I’m granting a temporary suspension of the “NO OPPA FANGIRLING” rule in this blog because we can’t help ourselves. We’re fangirling Xiao Nai’s character whether we like it or not because he’s really irresistible.
And since this is my blog, I can change rules arbitrarily.ย lol.
I appoint @Phoenix as president of the fangirls unless somebody else wants to rotate the shift. @agdr03? @staygold??
Okay. Here’s Phoenix’s long comment. I’m transferring it here so it’s easier for me to chime in.ย Here post is in blue italics; my response is in black.
*********************
Thank you, @packmule3.
After the ban on the deadly dimples in MOA, I thought fangirling over Yang Yang would be inadvisable too ๐ But I guess we all know this is fluff, straight and simple, with no twists or hidden meanings or unspoken angst, and I can safely allow my mind to go into hibernation mode, while my heart goes into squealy mode at how shiningly perfect Yang Yang looks from every angle!!
The reason I chose this C-drama is because I want something “healing.” lol I want to be healed from my disappointments with kdrama endings. Sure, I can appreciate creative endings on an intellectual level but time to time, I want a good old-fashioned, uncomplicated, fairy tale ending. Is that too much to ask, kdrama writers??
I think what hooked me was how exceptionally clever Xiao Naiโs character is โ he is outwardly aloof but always mentally ten steps ahead of everyone else. He used his aloof aura and inscrutable exterior to ward off people (much like Mr. Darcy), but when he set his heart on something (or someone), he broke all his self-imposed barriers.
He’s Mr. Darcy.
Solid. Aloof. Competent. Plays 5D chess while others are stuck in the Go Fish! card game. And totally, fervently, ardently, incandescently in love with the girl.
And oh! Did I mention how he looks at her?? I’d melt if I were Weiwei.
I really liked the scene in Episode 10 in the basketball court where he openly comes up to Weiwei, talks to her, and sits next to Weiwei, much to everyoneโs surprise. This is a daring public declaration of relationship status, with no holding back. He is basically so sure of his charisma that he knows he wonโt be turned down (of course, him being Yang Yang, I completely get this ;).
Agree! He wanted the whole student body to know that he was in an relationship with her. To me, he was prompted to do that attention-grabbing maneuver because SHE was to shy to acknowledge their relationship. She had run away from him when they got to the gym.
Weiwei was already hesitant to ride with him on his bike because people might misunderstand their relationship. He pointed out that they WERE already in that kind of romantic relationship. But, on the way to the gym, she balked again when she realized how very public their relationship would be.
It’s one thing to have a romantic relationship; it’s another thing to have a PUBLIC romantic relationship.
People were staring at them. Then, when he left her to buy snacks at the store, she became resigned to the fact that standing next to him would draw a lot of attention. He was idolized by so many in the campus; there was no escaping attention unless she ran away.
Naturally a shy girl, she would feel awkward with all the buzz. So when they arrived at the gym, she hightailed it. He followed her inside to seek where she was at. She was sitting with her friends and tried to hide from him. She was too shy even to wave and smile at him.
To me, he realized then that he had no recourse but to do an “open” declaration. He was dating her after all. He wasn’t the type to skulk around with her just to avoid people’s curious eyes. By approaching her, singling her out, sitting beside her and holding her hand after the game, he declared, with action and not words, that he was dating her.
His attitude = like a boss
By the way, did anyone else think Yang Yang looked so yummy in that dark red business suit attending that business conference in episode 14? **nods head in disbelief-canโt imagine falling for a guy who wears red suits!** The visuals of him wearing pristine white shirts were also so visually appealing that I got distracted multiple times and missed the English subs on lots of scenes (ha!) and had to stop the scene and rewind to read them.
lol. His wardrobe coordinator must have had the easiest time during the filming.
I like what he did to help that girl, the President’s niece. He was saving her from unwanted suitors by letting it known that she was related to a powerful man. But poor child, she took it to mean that he was interested in her. Poor delusional child; I feel sorry for her in the same way I feel pity for the oppa-fans.
I like his conversation with Weiwei after the banquet. His friends were tattling on her and he called her up. He advice her to stay away from his friends because they’d lead her astray. She said that she’d beat them up, and I guess he didn’t approve of the language “beat up” because she corrected herself to say that she would duel them. His next advice?ย “Get them to beat themselves up.” lol. He’s so Machiavellian.
She pointed out that he was the bad example or the one who’d lead her astray. He rebutted, “I’m glad to be your role model.” I like when he bragged about himself.
Also, did anyone else find it super cute when he has to clean up the kitchen in Weiweiโs friendโs flat and he does it without complaining? I also liked how every time, he defends Weiwei by deleting online posts defaming her, and never stops trusting her, in spite of people telling him that they have evidence to the contrary. I loved that scene in Episode 22 where he comes to the gamerโs reunion in the rain, holding an umbrella to pick up Weiwei. That was so like a true gentleman.
I think that’s one of the swoon-worthy qualities of Xiao Nai. He hacked and deleted all the gossips on Weiwei.
The Chinese version has the alternate name: โJust an alluring smileโ (and itโs adapted from a book of the same name, I think), and the casting of Yang Yang is just perfect. Xiao Nai smiles rarely in the first 10 episodes, but once he starts getting deeper into a relationship with Weiwei, there are scenes where he has this cheeky grin, especially when he is teasing Weiwei. For example, in Episode 27, when Weiwei almost calls his mother her โmother-in-lawโ when they come to meet Xiao Nai in his flat, he wiggles his eyebrows and gives her a cheeky smile saying โGo serve your mother-in-law teaโ **swoon**.
She called his mom “mother-in-law”? hahahaha. See? That’s one thing I like about Asian culture. There’s a designated name for all the family members. I would love it if my future daughters-in-law were to call me “mom” but I know they already have a real mom. They’ll probably call me by my first name. As long as they don’t call me bitch to my face, I wouldn’t make a fuss.
It is all fluff but it is highly addictive, and I had a super refreshing time watching this drama. May even re-watch this on days when I feel out of charity with my job, my boss and the world in general, because, of course, watching eye candy like Yang Yang is a guaranteed mood-lifter on any given crappy day**wondering if that makes me very shallow** ๐
What I like about this show is the writers are not out to torture me. With kdramas nowadays, especially tvN-produced kdramas, I feel like they’re trying to outdo each other with the husband-guessing-game, the angsty plot, the two-year separations, and the unresolved endings.
I was searching for a love story on auto-pilot and with Love O2O, it feels like we’re on cruise control all the way.
Thanks for the changing of rules! I was really holding on very hard not to fan girl but he is just perfect? ๐๐คทโโ๏ธ
Too much? Heโs care for WeiWei right from the start is a charm in itself, let alone his voice, actions and the way he looks at her! ๐ I just die every time! ๐
I vote for @Phoenix to be President ๐ I canโt see myself getting over this drama
anytime soon. This is a very serious problem! ๐๐๐
Wow! Thank you!๐ I’m honoured to be the เฆชresident of the fangirls and happy to have anyone else join me, once they have finished watching all the episodes and want to fangirly over Yang Yang.๐
“Machiavellian” is the word – you nailed it! “Plays 5D chess when others are stuck in the Go Fish! Game.” Totally! The “boss” always..that’s what makes him so uber cool! He’s awesome and he knows it๐
The only time I saw him remotely display some sort of doubt was in the scene in that episode where all of the boys go to buy new suits before their new game’s presentation pitch. When Weiwei gushes over that chef’s handsomeness, Xiao Nai says that she had not reacted like that in their first meeting. Then he goes to try on a suit to show off (ha!), despite saying earlier that he already owned several suits.
“Did I mention how he looks at Weiwei?? I’d melt if I were Weiwei.” Oooh..those glances he kept shooting at her were so…**can’t form words**. That ‘Frozen’ visual is just perfectโค
By the way, I missed gushing over how hot he looked in episode 29 in that black t-shirt and sunglasses when they are on the way to their team outing ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ Then he deliberately lets everyone else leave them behind on the road so that he can have a make-out session with Weiwei, knowing that the others will have to wait for them anyways as they dont know which mountain resort they are going to! Ha..Machiavellian it is!
“I was searching for a love story on auto-pilot and with Love O2O, it feels like we are on cruise control all the way.”
Totally agree! The drama writer had no other hidden intent than to entertain, with a straightforward story, plenty of kisses and lots of Yang Yang thrown in ๐๐๐
Even bitches need a rest (and eye candy moments)..LOL
Just heard from my cousin who watched Love O2O as well, our main leads are getting back together for a new drama!!! Apparently most of the cast from Love O2O are included too! Donโt ask me about details though ๐
Hooooooraaaaay!!!! ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
I was gushing about YangYang ๐ while we were talking about this drama. She was laughing at me! ๐
Wow! Thank you, @agdr03 โค
I hope another drama with Yang Yang happens soon..keeping fingers crossed๐ค๐ค๐ค The first thing I did was check out what other dramas he had acted on before, and honestly there are not many, that too with English subs ๐
I wouldn’t mind having another actress opposite him though. I neither liked nor disliked the actress.
By the way, when I did manage to spare some glances at the actress (this admittedly didn’t happen often ๐), I happened to notice how super thin her arms were! Is that normal for Chinese actresses?**trying my best not to look at my not-so-skinny arms** ๐
Oh what has YangYang done to us? ๐
I just saw the biting of the arm and being put down on the floor with him on top and being kissed again! RAWRRRR!!! ๐๐๐ Sheโs not bad this time too, sheโs even lifting her head ๐. XN said โ I just know what to do at the sight of you!โ ๐ Meaning everything is alert in his body! ๐๐ He is killing me literally! ๐๐๐
Yes, I have noticed how thin WeiWeiโs arms are and really Iโm very jealous. Very very jealous! ๐ Not sure if itโs normal but she is very tall so maybe thatโs just really her proportion.
I donโt mind if YangYang gets paired with another actress as long as they have chemistry. Itโll be hard for me to watch it if they donโt.
Couldnโt agree more about us bitches needing rest and eye candy moments. ๐๐๐ป
This is all @pakmuleโs fault! How am I going to get over this drama? ๐ I think my fan girling will exceed the limits! ๐๐๐
Really?? When? That’s good timing for us.
I hope they get it subbed somewhere fast. That’s the nice thing about the show being on netflix. We didn’t have to wait for the next episode. YOU and @phoenix tore through 30 episodes at incredible speed. I’m stuck with 20.
Hey, don’t blame me!
This is so perfect for Valentine’s Day, right?
Howdy! How was the wedding? ๐
I am looking at YangYang’s wikipedia for future projects and it’s written there The King’s Avatar and Special Forces for television and Vanguard movie with Jackie Chan. I am not sure which one of those 2 is the series with Zheng Shuang (WeiWei) ๐ Hopefully Netflix will pick it up too but with that we will need to watch it as it comes.
I am only in episode 23 I think, it’s where WeiWei packed her belongings to live in XN’s house. I couldn’t continue watching last night as my tiredness got the better of me ๐
Sorry! I was just teasing you that it’s your fault that I am addicted to this drama. ๐ It is perfect for Valentines Day. ๐
hahaha. I don’t mind you teasing me. However, I do feel apprehensive that I’ll never find equilibrium again after Xiao Nai (hahaha. so dramatic, eh?)
I’ll be judging all other kdrama heroes against him and they’ll come up short. Sigh….
This Chinese drama ruined me! Rats.
What equilibrium? We won’t find it anymore. LOL!
I’m soooo glad I am not the only one ruined by this drama! ๐คฃ
High Five Girlfriend! โ
PS. The wedding was romantic. Winter weddings are so tricky but my nephew and his bride, with the help of their coordinators, did an awesome job. The wedding itself was intimate and very touching. The reception was in a cozy rustic barn. Temp was in the upper 30s (around 3 degrees Celsius) so when the wind died down, we were able to have outdoor pictures.
The cousins (i.e., my crazy sons, nephews and nieces) were all wearing LLBean boots with their suits and gowns, though. Stylish. (lol)
High five!
And here’s a fist bump, too.
High five and fist bump, girlfriends!!๐
I’ve been sleeping the sleep of the dead after that C-drama binge-watching. I hardly slept for one night when I was into that Love O2O marathon. But I agree – this was perfect for Valentine’s Day and cured me of my post-MoA drama slump.
Yang Yang has raised among bar my drama boyfriends. I agree I too will forever be comparing other drama heroes to him and finding them lacking ๐๐
I found two other Yang Yang dramas whose subbed versioms seem to be available – Whirlwind Girl 1 and 2. Will check the first one out when I have time. Someone recommended “Boss and Me”, another C-drama to me, but I’ll need to read the reviews carefully before venturing into it.
@packmule3 Wow! That winter wedding sounds dreamyโค
Awwww sounds like a dream wedding ๐ I want to attend another wedding but nothing happening in my family here. I wish my sister and her partner will get married but not my call. My other sister never had a boyfriend so not happening soon. LOL.
I’m sure everyone at the wedding looked pretty and handsome even in their LLBean boots! ๐
I just saw that scene on episode 29 with XN wearing black shirt and sunglasses before picking up WeiWei for the outing and this is me! ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฅฐ๐ฅฐ๐ฅฐ
I just died! ๐๐๐ So not fair that he is already so handsome without sunnies but with sunnies heโs handsomeness just shines more! ๐๐๐
Someone please explain!!! ๐คทโโ๏ธ๐คทโโ๏ธ๐คทโโ๏ธ
@agdr03: I know EXACTLY what you are going through now! I warned you ladies about Episode 29, didn’t I? Trust me, I forgot to breathe and almost fainted!! Then I was sooo dazed that I couldn’t sleep for a long time that night.
Someone should ban YY wearing sunglasses (and he was smiling too)! So bad for our poor hearts!!! ๐ There should be an unwritten rule for customer designers dressing up YY – no sunglasses allowed, and less smiles, so that we can concentrate on the story instead. That entire office picnic episode, he kept smiling and my BP kept shooting up!!!
Yang Yang really was born to play the role of Xiao Nai! Just FYI, there are several of his dramas available with subtitles at Viki. Martial Universe, The Four, The Lost Tomb, and Whirlwind Girl. Also, Dramafever subbed his film I Belonged To You, so that’s available at the “other sites”. It’s an interesting watch because YY character in that film is a shy, introverted nerd type with big glasses. Talk about a difference! I think someone also subbed his movie with Crystal Liu “Once Upon A Time” as well and it’s available at the “other” sites. If you like seeing YY in the computer game sequences with the long hair, he’s playing a fantasy god in Once Upon A Time. Lots of controversy about that film since it’s the movie version of Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms.
Awesome! Thank you! I need to watch Yang Yang in some more dramas now ๐
You’re welcome. I would recommend looking at Martial Universe and Once Upon A Time first if you want maximum YY since he is the main lead in both those projects. Whirlwind Girl he’s the love interest, but the drama is cute and fluffy. The other projects are all ensemble dramas and film, so he’s sharing the screen a lot, although I have to say his storyline in I Belonged To You was very compelling. I hope you enjoy his other projects!
@Phoenix: Regarding “Boss & Me”, one reason your friend probably reccommended it to you is because it’s written by the same author who wrote Love O2O, Gu Man. Or, to clarify, Gu Man wrote the novels these dramas are based on. The hero of Boss & Me even has a cameo in Love O2O. Feng Teng shows up very briefly at that conference Xiao Nai attends in I forget the episode, where Feng Teng is interested in XN game. Actually, Gu Man has had 3 of her novels made into dramas/films:
Boss & Me- TV drama (Based on Novel Come and Eat, Shan Shan)
My Sunshine- TV Drama and You Are My Sunshine- Film (Based on Novel Silent Separation)
Love O2O- TV drama and Love O2O/One Smile Is Alluring- Film (Based on Novel Just One Smile Is Very Alluring)
The drama Boss & Me is a cute romance drama but it’s quite different from Love O2O.
@Table122000: Thanks…you are quite knowledgeable about C-dramas ๐
I’ve watched some C-dramas before. When I was having a thriller phase, I watched “When a snail falls in love”, “Love me if you dare” and “Memory Lost”, which are again adapted from 3 novels by one author. I think this book to drama adaptation is quite a common thing in C-dramaland.
Xiao Nai has put me in a mood for romance – so I think I’ll try out “Boss and Me” after I check out other Yang Yang dramas (maybe Whirlwind Girl).