I’ve to list down the highlights because I’m going to forget them.
1. The Uncle dropped by
We saw the beginning of this last episode. Lu Jin was settling in her apartment as if it was his home-away-from-home. I like that Shengnan was very protective of the things that he brought for her apartment, like his throw blanket, and their couple mugs.
He’s even left his book there on Victor Hugo. Although Hugo isn’t the father of French Romanticism (that honor goes to Chateaubriand), he’s arguably the famous one because of “Notre-Dame de Paris” and “Les Misérables.” And yes, there was an “Old World” charm about her apartment; the ambiance was Parisienne.
I thought it was funny that the uncle mockingly read from the book to voice his opposition to their relationship.
“Hi, how are you? What’s your name? Oh, my name is Lu Jin. How old are you? I’m an old uncle!!! Oh, I miss you so much. I miss you, too. Do you like me? I like you, too. Oh, couple, couple. We can be a couple.”
Meanwhile, Lu Jin walked into her building with the ease of a frequent visitor. He’d gone on an errand to pick up the soybean sauce for her. He looked like a domesticated husband.
The rivalry between the two men had me smiling, too. They were overtly trying to outdo each other and show who’s more connected with Shengnan. Lu Jin didn’t want the uncle using Shengnan’s rice bowl and chopstick because it was a matching set to his.
He declined her uncle’s invitation to eat, saying that he’d wait for Shengnan.
This made her uncle bristle because it appeared as if he didn’t care for Shengnan. When Shengnan asked him to watch the stove for a second, he bragged to Lu Jin, “In time of need, she relies on me.” Lu Jin scoffed, “You’re her uncle.” He was suggesting that she relied on him ONLY because they were blood related. Nothing more.
In return, he showed off that he was, in fact, the more reliable man because he knew exactly where her water card was and carried the water bottle in without breaking a sweat.
The night, her uncle complained that Shengnan only cooked Jin’s favorite foods, and that she practically spoon-fed him. He was also offended by Jin’s lack of manners for exclusively talking about Shengnan the whole time. The two of them ignored him throughout the meal, making him feel like he was a third wheel (which he was). It seemed to me, though, that two conspired to make Shengnan’s uncle unwelcome because he wouldn’t take a hint to leave them alone.
2. The first kiss and the turtle
It was accidental kiss. She couldn’t help taking pictures of him while sleeping. He accidentally woke up and knocked her off her feet.
He was shocked and flustered. I thought she handled it very well.
LJ: Uhh. I’m sorry. Earlier, I… I fell asleep. So… I’m sorry.
Shengnan: (shrugging it off as if it was no big deal) It was an accident for me, too. I saw you were asleep. Sound asleep. You looked cute. So…so I wanted to give you a blanket. But I tripped over it.
Brava! No shrinking violet here.
That night he brooded over their accidental kiss, as well the turtle.
Shengnan: A turtle! Little fussy Lu. So cute! Fussy Lu, check it out. Little Fussy Lu is sticking its head out.
LJ: Can you give it another name?
Shengnan: Little – Fussy Lu Junior.
LJ: Maybe another name?
Shengnan: Brother Jin. Brother Jin.
Pikapika’s explanation is here:
To understand the significance of the turtle, one needs to understand the nickname which Gu Sheng Nan has given Lu Jin, which is Lu Gui Mao. Gui Mao is a slang for someone who is overly particular and likes to pick faults. Lu in Lu Gui Mao is of course Lu Jin’s surname. So Gu Sheng Nan is saying that Lu Jin is a very picky and particular guy, which is why Lu Jin keeps asking her to change his nickname. It is in fact the name she has saved him under her phone contacts. Anyway, the Gui is the chinese character that is part of Wu gui which means Turtle. The turtle appeared as her pet and her stuffed toy and most recently the toy on the cake. They all refer to Lu Jin and her vey own nickname. Not many people would dare to call him that, since it can be disrespectful. A turtle can also symbolise being slow, so not very appropriate to put on a cake to your big big boss…
By the way, did I miss it? How did she get the turtle? Is this a gift from Lu Jin?
I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one who gave her the turtle. It’s “their” pet, similar to how some couples would adopt a dog and treat it like their “baby.”
At least in her mind, she considered that turtle as their “baby.” She imagined themselves to be a family unit. He was the daddy, she was the mommy and the turtle was “junior.”
When he left her, she told the turtle that, going forward, it would take her family name. I guess in her mind, that’s what happens to children of divorce when their unceremoniously “daddy” left them. lol.
3. Break-up
The surprise arrival of his deputy Li Man pulled him down to earth in no time. She reminded him of his obligations. He called Shengnan up to arrange for their dinner date.
Shengnan: When will you come tonight. I’ll make honeyed walnuts for you and other new dishes. I also learned to play the Hulusi. I can play a few pieces with Erhu, too. But I won’t charge for the music. I’ll play while you eat. If you can listen all the way to the end, it’ll be thrilling.
He could picture her playing the instrument to entertain him, and that gave him a headache. He could hardly tell her goodbye after she went through the trouble of learning to play the instrument. I’m sure he was feeling like a cad.
But at the sound of her laughter over the phone, he grinned. She was so enthusiastic about feeding him and keeping him amused. As his private chef, musician, and mood-maker, she was the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Here’s a pic of the flute. The bulbous part seemed to be made of gourd.
courtesy: joomcdn.net
And here’s an Erhu.
courtesy: vision times
Shengnan: Ah, right! It’s Friday today. The traffic might be awful. So you’d better leave earlier. Text me when you get in your car. I’ll start cooking the food. If you don’t work tomorrow, I’ll take you to eat the…Let’s talk when you come. Drive safe.
The camera really loved her! These were good shots of Shengnan.
It was clear that this was a girl falling in love. She sounded like an eager girlfriend trying to rush her man to come home to her. And she was planning her days around him, too. I bet she was going to prepare him her “Witches’ Brew” the following day. She was chatting all the time to him while he said nothing.
A note on the settings matched their personality. She was in open-aired, sunlit balcony where the climbing plants and blooming flowers gave the space a riotous and colorful effect. Her setting described her personality well.
In contrast, he was in an elegant room with white ceiling and wallpaper in eggshell blues. This is the color scheme I actually use in my son’s room because it projects tranquility. His life was like this room: calm, well-ordered, and classic.
Jin: Let me buy you dinner tonight.
Shengnan: (I think she was thinking this aloud) Is he asking me out? Is it a date? (squealing, then calming down) Okay. Well, at which restaurant should we meet? I doubt if there’s a restaurant in Suhai that meets your standard. You’re so picky.
Jin: I’ll book one.
Shengnan: (squeals again and gets ready for their date)
I thought this moment was well-done. When you think about this, these two scenes were filmed at different times and places. He was in an indoor set, acting out a phone call to her, and she was in an outdoor setting, acting out her part of the dialogue.
Their scenes were spliced together so well that we were moving from his side to hers seamlessly. It appeared as if we were there with them at the same time. We were alternating between his heavy heart and her exuberant spirit. We keenly felt their collision course.
At the restaurant, Shengnan handed her homemade walnuts to him.
Shengnan: I made the honeyed walnuts specially for you. I brought it over in case you didn’t like the food here. Try some. (he looked at jar first and then at her) I won’t charge for it. It’s free.
I think he was looking at the jar of walnuts? Was he feeling guilty? Worried? He was going to break her heart.
Shengnan: How do you like it? In case you don’t like sweet food, I put only a little sugar on them. Is it sweet?
Jin: (flashback: LiMan’s words, and he’s reminded of his mission that evening) Do you want to come back to the hotel to work? I can arrange it.
Shengnan: I have to cook for you. The job can be postponed. You need to eat more walnuts. It’s said to be good for the brain and health. Try some more. (she gestured at the walnuts) Hmm.
Awww. In Episode 5, she declined a job offer because she was already booked to cook for him. That time, she was at the market. She was so focused on buying him the best ingredients for the dish that she was making for him that she didn’t even spare the job offer a second thought. She was in cloud nine with the romance of pretend-dating Lu Jin that not even a job could bring her back to earth.
Unlike Lu Jin. The minute he was reminded that he had a job to do by Li Man, he went crash-landing to the ground.
Jin: If you need any favors from me, feel free to ask. I will do it.
Shengnan: (pausing) Why are suddenly acting so nice to me? I don’t want to owe you any favors. But like all common people, if you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you, too.
I’m reminded of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman.” He handed her a calling card and said, “If you ever need anything, dental floss, whatever, you give me a call.” I’m reminded of that Hollywood scene because Jin was paying off the services and good time that she gave him, like Richard Gere paying off Julia Roberts for being his escort.
But I like Shengnan’s answer here. They were equals; they have mutual respect. She valued her culinary skills, and didn’t depreciate her talent.
Shengnan: (continuing) Tell me what your terms are. Do you want to come to my home for more meals? You can just say it. If you say so, what would you like to eat? I’ll go to the market to buy the ingredients. I’ll select–
Jin: You don’t owe me anything. You don’t need to cook for me anymore. The debt has been paid. You don’t owe me.
Shengnan: (laughing because remember the spoon board? She knew the debt was settled) I told you, you can come to my house for meals if you want to. For free.
The waiter came with their order of tiger prawn and scallop with passion fruit.
Ha! I couldn’t help comparing this dish to her creation. That was a sad looking salad right there, and the plate is too big for the lettuce, endive, scallops and prawn. I would’ve used a scallop shell.
courtesy twenty20.com
Jin: Uhh–
Shengnan: This is a king prawn, not a tiger prawn. A hotel with such grandeur can’t even tell the difference between prawns?! It should close down.
King prawn >> tiger prawn
Jin: (chuckles, then turns serious) We need to talk.
Shengnan: (thinking) Is he going to confess? Say it then. (she’s smiling demurely)
Jin: From now on, I won’t go to your place for dinner anymore. The debt between us is settled. I have my work. Do you understand?
This must be her brain if it were a cauliflower.
Shengnan: I don’t quite understand. Why can’t you eat at my place?
Jin: It’s just a joke to ask you to pay the debt with cooking. Forgive me. We don’t owe each other anything. I’ll leave later tonight. I have a scheduled flight.
This was a nice shot. That column between them looked like a wall between them so they appeared boxed in their world. Additionally, it was right in the middle of the picture, stressing their equality.
Shengnan: (tear trickling down and wiping it quickly) Check, please.
Jin: Please, it’s on me.
Shengnan: Since we’re even, let’s go dutch.
Waiter came with the bill. Jin ordered him to come back later. But she grabbed it, and studied it.
Shengnan: Wait. We ordered three dishes. Two plates of bellota cost a thousand at most. The salmon. Even the salmon at auctions costs no more than 550 yuan for half a catty. And the king—It’s not a tiger prawn. It’s a king prawn. Excuse me.
She was complaining that they were overcharged.
Jin: (gently) Shengnan, the value of the product isn’t its original value sometimes.
This is an interesting statement coming from him, the businessman. He was playing hardball with the hotel owner and slashing the price of the hotel. Part of his skillset was undervaluing a product so he could buy it at a bargain.
A brief note here since I like the director’s use of close-ups here:
When two people are in an emotional dialogue, the director has two options to intensify the mood. He can focus the camera on either the SPEAKER, in this case Lu Jin, who was explaining that the value of her cooking, or the LISTENER, that is, Shengnan as she assimilated his words and began crying behind the check.
Here, I thought the director (and editor) did well in opting to show Shengnan’s reaction because we could relate to her feelings of rejection. I must say, though, that I liked the sound of Lu Jin’s voice here. It conveyed the right amount of tenderness so I didn’t have to see his face to imagine that he was feeling sad for breaking her heart.
Shengnan: I understand. My cooking is cheap.
Jin: It’s not what I mean.
Shengnan: It’s okay. Have a safe flight.
But when Shengnan sniffed and said she understood, the camera then focused on Lu Jin to show HIS reaction to Shengnan’s tears. We could see that he wasn’t unmoved by her tears.
After that, the camera switched again and began showing the speaker’s POV instead of the listener.
We saw Shengnan saying that her food was cheap, and Jin protesting that it wasn’t what he meant. Showing the speakers’ faces, instead of the listeners’ faces, helped us see the hurt feelings of Shengnan and the sincerity of Jin.
Overall, this scene was deliciously done because of the acting and the editing. The focus on her her uneaten food, I thought, was very moving.
You see, she’d always fed him, and he cleaned his plate. Now was the first time he was feeding her, and he failed. She had only one bite of this rather expensive meal. He didn’t even let her finish eating before he began talking of his departure.
4. The “Alien”
Viki cut out this scene with the little boy listening to Shengnan cracking the walnuts, and observing the lights in the hallway turn on and off. He told his grandpa that the aliens were sending signals.
Grandpa: There are no aliens. Ah! The sound control of the hallway lights (or the motion detector) was just fixed a few days ago. It must be down again.
Boy: It’s real, Grandpa! That’s Morse code. Some people are trapped. Grandpa, let’s save them.
Grandpa: Mou-sse? There are codes in mousse? Come on. Let’s take a look.
I don’t know why this scene was edited from the Viki version. I thought this conversation was a good metaphor of Shengnan’s situation.
She was surely “trapped” because she’d fallen in love with Lu Jin, and she was sending out an SOS to get her out of her sadness. While Lu Jin had thoughtfully put up that chandelier for her so she wouldn’t stumble in the dark, the sight of unlit chandelier would constantly remind her that he’d left her behind without a second thought.
5. Retail Therapy
I laughed when the seafood vendor recognized Shengnan and her bad mood. “Whenever that young lady is in bad mood, she comes to bargain in the market.” I guess, that’s her way of feeling in control again with her life: she’d bargain because she was good at it and could get what she wanted with sheer persistence.
**********
That’s it for Episode 6.
I’m sorry I’m slow with my reviews and replies. I’ve dictated a lot while in the car (lol, multi-tasking) but I need to time to upload and review them. Unfortunately, I’ve a lot on my plate these days. I’ll catch up with the comments hopefully by this weekend. Take care of yourselves.
I’m posting on:
Alice, Eps 9 and 10, because morbid curiosity has taken hold of me.
Dating in the Kitchen, Eps 7 and 8, because I like pretty pictures.
Zombies, Eps 3 & 4, because I need comedy.
School Nurse Files, Ep 1. @Welmaris, I’ll read and post your comments after I’ve finished the show so I’m not swayed by your POV. Thanks!
Waaaaaaaaaaa! Thanks so much for this! 🥰 The mention of Pretty Woman made my day! I’ve thought of the movie too while I was watching this series.
My 5 year old niece is staying with me till Friday so that’s why I’m a bit busy but I love having her. She already gave me a paper note where it says I love Aunty Grace with a heart. 😍
@packmule3, thank you for this post. I think the direction in this drama thus far is outstanding. The comic timing and subtlety is what made me say earlier that it reminded me of French cinema, but the pathos in this scene takes it to another level.
I liked that the uncle/cousin had taken on the role of protector of Shengnan, even if he’s annoying and childish. I felt that his heart was in the right place. It was a good scene.
I felt for both characters. Jin’s position isn’t just a job, but a part of his place in his family and up to this point he has been responsible and hardworking. I doubt that he has ever had to make a choice between the family firm and someone important to him. Shengnan had completely immersed herself in her fantasy and probably her first adult relationship. Thank goodness for her family and friends who will support her, unlike Jin’s.
@packmule3, I can relate to the picture of the exploding brain/cauliflower. That’s me when I know that I shouldn’t say or write something without thinking it through first. 🤭
I liked the market scene. The vendors were all dreading serving Shengnan, but as well they understood her and were fond of her, so they did it anyway. Sort of a market stall family, right?
I’m sad, Fern! The tree guys are cutting down our 🌳🌳 trees. I was only able to save one tree. But two trees are coming down right now. 😢😢
Three other trees are also getting trimmed back…
The subs are up for Ep 15-18, raw episodes 19-24 are already available. 🙂
Thank you, @Growing Beautifully. Time to start watching again. 😀
@packmule3, I was just thinking about your trees yesterday. 😣 I’m sorry that you are losing them. We have two hollies and an overgrown pittosporum to have taken down because of roots getting into the drain pipes. They’re nice trees, but not what I’d call wonderful.
Where we lived previously, there was a large and beautiful walnut with grey-white bark. This time of year the scented leaves and nuts would fall. If we had the room, I’d plant another.
You’re welcome @Fern I just breezed through the episodes and even went into the ones that were raw but stopped at Ep 20. Story has incorporated the ‘reality’ of ups and downs, but it’s good to see our couple keeping firm and true.
About trees … We don’t have room for big trees. We had to cut down our mango tree because the leaves were clogging up the gutter. Recently the trees outside on the road were practically shorn like sheep, for safety sake. 😀
Yes. The trees are gone, Fern. 😢 It took them less than an hour to bring down each tree. I was so surprised how fast they worked. They fell the tree then they cut off the branches methodically. They used those chainsaws like pruning shears.
The holly trees were also trimmed yesterday, along with Bradley pear tree and the crepe myrtles. My hubby said the holly trees looked like giants devouring the side of our house. He also said that their roots were causing moisture on the brick fireplace. 🤔 I don’t know 🤷♀️ how but I wasn’t going to debate him on it.
Walnut trees are gorgeous! I love how their limbs really branch out to give a wonderful shade. Willow trees are also pretty but my hubby doesn’t like that they shed a lot of twigs. Lol. I’m thinking of getting him a bonsai tree for Christmas because he’s so fussy with trees. 😈😂
Mango trees? I’d LOVE to have mango trees! Can you imagine picking a mango for breakfast? Yummy. But it won’t survive a winter. 😢
Lol. The squirrels will probably also get to the mangoes before I do. Lucky them.
Off-topic.
Willows are very bad for drainage pipes because they seek out a lot of water. But they’re lovely. My grandmother had a large weeping birch. It was great to look at but managed to get Into the drains of her house as well as her neighbour’s. If I had a property with a stream or natural pond, I would love a variety of willows. The colours of the branches can be stunning in winter.
I’d love to hear which trees you will replant if that’s the plan.
@pkml3 The problem with many fruit trees around about here are that we have to take a lot of time and effort to cover the fruit from birds and insects that deposit insect eggs in them. If not, we not only get a ripe fruit but a bonus of happy larvae LOL and Ewwwwww!!!
Howdy! 😊 Sad to hear about your trees. What’s the plan for the vacated spots from the two that was taken out?
I haven’t watched ROY and DYLB. I’m only updated on this series. I actually got my parents, cousin and Grandma to watch this and they’re enjoying it. 😁 I haven’t heard Grandma laugh like that for a drama that she’s watching, so it’s good. 😁
I think the turtle was a gift from Lu Jin too because she didn’t have any pets before and the scene when they showed it was funny too. 😁
My heart went out to Shengnan when Lu Jin said he will not come to her apartment anymore. There will be another scene in the market but Lu Jin is with her. ☺️
I think Lu Jin is similar to Richard Gere’s character because later he gives Shengnan a credit card too. 😂
Sigh, waiting for the subs is killing me but I appreciate all their effort, I really do. ☺️
Thanks for this post, @pm3. Sorry about your trees. I like that we see the cousin/uncle showing some concern for Shengnan. I love how he made it a point to tell Lu Jin that he was older than him so LJ must defer to him as both SN relative and his senior. He was protective of SN in his own way.
It was so sad at the restaurant for both characters.
@agdr03- I saw at another forum some information about our leading man Lin Shen. They said he is married and his wife is a TV/film producer.
Thanks @Table122000. I think Lin YuShen’s Mom is a very popular actress too. That’s what I read about him. ☺️
There’s some Instagram videos of him doing interviews and discussion about the drama, I hope they get subbed too. 🙏
If LLF has a few close up scenes of Tendo then DITK has many carrying/lifting scenes of Shengnan by Lu Jin. 😁 I’ll do a count! 🙋🏻♀️
Girlfriend @Phoenix and I are liking the OST of this series a lot especially this one. And so nice to use it on their first date. 🥰
https://www.instagram.com/p/CF03C6sF0wS/?igshid=11uqthbdubzav
https://youtu.be/3qZc08AiPYQ
@agdr03, which episode are you at?
@Fern, I’m on episode 18 which is the last one that’s subbed. 😊
I’ve got much catching up to do. 😀
@agdr03-No problem. I did not know LYS mother was also in the acting profession. Today we (finally) get to see that much hyped kiss scene in Ep. 19. I heard they filmed for 5 hours, so it will be interesting to see what the director decided to show in the final cut.
For anyone intersted, I found this video on YouTube of Lin Yu Shen facts, and it includes pictures of his wife & baby (although the baby is 6 years old now)
Thanks @Table122000! Lin Yu Shen has a beautiful family 🥰 He is perfect as Lu Jin in this series, that’s for sure.
If what I saw from the raw video is correct, that 5 hour kiss scene making will be cut immensely. Sigh.
OT, Yang Yang and Dilraba have started filming You Are My Glory. Nice to see my Yang Yang looking great! Still as handsome as ever. 😍
I don’t what episodes you all are watching now, but just wanna share here a link. It’s a translation about Zhao Lusi’s rant post about her character(?) in the drama.
https://twitter.com/wonwoncity/status/1313863363613454336?s=19
I don’t personally watched the drama but just thought of you guys here in BoD when I saw this on my timeline ☺️.
Thanks @LeeDale9198. I just read that and I had to laugh 😂. Zhao Lusi is so cool. At least in real life she knows where her character should stand and knows the right thing to do. ☺️ I can’t defend Shengnan because she’s been told a couple of times to stay away from Lu Zheng and she did try to avoid him. She’s just too trusting and too nice. 😊
@LeeDale9198 @agdr03 @Table122000 @Fern
The next lot of subs are out for Ep 19-22. I’m grateful, but really it would be nice to have them out all the way up to Ep 24 since that’s where it ends!!! We still have to wait for the final 2 episodes to be subbed.
@LeeDale9198 Thanks for the links to Zhao Lusi’s rants. With those scenes as described, I agree with her that Shengnan’s character seems to be lacking in the later episodes. I figure it’s to do with the writer running out of ideas when needing to come up with more conflict to fill more scenes. 🙄 😑
I’m with you @Growing Beauty! Since the last two episodes were out, why the need to wait for next week for the English subs? Will it increase their ratings?
While watching this drama, I want to compare the way Lu Jin show his love for Shengnan to that of Tendo sensei in LLF. Both men were very accomplished with their career although they got a different way of showing their emotion for the girl they love.
@GB, maybe the last 2 episodes will be subbed and will come out tomorrow? 😁🤞🏻 I don’t know why they released 4 this week. I was expecting two only. We will see.
@Eureka, I’m looking forward to your comparison between Tendo and Lu Jin in showing their emotions and love to Nanase and Shengnan. 😊
Hi @agdr03! I just go with the flow whenever someone share something. If our Queen B opens that thread, I will just share some bits and pieces. Guess she’s busy and I’m missing her posts now, I hope she’s okay.
Hi @Eureka, yes we’re missing Queen here definitely but she did say she’ll be very busy last time. Hopefully she can come back and post soon. ☺️
If you already have some comparison notes, maybe just put it here and she can just transfer it later. 😊
Shengnan said she was bored and so she tried the wedding dress. Lu Jin’s reaction was priceless even with him giving her a credit card. Reminded me of Pretty Woman. I don’t think Shengnan was bored. She was cheeky! 😂
https://youtu.be/U2DN5KuJO4s
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 😍😍😍
I am so happy and satisfied with the ending of this series! I’m so happy to watch Lu Jin and Gu Shengnan‘a love story! 😍😍😍 I love them almost as much as I love Xiao Nai and Bei WeiWei! 🥰🥰🥰
@agdr03 Thanks for letting us know! I stopped watching it … (I was aggrieved that the last 2 episodes had not been subbed) so I’m glad to know all the subs are in and the ending is good. I’ll only now continue the watch.
Are you done? Is it that happy ending we always wanted with a wedding, honeymoon, babies? How many episodes in total?
Yes! Finished it and except for the babies that we always want, it was an ending where I had a beautiful smile on my face 🥰 I wish it had the babies but knowing how older Lu Jin is, I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time especially because MIL might request it too. 😉
It’s only 24 episodes. ☺️
Thanks. I’ve to focus now on finishing the drama and reviewing it.
Do you have another Chinese drama lined up?
Yes go ahead and finish it, if you want watch up to episode 15, then straight to episode 18 when Lu Jin got back from work and not aware that Shengnan was struggling with Grandpa having surgery and so she’s taking care of him and the diner.
I’m looking at Love Is Sweet and Perfect & Casual for my next cdramas. ☺️
@agdr03
I was eyeing Perfect and Casual too – it’s the one with the contract marriage trope, right? I love that trope.
I caught glimpses of Love is Sweet and the music seems to be an important component of the show … at least it played a lot. However, not sure if I’ll watch it although Bai Lu looks sweet.
@GB, the plot for Perfect and Casual doesn’t say marriage but I think it is because they live in the same house. That’s what I’ve seen from Instagram posts anyway. I like the guy because he’s Jerry’s brother from CYLS and he is handsome too. 😉
Hmm the music in DITK, I really like so I’ll see if it’s the same for Love Is Sweet. I’m definitely watching it because I like Bai Lu too. I’ve never seen the ML though. ☺️ I heard the story revolves around a bank?
@agdr03 I was listening to AvenueX’s first impressions and she mentioned that there was a contract marriage trope. Although there’s nothing new in the show, it seems well executed and the couple are very convincing together.
MyDramaList says “Jiang Jun is a girl who is allergic to tears, and has a double degree in economics and psychology. She is unrestrained and idealistic due to her family’s superior background. After graduation, she worked in a philanthropy organization where she pursues her dreams. However, her father’s sudden accident leaves her in a dilemma. Eventually, she decides to work in a top investment company to fulfill her father’s death wish. In MH, Jiang Jun meets her childhood playmate, Yuan Shuai. However, the current Yuan Shuai is no longer her gentle protector, but her rival. In MH, where the “culture of wolf instinct” is rampant, someone is plotting against Jiang Jun while someone sees her as an eyesore. However with her kind nature and attention to details, along with her high EQ and sense of judgment, Jiang Jun eventually attains success in both her career and love life.”
So it’s set in an investment company… called MH?
Thanks @GB! I tried to watch avenuex and she said yeah investment/banking industry. But she said it hasn’t really grabbed her after 5 episodes so I’ll see it for myself. 😊
But I’m definitely watching Perfect and Casual. I don’t mind if it’s not anything new or special, the leads looks cute together. ☺️
@agdr03 I finally watched (with lots of FFDing) the end of Dating in the Kitchen. I was irritated by lots of in between parts and by the incessant smiling of the younger brother, especially when there was nothing to smile about.
It could have been better and shorter without the brother angst, but it had a great first 18 or so episodes.
About our DITK main couple. I believe I’m troubled by the fact that Shengnan was “used” by the brothers. I guess Lu Jin was literally in tears because he had to “beat” his brother at his own game by playing the same game.
I am also not too happy that Lu Jin went through Shengnan’s phone. True, it confirmed that he was right in trusting her, but it still was an invasion of her privacy.
I wanted all along for the brothers to get on and for older brother to mentor the younger one, but not as a result of and at the expense of manipulating another person.
I also agree with actress Zhao Lu Si’s review that Shengnan had become foolish. Knowing full well what caused the upset, she went and did more of the same. It added the type of conflict that irritated me.
The saving grace after all that irritation is that the ending tied up every relationship sweetly.
@GB 👋🏻 I agree about looking at Shengnan‘s mobile phone. I felt they didn’t need to show that because Lu Jin knows all too well that his brother was lying the whole time. I was more irritated to that one and when Lu Jin said you don’t get emotional in business but he ate his words.
The last bits did turn towards the corporate world but I didn’t mind it.
I would have liked to see Lu Jin do a lot of grovelling to Shengnan after the whole brother issue.
I won’t fault their characters, I’ll blame the writer for making them that way. 😬
But over all I still love this drama. The ending was sweet for me. ☺️
@agdr03 True about that lack of grovelling. I felt that he barely apologised to her and just distracted her by carrying her off into the room. That’s the way we treat little kiddies who are likely to throw a tantrum… carry them off and distract them with something else so they forget to be angry. *Eye roll*
I find that the emojis when cut and pasted here do not render well anymore. Let’s try some… 😃 😆 😅 🤪 🙄 I believe eye roll does not display.
@pkml3 I just noticed that the thread link above under this episode’s header is to Love Lasts Forever instead of to Dating in the Kitchen. Is that an error?
Let’s put the eye roll 🙄🙄🙄 here for you @GB 😉
I’m using my mobile though.
It’s DITK that I see and not LLF.
Whoops! You’re right! Thanks for spotting that. Let me correct that.
Thanks for the eye rolls @agdr03 … I can see them in the email but the look different in the post 🙄 🙄 🙄 😉 LOL.
Maybe you saw the link as DITK just a split second after @pkml3 corrected it. 😀
Great @pkml3!
Hmmm… where did my reply to @agdr03 go? Let me just post this and see if it sticks.
@agdr03 This is the 2nd time I’m replying to your post.
Thanks for the eye rolls… they look great in the email but don’t end up looking like emojis in these posts. Maybe I’ll stick to ASCII if I can find the list of them. 🙂
@GB I thought I posted something in the DDSSLLS thread too but it didn’t post but my internet is playing up today so maybe that’s why.
Yeah sometimes the emojis doesn’t come as clear, they should be made bigger when it’s used anywhere 😂
Oh dear. Did you and @GB lose your posts? I’ll take a look in my spam box when I’m in my laptop. I blocked a couple of fangirls yesterday who were upset with my post on “Tale on Gumiho” so I fiddled around with the filter words. 😂
lol. Was this the missing post, @GB? It was in my spam box. Sorry. 🙂
Yes, I corrected the link after you pointed it out. Thanks!
So there’s no post of mine at DDSSLLS thread in your spam box? It means my internet got cut off then. 😁
All good. Thanks 😊
You’re up early again. I’m about to watch episode 4 of DDSSLLS ☺️
No, yours wasn’t there. 🙁
I’m not sure what snagged @ GB’s post, though. It could have been the eye rolling emoji but I checked and I didn’t put a limit on emojis. Weird.
Let’s do a rewatch tomorrow morning for DDSSLLS, Ep 4?
I’m working on “Alice” this morning.
Yup that was it @pkml3. Thanks for fishing it out.
( ˘ ͜ʖ ˘)
I’m trying out ASCII faces now. Not sure how they are going to render.
We usually do counting of things in our dramas so I made this one for DITK. There’s a lot of carrying/lifting of Shengnan by Lu Jin. He really made those muscles work. 😊
1 – Episode 5 – Lu Jin needed a pen. Shengnan couldn’t reach the top of her shelf so Lu Jin lifted her off the small stool to get it for her.
2/3 – Episode 11 – Lu Jin lifted her on the table because she was teasing him about accepting his Mom’s money in exchange to breaking up with him.
Lu Jin carried Shengnan to the kitchen so they can both turn off the stove because the kettle is boiling.
4 – Episode 12 – Shengnan got drunk from Granpa’s party because she became a chef so Lu Jin brought her home and carried her to her bed.
5 – Episode 18 – Shengnan didn’t want Lu Jin to drive her home from the hospital so he carried her to the car. She’s upset because she had another talk with his Mom.
6 – Episode 19 – Lu Jin prepared a relaxing day for Shengnan through a wall play painting.
7 – Episode 19 – Shengnan was teasing Lu Jin about having a bath in her apartment and Lu Jin said if she’s serious? He carried her off to bed and she was scared. 😆🔥
8 – Episode 20 – Shengnan wanted to stay with Lu Jin while he’s working in her living room. She fell asleep so Lu Jin carried her back to bed.
9 – Episode 21 – Lu Jin was upset with the conversation with his Dad so he was at the boxing gym venting his frustrations and Shengnan told him to stop. The lifting was in the boxing ring itself. 😈
10 – Episode 23 – Lu Zheng dropped off a drunk Shengnan to Lu Jin’s house. Lu Jin carried her from the gate to the house.
11 – Episode 24 – Lu Jin apologised to Shengnan and carried her to her bedroom to make it up to her. 😆
Thanks Queen for the space! ☺️ Off to 😴.
Ciao 👋🏻
Thanks!
Will have to continue this cdrama and Maiden Holmes!
Catch you later, agdr03.
Thank you @agdr03 for the lift count!
Gosh, I would have been nervous with the lift and kiss in the boxing gym. It was as if all of his anger, grief and frustrations came to the surface and Shengnan happened to appear before his eyes. He controlled himself after a moment, fortunately, for her sake and for the sake of his knuckles. Ouch. 😬
Spoiler:
I liked in the last episode when Shengnan was throwing her household items at Lu Jin, Little Fussy Lu just happened to be one of the things she picked up.
S: “…you vented your anger at me?”
There’s a brief and apropos moment where a woman’s hand holding a ray-gun is pointing at Lu Jin’s head (the painting on her wall).
LJ: “Put it down. Don’t use it (the turtle) as a hammer.” She doesn’t move. “But it’s innocent.” She blinks once and he raises his eyebrows.
S. “ I wasn’t going to throw it anyway.”
As soon as she puts the turtle down he grabs her in a hug. Which becomes a lift-fatale.
Such a good scene. I love their expressions.
@Fern, I’ll second that with that scene with Fussy Lu the turtle. I thought it was sexy the way Lu Jin carried her. Even the dialogue went Rawwr 😂 I felt Shengnan got shy when she realised what’s going to happen next. ☺️
I did feel that the ending was a little bit rush but it didn’t bother me a lot because it was still sweet how they all come together. What about that ring? 😍
How funny when her bestie and Meng Xinjie asked Shengnan for a wedding present? 😂 Lu Jin gave them 5m and Shengnan said her gift will be more than him. 😂
@agdr03 LOL that scene about the wedding gift… that look of consternation on Lu Jin’s face when Shengnan innocently promised a bigger gift.
@agdr03 and @GB, the wedding gift one-upmanship was so funny because Shengnan’s already spending Lu Jin’s money. It was a nice way to bring the favourite characters back. And uncle surprised everyone with his wife, whom Lu Jin had to call Aunt! Had she appeared in the show or was this a cameo? I rather thought of the uncle as a confirmed bachelor.
@agdr03 do you mean the gigantic Koh-i-Noor type 💍 diamond ring! On the floury Ferrari. From when he first fell for her…🥰👍🏼
The only bit of this show that didn’t gel for me was the overnight transformation of Lu Zheng from a careless, immature, disinterested toy car enthusiast into a ruthless, conniving businessman. I know that he had a degree but it wasn’t relevant and he hadn’t learned anything from his father that I could see.
Yes @GB! To Lu Jin’s look of consternation/shocked about the wedding gift. Priceless 😂
@Fern, I don’t think I’ve seen Uncle’s wife in the whole drama but I’m rewatching 😱 so I’ll let you know if I see her.
I feel that Lu Zheng made it look like he didn’t know anything or care a lot about the company but deep inside he knew it too. He probably just didn’t want the responsibility yet.
What about the musical scoring of the drama? I just love it. Whoever did it, did a great job. Everything was spot on for me. ☺️
Musical scoring might not be the right word to use, just the music and sounds that’s been used in the drama. 😄
I’ll have to look the musical scoring. I agree with you; some of them sounded nice.
Howdy 👋🏻
How are you going with the catch up? 😊
BTW, I’ll know by tomorrow if I can do an Open Thread/Watch for DDSSLLS Ep 5 on Thursday, Oct 22.
Will you be free, too? 🙂
With Dating in the Kitchen? I finished Episode 8 but I haven’t moved since then. 🙂
Yes please, just let me know ok. I’m free ☺️
October 22 meaning October 23 night for me yeah? 😁 Just tell me ok, you know me and times. 😂
Yes, the songs and scoring were really good.
Do you remember the scene when Shengnan sits in on a board meeting. Afterwards she’s thrilled to death, screaming at Uncle about how “Charming “ Lu Jin was? She imitates Lu Jin’s threats to the managers who had been apologising. The music changes to really menacing and the Uncle gets worried…
I ended up really liking the Uncle and his finger going ‘No, no, no!’
Spoiler:
I also liked the mime after Lu Jin’s mother says she’ll cook. 👍🏼 👍🏼👍🏼 😘
@Fern, yes! She was charmed by Lu Jin while at work and I think if she wasn’t there he was going to fire all of those review team 😱😂She was so funny. 😁
I agree! Uncle became her sound board and supportive adviser. 🥰 It was touching when he dropped her off at the party where Lu Jin announced to the world that she is his fiancé. ☺️ That mime was cute! 😍
This Shengnan and Lu Jin couple really made it work on screen and I’m so happy to watch them. 🥰
@agdr03, before the fiancée announcement party, Uncle was like Cinderella’s fairy godmother, including the ballgown, right? He was Team Lu Jin.
For me, S and LJ made a great couple because their acting never seemed forced. They both succeeded with comedy as well as pathos. I liked the conversation at Shengnan’s doorstep when she has her suitcase and is ready to leave. The change that comes over her face when Lu Jin told her about his mother seemed so real.
@Fern, oh yes! Uncle was definitely Fairy Godmother especially with her gown 😍 and was always Team Lu Jin.
You’re so right about their expressions. It’s natural and always conveyed their feelings without it being forced.
Here’s Lu Jin’s speech before Shengnan’s grand entrance.
Lu Jin – recently I read the notes and comments on Ci Poetry by Mr Wang Guowei and I am deeply impressed. I’d like to share with you the three states written in the book that one has to pass through to achieve great success.
Westerly winds withered trees up last night. Climbing up the stairs and being lonely on the loft, I overlooked the endless distance. This is the first state.
The dress takes too loosen gradually and I am more and more emaciated. No regretful plying at all, I am rather for her only distressed as I did. This is the second state.
For the third state, hundreds and thousands of times, for her I searched in chaos, suddenly I turned by chance, to where the lights were waning and there she stood.
And Lu Jin turns to the opened door where Shengnan is waiting. 🥰
@agdr03, it doesn’t get much better than that.😊
Hi. Will you continue the reviews of other episodes of this drama? Thank you