. Oh, Feng Lin. Nosy queen, and unfortunately, her instincts are sharp. She’s convinced Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang are a fake couple, so she insists on inspecting their home. She even opens their drawers. So rude. And then she finds the factory-issued condoms handed out to workers, and interrogates them: So… is it that you don’t use them? Or you can’t use them? Fang Mu Yang, without missing a beat, says: 用不上 Can't use them. Uhoh. Because they're too small. These things come in sizes, you know. LMAO.
Feng Lin, undeterred, teams up with Manager Wang (Wang Xiao Man) and reports to Director Xu Hong Qi that the couple is fake. That night, the three of them barge into Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang’s home to catch them – not – in the act. And they're (acting) in bed together! Fang Mu Yang is even deeply offended. He and his ai-ren are sleeping peacefully and they just storm in like that? Feng Lin immediately shifts blame to Manager Wang. I love that Feng Lin, in sabotaging Fei Ni, is burning her bridges. Fang Mu Yang has an explanation for why they're quiet at night. He was being considerate of the neighbours. Which means, of course, from now on, he doesn’t have to be. And does he need to file a daily report with Director Xu about whether he sleeps at home too? He even draws a crowd so everyone can watch Xu Hong Qi, Manager Wang, and Feng Lin standing there embarrassed. The hunters become the spectacle. Excellent.
Turns out Fang Mu Yang had spotted the trio downstairs collecting spare keys. He was ready. Fully prepared to reverse the trap. But now there’s the issue of their “quiet nights.”
So they perform. Fang Mu Yang shakes the bunk bed against the shared wall. Fei Ni whispers if this sounds right. The rhythm. The duration. Thump. Thump. Thump. He’s not entirely sure either, but this seems convincing enough.
On the other side of the wall, Manager Wang is losing her mind. Annoyed at the noise – and increasingly irritated at her own useless husband. Because Fang Mu Yang sounds...vigorous. Dedicated. Enduring. HAHAHAHA. Revenge is hilarious. And then the next morning, the women at work start handing their condoms to Fei Ni.
Turns out Fang Mu Yang had spotted the trio downstairs collecting spare keys. He was ready. Fully prepared to reverse the trap. But now there’s the issue of their “quiet nights.”
So they perform. Fang Mu Yang shakes the bunk bed against the shared wall. Fei Ni whispers if this sounds right. The rhythm. The duration. Thump. Thump. Thump. He’s not entirely sure either, but this seems convincing enough.
2CP.
Fang Mu Jing kisses Qu Hua. It's a guilty kiss. He’s been diligently translating her research paper, and here she has already decided she’s leaving for Jiangcheng for her research without informing him. When she finally does tell him, she’s leaving the next day. But that night, Qu Hua is very drunk, and in his haze he mistakes her for Yan Yan. And then we learn Yan Yan wasn’t just an ex; she was his patient – someone he failed to save. Fang Mu Jing goes cold and leaves. I get that she's upset, but she was leaving regardless so I don't feel so bad for her.
Main CP.
Fang Mu Yang gets Fei Ni her TV. Or rather, he builds it part by part. She needs it because Manager Wang has a job opening, and Fei Ni wants that position for her brother, but Manager Wang wants a TV (coupon. In that period, they needed tickets in order to qualify to buy goods like a TV. ).
 |
| He holds her hand so casually |
Fang Mu Yang also installs a private shower room in their unit so Fei Ni doesn’t have to share the communal washroom anymore. Fei Ni loves it. Right? Why would anyone reject a private shower, Fang Mu Jing. While she bathes, he stands outside their door letting mosquitoes devour him, and then the moment she steps out and he sees droplets of water still clinging to her neck, he looks so smitten. The mosquito bites are a small price to pay :)
3CP.
Fei Ting finally gets the job, which should solve everything, except Lin Mei’s family still refuses to approve the marriage. They prefer the other suitor because he could secure Lin Mei’s brother a job, and although her parents pretend that’s not the reason, they pivot to a new demand: “36 legs.” Huh? Fei family scrapes together money to meet the demand, and while they’re pooling funds, Fang Mu Yang quietly eyes Father Fei. Because he knows. Dad definitely has more money hidden somewhere, haha.
Ah. “36 legs” means the legs of furniture. Fang Mu Yang builds everything alongside Fei Ting. The parents watch with unconcealed approval. Father Fei reminds Mother Fei that she used to oppose this son-in-law. Mother Fei immediately argues that only her mouth opposed him – deep in her heart she always knew he was good. Father Fei, following husband 101 survival skills, concedes, “You are correct.” Even Fei Ting approves, comparing Fang Mu Yang to weed: the kind that can take root anywhere and thrive. I mean, he gets me high too and it looks like they've become dependent on him, lol. Accurate either way!
36 legs are done, but Lin Mei’s family still has demands. Fei Ting, being the sincere boy he is, says he doesn’t deserve Lin Mei. No — what’s happening is they’re demanding beyond their means and using her marriage, her entire future as bargaining power. That’s not cherishing a daughter. Still, since he doesn't deserve her, then he’ll love her more and cherish her more. It’s simple, earnest, and you can see the parents soften despite themselves.
4 more legs appear. From the leftover wood, Fang Mu Yang builds a new bed. Goodbye bunk bed. She’s flustered, but he thoughtfully adds a removable divider between them. She thinks the divider should’ve been higher. He murmurs that even if it were higher, it wouldn’t block him. She doesn’t catch it. I love them knock-knocking on the divider, playing house on their bed in their house. Cute lol. Meanwhile at night, their neighbours aren't playing around. They're seriously going for it. Thump – thump – thump!
|
| Manager Wang got her revenge hahaha. |
1 pair of legs for 2 people. Fei Ting and Lin Mei finally marry. In wedding custom, the groom carries the bride so her feet never touch the ground.
Fei Ni learns the truth about the past. All those “unlucky” encounters she blamed on Fang Mu Yang weren’t bad omens; they were him trying too hard to fix things for her, only to make them worse. He wasn’t a jinx. He was trying too hard. She apologizes for misunderstanding him. And then there's almost a kiss behind the divider, and I would have felt cheated if it happened hidden there. Fei Ni gets too flustered and bolts. Fang Mu Yang is left…smiling like a fool. Even through the divider, the emotion comes through! He's so happy, he's dancing with himself – and an imaginary Fei Ni.
At work, Feng Lin targets Fei Ting because anything connected to Fei Ni irritates her on principle. Fei Ting is collateral damage. She forces him to rewrite a draft, nitpicking every detail. But when it’s time to present to Xu Hong Qi, she rejects the revised version and praises the original, which was Fei Ni’s. In your face, Feng Lin.
2CP. Fang Mu Jing is questioned by her ex, Liu Wei, at work who accuses her of being sharp-tongued and calculating, using her husband for connections. He's not exactly wrong, lol. Qu Hua replies loudly and boldly for his wife, “I know. And I don’t care.” Qu Hua also apologizes for the drunken mistake that night, and I think she owes him one too for the one-day notice departure bomb. But these two don't make up. He gets swamped at work. Every time he tries to make a phone call, he’s pulled away. Meanwhile, every day Fang Mu Jing asks if there’s a letter. A message. A call. Nothing. Girl – phones work both ways.
Fang Mu Yang helps Fei Ni paint a blackboard promotion for the factory. He's so sweet – when chalk dust falls on her face, he blocks it with his elbow. She's too focused on writing to notice.
The way he looks at her!
Fei Ni lines up their toothbrushes so that they're kissing as she remembers the almost-kiss by the roof. When Fang Mu Yang runs in, she quickly separates them. Later, when she’s not looking, he nudges them back together. Adorable! And unhygienic, lol.
Fang Mu Yang gets hired at the illustrating department for a well-known artist. His name won’t be on the drafts (hmmmmm), but he’ll be paid. Fang Mu Yang is honoured, but his mind is on something else – possibly more important than work. He asks if he can order another dish to take away. Because if something is delicious, he wants Fei Ni to taste it too, aw.
Father Fei, still confused, asks: if you loved her, why go through all this trouble? Dad. Your daughter didn’t love him! Fang Mu Yang’s original plan was simple – secure a house, lend it to her, quietly support her from the sidelines. Then Xu Hong Qi and Feng Lin happened. He never imagined Fei Ni would marry him to get the house back. Even if it was fake for her, it was more than enough for him. He was content. What he never expected was that somewhere in their ordinary days, she would fall in love too. <3
Fei Ni admits she didn’t expect it either. They were completely different types of people. He spends like someone living without a heart or lungs 沒心沒肺 – reckless. But he was the one who taught her life isn’t only about reaching the end goal. He was the one who told her to stop and admire the scenery. And now she realizes he is her scenery. She always thought she was unlucky. Now she thinks maybe all her fortune was saved up just to meet him.
Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang are officially a couple! They kiss too ~
Brother Fei Ting is a secret top chef. Lin Mei is furious he keeps helping in the kitchen, but he claims he’s bored at work. Apparently they write a little, gossip a lot, drink tea, and collect excellent paycheques. And he can't stand it. What is wrong with him LOL.
Fang Mu Jing phones Qu Hua. Initiative! He doesn’t pick up. And so…she writes him a letter to ask for a divorce Ma’am. He traveled all the way to see you. He defended you publicly. He swallowed pride repeatedly. You call once, he misses it – and we’re filing for divorce? I understand she’s falling in love. I understand wanting to end it before it hurts more. But the effort level from her isn't just zero. It's negative. Fang Mu Jing receives Qu Hua's reply. Not in words. In White Rabbit candy. Milk. A warm coat. She calls him to confirm he received her divorce request. He did. She asks if he sent a reply. He did – didn’t she get it? She did. She hangs up. And they both smile. That’s the answer. He doesn't want divorce, and is instead giving her sugar, milk, warmth.
Now Fang Mu Jing is knitting Qu Hua a scarf?. Finally. Something. One thing at a time. The next day, Qu Hua also receives a jacket from her. He tries it on immediately, turning slightly, checking the fit from every angle. It’s perfect. When a colleague walks in, he's too embarrassed to admit he's glowing over a coat, so he claims he’s feeling a bit cold. Zoom in. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple.
It's New Year. Fang Mu Jing is spending it alone. Until there’s a knock. I don't think it's past 11 p.m. It’s Qu Hua. She lights up immediately but hesitates, asking if it’s okay he doesn’t go home to celebrate with family. He lifts the food he brought and says he is celebrating with family. The next morning is sweet too. He's up early to visit relatives. She smiles. The only relatives he has here is her family. And so they show up in matching couple coats; hers from him, his from her.
Now Fang Mu Jing is knitting Qu Hua a scarf?. Finally. Something. One thing at a time. The next day, Qu Hua also receives a jacket from her. He tries it on immediately, turning slightly, checking the fit from every angle. It’s perfect. When a colleague walks in, he's too embarrassed to admit he's glowing over a coat, so he claims he’s feeling a bit cold. Zoom in. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple.
Speaking of diabetes. Fang Mu Yang casually says he spilled water on his blanket and now it’s wet. Then he plays up the cough-sneezing until Fei Ni reluctantly shares half her blanket. But half isn’t enough. So he climbs over the divider, an obstacle that was never too high for him, and slips under her blanket. Fei parents new year wish is on the way: babies.
Ling Yi stole Fei Ni’s newspaper submission because she wanted the credit and the security that came with it. And we also learn how she took Fang Mu Yan's university nomination. She attempted suicide over losing her chance. Her mother was gone, her days were spent feeding pigs just to survive, and university felt like the last door out. Getting published now would strengthen her standing at the newspaper, and secure her job. Well, she’s caught. However, Fei Ni doesn’t push for punishment. She doesn’t want to ruin Ling Yi. She just wants her name back on her own work. Ling Yi, at the very least, is grateful for that mercy. Ling Yi is all about survival, earned or not.
We get more brother-in-law bonding. Fei Ting confides in Fang Mu Yang that the broadcast job doesn’t suit him. From tying the man to a tree to treating him like a tree-hole xD.
Work is not going well for Fang Mu Yang. Fei Ni finds the scraps of his work in the trash, and just like how he put together her designs, she turns them into something luminous: a carousel lantern, a 走馬燈, light spinning gently in the dark. Her shoulders aren’t as broad as his, she says, but they’re there for him to lean on too.
Liu Wei. Who? Fang Mu Jing's ex. Now that she's doing well, he’s suddenly reappearing with wild assumptions. He thinks she sacrificed herself in a loveless marriage. He assumes she must still love him. Astounding. And she snaps back – who says she doesn’t love Qu Hua? Right on cue, Qu Hua shows up! She's drunk and thinks she’s dreaming – she’s been dreaming about him often lately. This time she asks outright: does he love her? His answer is simple: “I love you.” She laughs and says he’s lying – that he loves Yan Yan. But he knows the difference. She isn’t a shadow of anyone. She is Fang Mu Jing. The next morning, she wakes up shocked he’s really here. It wasn't a dream. Oh, and one more thing: he’s transferred to Jiangcheng.
Feng Lin tries to push Wang De Fa – Who? Her tree-crushed boyfriend – into Fei Ting’s vacant position. Xu Hong Qi shuts it down immediately. She pointedly exposes Feng Lin that too many advantages would have fallen Wang De Fa’s way if he gets the job on top of the university opportunity.
Feng Lin – AGAIN OMFG – catches Fei Ni with banned books and immediately calls the police. Fei Ni admits the books are hers. Fang Mu Yang steps in and says they’re his. Both of them claiming ownership, both insisting the other knew nothing. Mutual self-sacrifice.
Unexpectedly, Xu Hong Qi is not impressed. She scolds Feng Lin for abandoning more important duties just to target Fei Ni, and for overstepping by going straight to the police without clearing it properly.
To save her brother, Fang Mu Jing seeks out Ling Yi (because Xu Hong Qi is her mother-in-law). Ling Yi hesitates. But Fang Mu Jing gently makes it clear: if she truly wants to help, she’ll find a way. Ling Yi pauses… then nods. And soon, Fang Mu Jing and Qu Hua are sitting before Xu Hong Qi. Fang Mu Jing claims the books are hers. Qu Hua backs her up and says they’re his. Everyone lining up to take the fall. Ling Yi pulls Ye Feng aside and asks for his help too – and he doesn’t need much convincing. He was only afraid Ling Yi would mind. And so, he points out the obvious to his mother: the real problem here is Feng Lin, who clearly has an agenda against Fei Ni and overreached her authority, even going above Xu Hong Qi. Fang Mu Jing adds calmly that those same books are circulating in universities now. The atmosphere is changing.
Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang are released. But there’s a cost: their house is confiscated. They move back in with Fei family. Fang Mu Yang claims he’ll stay at his sister’s place because of the tight space. In reality, he sleeps at his workplace.
Then. An earthquake.
And Fang Mu Yang runs toward it. He helps with rescue efforts and then even reports from near the epicenter. Again stepping forward when things shake.
Unexpectedly, Xu Hong Qi is not impressed. She scolds Feng Lin for abandoning more important duties just to target Fei Ni, and for overstepping by going straight to the police without clearing it properly.
To save her brother, Fang Mu Jing seeks out Ling Yi (because Xu Hong Qi is her mother-in-law). Ling Yi hesitates. But Fang Mu Jing gently makes it clear: if she truly wants to help, she’ll find a way. Ling Yi pauses… then nods. And soon, Fang Mu Jing and Qu Hua are sitting before Xu Hong Qi. Fang Mu Jing claims the books are hers. Qu Hua backs her up and says they’re his. Everyone lining up to take the fall. Ling Yi pulls Ye Feng aside and asks for his help too – and he doesn’t need much convincing. He was only afraid Ling Yi would mind. And so, he points out the obvious to his mother: the real problem here is Feng Lin, who clearly has an agenda against Fei Ni and overreached her authority, even going above Xu Hong Qi. Fang Mu Jing adds calmly that those same books are circulating in universities now. The atmosphere is changing.
Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang are released. But there’s a cost: their house is confiscated. They move back in with Fei family. Fang Mu Yang claims he’ll stay at his sister’s place because of the tight space. In reality, he sleeps at his workplace.
Then. An earthquake.
And Fang Mu Yang runs toward it. He helps with rescue efforts and then even reports from near the epicenter. Again stepping forward when things shake.
It's not just Fang Mu Yang heading towards the epicentre for work. Qu Hua is too. But he also hands Fang Mu Jing a divorce letter. Just in case – he doesn’t want her tied to a wounded/dead man. She rips it up immediately. If the person she loves is hurt, that's exactly when he needs her most. They hold each other tightly.
Days pass. Fei Ni hasn’t received a single letter from Fang Mu Yang. The silence becomes unbearable, so she asks Xu Hong Qi for leave to find him.Fang Mu Jing: studies math diligently. Xu Hong Qi refuses at first – it’s dangerous. But Fei Ni doesn’t back down. Finally, Xu Hong Qi approves, saying Fang Mu Yang will always be their factory’s hero (OH PLEASE). As she watches Fei Ni sprint towards their hero, Xu Hong Qi nods emphatically, approving of Fei Ni.
Days pass. Fei Ni hasn’t received a single letter from Fang Mu Yang. The silence becomes unbearable, so she asks Xu Hong Qi for leave to find him.
Fei Ni discovers Fang Mu Yang never had a proper place to sleep and has been resting on a makeshift tabletop. So she simply climbs up and sleeps there with him. They recount the "beds" they've shared so far: table, bunk bed, etc. Lots of variety, but as long as it's him beside her, it’s happiness no matter where/what.
4CP. So about that vacant position (from Fei Ting). Ling Yi wants it too, and has Ye Feng ask his mother, Xu Hong Qi. Sneaky, sneaky. Xu Hong Qi agrees, but doesn't like it at all that Ling Yi is hiding behind her son. If Ling Yi asks, she’ll owe her. If Ye Feng asks, it becomes a matter between mother and son. Ye Feng continues lifting weights, completely missing the difference. All muscle, no motherboard, lol. Later, Xu Hong Qi does ask Manager Wang about the qualifications for the position. Manager Wang casually asks if she has someone in mind. She waves it off – not really, though there is Ling Yi! And wouldn’t you know it, Manager Wang was just planning to hire a female Jiangcheng University graduate. The exaggerated fake politeness between the two of them is theatrical xD.
3CP. Lin Mei is upset that Fei Ting lost his job. She smacks him in frustration — but immediately rubs the same spot she hit. Lin Mei's such a softie for this guy, who can be frustrating lol.
A new Director Chen arrives, and usurps Xu Hong Qi, who's actually demoted too. What happened. Feng Lin wastes no time accusing Xu Hong Qi of abusing her position to secure Ling Yi a job. Ling Yi goes to Director Chen herself. Not to save face for herself, but to protect her mother-in-law’s reputation. She drags Ye Feng along, who still doesn’t understand why any of this requires effort. Ling Yi patiently explains to the manchild that this is about their mother’s name. And Ling Yi does good! Director Chen reads her writing, approves, and welcomes her to the factory. But Feng Lin tries again, insisting it’s not about merit, but favouritism. Director Chen shuts her down! And demotes her on the spot for accusing without proof, showing no teamwork, and too much poison overall. Xu Hong Qi's reputation is maintained. Technically, Manager Wang used that position as leverage to get a TV before...
Justice for Fang Mu Yang at work. His earthquake drawings receive recognition by the general public, proving Teacher Yuan wrong.
An episode about karma, restoration.
Xu Hong Qi reports to work with no title and no authority, just another worker on the floor. And she does it seriously. Diligently. Then lunch comes, and the entire table radius around her is empty. No one dares sit beside the former director. Except Fei Ni. She thanks Xu Hong Qi for approving her leave to search for her husband. Thank yourself, girl.
Ye Feng’s PAID?!? basketball team gets disbanded. Now they’re reassigned to actual factory jobs, and he's devastated. While he's fighting for being paid to play crappy basketball, he becomes the only one without a proper slot. The only vacancy: canteen food distributor. Xu Hong Qi reminds him of the exact words he used to comfort her. Work doesn’t separate nobles from peasants. Love it. When it was about his mother, he was high-minded and enlightened. Now that it’s his own job, he’s devastated.
Fei Ting gets rewarded! The Li shifu he defended (and lost his job for) comes back with a new opportunity for him: a canteen cooking position. The pay isn’t as high, but it’s work he actually loves. A win.
And so Ye Feng and Fei Ting become canteen colleagues, lol. Sweet Fei Ni is there cheering for Ye Feng just like in Ep1 xD. He's so easy. Ye Feng's all motivated now and gives Fei Ni a whole tray of meat. Meanwhile behind her, Feng Lin gets one lonely piece.
1CP
Fei Ni finds her last name carved into Fang Mu Yang's bed. He really was in love with her from his teenage years. She smiles and carves his name beside hers so one day their children can witness the evidence of first love. He’s glowing. He leans in and kisses her cheek before she can finish, saying that part — the children admiring their epic romance — can wait. Priorities. Gotta make children first.
A door opens for Fei Ni! She can go to university because this super fair female director is nothing like Xu Hong Qi, and has already been considering nominating her before Fei Ni even submitted her application. It's in Ningzhou, a bit far, but our couple isn't one bit fazed.
A door closes for Fang Mu Yang. For Fei Ni's university dream, he compromises to work under Teacher Yuan, who wants to delete all of Fang Mu Yang's recount of reality with fiction. Delete the factory worker. Delete the doctor. Delete the messy reality of the earthquake. What is even left? What was the point of reporting at the centre of the earthquake?
2CP.
Qu Hua successfully operates on his grandmother. He overcomes his trauma of failing his first love's surgery, and takes Fang Mu Jing to the place where he first met Yan Yan. Not to reminisce — but to say goodbye to his first love. He also tells Fang Mu Jing she’s too dazzling to ever be someone’s stand-in. I don't know how I feel about this closure with the ex, lol. I'm just glad they're not the main CP.
Fang Mu Jing has a new colleague – her very own mother. The mother, Mu Shan He, gets to work at the university again. Fang Mu Jing is guilty and nervous in her mother's presence. In their whole family, only Fang Mu Jing severed the relationship for her own benefit. Her mother did not divorce her father to keep her job. Her brother did not disown his parents to continue school. Only she did.
While Mother Fang is working, Father Fang is enjoying retirement. Until Fei Ni nudges him. She encourages him to share his drawing knowledge. He gets excited and even asks her to help edit his materials (for publishing).
4CP.
And Ye Feng. Is he improving himself too? He's learning the abacus. Meanwhile Ling Yi watches over him like a second mother supervising homework.
Fang Mu Yang gives in to everything Teacher Yuan says, but the defeat is written all over his face. Enter Fei Ni to rescue her husband. She's smart about it. She begins by praising Teacher Yuan, saying his stories are grand and impactful. But Fang Mu Yang’s work is different. His stories come from reality, from ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Reality itself is already powerful enough; their job is simply to record it. Teacher Yuan dismisses her argument and says Fei Ni’s opinion doesn’t represent the audience. Fine then. Let the audience decide. They hold a workplace vote. If Fang Mu Yang loses, he’ll leave. The results come in: five votes to four. Fang Mu Yang loses.
Quickly. Fang Mu Yang lands a job as a waiter at a (British) restaurant, where Chen Fei Yu gets to put that American English to use.
Lin Mei is a genius.because she hides a large sum of money that a customer lost at her mother’s house where her unemployed greedy brother conveniently lives full-time. ???? What is wrong with Lin Mei. Fortunately, Fei Ting arrives just in time to snatch the money back from the brother’s grimy hands before things worsen.
Quickly. Fang Mu Yang lands a job as a waiter at a (British) restaurant, where Chen Fei Yu gets to put that American English to use.
Lin Mei is a genius.because she hides a large sum of money that a customer lost at her mother’s house where her unemployed greedy brother conveniently lives full-time. ???? What is wrong with Lin Mei. Fortunately, Fei Ting arrives just in time to snatch the money back from the brother’s grimy hands before things worsen.
After Qu Hua encourages Fang Mu Jing to face her mother if she wants forgiveness, Fang Mu Jing goes all in. She clings to her mother, shamelessly calls her “Mom” every chance she gets. Mother Fang keeps telling her to stop, but Fang Mu Jing pushes back: if you’re not my mother, then who gets to lecture me like this? The (il)logic corners her. Mother Fang clearly isn’t ready to forgive yet, but Fang Mu Jing isn’t backing down either.
Fang Mu Yan didn't lose to Teacher Yuan! He admits Fei Ni’s words actually moved him. When he drew for the competition, part of his inspiration came from Fang Mu Yang as well. He offers another job opportunity for Fang Mu Yang, but is declined. Fang Mu Yang draws freely here and pulls out the menu designs he drew for the restaurant. He's happy here.
Fang Mu Yang exposes Fei Ni as his mysterious fan, “Tian Xue Ying.” Teasing aside, he sincerely praises her writing and encourages her to submit a story. Suddenly her whole family has ideas. Mother Fei's suggestion might be the best: she wants her name, Bao Ying, to be in her story because just hearing it, it sounds like someone ready to 戰天鬥地 – battling heaven and earth. Mom has big ambitions, haha.
Fang Mu Yang brings home a coffee maker because he wants to make coffee for his ai-ren. He's always bringing home anything he thinks is good for Fei Ni. And so now they’re both completely wired on caffeine. They spend the whole night playing around together like kids who discovered sugar. And then...they're standing there yawning, waiting for the sun to rise because neither of them can actually fall asleep anymore. Ha, cuties.
Ling Yi and Ye Feng divorce. I was actually okay with them being happy together... :O And she loses much more than just a marriage. Ling Yi had approached her shixiong, Chen Dong Hua, to advance her career, but he clearly wanted more than professional collaboration, and she didn't reject it. Ye Feng catches them and ends their marriage. Now single, Ling Yi leans fully into seducing the shixiong, only to discover he’s married. She's been mistress'd. For the scandal, she loses her job, her residence, and even her degree. And the shixiong? Hello.
Mother Fang learns the money Fang Mu Yang sent them was from Fang Mu Jing. He knows that his sister gave it to him, knowing he'd give it to them. Fang Mu Yang couldn't have said this sooner? I had to watch Guo Xiao Ting awkwardly cry first eh.
We are not done with Feng Lin. WHY. She tattles to Director Chen that Fei Ni is being abused by her husband. (Fei Ni was covering a hickey. LOL.) Fei Ni lies that a mosquito bit her neck. Feng Lin refuses to believe it until she sees it. And aha! It clearly isn't a mosquito bite. But Feng Lin insists it clearly is. A bite from a 1.9m mosquito. Hahaha. Fang Mu Yang sighs and stands tall. Not 1.9m. More like 1.88m.
The two then proceed to flirt shamelessly while comparing heights right in front of Feng Lin, who spits her drink because she's never had coffee and it's just plain bitter. Fang Mu Yang demands 40 RMB for tablecloth damages. She doesn't have that much, so they settle for an apology letter instead. One requirement: 澄澈 ("crystal clear"). The very word the university educated Feng Lin couldn't read in Fei Ni's letter. I love this pettiness! xD And Fang Mu Yang, what a man. He hasn't mentioned anything about Feng Lin.
Fei Ni asks Fang Mu Yang for help with the story she's writing. Her ML has been reassigned and now works at a restaurant. Fang Mu Yang brightens up – that's him! Exactly. His artwork has her, and now her story as him. His eyes have her, her eyes have him; his heart has her and her heart has him.
The empty residence goes back to Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang. They have their home again! Father-in-law already misses having them around. No worries, the empty room will go to Fang Mu Jing who's moving in with her husband. Mother Fang smiles. Did I tell you she forgave her daughter? Well, she did.
3CP.
2CP.
1CP.
But it’s 1977 – Gaokao returns! And it’s Xu Hong Qi – of all people – who rushes over to tell Fei Ni the news. She can finally take the exam to be accepted. The only subject Fei Ni struggles with is math. Which is perfect, because her house is basically a mathematics department. Two mathematicians and a father-in-law who immediately gathers study materials like an academic support team. Fang Mu Yang should just study too and go to university with her!
Surprise ~ Fei Ni secretly turns their home into an art gallery of Fang Mu Yang’s drawings. Seeing his work displayed like that moves him deeply. He realizes something very important: there is no future where he’s not with her. So he joins her. Gaokao prep begins. Yes! Conveniently, the art department is very close to literature. Why are these guys only motivated by love lol.
Study rules are strict. Fei Ni reapplies the bed divider. Fang Mu Yang complains, and so she compromises. He can come over… after answering a question. What is the Pythagorean theorem? He surrenders. Ugh – but not sleeping with Fei Ni??! He springs up to study again. Haha. Pythagorean theorem, he shall conquer!! xD. No divider is too high for him to climb hahaha
Results day. Fang Mu Yang passes. Accepted! Now everyone waits nervously for Fei Ni’s. Right in the middle of the tension, Lin Mei announces she’s pregnant.
And then —
Fei Ni bursts through the door. She got accepted too! Phew. I was worried there for a second.
Happily ever after.
The end.
Remarks
[First Impression (Ep1-6)]
I guess the title is accurate: this is 100% a romance. ML has come back for his first love while FL is just as devoted… except her one true love is university. Fake marriage seems to be in the plot too, and I can't wait. If you want heavier family or workplace focus with that era flavour, that lane is more like
Despite the setting, the old-times feel fresh. The show blends modern romcom beats into a 1970s backdrop, creating a nice cross-effect: familiar tropes feel newer because of the period setting, and the era itself feels more youthful thanks to the romcom tone.
Emotionally and narratively filled out. I really like the childhood foundation, 2CP is interesting, and even the annoying characters are doing their job properly. They create friction without feeling pointless, so this world feels populated and dimensional. Very 立體.
[Cast&Crew]
[Ending] Happy.
[A Highlight] After *the big moment*, she’s on the back of his bike, riding through a field of yellow blooms, complaining about the new holes in his shirt :')
[Review & Rating]
Emotionally and narratively filled out. I really like the childhood foundation, 2CP is interesting, and even the annoying characters are doing their job properly. They create friction without feeling pointless, so this world feels populated and dimensional. Very 立體.
[Cast&Crew]
This tacky poster is seriously misleading because the creative team is actually into modern romcoms. It's directed by Chen Chang (Love's Ambition, Dating in the Kitchen, Nothing but You, As Beautiful As You, Lie or Love, and When You Be Me) and adapted by Guo Shuang (Remembrance of Things Past, The Love You Give Me, and Mr. Honesty). The original novel is 實用主義者的愛情 / A Pragmatist's Love / Le Fabuleux Destin by 孟中得意 Meng Zhong De Yi
I’m still generally not keen on Sun Qian in romance, but this role works for her. The FL comes off a bit goofy – whether that’s the character or Sun Qian’s interpretation – and it adds a grounded, down-to-earth humour. And Chen Fei Yu is excellent here as a warm, sweet boy for once. Still a little mischievous underneath, though. Boys, you know.
2ML Wang Tian Chen is busy. He's also 2ML in another airing love story, but set in the 1990s – Our Dazzling Days.
[Ending] Happy.
[A Highlight] After *the big moment*, she’s on the back of his bike, riding through a field of yellow blooms, complaining about the new holes in his shirt :')
[Review & Rating]
Recommendations
| Youth | Family | Romance |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| Vote |
||
 → Go to February post | ||
No comments:
Post a Comment