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FL starts off still with her boyfriend from college. ML is the endgame. Throughout the drama, there have been mentions of others interested in her but this is the business/work world after all so there won't really be scenes of some other love interest obviously chasing after the FL like most romance-type dramas for jealousy and whatnot (at least not at this point as of episode 15).

One interesting thing about this drama ppl on the C-side are pointing out too: They don't tell you explicitly that there are time jumps. This drama spans over 10 years but the drama is not doing the usual title card of "5 years later..." with obvious changes (hair growing longer, etc.).

People are noticing the years progressing based on the dialogues, TV news/house market news in the drama, and the phones the characters are using.

The characters were all using flip phones in the beginning which would be around 2007/2008, stock market crashed in 2008, Xiao Ding told Mujia's mom "they broke up for a long time", housing crisis (I don't know what year that would be in China but probably 2009-2010?), and the prices for Tian Rong's houses going up/down (which would coincide with how the housing market changes depending on what year). We also have Mujia going from intern, to lawyer assistant, to slowly becoming a lawyer.

The most obvious would be the phones. I saw the preview of episode 14-15 and Lawyer Wu was using a non-flip phone. But yeah, just keep in mind the years are passing throughout all of this, but it is not super explicit, and viewers have to pay attention to the details.

LMAOOO, please still do watch! The dialogues and acting will always be better than what I can put into words 🎉

LMAO basically 😂

Yup and so realistic too. They didn't break up over a third party and they did truly love each other. Xiao Ding was becoming more and more insecure, and he realized he can't walk the same pace as Mujia. Rather than holding on, it was better to let her go before his resentment became bigger than his love.

Yup! I think it works well since Mujia had Xiao Ding and you have Li Guang with his ex. Both loved someone to the point of marrying them/almost married them. Meaning they learned a lot from their previous relationships of love and separation. I think it also gives weight to Li Guang's character that he is not playing around, and he is actually serious about this potential relationship.

A man who knows how to flirt but kinda always accidentally making a fool of himself LOL.

In the preview of next episode, Li Guang told Mujia that he is divorced and currently single. I am shocked but also at the same time not?? It makes sense for his age but I didn't think the drama had the guts to state it outright. A lot of romance drama always make the MLs some hot virgin CEO or he played around/never serious until he met FLs. It has to do with the shipping culture of oh, FL is ML's one true love. I am actually pretty impressed by this.

Ohhh, saw a clip from the preview of next episode about the ML that is kind of important since I feel like wow, I don't think I have ever seen a C-romance drama that allowed the ML to have that type of character setting but it makes sense given his age (under spoiler):

Episode 12:

We have Tian Rong and Li Wan Bing (her ML) getting to know more about each other. His family seems to be involved in real estate too since he was collecting rent from restaurants. Oh wow you can already see the difference between Wan Bing and Fan because Tian Rong kind of put herself down at one point in the convo about her being not from Beijing/need to work harder and Wan Bing was like so what if you are not from Beijing, it is because of ppl not from Beijing that helped developed Beijing. You can tell Tian Rong is pretty touched here. Wang Bing starts calling Tian Rong "Tian laoshi (teacher)" since he is basically learning from her regarding real estate heh.

Cops showed up to Tian Rong's house and turned out her tenant is a criminal. The tenant was doing some sort of laundering with money and hid all the money in her bed mattress (which explained why the tenant's bed and bed frame collapsed in the previous episode). Tian Rong's house is sealed at the moment for investigation, so she is staying with Mujia in the meantime.

Housing market going through it so not much business for Tian Rong.

Li Guang has insomnia because of the constant push back with his opponent for the lawsuit (which continues to delay the Li Ming Building project from continuing), and Lawyer Wu passed some meds to Mujia to give to Li Guang.

Fellow investor/executive pissed at Li Guang for not settling the lawsuit already since it will eventually result them in needing to pay massive amount of $$$.

Mujia went to find Li Guang to pass the meds and to update about the lawsuit case. She went to his office and found papers all over the floor and building model shattered on the floor (Li Guang pushed it off the table due to his frustration over this whole project and lawsuit).

Mujia found Li Guang sitting on the staircase but didn't approach him directly. She sat on the upper level and sang a song/did this shadow puppet with her phone to comfort him. Li Guang later went back to his office and found that Mujia picked up everything from the floor/back to table and saw the smiley face she drew on the envelope containing the meds. He called Lawyer Wu right after for a meeting (seems like he is feeling ready to continue fighting for this project again).

Tian Rong visited her family in their province and encountered an old friend (Xiao Hei) and they spoke about the changes happening in the province. Xiao Hei called a bunch of old classmates to have dinner with Tian Rong. Rong's parents want her to sell her Beijing houses since they were worried the housing market isn't doing well and she won't have a place to live in the future. She refused. Her dad drank soy sauce(?) again (because of her and her mom's argument lol, he is stressed).

We got a lawyer battle off with the Li Ming Building project contracts. Again, bunch of legal lingo. Mujia's side came in with a plan: Mujia plays the innocent rabbit in this discussion, the other lawyer playing bad cop, and Lawyer Wu plays the one who offers the solution. Mujia's and the other lawyer's roles were to mess up the discussion/talk non-sense in a way, so the solution then offered by Lawyer Wu "makes sense". Li Guang watching all this going down via cam. They then have a dinner to celebrate.

Tian Rong have dinner with her classmates, and she got a call that she needs to pay her credits (she managed to extend the payment date for 7 days). One of her old classmates who has a wife is flirting with her. In the car he told her to come back since Beijing is tough and he did take care of her. 💀

Side plot: Chen Qing, her boyfriend, and the fridge lmao.

Episode 13:

Tian Rong arrived back to her house and saw new clothes on her bed laid out by her mom (her size, since she was wearing Mujia's coat with her house being sealed/didn't get a chance to take anything with her).

Emotional moment between Tian Rong and her mom here.

Back to Mujia's dinner with the other lawyers and Li Guang: Lawyer Wu asked what Li Guang's plan is if this project keeps on being dragged out and Li Guang said he basically can't sleep without the meds since this dragging of the lawsuit is a big/annoying problem. Lawyer Wu then said Mujia has a talent to help someone see the future LMAO. Basically, heads or tails into a cup to determine whether Li Guang would win the case. Li Guang picked head and Mujia did it 3 times and all heads (aka victory). She later gave the coin to Li Guang. Lawyer Wu seeing that there is a moment here heh.

Tian Rong helping the previous client Li to buy another house, but he didn't want the one she found for him since that one was sealed by the gov at some point (aka bad luck). Reminder that Tian Rong's own house is sealed right now so she is worried. Credit company called Mujia (emergency contact) since Tian Rong didn't take the call and Mujia helped Tian Rong paid for whatever she had due right now and Tian Rong promised she did take care of Mujia someday aw.

Tian Rong's house finally unsealed and she + Mujia packed up the criminal tenant's things. The tenant's sister showed up for her things and to ask for deposit back. Tian Rong refused, and the woman acted like a Karen but Tian Rong ran her off.

Mujia got a call from her 2nd aunt that her mom fell. Her mom lied and said she slip in the bathroom, but 2nd aunt revealed her mom was trying to fix the house water leak herself on the ceiling and fell. Mujia questioned why she didn't get someone to help especially since Mujia sends her money. 2nd aunt told her it was because her mom has been saving the money so that when Mujia gets married, she won't get looked down on (like how woman's side of the family didn't contribute more money than the man's side).

Doc came to give Mujia and her mom 2 medical options (one more expensive but better). Mujia of course said the one which mom will heal better (expensive) and mom said no. But then it turns out mom had "health insurance" (so she accepted to do surgery) but Mujia doesn't know who brought it for her mom.

Tian Rong trying to sell her unsealed house to her long-time client Li (Wan Bing's dad). She was honest about it being sealed at one point and he was fine with it because he said no to the other one since that one was meant to be like the marriage house for his son so didn't want it to be unlucky. Client Li does want Tian Rong's house (he saw it as very profitable) but wanna play hard to get to lower the price and wanted Wan Bing to play along (basically complain about things in the house). Wang Bing texted Tian Rong during all of this to help her heh. Tian Rong still ended up selling the house.

Li Guang was in New York during all of this working on something regarding Li Ming Building project but we don't know exactly what yet (but apparently something risky). He showed up to the hospital on the way back saying it was transfer flight and Mujia lowkey exposed him that it won't have been convenient of a transfer. Mujia found out that Li Guang asked a friend to help paid for the surgery (since he was in NY) but had the mom be told it was health insurance since she won't had accepted. She asked how he knew about what happened to her mom. He said there are always ways to find out things about someone you care for. Mujia wants to pay him back the surgery money right away and he said no rush. Mujia went right back to tapping on her laptop for work LMAO. Li Guang then helped her with it since it is his case after all and praised her report. HE made an error on the report though and she got scolded by the other staff not knowing Li Guang made that mistake 💀. He felt bad and got embarrassed lmaooooo.

They went to eat at a stall outside of the hospital and we found out Li Guang's mom already passed away. He said how his mom told him to not stay up so late at night (for working) and Mujia said you are doing so again. Li Guang said yes, to see you.

Review for episode 12-13 under spoiler (long again heh):

Yup! It works so well here!

Yes, from the rumors, the actresses for the Mujia role were going to be someone in their 30s irl (but in drama still from 20s-30s). The rumored actress had some personal issue and Li Landi basically came in as a rescue actress. I am glad she took this role since she is able to act that new grad character really well. And she has the talent and skills to act like she is in her 30s in the later part of the drama.

I am glad they made the relationship more supportive too.

Some subversion tropes I am really loving with this drama:

1) Lawyer Wu is actually a good supervisor (a lot of drama tend to pit the female supervisor against the young new female worker but that's not the case here)

2) Mujia actually puts career first and her life doesn't revolve around romance (again, a lot of drama barely focus on FL's careers, it is straight to the shipping and romantic moments with the ML)

3) We actually get shown what Mujia and Tian Rong are doing with work/show and not just tell (romance drama usually don't even bother with showing what FLs are doing at work)

4) Good/strong/supportive women's friendships (not fighting over men, actual communications, female friendships based on reality and not messy drama just for the sake of drama with the FL always being shown to be a better friend and the friend being the bad friend)

5) Platonic friendships between women and men like Xiao Zhang (doctor roommate) with Mujia and Tian Rong (aka not some other man who is FL's friend who ends up being the 2nd ML because he always had a crush on FL)

6) CEO ML (Li Guang) who is actually respectful to the FL (Mujia) and steps back when she draws her lines

7) Realistic breakups and relationship problems

8) FL don't need ML to save her or be her hero when she gets into some accident/Mujia saved herself during the incident in episode 9-10

There are probably more but these are the main ones so far that I really have been enjoying with this drama.

Just done!

Episode 10:

We left off with some man following Mujia (and at the same time being called by Li Guang's dinner buddies/associates). Mujia saved herself by hitting that man's face with her bag (she threw her bag here to escape but managed to keep her phone on here) and then calling Li Guang back to say she accidentally pressed the off button (basically hiding that she was being chased). Li Guang knows something happened but is just glad she called back and is okay.

I think from this incident and from the wine incident, the drama is showing us that Li Guang is someone with really high EQ. He excused himself from the wine incident to "take a call" so Mujia doesn't continue with the wrong wine info lol. And here he didn't expose Mujia or chase her to tell the truth.

Mujia went to her cousin Chen Qing's and her boyfriend's house to stay overnight since she basically don't have her keys. Chen Qing advised Mujia to move and Mujia called Tian Rong so Rong can help her find a place.

Mujia in the morning was walking back home (aka the place she almost got attacked) and walked by a reporter/news station talking about city construction/building new buildings and Mujia was mumbling basically how citizens are affected by this. Reporter overheard and asked for an interview. Mujia on TV basically said there needs to be more security at night when construction is happening especially for people who gets back home late at night.

Li Guang was watching TV at the time, so he put two and two together and figured out yesterday's call break off was due to this incident.

Mujia went to law firm to ask Lawyer Wu when she can come back to work, and Lawyer Wu said to wait for notice.

While this is all happening, Tian Rong is dealing with the tenant she is living with since the tenant's bed frame broke. Tian Rong trying her best to save money by moving the bed frame and building it herself. She ended up hurting her back Tian Rong called Mujia and Mujia said she is coming but Tian Rong didn't want Mujia to come (it was late at night) since she was worried re: the whole stalking incident (I love the girls caring for each other so much!!!) but Mujia still decided to come (along with Chen Qing and boyfriend). Tian Rong called the emergency line and asked how much it costed to use a stretcher (to get her down from the apartment) and of course she was like nvm because it costed $$$.

Mujia stayed at Tian Rong's place for the night to take care of her but also because previously we saw the place she was living in leaking water. In the morning, Xiao Zhang (doctor roommate) called Mujia saying a bunch of people showed up. These ppl were the relatives of that investor who was behind the bad materials for the Li Ming Building project and who ended up arrested for it. They started attacking Mujia and one slapped her (omg the doctor's face ended up all scratched up too since he was protecting Mujia).

Li Guang spoke to Lawyer Wu and decided to sue the parties involved in the Li Ming Building project mess and he wants Mujia to be the lawyer on this case. He decided this because he felt like Mujia took the fall for this so wanted her to take this case in return. Lawyer Wu was like reallllllly? You don't have any other reason? And Li Guang said to trust his professionalism and he trust Lawyer Wu would get her ready for this.

Li Guang: "Li Mujia, I want you to fight a law case to reward you for your bravery and intelligence".

Mujia ready to move (motivated by being able to work again/leading this case) and Tian Rong found a great place for her + able to negotiate a great rent price for Mujia.

Mujia busy preparing for the case and Li Guang called Mujia out to discuss about the case and had a driver pick her up. Mujia was like aren't we here to discuss the case and Li Guang said if he didn't say that she won't have come out. Mujia then questioned why he and Lawyer Wu allowed her to take this case. Li Guang said it was because she took a hit for the Li Ming Building project and Mujia replied but that doesn't take technique/skills. Li Guang then said Mujia basically went through a roller coaster with this project and her perseverance was impressive, so they wanted to give her a chance. Li Guang warned Mujia that this case isn't as simple as it looks.

Li Guang took this chance to try to recommend an apartment/housing to Mujia (because of the stalking incident). Mujia turned it down of course and said she won't let this hinder her work. Then she left without eating dinner lmao. Li Guang smiling/amused throughout this lol.

Basically:
Li Guang: *Attempts to maybe talk about things outside of work*
Mujia: Work only thanks and bye

Tian Ring continuing hustling throughout this at her job and gaining more and more confidence.

Mujia and Lawyer Wu met with the opponent lawyer for the case. Lawyer Wu advised Mujia to think about how the opponent would fight this case (not just how she/their side would fight for the client).

Episode 11:

Mujia told Tian Rong a company CEO/executive basically wants to sponsor her. Tian Rong said not to fall for it and don't become a mistress. Mujia said in this world, only one person hates these ppl (mistresses) more than her, her mom. Back to the case, Mujia practices with Tian Rong (remember that Tian Rong studied law too) on her speech for when goes to the courtroom.

Mujia and opposing lawyer battling it out in courtroom. Too much legal lingo here so I am not even going to try lol.

Li Guang passed on the message via Lawyer Wu to basically not back down from the case and Mujia can sense there is something more to this case. Seems like Li Guang don't want to settle despite opponent wanting to settle.

Opponent lawyer pissed and went to the law firm to try to find Lawyer Wu and Mujia (because Li Guang's side refuses to settle which drags on the Li Ming Building project from continuing).

Fan (Tian Rong's ex) is nasty nasty! He went to Mujia and was like Lawyer Wu hid during this yet you still want to rely on her? (I am pretty sure Lawyer Wu hid so Mujia can practice handling something like this herself/aka teaching moment). Mujia blew him off hehe.

Oof, Tian Rong wants her parents to sell their current house, come to Beijing, and buy this other house she saw investment value in. Her dad pissed and drank soy sauce(?) in anger lol.

Li Guang later has a press conference about the Li Ming Building project (the project was halted due to the ongoing lawsuit so there has been $$$ loss). A strike is going on during this and it is probably that dude who Li Guang wanted to get rid of behind this. Lawyer Wu and Mujia resolved this and the strikers went home without the reporters being alerted this was happening.

Oh??? I think Tian Rong's potential ML showed up? He is the son of one of her clients who brought a house. First impression, busy on his phone playing games? The client brought him along so he can learn from Tian Rong since client was impressed by Tian Ring for being so detail orientated during this whole house buying process.

After press con, Li Guang wants to invite Mujia to dinner as thanks for resolving the protest issue. Push and pull going on here. Mujia questioned Li Guang why is he caring for her so much when she is just a small "soldier", does he want her to leak things? Li Guang said there is no point in her being a spy/leak things since she doesn't exactly have insider news lol. Mujia turned him down again regarding the dinner invite heh.

Lawyer Wu and Mujia ended up working at night together and have dinner together (cup noodles lmao). Lawyer Wu said Mujia is really cute and no wonder Li Guang has positive feelings about Mujia. Lawyer Wu adviced that slowly, you will start to realize that there aren't really many people that might make your heart beat/feel moved, so if that does happen, walk forward (basically to give Li Guang a chance if Mujia does feel anything) but also don't let love hinder work.

They also spoke about why Lawyer Wu let Mujia into the law firm (that Mujia is like a little sun). Mujia said she won't let Lawyer Wu down aw. I love them!

Mujia's and Tian Rong's classmate also getting married during this time and Tian Rong became the bridesmaid (she happy about this since bridesmaid don't have to give red envelopes haha). Mujia was getting emotional while watching the wedding and Tian Rong noticed and sat next to her and cracked some jokes aw. Their classes then joked around wanting Tian Rong to give them houses in the future since she has 3 now and of course she got annoyed since she worked really hard to maintain those current 3 houses.

Lawyer Wu with her son and her son asked if he could see his dad. :( And asked whether he can miss his dad omg. Lawyer Wu said of course and made plan for the dad to see him, dad agreed but a bum since he was trying to negotiate.

Review for episode 10-11 under spoilers! Again, LONG:

Same! I know Chinese too so it makes it easier for sure. I am not surprised the English subs is taking a bit longer since this is not really a romcom type drama that I-fans would be chasing hardcore and this drama doesn't have traffic stars so no fans in a rush to sub it either. But at least it is still getting subbed so hopefully more ppl here gets to discover this gem.

Yeah, it is airing on CCTV-8 around 10 PM China time.

Youku has the drama on their main site but the latest episodes are all VIPs lmao. I am just watching it by googling the Chinese title and episode number and finding any sites that have the episodes up.

From what I know, this drama is airing on TV so the 2 episodes would air on TV and then Youku (which is the main online streaming platform for this drama) posts the episodes like 2~ hours later. I think it is part of their schedule agreement with CCTV so those really interested will tune in live on TV which adds to the TV ratings.

This is actually great because CCTV brought the broadcast rights to this drama which means it had a stamp of approval from them and acknowledgement that it is a quality drama since so many dramas will never get to air on TV.