1
1
1
The story begins with the drummer from an opera troupe going home to get his niece to return with him to the city to train as a singer. The family wanted her to bring her fiancé along but that was not an option. The middle sister was the extra mouth to feed. A baby brother had just been born and they did not want the third child. Second daughter finds herself traveling with her uncle. The oldest sister wept bitterly because she wanted to sing. The middle sister wept bitterly because her father didn’t want her. The uncle was told if things didn’t work out to not bring her back. Her adventure begins. The troupe is an interesting group and there are already rivals for parts and partners. The filming is beautiful, the cast quite good and I really liked all the music. Even the opera.😂 Very enjoyable first episode.
Was this review helpful to you?
This cast is delivering on these characters. 👏🏻Ms Zhao had plans put in place behind the scene to make it look like GuYan was taking care of his gamer friends by giving them means to redesign the cafe and expanding to other hotels. He knew nothing about it but was pleased at how this made him look to his friends. Just by chance when he was leaving HeHan’s room, He Han was his driver. It did not have the results GuYan was expecting. He was brazen enough to ask HeHan to wait and keep meter running. Cai filled him in that Lin was going to beg him to stay. Lin actually did and he included Zhao in on her asking. He said if she cried he would accept. Before I was definitely more in his corner because she really ignored the needs of her staff. This craft is like a family that needs nourishing because it flows via inspiration rather than simply cash. But this stunt….I cheered when He Han hit him and wish they would have let us see it. I laughed out loud seeing the beat up mean kid at the hospital. Lin checked on him first to assess the damage and then went to the police station for HeHan to see if he’d be able to keep his job after this incident. I think she appreciated the backup whether or no she admits it. He Han successfully showed brat boy how much damage ‘worthless’ could inflict on arrogance. 💪🏻🤣🥳I laughed again when he said the guy deserved it and he definitely felt better dishing out what the arrogant bastard deserved. This was not a drunken HeHan making a scene. This was a sober HeHan fed up with an ingrate who deliberately hurt the one he cared about. He made it clear not to do it again. Fan is the mastermind that created this monster by starting up the Phantom Knight to counter the two he really wanted. Zhao is his blade to keep the kid on the line since the two most wanted refused to get on board. Zhao is far from putting all her eggs in one basket like Lin tends to do. She is a better observer of the actual lay of the land and seeing opportunities in times of neglect and indecision. Lin is finally reflecting on her failings as a boss and this has been long overdue. She is an excellent editor and mentor, the top in her field. But she’s a bully and tunnel visioned boss who can’t see past her convictions and expectations to take care of her company and this is where Zhao kicked her ass hands down. She tried negotiation and when that failed she used every tactic at her disposal to ruthlessly destroy and undermine the efforts Lin had invested in her prodigy. She was successful enough that GuYan could label them worthless to HeHan’s face, and he has the literal lumps on his face from arrogantly taking it to the source of his contempt. I don’t know if Zhao will lose points for this aftermath, but he has definitely lost any value he had with Lin. I’m curious to see what happens when his project with her is done. She knows he was manipulated and that she contributed to this outcome with her negligence to his needs and lack of confidence so where will they go from here? He Han wants to know about Lin’s next project. Cai shows up with a rose and applauds him for beating up GuYan. But here she naively wants to be by HeHan’s side while he mentors her. She wants to be Lin’s replacement and finally hints of it. He is kind but direct in his refusal. He is the one that did not give correct boundaries with her idol worship and now he has to hurt her feelings for misinterpreting them. I don’t feel sympathy for Cai because she deliberately chose not to read the room. She is good hearted but they kept her character a kid led by emotions and impulsive behavior. She still never mentioned her dad’s offer to Lin because she sees ideals more than realities. This is her first nudge to grow up and face reality, to see the world without her rose colored idol worshipping glasses distorting the view. She will hopefully be a better roomie now without being over the top gooey over HeHan or asking stupid relationship questions she’s not ready for the answer to. I am hoping this makes her character less annoying for me by seeing who she can be without the childish behavior. Mei is visiting Zhao because they are truly friends. As odd as this is, this group of friends have symbiotic relationships. Mei is Zhao’s person because she understands Zhao has no one else. Lin is Mei’s person because they share parent troubles. HeHan is Lin’s person and when not a drunken mess Lin is his. Whether or not they are getting along, when one of them is truly in need, the other is there for backup. I am not sure how Ling got into the group, maybe by investing. He hung around hoping to get with Lin if HeHan left the group. That didn’t quite work out for him.😝 Mei agrees not to tell Lin what is going on with her health. Now that the cyst is gone, once she recovers she seems determined to trap Ling with a child. Somebody with her world view should not feel inclined to procreate. This is asking an innocent to grow up in an atmosphere where love doesn’t exist. I think the mold should be broken and end with her saving the world from a Zhao mini me. Lin’s dad still wanders but he sends pictures to his wife to share the experience. It is sad that they have no words to say after such a long separation, but their tie is very clear in spite of it. They understand each other’s core person and accepts what that means. I hope they have enough time left to develop a closer companionship than just a link of understanding. Lin is observing closely to see how things play out. At work she is thinking the gal with long hair is one of two most likely to be the mole so they are not going to include her in the loop for new project. I hope they start reshuffling the platforms soon because I really want to see Fan fall. He has been the great instigator and has had no real consequences for the storm he unleashed. It’s his turn to get a reality check.
Was this review helpful to you?
I liked the conversation between HeHan and Lin’s father. They are very similar in needing their space and privacy, even from those they love. The one thing the father enlightened him on that HeHan really never considered in his drunken phase, was the cost to those that loved them. He was aware of the price her mom paid but he really didn’t take into account the impact that had on Lin and why she emphatically believed that loving someone meant sharing everything and being a bound unit together. He only saw it as his binding that chafed without understanding why it was something she craved and fought for. The question now is can he compromise while he and Lin are still young or is he going to wait until some serious illness binds them closer by necessity? I think whoever the long haired woman is, is Fan’s spy. She was all ready with how the companies could compromise by sharing Gu Yan and it seems one time recording showed her long hair. Cai’s dad wants her to let Lin know he will invest in her company if she will accept it. He even calls her to have her look at houses and she teases that she will be a realtor for him if her company fails so that she can be happy looking to the future by selling homes for him. I am glad she can still joke about her circumstances. I am not sure if Mei’s bestie set her up or if her jealous colleague just seized opportunity, but whichever the case, she was more than happy to fill the mom in on Mei and Bei’s relationship in all its glorious detail. When Mei goes in she doesn’t take the obedient stance but has it out with her mother. All the things she had held in for decades came pouring out. She hadn’t planned on being hateful with her mom and casting blame but she let her have it with both barrels to get it out of her system. Here the friendship with Lin shines through as they toast with 10yr old scallion oil.😝😂 There still is some airing to do but Mei has hurled the albatross off. It remains to be seen where this will take her Bei relationship. Do they really have one? Or was he just the revenge on all mistresses and weak mothers who put up with them? Mei has finally taken a true step of emancipation where she can breathe in her own home without fearing her mother. Ms Zhao has gone from gray to black in her treatment of Lin. She has some serious health issues and feels pressed to make her victory sooner than later. Even with the issues between them, Lin was going to help her home but she left while Lin got her mom. That was a very sad meal of soups to keep her strength up in spite of condition. She needed bed rest and instead she went to Gu Yan to tell him how to best Lin. Lin had already shown up with the contract complaints and he admitted he hadn’t even read them. He just figured if money the sole issue it could be handled like this and he could move on to higher pay. In spite of his childish behavior he wanted the compensation pay to be fair. At heart he was loyal to the one that trained and inspired him. He just expected an actual relationship rather than solely a business one. He thought once he upstaged HeHan, he was entitled to the woman left behind. Zhao wasted no time in further indoctrinating Gu Yan to her way of thinking. She took him to HeHan’s discarded hotel room and tempted him to live there. He was disgusted by the idea and she found a way to make him consider. Her parting shot was that his room overlooked Lin’s office which is why he probably chose it. Zhao even seized on his obsession to seal the deal. Lin warned that once a better author came along Zhao would desert him. Zhao countered that they would rise together; there would be no leaving. Zhao knows Lin well. After all, they had been schoolmates. Lin did accept the option of begging, but when GuYan delayed their meeting she went back to their top three authors looking for the next number one. This episode was shifting the power of relationships. Pivoting them to see from another perspective. Fundamentally changing the dynamics and seeing if the relationship could survive. Zhao is willing to lose herself in her obsession to defeat Lin. She is using this as the litmus of her success. Now to see if GuYan and Lin fall in line to her machinations, or change the game.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode had Chen asking JinZhao why she was so helpful to YeXian even when dangerous. She responded quite truthfully that they were good friends. Ye Xian has a relationship with her that is very similar in sincerity as Yao. He is a lot different and far more complex and morally gray, but his loyalty is undeniable. He would do anything to help her and she would respond in kind. Chen candidly tells her to consider marrying him. She is taken aback at the idea. It is not that she’s not interested, she is just very well aware that she would not be seen as suitable. She also has the inside view of her mother’s sad case and she definitely is not interested in a repeat. She has made it clear to both Chen and Yao that she fully intends to go to Shanxi and stay single. She only entrusts her future to herself. When her maid said she knew JinZhao liked Chen, why would she not consider it? Her response was as much as she liked him she liked herself more. This determined and independent spirit is one of the things that makes Chen smile. Jian Zhao went to check on a shipment with Ping that was heading to Shanxi. Chen showed up demanding to know why she hadn’t given him more thought. She had to smile at his outburst as she said she wasn’t going but sending off Ping with the convoy. It is not often Chen is sheepish, but this was one time he found himself at a loss and went to get tea and wait on her. He is making himself more noticeable to her and she can’t deny interest. But she is still not convinced that Shanxi isn’t the best destination for her future. The Gu family are getting her father and stepsis back to the Daxin home. They plan on using that tie to get to Ji resources and money. JinZhao decides to move with them after finding out about a 20k tael debt her mother loaned and was never repaid. Nanny Zhao overheard her chat with the maid about not getting married and gave JinZhao a box. Inside was a wedding dress and letter from her mother. This was a beautiful tribute to her daughter, and a lovely memory whether the dress was used or kept a memento. Ye Xian was rather put out JinZhao didn’t tell him she was moving so he came unannounced to see her. His new job has him feared and ostracized. Even JinZhao wanted to know why this path was chosen. With his skillset, this really was his best option to rebuild his home. She yelled at him for thinking she would be too fearful to talk to him. He gave her a beautiful bracelet from a house that was raided if she dared to not see it as tainted. Lan and Lian are bickering and JinZhao intervenes. Her gma is impressed with her calm disciplining and asks JinZhao to massage her legs. In this quiet time when the gma was pleased with her, she mentioned the 20k tael debt which was vehemently denied. I can’t wait to see her eyes when the signed contract is shown. This episode had the proposal from Chen we’ve been waiting for. He is getting more determined but knows she isn’t ready. For once he is at a loss on how to change her mind about Shanxi. The very independence he admires is what may cost him any future with her. I am looking forward to watching these two negotiate terms.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lin and HeHan riding in the car was a nice change of pace. Since he isn’t drunk, she can just converse rather than hover. They are relaxed and just enjoying the time together. This changes when her mother is taken to the hospital for a growth in her stomach. The dynamics of her parents are unusual. They are married but live apart which is probably why Lin thinks shared space and contact so important. Her dad stays until half an hr before her mom will wake and he turns the watch over to her. This puts her back in a sad pattern of what ifs. What was different this time is that HeHan caught them visiting. Her father is finally moving back home and while she is happy another part questions why now? Why not earlier when they could have been a real family. He Han is helping her dad move back in. He and Lin have their squabbles but they understand taking care of each other’s parents. This is common ground for them. While in the past she might have resented his looking to Dai for specialists, today she understands he is coming from a good place and simply says thank you. I like the quieter more thoughtful Lin. Ok, the one leaving is not the mole. It better be glasses guy cause I already have enough issues with Cai. She could be the one if she thought she was helping HeHan, but she is not a good liar for when they were shuffling authors around and her efforts were the first gone. Fan is just greasy in his dealings. He is so slimy and fake that your skin kinda crawls. He is badgering GuYan and making contract complaints for Lin. She knows it’s not GuYan but getting a word with him with the hospital shuffling she is now doing is difficult. For his part GuYan is loyal. But it’s going to be tempted as far as it can reach. I don’t want him solely with Fan’s company because I think his company is on the downward slope and it’s going to get hit hard and fast when others get arranged. Dai is gonna be on the other side smiling because she may have a soft spot for her ex, but she doesn’t like the way he does business. Zhao is almost grisly with her Joker’s smile in Lin’s office. She has every reason to think she has the upper hand and willing to exploit it to the fullest. She admits it to Lin’s face unapologetically and points out that the business needs both of them for very different reasons. The bottom line with this is if GuYan chooses to speak up or stay silent and the jury is still out. Mei is traveling down poor choice paths with mother and Bei. He wants her to find accoutrements for his new apartment and calls her to handle it. She offers to get pots and pans delivered. I am not sure what the deal is with her bestie delivering paperwork to her mother, but until she can deal with her mother directly, that albatross is going to hang around her neck for all it’s worth. I like the sober He Han that is considerate and dressed like a grownup. He has a softer side that is much nicer to see than the indulgent side that catered to fans. He is not subject to public opinion nor pressured to meet anybody’s schedule but his own. This guy is likable and capable of acting responsibly. I don’t want Fan to get his way on any front. He caused this mess and hurt a lot of people and still only sees dollar signs. He would betray them all if the price was right and doesn’t deserve to be on top when reshuffling happens. Gu Yan would be better treated with Zhao, but she is not the one that’s mentor material. She gets you the best deal as long as she gets her percentage. I really don’t want to see Mei’s mom, but I do want a resolution between mother and daughter where Mei gets real independence. Hoping this story will manage that since they’ve trashed her character otherwise. 😝 Waiting to see who leads the platform reshuffle and how the players fall in line once it happens. Also curious how GuYan vs SanSan plays out…..which is the better writer?😂
Was this review helpful to you?
Mei and the Mrs have their meeting and the Mrs is handing leftovers to Mei. Whether it’s to save face or reality doesn’t really matter. I think she just wanted the satisfaction of seeing Mei’s reaction to her gift. Mei will neither embrace nor cut ties with Bei. Lin had this right, her dating preferences are a direct reflection of her relationship with her mother. Where Cai brought up the argument that her mother couldn’t tell her who to date, Lin brought up dating to spite her wasn’t necessary either. The assistant lawyer was visiting to review GuYan’s contract and be ready for countering if he opted to break or leave company. With firm denials, Gu Yan is safe for now. Fan is getting directly involved and showing Gu Yan the dream team of mentors while encouraging him to sign with Zhao. It is assured he will be treated better, but not clear if this change would really be in his best interest long term. Mei’s wannabe bf has overstepped his hand and is now on the s list. He should have never made such a comment about her mom because he saw her in action and knows what a self righteous tyrant she is. That was unforgivable for one wanting to gain Mei’s affection. Lin and Gu Yan’s argument was rather forced. She knew something was up when the two friends ran into her married. She has a point but she never really had him go with a story of his choosing. Whether the phantom knight book or the one with her they were both following up other authors. Neither story was his in spite of his feelings on the matter. He should never have expected her to hunt him down if he left, but her easy refusal that she wouldn’t will give him the gumption to make different choices just to spite her. Leaving won’t be the worst thing for him as it might help curb his creepy obsession with her. He still wants to be HeHan 2.0 but his ties with her are diminishing. I would like Dai to handle him. She would cut through the crap and point him in the right direction. Her comments to HeHan are interesting. She wants him out while the online platforms reshuffle. She pays better attention than her arrogant ex who doesn’t bother noticing the little guy. But, if the little guys team up, they are no longer little. Fan is set in his ways and sees money as the end all of negotiations. This is what will trip him up when things start pivoting. Lin meets with He Han about selling the rights of his book to a game. He really doesn’t give a free flying about it and tells her to do whatever she wants and close the door on her way out. She thinks He Han is in a bad place. I don’t agree. For the first time in decades he is sober by choice. His busy brain is getting slice of life scenarios and he’s getting paid to get them. He is dressed nicer and more manicured than he’s bothered to be for decades as well. I would like to see him venture in children’s stories with the boy in his building. That would be a nice change of pace—to really be the king of stories rather than the pinnacle of an industry that could really care less for him as a person. Lin rejected Kun’s offer which almost succeeded in shutting him up. He asked for info from staff to hire when her company folded. Cai and one other are loyal, but it’s sure that the mole is leaving. No big loss since she was hurting as much as helping anyways. 😝 This episode sees everybody heading for change and still to be determined if that is a good or bad thing.
Was this review helpful to you?
JinZhao mourns her while listening to the melancholy music and Rong clutches his mom’s memorial tablet grieving. Rice is going up in price because of difficulties in transporting. Ji’s ships have brought in more grain and keeping the prices the same so the people aren’t dealing with price gouging. What is uncovered is the southern gang using Ji’s ships to smuggle weapons. They plan on using the grain convoy to transport them to the capital. Chen and aide have been keeping eyes on them. Rong also knows who these men are from his gambling associates. He warns Yao and they stage an argument to get closer. It is clearly the gang and Rong discovered weapons in the grain sacks. Yao knows it’s a felony to smuggle weapons and they make plans to get help and keep the convoy from leaving the city. Chen is also leaving to investigate. One of the leaders kidnaps JinZhao who is making good points on why she is not going to be helpful to him as a hostage. Chen shows up and negotiations start. Chen gives up his sword but does an excellent throw with JinZhao’s hairpin. In spite of his valiant effort, all three end up going over the cliff. Fortunately, it’s not a high one and there are no major injuries. While he is massaging her tendon back into place he wants to know why she is interested in Shanxi. JinZhao has decided that after her gma passes she will go to Shanxi to work. She will declare herself permanently single and a businesswoman. They finally get around to dead guy. Here I was expecting her to retrieve her hairpin, 😝 They find silver notes and correspondence from Xiao. JinZhao recognized the doctor that wrote a script for her mom. She also described the man they’d been looking for down to the growth on his ear. He has hidden himself in the Marquis’ home and serves as YeXian’s mentor. They will be brought up on charges if working with the bandits to smuggle weapons. Chen doesn’t see how to rescue YeXian without evidence of his innocence. JinZhao and servant ride off to warn him before it’s too late. She is convinced that if Ji and Chen houses not implicated, it’s safe to warn him. Chen has asked his men to replace the bandits and have the delivery go to the prince’s residence as planned. Ye Xian and crown prince are having a chat and ye Xian finds out he has been called because Chen is unavailable. There are conflicts and the crown prince wants one he trusts to know about hidden passages in the palace. He entrusts YeXian to protect him in the event of any trouble. He also gives YeXian food for thought when he said Chen believed his family the only trustworthy ones that would not betray the crown prince. JinZhao arrives timely and gives YeXian the news about his mentor. He is irate and refuses to believe her. He asks his aide if he thinks it is true. He can neither confirm or deny about Xiao, but he is convinced that Ms Gu would not lie. This Ye Xian also believes to be true. This time he is thinking and asking before doing. Maybe progress is being made. I am really despising Chen’s mentor. Even if innocent he fully intends to implicate the Marquis whether guilty or not. He thinks while everything peaceful and the coffers are full he can raise new soldiers to take his place. 😝Good men tend to take the brunt of political schemes. I am sure Nie’s family is still waiting compensation for FengMing’s sacrifice. There is no ‘good’ side with these two faction leaders. They both need to go. What is interesting is that Xiao and Marquis are also taking notes on the weapons movement. This seems more a case of spies duplicating mission without the other one being aware rather than the Marquis colluding to commit treason. JinZhao returns home to find out her father has become a drunkard in the taverns and Lan is left to head the household. She begs for the right to control who she marries like JinZhao and Rong can. Here I wish they would have kept the sisters allies instead of JinZhao giving her the cold treatment like her mother did. I am not happy that Lan is left on her own and JinZhao fully aware of how little help her step sis has. But at the same time she is brutal with justice and Lan was integral in bringing about the circumstances that resulted in her mother’s death. So she may just view this as justice served with the Gu family. JinZhao and YeXian meet with Chen. It is clear Prince Glorian is plotting. He has boxed the Marquis in so no matter if he gets weapons to defend or advances without receiving weapons he looks guilty of treason no matter the choice. It is agreed that the crown prince is to be protected and moved if necessary. Chen does say there is a way out for the Marquis but it will be very dangerous. And of course this is where the episode ends. 😝
Was this review helpful to you?
The one thing this episode proves is that even in burlap JinZhao is beautiful. Lord Chen arrives and offers words of comfort from his family. Yao gave her comfort about not calling her mother before she passed. He remembered two incidents in particular when JinZhao was four and had visits, she not only addressed her as mother but also as mom. This was to prevent grief and remorse from taking root in her heart that it had never been said. Outside the mourning area, Rong and Lan were fighting about YuPing’s return. Rong indirectly was used to find her whereabouts. JinZhao informed them she had plans to sue their father. If done, 40 lashes were endured by the child bringing forth the case. Rong agreed to accept the lashes since he was also responsible. Yu ping was found and confessed before Lord Chen and JinZhao. The two servants were at odds and the conflict was between them not the peripheral nobles. Chen helped her get a signed confession. He had also been gathering sources of cited cases to provide defense in court to rescind the 40 lash requirement of children suing parents. Daddy Gu overheard his children talking and decided to end things prior to punishment. Reluctantly, JinZhao’s maid rescued him. JinZhao had a contract made where he would not be able to remarry without her permission, could not interfere in his children’s marriages, and agreed to an amicable divorce with his wife. He was given the choice to sign or she would sue him. After signing, she could return her mother’s body to TongZhou with no interference from Gu family. Ye Xian assisted by providing ten guards to accompany them. He also brought his wingman white kitty.🤣😂 These two have an understood friendship. He wants the idea of more, and she understands being subjected to family expectations. They help each other out when fate brings them together. I think from the moment they met fate intertwined their destinies, just not in the way YeXian hopes. I see it as a complementary alliance to weather the political fray between merchants and nobles. The two political factions are arguing about canal and sea routes for shipping. The storms are causing chaos with overflowing rivers and Chen’s mentor will deny help to ease difficulties of the flooded areas, thus pushing the agenda of sea routes. Chen uses this to his advantage by returning to TongZhou to pay tribute to his family. It will also get his mother to TongZhou and incidentally accompany JinZhao’s funeral procession. He is again surprised that YeXian has provided ten guards and has his men make room to house them. As the storm increases JinZhao is overseeing the protection of her mother’s coffin. Chen notices and plays her a sad soothing song on an ocarina. She follows the music and tells him she changed her mind about suing her father and further reflects if her own actions resulted in the early death of her mother. He doesn’t offer unsolicited advice but asks if there was a song she wanted to hear. JinZhao is returning home come hell or high water.
Was this review helpful to you?
Mei is waiting for Zhao because she knows what happened. She and Zhao chat about him and Zhao has a very sad way of looking at things. She decides to return his hottie favor by having Mei stay with his gma. Ling tries to explain himself and still profess love and she doesn’t care and leaves. Zhao has perfect makeup and getting her parents to upgrade their looks between mahjong hands. Her mean girl is out with Lin. She is keeping score and stacking up Lin’s losses — her wedding gift to herself. Lin shines in this moment by taking the high road and writing her own speech. They share some words about Gu Yan and He Han. The ceremony takes place and Zhao is all smiles. Even Lin and Mei break out in grins at her audaciousness. Ling is pretty but definitely the unhappy groom. He is not happy his groom price was met and paid for. No matter how unwilling, he set the price and conditions. It segues to GuYan who is running late with both chapters and devouring the pages written by his idol. Ms Zhao has sent him a luxurious meal and his ex has come to join him. For her it is a bitter meal as she finally tells GuYan she is through loving him and officially with their friend. She tells him straight up that she will side with him and save best things for him from now on and GuYan would be the one on his own. She is still trying to persuade him to work with Zhao who takes better care of him. He is not as impressed because he knows she only takes care of those who she gets something out of. He goes to lament on the landing. This might be a baby step to growing up. Zhao and a very drunk Ling return to their room. He acts out in anger and she returns in kind and then leaves him to sleep it off. Dai actually kept the car as her severance.😂🤣 she invited HeHan to dinner where he met an entrepreneur starting a new platform. This guy wanted the rights to his name and photo to sell books. Dai happens to be a shareholder and this is where HeHan was disappointed with her. There is no question she was in for the cash, but I think she really wanted to give He Han a boost til he figured himself out. By the next morning internet gossip has He Han not writing. He gets an online license to be a driver. It is unclear if he is truly quitting writing or taking a hiatus to just clear his head. He is serious enough he has left the forums. Cai still annoys me. She is excellent at her job but her off time is whining about or worshipping her idol. She is like an energizer bunny fan with nothing better to do with her life.😝🙄 Mei gets a call from the Mrs to meet up and she decides to go. She can now find out which bf is telling the truth.🙄 I’m to the point I don’t care about either of them. I’d prefer to see her have it out with her mother and become her own person. Zhao is paying for Gu Yan’s haircut and encouraging him. His place seems a lot more secure with either nom de plume while He Han is out of the way.
Was this review helpful to you?
We start off with the not so sweet meet cute of Lin and Zhao at Gu Yan’s door. Zhao is reminding her of wedding invitation and how Mei will be bridesmaid. She is snarky with commenting on stealing staff and talent and asks if she will be there. Lin ignores the snark, affirms her attendance and then point blank asks if SanSan is Gu Yan. Here I was a bit surprised that Zhao denied it and full out lied. I figured that would give her something else to gloat about, but maybe this was just to keep things calm about contracts etc . He Han is settling up with the hotel and getting his things packed pitched or donated. He is very nice with the staff and gives them things they will truly like or appreciate. Lin’s company is dealing with a contract from a game creator. They are reopening a failed contract and being manipulative in the content they want the editing department to review to comply with their game process. Lin could have picked GuYan and friends’ brains about gaming and he would have been much better at how storyline impacted game experience to have an excellent short cut to the crap the company was trying to pull about adjusting characters. But Lin continues to make the same mistake and micro manages everything. She is supposed to meet He Han before he checks out after her meeting. But because she had to accommodate a possible client she stays tunnel visioned until almost midnight. They of course have the epic just missed scene to try to make it feel poignant. At this point, it is overly redundant and goes right back to the beginning. Lin was focused on her pillow and toothbrush more than asking HeHan’s opinion. He was definitely the immature man child, but she continues repeating with GuYan and her staff. Everything has to go according to the world of Lin and this is where she annoys me more than He Han. She stays a step behind because she is more concerned of having a backup plan than paying attention to anybody’s actual needs. Even her own. She is selfish with controlling, not with herself. This is why they all tune her out when she starts yapping at top volume and speed. The words and tone stay all too consistent. It’s not that she’s not an excellent mentor, it’s that she doesn’t let herself or anybody else have a life out of the work zone. This is why she gets left when better options become available, He Han looks to have moved in same area as Gu Yan and Zhao. That will be an interesting collision if they would all meet. I have to give He Han credit for being content in his surroundings whether grand or plain. He likes what he likes without apology. The scene with the boy was very sweet and unexpected. He was so gentle and presenting himself as the king of stories was quite apt. I hope we see more of this. They are trashing Mei’s character and her dragged out Bei relationship is just sad. Is she now supposed to be the great savior of the man she chose to have an affair with? Who is telling her the truth— bf or Bei? The bf is definitely working with the Mrs. but she has the right of it. She is on the right side for protecting her family and assets. They are making Bei look sad and a shadow of himself, but it doesn’t move me. I also have no sympathy left for Mei since she opts to keep contact while chiding him for reaching out. She went from the most interesting character to the one I least want to know about. She has almost reached the same level as Cai for being annoying.😝 Mr Kun is an ass from the second he opens his mouth. He is a loud blowhard that could have been shut up if they had cliff notes from GuYan and friends about game info. She runs off and makes her overworked staff listen to his top volume know it all stance. She runs to He Han and pretty much begs him to come back. Her comments about GuYan’s preference for Phantom Knight story showed how little regard she had for his interests. She knows he is SanSan but doesn’t have evidence for contract breach. Once she clears the air about that she starts yapping at him in crescendoing dialogue that he calmly rejects. Everybody thinks HeHan is the one needing changing and I don’t disagree. But I think Lin has as much if not more need to change than he does. She seems so much more organized and capable but she is a workplace bully and sees no need to change her own issues. Even her ex lover HeHan has had enough. As much as he cares about her, he can’t work for her. She is so obtuse to her own fault with this that she did not see it coming. It’s not that she isn’t correct in her rants, she just simply does not offer better solutions worth putting up with them. She is so convinced that she is better for him that it never crosses her mind that maybe she really isn’t. They are simply better for her situation with no actual betterment to theirs other than cash. Both of her prime writers feel that way and she is to blame. It then cuts to Ms Zhao bringing her parents in to what will be a farce of a wedding. They even have to show Ling with his hottie spending the night in the honeymoon suite. His pose over girl was wasted when Mei’s call distracted Zhao from coming in room. Lin called HeHan about Phantom Knight book and learns she actually has the finished rendition in the boxes he gave her. She shows these to GuYan as leverage. He believes her to be the author but that is still unclear. He Han and Lin were joined at the hip in their early projects so somewhere between these two and Ma one or more of them the writer. She leaves him to digest this news while she makes her way to the wedding. Now we will get to see if Ling can show up without lipstick on his collar or even at all. I think she sent Mei on a watch chase so that she could hide the suite from her. Ling spent a long time frozen in that position just to appall her into backing down from the wedding. Not only did she not back down, she invited hottie to attend. Zhao successfully flipped the table on him to make him more aghast at her response than his actions. This actress did a phenomenal job relaying all those emotions in a time sequenced manner so that her façade was kept to observers and her pain and heartbreak kept to herself. She remains my favorite gray person. For all of her trophy room antics, she is the one that sees people for who they really are. It’s not that she doesn’t take advantage, she just includes taking care of their needs. Lin could learn from her.
Was this review helpful to you?
After Lady Gu was denied divorce from Mr Gu, she asked if he married her for love or her family’s money and he snidely asked her which did she think? This was the last strike of grief that broke her spirit. She spent the day with her children and asked JinZhao to call her mother. JinZhao wasn’t ready yet and even her brother wanted to know why she couldn’t make such a small concession. She couldn’t put into words the years of hurt and denial she was still working through. Sometime during the night, Lady Gu chose to hang herself and end things. The point they wanted to drive home was that her own grief and broken heart killed her. With her family finally around her it boggles my mind that she opted out before seeing things through to repair her relationship with JinZhao. Gu was shaken with the fallout from his actions. He liked her feeling small and insecure about herself so he could indulge himself with her family’s wealth and cater to his second family. He finally felt her blood on his hands and knew judgment was coming. JinZhao grabbed some scissors and was ready to cut his heart out. She vented her rage calling him by name directly and had to be restrained. Gma Ji soundly slapped him and declared the concubine the mourner for her daughter’s grave. She was to spend the rest of her life there. Ye Xian and his sister show up to pay their respects. She wanted her brother to toss away any ideas of marriage with JinZhao. He used the visit to kneel and pay respects like he would for his own mother. He was so sure she’d been murdered he promised JinZhao he would help her find the killer and take care of them. He completely excluded Lan from any notice so this will most likely be used to further alienate the sisters and stir vengeful feelings. Lord Chen shows up to pay his respects and get a bead on the turmoil in the Gu household. When the servants showed up with the household ledgers, they did not expect someone so young to have accounting skills. She proved she knew when there were mistakes or fraud with the sums and they realized a true accounting was to be their future. Ye Xian was in trouble with sister for showing such respect to one of lower class. While she was complaining about bringing him along, he reminded her that her reason was to prove JinZhao off limits as possible bride. His mentor had a chat with him about how Lady Gu really died, and that until he found a means to secure his own house, he could not hope to help JinZhao with hers. Gma Ji condemned Gu for charging her daughter with fake accusations and let him know he wasn’t getting by with it. Lan has not registered yet that her use of nanny Zhou’s last plot was responsible for stirring up this calamity. I would hope she regrets her recklessness and tries to make amends, but it is more likely they will make her act vengeful and unrepentant. Gma Ji is going to take her daughter home for burial and Yao will stay to assist JinZhao. I had hoped JinZhao would go home with them and reside in Tongzhou. I have no clue how Gu will act after this, but it’s very clear he will be held accountable and his house put in order by Ji family. The siblings could have been a united front to weather the storm of this, but it’s unlikely they will be allowed this small comfort. Yao will definitely align with JinZhao. Rong will have to choose between sisters or father. Lan and JinZhao should ally to get their father in line with Gma’s help but they have been too busy making Lan a selfish brat. Waiting to see the aftermath of Lan’s plot to get out of marriage and if gma Ji can salvage the reputations of the grandchildren.
Was this review helpful to you?
I really like Dai and hope there is more of her after this mess is cleared up. Now it’s clear why Cai had to be roomie, so her dad could buy the place and all three stay there. I roll my eyes at her being the landlord but it is what it is. He Han trashed the end of his novel but he finished it by the time he said he would, he just killed everybody off to tie up loose ends. Fan thinks he has him over a barrel because he will not have anything to do with a new project unless he sells the one he finished. He won’t do that because that would give Fan the power to change the ending. Dai really is trying to help him and I hope he pays some attention. She gave him some motherly advice about what to use his money on to protect himself. She had his car appraised to settle her salary. 😂 He’d rather give her the car. Fan is unapologetic for the drama he caused and just sees it as the typical rise and fall of authors. Dai understands the loss of He Han’s story as originally intended. She believed in him and wanted to be part of his best work. Zhao and Ling think he killed his book to avoid plagiarism when that really had no part of why. I wonder if I will still care at the end of drama who Phantom Knight really is? Dai is seeing the horizon for what it is and does not think Fan’s company will be the influence he thinks it is. She is biding her time to see who and if she wants to work with them. I like that she kept things on good terms with He Han so that they could work together in future fate willing. She exited with class which is more than I can say for any of the others. It was an interesting meet and greet with both Lin and Zhao at Gu Yan’s door. 😂 Gu Yan is getting good at quickly coming up with reasonable responses to very specific questions. Lin knows something is off but hasn’t quite figured it out yet. Gu Yan has always compared himself to He Han so he slipped SanSan into the third party option and objectively made a comparison. He did give a clue when he refused to speak poorly about the author and that maybe he couldn’t write better. Zhao is too shrewd to break contracts so this loophole of pseudonym should hold once the sh.t hits the fan. We still aren’t really getting to hear real opinions of SanSan’s work yet. Lin is programmed to tell her writers what she wants them to hear so we don’t really know what she thinks. Running into Zhao might give her a clue but even at that she can only boss around the writing of GuYan. She is a bit thrown off because GuYan is treating her with the same expedient business time she uses with him. She even pushed to stay longer and he declined. Maybe now she can go micromanage somebody else. With this, I cheered for him. Waiting to see Fan’s face when he learns who SanSan is.😂🤣 I am also curious where He Han will choose to live after the hotel. Will he simply choose cheaper accommodations or will he actually rent or own a real private living space? Lin is brushing off the news of his changes but it’s getting to her. This is why she is finally paying attention to GuYan. With no complaints she warns him to not get too complacent because a little slide in quality could become big over time. Part of me wishes He Han would have had a way to do a hiatus of their story rather than just cut it off. But I guess that’s what they have already been doing. Maybe he will seek out his mom for real and live near her for awhile. Bei has been brought up on charges for conflict of interest by serving both sides of a case. Here assistant lawyer is willing to go scorched earth. Mrs Bei tried calling Mei and Mei declined the call. Mrs Bei opted to not text about what she wanted to discuss. She wanted to take things further with Mei so the assistant opted to make things difficult for her hubby. Mei confronted her bf and he frankly told her that was why she got the call from Mrs Bei. But since they did not meet and discuss, others chose how to finish things. Bei pretends to be a client and meets Mei. She refused to eat with him but didn’t leave. He’s a mess and actually filed for divorce. Who cares? Is he following Mei or the money? When he asked her to stay she countered with how it felt for her to ask in the past. They do not show if she stayed or left, but the latter seems more likely since she is leaving alone. It is still to be determined what the consequences will be for her bf. But I find myself more in his corner than Bei’s. In this episode everybody is settling up. Ling gets biggest ass award. Zhao has just had invitations delivered and he now tells her he will marry her but not live with her. She already has that covered as he will be head of some committee and home for the weekend. So as long as he complies and shows up with her, he can be gone for the week. She has corralled him in and well aware he doesn’t love her but she is making him money and taking care of his gma. I am sure this was not the marriage he envisioned with Lin when he showed her a ring.😝 he candidly asks her why she would choose such an unhappy life and she says that’s not what she’s looking for. She is content with having the façade of everything others want. She wants to be envied not happy. He can’t really argue with that, but I think it set him back a bit when she asked him was he not the same way? He couldn’t deny it. I don’t even know that these two deserve each other so much as willing to co exist on her terms. She is an unapologetic trophy collector and lives to gain more and keep them well dusted.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fan is very proud of himself for stirring up so much publicity for his company. He doesn’t even care about fallout til He Han says…oh by the way I’m ending my story in three days. Dai pushes his ass out the door and then has a chat with He Han. Her volume and speech speed very similar to Lin’s with this chat. She has had enough of his childish behavior. She is not happy about losing her job either, but she sees her time and efforts wasted for him to toss it all. Whatever the secret is with Phantom Knight, only Lin He Han and Ma know. Lin is willing to follow through and straighten things out but He Han doesn’t want it. Later Lin follows suit when they meet. Her actions have not coincided as a great bastian of editors because neither of her number ones want to deal with her when she’s on a rampage. He Han has always demonstrated a scorched earth preference with himself so I don’t know why she is surprised. What was surprising are the lengths he went to to help her out. However, the consequences of his assist always tended to undermine things for the long term. He wants to be done with it all and start over. Whether he’s successful or not, he and fate will decide. Dai is ready to wash her hands of him and rightfully so. Fan thought he was so cunning and he has put her in a bad place because he just had to find a way to exploit an author for another dollar. Zhao and Ling are having a champagne toast celebrating their new author SanSan. These two might actually manage to end up on top at the rate the others are going with drama. I feel sad for GuYan’s gf who has been nothing but supportive of him. She asks him directly about his choices and responds directly with her options and preferences.GuYan is like Bei in that aspect. He considers Lin like a wife and wants his gf on the side. I really hope they let his friends become a couple and they get to live a good life together. Her love is true, so I am not sure she will be able to dim it anytime soon, but their mutual friend will be willing to wait and find out. That is where he and the legal assistant are willing to do whatever it takes to prove their love even tho not returned. Ms Zhao has won as the most understanding editor but she again is not the one wanted. That is where she and GuYan’s gf are similar with the one they have affection for. Lin throws GuYan a bone expecting him to be happy she accommodated him. I liked her surprised look when he said thanks but no thanks. He is already juggling two projects. She is just unaware he is new find SanSan. I am curious how his new book is going and wished to hear more about that than all the drama. Mei came back prepped to fight for her job and instead learns she is getting promoted. I like her double talking bestie and that she has a safety net for him to keep him from being relocated. I don’t like Mei’s penchant for married men, but I do admire her business acumen and self preservation skills. When she can be total shark to her colleagues I have no clue why she can’t turn that on with her mom and be free of her. Maybe she keeps that tie as penance for her man choices. This episode was loud and loaded with drama. The only thing that really grabbed my attention was wondering about how well SanSan wrote and how Mei holds her own at her job while falling apart everywhere else. They keep pushing the three gal roomie scenes which annoy me greatly rather than filling us in on the exploits of Zhao and Ling. I would have liked to seen their response to his first chapter. This is where the rubber meets the road for GuYan. This is the story he wanted to be a part of. This is where his true potential will reveal itself. Will he sink or swim? Can he thrive best where Lin isn’t? This is where Zhao has to prove to him he can. She has been the only one to actually see him and respect the direction he wants to write. Now to see if she pulled it off.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fan is a sh.t. He caused a lot of grief to then bail on Lin because he stole her writer.😝 I hope that the tables get turned and Zhao and Ling kick him to the curb to retire with his ill gotten gains. I thought he was a decent mentor/benefactor, but he is what Ling will be in 20 years.😝 Lin and He Han meet at his father’s gravesite. He says it will be his last drink which I highly doubt. But the one grown up realization he made was that he no longer can blame his dad for being a mess. He has to lay claim to it himself now. Cai just had to defend her idol and now the trolls faked illicit pics with her name. He Han then has to respond in her defense. She is all happy that he is defending her not realizing what she really accomplished. Lin tells her no more posting and sends a memo to Ma about the Phantom Knight novel. Dai has filled He Han in on the cost to his future projects and to get his rights back will be millions. He’s been spending money like water and she enlightened him that his hotel living racks up 2 million a year and that does not include food beverages or any other misc purchases. He’s in a colossal spiral on all fronts now. Whether deliberate or not Fan may have just killed off the career of one number one author to get another. He Han and Lin know who Phantom Knight is…either one or both of them or somebody they know. Whatever the case it is clear they made input to the content and it is not plagiarism, but to prove that, they would have to divulge who Phantom Knight really is. They now know that Phantom Knight towers over He Han in popularity. I’m wondering what they are going to do with that knowledge. Zhou Mei finally meets up with Bei and she learns all she needs to know. The bottom line is his wife will help the company’s debt go away as long as he forfeits Zhou Mei. They have to be together one last time and if she gets pregnant that will just annoy the hell outa me.😝Her bf knows everything and still willing to stick around. I am getting tired of how they wrote Mei’s character. There is no love to mourn since Bei was never going to be hers. He coveted her but his manipulation of her circumstances and stepping out on his wife is not one who can prove the merits of true love. When he told her she deserved a better man…truer words were never spoken to her. The only positive thing that came from this is that she was too tired to coddle her overbearing self righteous mother and told her to toss the makeup and leave her alone. I am curious if her mom will leave or sit on the couch til the morning expecting the obedient daughter observe the ceremony of her peeling an apple and Mei eating it. She should tell her mom yes if an apple a day keeps the mother away.😝Gu Yan has thrown everybody off track of his moonlighting because his updates are on time and quite good. Letting his SanSan out is putting him in a better mood. Any author that can make five drafts of the same chapter can keep up with two separate projects. Waiting to see the reaction to his first chapter.
Was this review helpful to you?
Things are buzzing with the promised unfinished novel of Phantom Knight being published online by Dingqi. Fan is challenging He Han and Gu Yan to pick up the mantle and continue it. He Han not interested but his editor is offered a lot of money so she reads it. Turns out there are plot similarities. Lin refused for GuYan without discussing it with him. There is something fishy about this. Did she write or borrow content from the unpublished work? He Han’s editor has pointed out similarities and wants statements prepared for when sh.t hits the fan but He Han is still not interested. Fan wants his way and the cash so he contacts Ms Zhao who contacts GuYan. While this drama is going on Zhou Mei’s company has wracked up 6million in charges and Bei is conveniently in court. Her bf is aligned to assist but she is restricting him. He’s going to stick around anyways which I am happy about. Her mom has made herself at home in her apartment and has opened Zhou Mei’s mail. She remembers the package too late and knows the storm is coming. After her meticulous care in hiding her real self the delivery guy betrays her. Tbh I am not looking forward to this war. For now Ms Zhao is becoming my favorite gray character. She bargains for her goal and refuses to be dissuaded from making it happen regardless of fallout or consequences. She is truly an ends justifies the means person. She has bargained with Fan to make the offer known to GuYan to get the author signed on at her company rather than staying with Lin. This time when GuYan throws a tantrum, he is justified. Lin doesn’t let him consider it and has dismissed him. The novel he is working on now isn’t his original work either. That’s why he’s struggling. It was never his story he’s just getting credit for refining it and getting it published. He’s a much better fit for the Phantom Knight project and Lin should have taken his feelings into consideration. This is definitely gonna bite her in the ass and she has it coming. She and He Han are acting off about this unpublished work so there is definitely a story there and they don’t want it made public. He Han’s editor leaves an address for where his mother is. The woman denied having ever lived anywhere else. He Han takes a pic of her store so I don’t think he’s convinced she’s being truthful. I never really considered Gu Yan and Cai as writer and editor duo. They are getting along and she was first call to check his 5 manuscripts. He absolutely hated what she said but he recognized she was being 💯 truthful with nothing to gain from telling him. Waiting to see if he thinks there’s a connection to the stories and corners Lin or HeHan about it. He is a petty child but so is HeHan🤣😝 He is a better long term investment because he is just starting and He Han is starting the downslope in age and career. I think it would be very interesting if they went head to head on the phantom knight novel with winner take all. I am glad the kid is sticking up for himself and reminding the editor she is supposed to value his opinion on his own writing. And if content was stolen from the unpublished work…who did it? Lin or He Han?
Was this review helpful to you?
