The Cdrama, Boss and Me, can be read in English. @wynema kindly shared it here with us here. Thank you, @wynema! Do I say “xiexie”?

@wynema writes:

You can go to https://hui3r.wordpress.com/gu-man/ and look for Come & Eat, Shan Shan. There are 3 chapters for joint epilogue with Wei Wei. It would be better to read Shan Shan’s novel first though, so you can understand the characters better. The epilogues are quite funny, I’m sure you’ll love them.

Love O2O is also based on a Chinese novel One Smile Is Very Alluring and you can read the full English version in https://dreamsofjianghu.ca/just-one-smile-is-very-alluring/table-of-contents/. There are some scenes that were not included in the drama, especially the steamy scenes (when Nai was swimming, or when Wei Wei was trying out her wedding dress 🙂

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Off to talk about swim trunks. I’m going to post my Poster Boy for swim trunks.

Nope! None of these, although they are closer to my age.

But this one.

credit: God, genes, and getty pics

He’s name is Nathan Adrian. Google him. He’s an H.U.N.K.

Even with that silly swimcap that makes look like he’s wearing a giant condom on his head and those kiddie goggles, he looks like the Man from Atlantis, minus the webbed hands and feet.

credit: good genes, the good God, and airfreshener club

And he wears these: Speedos. Thank YOU, Speedo! You made ogling at half-naked bodies an acceptable sport past-time for fangirls and fanboys.

Sorry, gals! He’s taken. He married last year. But hey, our eyes just don’t go blind because he’s married.

See that?

I’m used to guys wearing these speedo jammers for the pool and surf shorts and boardshorts for the beach. (Those grandpas were wearing jammers!)

Surf shorts: these are shorter shorts with a mesh inside for support. The waist is garterized.  Boardshorts: these are longer shorts, reaching the knees. They have drawstrings.

That’s why I don’t get what Weiwei is embarrassed about Nai’s swim trunks.

In Episode 22, Nai invited her to go swimming at his relatives’ house. He asked her to bring his swimming trunks. She immediately visualized him modeling the trunks in front on her.

Nai had to interrupt her daydream by calling her back to earth.

Then, on the way to the house, she again fantasized about how her boyfriend would look like in swim trunks.

She was thinking, “My plan is perfect! I can even take pictures with my cellphone later!”

Her dastardly plan:

lol. She was imagining Nai doing a wet hair flip.

She was giddy with excitement.

He could only smile at her. I’m sure he knew why she was grinning.

When they got there, he was surprised to see the outfit she’d picked for him.

XN: Where’s my swimsuit?

She opened her bag so he could handle it himself. He looked at it.

XN: How come you took this one?

WW: What’s wrong with this one? Is there a problem?
XN: My aunt gave me this after I own the intercollegiate swimming championships. I’ve never worn it before.
WW: You don’t like it?

XN: I don’t really mind. I just never expected this would be the style you like.

WW: What style?

Really. I asked the same question. What did he mean? What’s wrong with those trunks? Were those fugly trunks?

When he walked out of the changing room, she was mortified.

WW: It’s such a short style. How could my hands be so brazen? If I say I randomly took one, would he believe me?

Her reaction was total embarrassment. And I get that. She’s a shy girl dating for the first time. That’s one of the things I like about this story anyway. Weiwei depicts the “Average Girl” who becomes tongue-tied, flustered, unpoised, and uptight whenever she’s with her crush.  Many of the young single ladies can put themselves in her shoes.

I, on the other hand, was never like that. I enjoy watching Weiwei’s awkwardness because I grew up with annoying brothers and their equally annoying friends. I don’t recall myself going through Weiwei’s tumultuous phase. The guys were always there as role models, mentors, competitors and overall nuisance. Not “crushes.”  Moreover, having raised boys, I missed this vicarious thrill of bonding with a daughter who’s giddy with excitement and painfully gauche around her first boyfriend.

Yes, I so enjoy all the girliness of Weiwei.

My reaction towards Nai’s swim trunks, however, vacillated between confusion and dismay. I don’t get it.

So do tell me. What’s wrong with those shorts? Were they too revealing??!!