This is for @agdr03. I’m trying to convince her to watch this show.

@agdr03, you can thank me (and @birdie007 who originally recommended it to us on the blog) later. 🙂

My commentary on Ep 1 is here: Legally Romance: Open Thread

For Episode 2, I’ll just explain the current timeline so when the heroine, Qian Wei, travels back in time, you know what to watch out for.

1. Title of Episode 2: My Youth and Hairline are Back

Her youth and hairline are back because she’s going to travel back in time in her memories while she’s in a coma. She falls in a manhole.

I think however, that she assumed that she time-travelled because of the ring she had. The ring was given to her by her dead father. Her father was told that the ring would create a reversal “…when your life doesn’t go the way you want, turn this little wheel, and you’ll turn the tide.”

Note however while she’s in coma, the episode title occurs BEFORE the opening credits. When she wakes up from her coma, the episode title is displayed AFTER the opening credits.

2. Café Tête-à-tête

The episode begins at a bar. It’s hard to tell what’s going on because, at first glance, it doesn’t connect with the ending of Episode 1. I’ll explain here.

Qian Wei, the female lead, is actually reading the texts of her friends at their class reunion. It’s the Class of 2011’s seventh graduation anniversary.

From the text, she can tell her college friends have achieved different successes. Some are “successful in their careers.” Some are “blessed with a happily family.” And some have “sparks rekindled.”

But she’s missing from the reunion and her best friend, ShiYun, is looking for her.

Shiyun’s text: Qian Wei! What’s wrong with you? You didn’t show up for the entire afternoon. The same goes for you, Lu Xun. Today is our seventh graduation anniversary. (still addressing LX) Is she forced to work overtime again. I’ll pay for the loss of working time, okay? (addressing QW) Hurry up, will you?
QW: (in annoyance, deletes the chat)

My comments:

a. There were three people missing from the reunion:

–Qian Wei. She doesn’t want to show up because a. she’s still feeling depressed after she resigned from her job at LX’s law firm, and b. she was the “second place finisher” at their law school. She doesn’t have a successful career, happy family, or rekindled romance to brag about in the reunion party.

–Lu Xun. He doesn’t show up at the reunion because (this is a simple reason, really) QW doesn’t show up. He was always #1 in law school. He was the class president, too, so he’s technically in charge of the reunion. It’s interesting that the #1 and #2 skipped the morning activities at their class reunion.

–Mo Zi Xin. She’s another one of QW’s close college friends. Zi Yin and and ShiYun were QW’s dorm-mates

b. ShiYun’s a rich girl, and so are Zi Xin and Lu Xun. Qian Wei is the only middle class. Her twin brother attends the same university but he’s in the sports department (I think).

So where in the world is Qian Wei? She’s downing beer in her old college haunt, “Life is Not Bitter Dessert Shop.” Lu Xun walks in. He cancels QW’s order for another beer and asks for a double-layered milk custard for them instead. Without asking for an invitation, he sits himself across from QW and begins chatting.

LX: It’s been many years since we graduated. You still come here for desserts. I’m surprised that this shop is still surviving. It must not be easy.

He’s obviously doing small talk because QW is feeling sorry for herself, and won’t talk to him.

QW: It seems that you can locate me no matter where I am. Did you install a GPS on me? Or are you actually Thanos?

If you don’t know who Thanos is (like me!!), he’s villain with superpowers, telepathy and telekinesis. QW always considered LX as her enemy. But the fact that she says this openly to his face should tell us that he indulges her insults.

Moreover, he does an app on her phone (I don’t know how he installed it) to track her down. He doesn’t tell her this. Instead, he lets her know that he’s familiar with her old habits.

LX: Back then, whenever you lost to me on the exam, you’d come here to grab a drink.
QW: How did you know?
LX: (just stares back at her)
QW: So back then you were thinking…
LX: I was thinking you couldn’t even defeat me once. It must be fate. I’m destined to be your boss.

Lol. If you don’t know his character, then you’ll bristle at his remark. He sounds belittling and disrespectful.

But this is how he teases her and she knows it. He agitates her to stir up her fighting spirit. He’s willing to be the bad guy/Thanos because that’s the sure way to get her fired up.

QW: (sarcastically) Thank you so much. It’s been 11 years. You’ve never failed to tease me, not even once. You’ve indeed given much thought to me.

Truth! He’s given much to her but she has no idea how much. And this is the fun part of this Cdrama. Often, it’s the girl with the unrequited love. In this drama, it’s the guy who’s been in love with the girl for 11 years. He manages his feelings very well (teasing her is one method), so she’s not embarrassed to be with him.

LX: I don’t deny that. That’s why I don’t want you to leave. I remember you told me once that you wanted to defeat me. And become the best lawyer. As long as you still hold on in the industry, you’re not considered losing. I really wish to see you winning for once.

Their custards were delivered to their table, and he removes the beer can from her hand.

QW: I don’t want to give up either. But on the evidential materials confirmation list lies my signature. Now, I lost the documents. Besides quitting, what else can I do?
LX: (just looks at her, waiting for her to continue)
QW: It’s been seven years since I graduated yet I haven’t passed the National Judicial Examination. Worse, I’m a paralegal who lost the evidential materials. No law firm will hire me.
LX: I will hire you.

This isn’t an empty promise. She doesn’t know that she got her job because of him. Note: most of the things that Lu Xun says to her has a double meaning that’s unaware of.

LX: I’ll prove that Mr. Wei knowingly tampered with evidence and find out his relationship with AES Group. I lost the first trial. I must not lose again at the final trial. Running away doesn’t solve any problems. It’ll only make it worse.

Here, it appears like he’s only interested in winning the case because of his track record as a winning attorney. In Ep 25, however, he’ll admit that he wants to win this case because of her. He knows that she’s been set up when they lost the evidence. He wants to get even for her, and teach AES that justice will never lose.

QW: (in denial) But I’m not running away.
LX: Then why can’t you pass the National Judicial Examination? Isn’t it because of your dad?

Flashback to the day she took the test. Her father was rushed to the hospital and passed away. Lu Xun knows about this because he was there when it all happened.

QW: (fiddling with her ring) I’ve tried my best but I really can’t do it. A person like you, who is always #1, will never understand my feelings.

This comment of Qian Wei may sound like she resents LX. But her tone of voice is more indicative of her defeatist attitude than resentment or envy for LX. She doesn’t believe she can ever succeed like LX. So he tells her that he too has some things that he can’t do. He can’t succeed at some things, no matter how hard he tries.

Of course, he’s talking about his unrequited love. Just like she keeps failing at her NJE, he keeps failing in his attempts to make her fall in love with him. But she doesn’t know that.

LX: Actually, there are many things that I can’t do. But passion is not a choice. In fact, I have no choice.

By “passion,” he means his feelings for her. His feelings for her aren’t like national exam where the test-taker can choose to succeed, fail the exam, or quit taking the exam entirely. Because he loves her, he keeps on loving her despite the futility of it. He has “no choice.”

He looks at her then begins to fold a paper napkin to an origami.

LX: (continuing) It’s very simple to be a nice person. It’s very simple. I just need to tell you that this hurdle can’t be overcome, and you’ll get over it. If it’s too painful for you to face, just don’t face it. But if I do that, your talent and capability will go to waste. So, I would rather be a villain who pushes you hard. I know that overcoming these difficulties will inflict pain on you, but I’m here for you. I’ll stay by your side and face everything together with you.

Do you hear it? This is the same promise that Taemoo said in “A Business Proposal.” Both men cannot promise a rosy, problem-free future. But they promise to be there for their beloved through thick and thin, no matter the difficulties.

QW: (still looking at him resentfully)
LX: (hands her a paper origami he’s been folding)
QW: Your paper folding techniques are really impressive.

Spoiler on the origami

QW is the reason he knows origami. Back in college, to pay back a favor that she owed him, she bought him a supposedly rare book. She paid a lot of money from her monthly allowance to buy the book because she knew he liked it. However, when Lu Xun looked at the book, he realized that she’d been scammed by the bookseller. The book wasn’t a rare book at all. It was a book on origami. lol. He let it go.

He started making origami for her at any and all occasions…even to propose to her. But she misunderstood them and presumed that he was doing it to mock her.

You have got to watch the scene when she angrily threw the paper origami at him, not knowing that it contained a proposal. He was so confused that I died laughing.

End Spoiler

LX: Trust me on this, Qian Wei. We will win this case.
QW: But I think… Well, I think…(her hand reaches out for the beer he took from her) Can we run away from reality for the rest of the day and talk about it tomorrow?
LX: (holding the beer can firmly) Okay. I don’t mind. But…

And their fellow classmates appear at the café to whisk them away to the class reunion activities.

3. The Wishing Bottle

The classmates are digging out the wishing bottles they buried 10 years ago. Qian Wei is nagged by their teacher.

Teacher: …You graduated seven years ago. Have you passed the NJE? Back in university, you were all about dating. I heard that Li Chongwen is the legal director of AES Group. How is he doing? When are you getting married to him?

The teacher doesn’t know that she and LCW broke up a couple of years back. But she has no rebuttal so she keeps quiet. Meanwhile, Lu Xun, who’s listening when the teacher mentions LCW, turns his back from them.

Teacher: (turning his attention to LX) Lu Xun! You’ve been promoted as a partner in the firm. Aren’t you happy? There’s one more thing. You should find time to manage your love life. Back then, Mo ZiXin and you… both of you were…

Now, it’s Qian Wei’s turn to feel second-hand embarrassment for LX. She purposely drops a shovel on their teacher’s foot. Before the teacher can heap more insults upon QW, Xun steps in to lead the teacher away from her.

With Lu Xun away, QW and her bestie ShiYin begin talking about concert tickets that were being sold when they were freshmen in college. The tickets were “couple tickets.” The promoters said the tickets would be returned to the couple after ten years. If the couple could merge their two tickets and attend the event together, the couple would get a full refund. Back then, Qian Wei scoffed at the idea of wasting money on couple tickets. She said only fools would buy tickets like that. But as soon as she said that, they saw Lu Xun lining up for the tickets. She assumed that he gave them to her roommate ZiXin. But when she returned to her dormroom she saw the tickets dumped in the trashcan. She assumed that LX got rejected so she told her twin brother.

ShiYin remembers the incident well.

ShiYin: The moment you found out Zixin had thrown away the ticket, you immediately reminded Qian Chuan to take advantage of the situation. You’re the best poacher in our country. Lu Xun has been single for the past ten years. He might give you some hard times at work but he’s quite nice to you in general.

A couple of things here:

a. QW tried to play matchmaker back in college, but she matched the wrong couples. She reminds me of Jane Austen’s “Emma” who thinks she’s the best judge of the affairs of the heart and messes up the couples.

b. ShiYin approves of Xu Lun.

QW: (snapping back) What do you know? I didn’t steal his then-girlfriend for my brother. I was merely bringing my brother closer to her. It’s fate that brings two people together.
Shiyin: You’re fated to fall into Lu Xun’s hands.
QW: Pffft.

Then, LX finds her bottle and ShiYin’s and goes back to them. I like how LX retrieved their bottles for them. He didn’t make them dig the bottles out themselves.

The teacher joins their group and nags QW again.

Teacher: You’re digging the wishing bottle in a rush. Why haven’t you opened it? Have your wishes come true?
QW: It’s no surprise that none of my wishes came true. But that’s okay. I’ll paste the list on the door when I reach home. It can ward off evil spirits.
LX: (tries to hide a smile)
Shiyen: Seriously? None of your wishes came true? I remember you filled up the whole paper with your wishes. Even if God is making it difficult for you, he should at least grant a single wish.
QW: (looks through her list) You don’t say. None of my wishes came true. Let’s set aside those wishes about my parents’ good health, well-being of my love life, and career. Just look at this wish alone, “Keep a cute puppy as a pet.” Now, I can barely afford to sustain myself.
LX: (shakes his head)

Lol. There’s a reason he shakes his head.

SPOILER.

Her wish did come true, although she doesn’t know it. For the past 10 years, Lu Xun has been keeping a cute doggy as pet because SHE gave it to him. The funny thing is he’s allergic to dogs. For the past 10 years, he’s been taking allergy pills to take care of her pet.

How can you not love a guy like this?

END SPOILER.

Then, attention transfers to LX’s wish.

QW: What about you? (reaching for his bottle)
LX: (pushing her hand away) What are you doing?
QW: What’s wrong? You’ve become a partner in your firm. What other wishes do you have? All of your wishes have come true.
LX: My wish didn’t come true.
QW: How is that even possible?
LX: (touching his chest) What I asked for was a wonderful romantic relationship. However, that person didn’t love me back.

QW looks away because she feels bad about breaking up LX and Zixin.

Shiyin: (teasing) Well the Forever Runner-up did not the defeat the Eternal Champion but she has successfully made him stay single for the past 10 years. Not bad!
QW: (annoyed) Shut up.

Shiyin thinks it’s funny that her best friend QW was able to find a way to “get back” at the Eternal Champion. If QW loses to LX in academics and career, then LX loses to her when it comes to his love life.

Shiyin: But…there are plenty more fish in the sea. Right? With what Lu Xun has in his hands, he can get any girl he desires. If this girl doesn’t like him back, he can go for another one.
LX: Those are nothing but lies. I read a book written by Maugham before. There was a review of the book. He said, there’s a void in everyone’s heart. However, the void can only be filled with a piece of the same shape. It may not be perfect. It may be distorted. But if the void is not filled by that very person, this spot will always feel empty. (touching his chest)

He means Qian Wei, of course. He dares to declare his feelings, in a cheesy fashion, in front of QW and her best friend because he knows neither one will get his meaning. He’s saying that it’s her or nobody. That’s why he’s been willing to stay by her side for 11 years.

SPOILER

There’s this scene in future episode when QW stalks him in the library to prevent him from borrowing the Maugham book. She doesn’t want him to read the book and immortalize the line in his heart.

END SPOILER

QW: (comforting LX) It was not filled back then but someone will fix it one day. Am I right? It’ll be filled soon.

She looks for ZiXin’s bottle and gives it to Lu Xun. She’s still trying to set them up again.

QW: Here. It’s Zixin’s wishing bottle. Keep it for her.
LX: (confused) Why did you pass it to me?
QW: You’re the class president!

Then her brother Qian Chuan arrives at the wishing bottle area.

QW: Qian Chuan? What are you doing here?
QC: Where is Zixin?
LX: (answering) She’s on a business trip. She didn’t join us.
QC: Did I ask you? How are you related to her? Who are you to tell me where she is?
QW: (telling off her brother) Mind your language. Keep quiet.

Her brother tries to get the bottle from Lu Xun but QW stops him.

QW: The wishing bottle belongs to Zixin. Lu Xun will pass it to her.
QC: Why?
LX: (answering for QW) I was the class president. Fine. Here, just take it if you want.

This shows that LX has no interest in ZX. He doesn’t care who hands over the wishing bottle to ZX.

QW: (adamant) No way! Listen. If you pass the bottle to my brother, you’ll get upset in the future. You had better keep it.
QC: So what if you were the class president? I was her boyfriend. (then addressing his sister) Also we’re not at the law firm. Why are you siding with him?

He grabs the bottle from Lu Xun, but Qian Wei calls their classmate to chase away her own brother. LX is totally fine handing it over but Qian Wei causes a ruckus. She wants Lu Xun to meet up with ZiXin and rekindle the romance.

4. Falling in the manhole

That night, she has an accident. She falls into an open manhole and she finds herself transported back in time where she meets the young Lu Xun, and her ex-boyfriend.

This time, she has a distinct advantage over Lu Xun because he’s only a law student, and she has a 10-year head start. Plus, the 2011 Lu Xun is confused. He doesn’t understand why she bosses him around and treats him with so much familiarity when they barely know each other.

This time, she beats her ex-boyfriend up to get him away from her. Meanwhile, the poor guy doesn’t know what’s come over her. She’s a stranger to him, but she’s already beating him up and accusing him of being a bad guy.

But I’ll have to stop here because this is where the fun starts. The point here is Qian Wei discovers how wrong her original impressions of him were when she relives her youth. All the while she treated Lu Xun as her great nemesis Thanos, he’s been her #1 supporter.