Cliches & cliches… And I can still smell cliches!
Good Acting but nothing else…You can go through the sypnosis given in MDL, it's how this story starts… The same repitative Poor FL-Rich ML trope… & that also with a cold arrogant male lead who's actually a big hot-shot CEO as if there's nothing else in the world except him. The CEO offers her a deal (actually tricks her into signing it) and she willingly sells herself off to act as some WIFE.
Things that convinced me to give a lower rating ~
☠ What's new? there's accidental kisses (too many of them), wrist grabs with long pause, constantly looking at each other moments (and me be like "Let's skip 30 sec" the same thing is still going on "Oh no! Let's skip more………" ) and ta-da this is how they fell in love, a bitch yet Beautiful looking 2nd female lead who plans obstacles, then ML saving FL like some superhero, the good 2nd male lead (who will never get the girl **actually sad for him** )… again what's new!?
☠ the villain here or 2nd female lead ~ doesn't gives a damn about her own life, has no self respect & just wants ML anyhow so she keeps pestering him even after he rejects her with insults… she is evil af… I wanted to shout at her. "Girl, wake up. He is married. He jumps around with his wife, praising her & what not. So please open your eyes. Move on. You are pretty, rich & talented. You deserve better." Oh! but she wants to be villain after all…
☠ The 2nd couple which is often like a life saver in a drama didn't stand out much here… like I didn't get half of their story & they were just not acceptable… how did they fall in love, where is the passion coming from…
☠ again, female lead is too helpless. Either male lead or second male lead backs her up for every development…
☠ They talk about fashion here & there but there's actually not much variety in clothing visible… actors had been repeating clothes constantly…
☠ Male lead is a stalker. Like let her be independent please…
☠ Female lead was taking advantage of SML till the end… like Girl he confessed to you already yet you keep talking to him as if nothing happened and even accepting extra helps from him…
Things that saved the drama some rating ~
☘ Sichen's mom
☘ The acting by Wang Zi Qi, Ian Yi, Zhong li li and others…
☘ Even though there were loopholes with the story yet the chemistry between Main leads felt real in some scenes… I guess it's their acting…
☘ Second male lead… not evil or selfish… he was ready to become just a friend & silently help her … I really pity him… T_T
☘ Fei'ang (Sichen's Assistant)
[ CAST ]
✦ Yin Sichen ( played by Wang Zi Qi ) — what a drastic change from Prince An/Xiao Jinyu in imperial coroner to Yin Sichen here. He looks good with modern outfits lol. But this alone was not good enough to carry out this drama. He was also good at making that wicked side smile lol… Nevertheless, I think he tried his best on the acting part.
✦ Gu Xixi ( played by Uvin Wang ) — Not having much to say about her. I think the way her role is… she didn't stand out much in the drama. She didn't impress me or disappoint me.
✦ Ran Xiwei ( Zhong Li li ) — Her outfits were on another level. I would like to have some of them in my wardrobe ;)…… well She acts nicely. Infact, great. After all, it's never easy to act an annoying character…
✦ Mo Zixian ( Ian Yi ) — I hope they gave him a different suit lol. He was literally repeating the same suit in the whole drama. He had a good role here & his acting compliments it. I wish to see him in a lead role someday…
✦ Mu Ruona ( Yang Yue ) …&… ✦ Shang Ke ( Li Jun Chen) form the 2nd lead couple here. They tried to form a decent story yet it wasn't interesting for me at all. I don't know it's the concept or the acting but it just felt weird between them and I can't help but skip their already less scenes…
[ MUSIC ]
❥♪I really like u♪ — Clairo Guo
❥♪Because of love♪ — Dou Zhiwen ~ it's the ending theme
❥♪Identify♪ — Zhao Wei Er ~ it's the opening theme.
❥♪Love is coming♪ — Zhao Bei Er
Tbh, I didn't liked any out of these…
[ REWATCH VALUE ]
Nah… has zero chances of rewatch cause there was nothing new or special. If you've watched other Contact-marriage or Fake relationship kind of C-dramas, you must have watched the same trope with different faces…
[ OVERALL ]
Give it a go if you're too bored or wanna watch cliches. It has all kinds of repitative cliches. A cheesy Romance drama including a bickering turned over-sweet couple and nothing else… a watchable drama for fluff lovers too… & I am warning you already, don't look forward to logics here lol
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Cliche 1 check, Cliche 2 check ….Cliche 453271 check
So whatever you might look for in a typically cliche storyline ….you’ll be offered everything here ...from the very basic…. plot about contract marriage (ofc with a stupid reason) ... a melting iceberg ofc due to global warming (I mean cold ML becoming all sweet and kind …) a strict mother in law (who’ll eventually fall for our kind hearted cinderella) …. a sweet and cute grandma (who obviously adores FL from the very first interaction )...typical side characters….a bitchy SFL (who lives by the virtue- anything and everything for love) ….and a perfect secretary (free with cold ML's in dramaland ….it’s dramalands special combo) ….a bit sad childhood (why else would he be cold ...we need a reason ...ofc we do ...and they give a very obvious one... like always) ...a typical good for nothing FL’s bff (ahh ...or who else would support our hardworking, a bit too dumb and godess of goodness type FL through her very obvious hardships)…and well there’s no way we can forget our beloved SML(the never acknowledged saviour of our damsel in distress) ….after all we’re to suffer too ….So yaa as I said if you were to ever have a checklist for cliche’s this drama definitely owns a top spot ...but then when we talk of cliches, we talk of execution ...I wouldn’t say it’s a fresh execution ...but I’ll say it’s a decent attempt ….
You know with those contract marriage to love tropes there’s not much scope for freshness ...but still the leads portray a decent chemistry ...with fun moments scattered all the way …you are in for a decent ride …
Have realistic hopes and the show delivers well …hope for misunderstandings ...hope for SLS (second lead syndrome) hope for a not so necessary leap...hope for typical gender role reversal through horror movies and roller coaster rides (that’s the typical way to describe things...I am not a discriminating fella ...both are allowed to be scared...) ….hope for a lot of cute scenes and laughs...hope for fillers ….hope for a cliched drama ...and there you are ...this drama will meet all your expectations ! (aren’t you wondering ….why am I stressing so much on cliches ….bec the drama wouldn’t exist without them...no not even an ep)
The acting ...on point in most cases ...the third couple storyline was neither interesting nor fresh and I mostly skipped through them ….our main couple ...with a fairly high share of screen time ...do deliver and ...our second leads ….yep they do fit their roles perfectly ….but sadly do feel a bit underdeveloped …!
The company/work setup ...well I won’t say unrealistic ….but too convenient !
For the rest...music ….no I am sorry it didn’t catch my attention ...no rewatch value either….cuz the first watch also feels like rewatch ...lol
So well in short if you are looking for a cliched drama ...this one is a perfect bet ...with cute moments and every cliche you can possibly expect ….this just makes a proper time pass drama !
Hope you enjoy watching ...cuz I did too ...for I knew what to expect ….and this became a good watch !
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Light and Sweet
I love this drama so mucch! It is very light and sweet but it also comes with some challenges which make the drama even sweeter. The plot, the chemistry between the lead is undeniable, vivid, and have a spark even on small gestures. It just got enough fluff, romance, and comedy needed in life. The background music and OSTs are now some of my most favorite OSTs eveeer! I love how the drama portrays gradual changes in a relationship and how it should and can turn into a healthy one. I wish this drama will have a season 2. It is really cute, fun, and inspiring!Was this review helpful to you?
How on the earth I must believe that Gu Xi Xi is a fashion designer when even she doesn't have good dressing sense lol, it's not terrible but it's unbelievable. She's shown to be a smart, witty girl in the prior episodes, but if our FL doesn't become dumb at the right moment how can knight save her in shining armor lol... so yes she just loses her brain when it's needed.
Yi Si Chen is he any different. hell NO. He's cold and obnoxious.. and CEO (This is a must for contract marriages lol). 'Love changes everything' if it doesn't follow this, is it even a drama? as by the rule, due for sake of his love... he's not cold anymore, ah but it comes with possessiveness and jealousy. He does seem to be a workaholic in pilot episodes... a hardworking businessman but when he's in love, how can he be the same.... a looot of free time to wander around.
Mo Zi Xin our 'perfect' SML, seems unemployed coz he doesn't have anything to do other than following oops helping FL around. Did I forget to mention... he loved her for years, you know what? the main problem with these SMLs is timing. See he knew her way before, he liked her way before but ofc he can't get girl coz he's not icy-cold CEO... he can be ge-ge or senior. In course of time our goody perfect boy becomes a stalker... time to wear off SLS lol
Zhong Li Li... here comes I-wanna-slap-that-bitch, am I being too harsh? No! the purpose of her life is plotting against our lead couple, she seems to own some company but she legit has nothing else to do other than make plans to destroy FL, she definitely can be considered one of the most annoying SFLs even existed. Her personality qualify for being in makjang for sure.
The second couple is boring as hell, they don't have story-chemistry or anything that can stop me from pressing the FF button,
We have our perfectly-made-for-contract-marriage characters.... do we need a story? I mean first, our leads will fight with each other over the nonsense thing, then boom something comes up they need to marry... staying together makes them attracted to each other, then we have SML to create some jealousy and tension... SFL who have nothing else to do creates problems.. hence after overcoming everything happily ever after, Done!... Wow, I guess I should also try to write a plot someday... I don't think anyone needs something called creativity or uniqueness lol, just repeat some cliches and old tropes, word done.
Despite having a looot to rant about with dozens of things bothering me, the chemistry between Wang Yu Wen and Wang Zi Qi is on fire, first, they just look great together... second ah they are so adorable. So I did enjoy their time together.. the only thing that kept me invested till the end.
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A Drama Loaded with Sweetness
This is a Light-Fluffy romance with the perks of having a Contract Marriage and an Overbearing CEO. However, what I liked the most about this drama is that the characters didn't do a 180-degree turn after falling in love. Usually, in most of the Overbearing CEO based dramas, the ML becomes a completely different man leaving everyone to wonder if that is the man the FL fell in love with...However in this drama, the ML modifies some of the habits, he gains further insight into relationships between couples but his overall attitude and quirkiness didn't disappear. He is still the same guy who gets jealous, who supports from the behind, who apologies... who still have trouble following all the wishes of his wife and tricks her.
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Loved it, and I’ll miss my weekly dose of these adorable idiots
I really enjoyed this drama. Yes, there are cliches. Yes, there are some issues with plot and logic here and there. But not enough to detract from the hilarious moments, the sweetness and the spectacular chemistry between the leads. I really loved their relationship.Will this drama deepen your philosophical understanding of the universe? Probably not. If you are looking for cognitive enhancement and to ponder deep themes and archetypes, this is not the drama for you. But it doesn’t pretend to be what it’s not.
Will it deliver on what it promises— joyful and (mostly) relaxing viewing? Absolutely. The writing is pretty good, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is the drama for when you want to escape the stressors of life and enjoy something both light and earnest, a combination that often falls flat, but does not do so here.
For what it is, it’s a 10/10.
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Amazing lead chemistry + many kisses but predictable with common cliches.
Completed - 11/22/2021"Once we Get Married" is a cute and fluffy rom-com that is very binge-watchable and a good palate cleanser after a serious show. You don't need too much brain power and can just sit back and relax. Don't expect a mind-blowing plot as it's very predictable. However, the leads have amazing chemistry and they make me smile when they do cute things. :)
I recommend this drama if you are a fan of:
1. the actors and actresses
2. enemies-to-Lovers trope
3. contract Marriage trope
4. common rom-com cliches such as, accidental kisses/hugs/falls, phone battery died at convenient times
5. nice second male lead & evil second female lead
I am a fan of #1, 2 & 3, therefore, I decide to watch this drama. I know it's not perfect but I enjoy the ride. I saw our main male lead, Wang Zi Qi, in "Imperial Coroner" and quite enjoyed his role there. In this drama, he is not as reserved and mature as his historical role, and I am glad to see a different side of him. Here, he plays the CEO who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, acting somewhat childish and petty and jealous - but looking adorable as well. It's so nice to see Wang Zi Qi in two very different roles.
I've always been a fan of contract marriage dramas, and have seen quite a few of those. Therefore, I realize that "Once We Get Married" is actually quite average. The plot is predictable and you know the challenges that our leads will face in this type of set-up. However, I really enjoy the main romance between XiXi and SiChen. They are fun when they're enemies and argue with each other. Yet it's also adorable when they start to have feelings for each other and when they actually got together. There are lots of skinship and an amazing number of kisses (doesn't mean they're good kisses, just ok). I smile ear-to-ear when I see our leads bickering and flirting.
The secondary romance between Mu Ruo Na and Shang Ke is quite boring. I don't find either character attractive and don't care for them at all. I skipped most of their parts. This romance does not add anything to the plot and feels like a romance from a different drama. There's not much interaction between the secondary romance and the main romance, until the last few episodes of the drama.
We also have our typical second male lead, Mo Zi Xin, who has been in love with our female lead for a long time. He's one of those that will do anything for our female lead, even when he's been rejected. He will support her quietly and come to her rescue whenever the male lead is not available. On the other hand, we have our evil second female lead, Ran Xi Wei, who will do anything to sabotage our lead's romance. It's actually quite annoying that she keeps on doing that from the beginning of the drama all the way to the end. It's never-ending scheming and sabotaging.
Other observations:
1. This drama has the most accidental kisses I've ever seen in a drama.
2. Is Mo Zi Xin wearing a Pikachu tie? He wears that ALL the time!
3. Did I see our leads shop at Costco for groceries?
4. When did Nana become BFFS with XiXi?
5. Our female lead doesn't dress that nicely for someone who is a fashion designer
6. Wang Zi Qi and Ian Yi look amazing in suits!!
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Adorable and cute
The fact this is a contract marriage already makes me biased. The mains are simply cute like their chemistry is off the charts. Their interactions have me grinning non stop, especially after they confessed to each other. Both are childish, the male lead more than the girl. The plot is cliche, predictable and full of troupes but I don't care. The love triangles, personally not a fan of but what is a contract marriage without one. The second leads were beyond toxic like dang, no means no, learn to move on. Obessing gets you nowhere. At least the second male learnt to accept that he wasn't going to be more.Wang Zi Qi's acting is great, really fits the role, feels natural and all. Wang Yuwen's acting is good that I don't feel that her charater is unnecessarily annoying. She became a tad dumb as the episodes went on though. I absolutely love the grandma, like she is adorable and I like how she plots opportunities for them to be together. The same with Fei'ang (the male lead's assistant), wanted him to have more screen time as I didn't get the second couple at all. I skipped a couple of their scenes as the CP was not it. Honestly thought that Fei'ang and the female lead's best friend would be the CP as their little interaction seemed interesting. I'm surprised that both the moms weren't a problem in the show, quite supportive of the relationship which is rare.
The editing is weird, some scenes don't make sense. Such crappy cuts and transitions. The way that the male lead manipulated the female lead is nowhere close to being justified. Just plain wrong, I expected better. I hated the useless misunderstandings, especially when they could be solved by just communicating. Ending was the best, it is filled with typical charaters but decent watch to pass time.
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I loved It !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the story. At first I was a little worried that it would be the usual obsess girl ruins everything and at the very end it would be happily ever after. But this couple was great. Both leads kept the story alive and exciting. The chemistry between them was wonderful and it made us feel like they were a real couple. The way they fell in love and support it each other is more of a realistic view of a couple. The actors performance was great and the story line has to be one of my favorite. Maybe I am just a romantic but this story to me was great. The lead female character is strong minded and virtue. Her honesty, independence and charisma makes the story wonderful. He is handsome, rude and arrogant but when he falls in love he changes and see the value of his partner and how mush he treasures her. It makes the top of my 5 list of romantic dramas. A must watched over and over, I will.Was this review helpful to you?
Even though the main couple looked cute together, the writing was cheesy and the male lead was especially immature. Although I liked that he respected the female lead's dream and supported her, he was so jealous, childishly petty, and clingy. I guess at least he stopped being a manipulative schemer. (For a similar CEO & designer dynamic that's more mature, I recommend Sunshine of My Life from earlier this year! No contract relationship though.)
Lastly... the second couple. YIKES. Shang Ke is one of the most annoying characters I've seen this year. Usually the male lead's best friend is a fun character and I like seeing their friendship but Shang Ke was an immature troublemaker. To make matters worse, his love interest was an awesome, smart woman who he was really no match for. I ended up skipping their scenes. Instead, Yin Si Chen's assistant Fei Ang was the hidden gem here! On Gu Xi Xi's side, her friend was somewhat annoying and somewhat unreliable towards the beginning, but at least she was loyal.
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This review may contain spoilers
Tropey rom-com totally saved by the CP's chemistry and their sweet moments
Yes, it is another contract marriage story between a low EQ CEO and a feisty, cheerful girl. I don't blame you if you switch off after that intro but it does get better. After a decent meet-cute, the story just meanders around for a good half of the show. Of course, the process of the OTP falling in love was front and centre but it was a bit cliché. Even though the ML was not a cold hearted person, his low EQ made his romantic overtures a hit and miss affair. Similarly, the FL was definitely falling for the ML but she kept sending mixed messages to both the ML and SML. This is frustrating for the viewer because just when you thought all the stars were aligned and they are getting together, they backtracked and all the sweet moments from the day before were all forgotten and we are back to the "will they, won't they" phase again.As the show progressed, the poor SML just hangs around the FL and ticked off the ML. Turning him into a green eyed monster even after the OTP became official. I do feel sorry for him because he was a decent guy but you don't get a strong Second Lead Syndrome vibe with him.
On the other hand, the SFL was a nasty piece of work. She will not take no for an answer. Even after the ML very clearly and repeatedly rejected her advances, she kept escalating her evil deeds against the FL to the point of total annihilation. I'm also annoyed that after doing all that damage, she just packed her bag and went away scot free in the final episode. Very typical c-drama trope but not a good one.
For me, the show only really kicked into high romantic gear after the half way mark. Once the OTP finally become official in ep.17 and was signed, sealed and consummated, we can all rejoice. Their chemistry hit the roof as well. From that point on, we have lots of skinship. I mean A LOT by c-drama standard and there were even several tame bed scenes. The running gag is the grandma wants a grandchild ASAP (yes please!), much to the chagrin of the FL. To be fair, they do look great together and there are lots of swoon worthy moments. Love is definitely in the air and that's what saved the Show.
The 2OTP was quite cute. An odd pairing but I can see how it could work. They got together fairly early on and they were hot and sexy from a running start. They did hit a bad patch later on but once that was sorted, they just kind of plateaued which was a bit of a shame.
The older cast members were all nice. The grandma is a gem. The "evil" mother-in-law turned out to be the good MiL. Some of the FL's mother's scenes were LOL funny.
Acting was great from the leads but monotonal from the SM/FL's. I really liked the ML when he starred in the Imperial Coroner and he didn't disappoint here. The FL is not the classic beauty but she has a very expressive face so there were not many Botox moments. The support casts did their job. The CP's swoon worthy moments gave us the dopamine rushes and I'm thankful for that.
OST was serviceable. I would happily rewatch from ep.17 onwards for the sweet CP moments but the rest I can skip.
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Saved By The Chemistry
Once you learned that this is a contract marriage rom-com, I’m sure you have a pretty good idea what you are getting into. If you love this kind of storyline and a fairy tale romance, Once We Get Married would be a gem. But if you are tired of cliches and stale plots, you would end up questioning its value or even hating it altogether. So, do not be surprised if you see vast differences in ratings for this drama. It is really a love it or hate it kind of production.The other point to note is that this is really a low budget flick. So, you will see choppy editing and poor cinematography at times. The costumes also suck which is made obvious because the male lead is supposed to be super rich while the female lead is a fashion designer. Compared to You Are My Glory with its beautiful gowns, Once We Get Married is like a poor relation. Thus, you will see the leads wearing the same clothes and accessories for different scenes with some of them being pretty plain which is inconsistent with the characters’ background.
Same Old Plot
Basically, the producers for Once We Get Married are merely rehashing an overused theme that is tried and tested. They don’t even attempt to inject any freshness or twists to the plot. Just stick to what has been successful in the past and simply produce another one with a different cast. So, the result is this drama that sticks to the usual of a couple being forced to marry for mutual benefits for an agreed period and then falling in love. Bring in a jealous second female lead that is hell bent on wreaking havoc and a second male lead who is always there for the girl and you end up with another contract marriage drama.
Some people may not like how the story begins though because there is an element of manipulation in getting the female lead to sign the marriage contract. But the trickery is not bizarre or cruel like in Well Intended Love. Both parties know what they are getting into. Due to the old plot, everything is predictable from start to finish. But the good thing is there is no disapproving parents to throw a spanner in the works for the couple unlike Forever And Ever. The other glaring selling point for the drama is the blazing chemistry between the leads.
Undeniable Chemistry
This is what saves the drama from being relegated to the unwatchable list. With a stale plot and typical scenes that include accidental slips and kisses, you really need vivid chemistry to make viewers hooked. Without it, those romantic moments and sweet filler scenes will be bland and boring just like in Fall In Love With A Scientist. Luckily, Wang Yu Wen and Wang Zi Qi seem very comfortable with each other so much so that their interactions are naturally captivating as an on-screen couple.
Their chemistry is what you would be hanging on to once you begin watching and will carry you all the way to the end. Their visuals and height are ideally matched. So, chances are you will love this couple as they are easy on the eyes and very natural in their sweetness towards each other.
Wang Yu Wen plays the role of Xi Xi in a convincing manner. She gives the character some toughness and mischievousness that matches up to Si Chen. This is also my second time watching Wang Zi Qi after The Imperial Coroner. He has the required charisma to make Si Chen appear attractive despite the character’s cold personality. Essentially, the casting was done right and the resultant chemistry is the key in saving this drama from mediocrity.
A Word Of Warning About The Characters
Before you decide if you should watch Once You Are Married, perhaps it is good the know a little bit more about the 2 main characters. As far as the male lead is concerned, you really need to have a thing for cold and domineering CEOs. Not everybody sees them as heroes especially one who is fond of advancing towards the female character until his face is right in front of hers. In the real world, this would be tantamount to harassment! But in the drama, it would be seen as romantic and flirty. So, you will get those scenes which may not go down well for a feminist and may be seen as sexist.
For the female lead, some viewers might see her as dumb and annoying. This is because she is close to the second male lead and seems clueless that he has feelings for her. She still has frequent contact with him even after she got together with the male lead. It is not a dealbreaker for me but her behavior might put off those who want to see more wisdom and intelligence from a female lead.
As for the second couple, they are a waste of time. I can’t understand why the screenwriters even bother with them. The second female lead is a jealous and toxic character. The second male lead isn’t evil but is annoyingly persistent. He will keep appearing in front of the female lead as he tries to gain a foothold into her life. Therefore, be prepared for not very likable supporting characters if you watch.
My Verdict – Just For Contract Marriage Fans
Well, if you like contract marriage dramas, then you would most likely enjoy Once You Are Married. But there is nothing new here that could capture a broader fan base. It is a drama that thrives on romantic chemistry and nothing more. It is for the viewers to feel good and experience all the fluff and sweetness. The drama certainly succeeded in this aspect for those who can feel the leads’ chemistry and just want a simple love story that is close to a fairy tale rather than real life.
There are a lot of near kisses in the drama especially in the beginning of the couple’s relationship. I guess they got that right to heighten the anticipation of a real kiss and those scenes will feel a lot like flirting. It helps to light up the sparks too which makes viewers crave for more from this couple. There are also a lot of kisses once love developed between them. But they are not as steamy as those in My Little Happiness.
In conclusion, there is no reason to watch this except for the chemistry. If you want a more matured romance drama with a fashion design theme, you would be better off watching Sunshine Of My Life and Love Designer. So, for this Once We Get Married review, I can only give it a 6.5/10 score. But for this type of drama, the rating doesn’t really matter. It is whether you are a sucker for this type of romance that is the key once it is clear there is sizzling chemistry between the couple.
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