Part 1 is here: Hidden Love: Ep 17 On the Meaning of “Fallen”
Chapter 17. Fallen. I want us to be together
Featured Object: Cake
The birthday party scene in the cdrama is inarguably better than the one in the web novel. Don’t bother wasting your time reading it because I’ll tell you what happened.
• In the web novel, she didn’t plan a party.
• She had brought a birthday cake and had the baker write, “Wishing the 26-year-old Duan Jiaxu a happy birthday” to poke fun about his age.
• She surprised him by going to his office, and that’s about it.
• They went to the supermarket to buy ingredients together.
• She filled up her grocery cart with snacks and he commented on her childish tastebud. He wanted her to eat more veggies.
•They cooked his birthday dinner in his kitchen. Since he was a more experienced cook that she was. he ended cooking the bigger portion of his dinner feast: three dishes plus soup. She just cooked the noodles.
• She pulled up the recipe for the noodles from the internet.
• She lit candles on his cake to retaliate against the 19 candles on her birthday cake.
• He made a different birthday wish. He only wished that she’d pick him up to celebrate his birthday next year.
• And worst of all, she asked him hypothetically what would happen if they began dating and broke up by next year.
Overall, it wasn’t as happy as the birthday event in the cdrama. In the cdrama, Sang Zhi planned everything with him in mind.
• To celebrate the day, she had a happy face drawn on the cake, instead of a gibe about his age.
• She called up her mom to ask for the recipe of the longevity noodles because it was the best tasting noodles out there.
• She didn’t hide the fact from her mom that she was making the noodles for Jiaxu. Her mom complimented her on how more considerate she was becoming.
• She rented a room in the restaurant to celebrate his birthday.
• She tastefully decorated the room with white balloons and candles. It’s clear that Jiaxu never had this kind of extravagant birthday surprise in his adult life.
• Jiaxu secretly watched her cooking in the kitchen and snapped pictures of her in action.
• She shooed him away from the kitchen and wouldn’t allow him to lift a finger to help her.
• After making a mess in the commercial kitchen, she presented him with a simple dish of longevity noodle.
SZ: How is it?
DJ: Let me try it.
SZ: Ah. Don’t try it. You can just take a photo for a memento. I haven’t tasted it, so I think…
He obeyed and took out his iphone to take pictures of him pretending to eat the noodles. Then before she could stop him, he stuffed the noodles in his mouth.
I liked the way he kept his eyes on her as he gobbled it up. If he should die from food poisoning, her pretty face would have been the last thing he saw.
Sang Zhi waited for a reaction and was shocked when he swallowed it. She probably expected him to gag on it.
SZ: Is it edible?
DJ: (surprised, too) It’s good.
SZ: It’s good?
DJ: Yes.
SZ: No way. Let me try it.
She reached out with her chopsticks, but he pulled the bowl out of her reach.
In the web novel, he also didn’t want her to partake of the noodles. He stopped her by making a suggestive remark that they would be sharing an “indirect kiss” if she ate his food. He added, “Don’t take advantage of Gege,” — just like he did with the strawberries.
The Duan Jiaxu in the web novel is naughtier than the cdrama one.
I prefer the cdrama version, not only because Duan Jiaxu wasn’t as naughty as the web novel one, because also because it left open the possibility that he was only pretending to stuff himself with the noodles. For all know, the pasta tasted inedible, but he lied because he didn’t want her to feel bad.
DJ: You made this for me. I have to finish it all by myself.
SZ: (suspicious) It must taste awful.
DJ: It’s really good.
SZ: Stop eating.
She put one candle on the cake.
This cake looked better than the cake described in the web novel.
The face on the cake looked like Sang Zhi’s happy face, and only one candle was used for the nose. She didn’t like it when Jiaxu insisted on reminding her of her age on her birthday, and lit 19 candles, so why would she do the same to him?
SZ: This year you can make three wishes. Two wishes can be spoken out. Keep the last one to yourself.
DJ: Wishes won’t come true if there are too many. I only have one wish.
SZ: That’s fine, too.
He folded his hand in prayer, closed his eyes and made a wish. Next, he blew out the candle.
SZ: (squealing and clapping her hands) Happy birthday.
DJ: Thank you.
SZ: What did you wish for?
DJ: You know what it is.
The editor did a good job of showing the reaction shots of both Sang Zhi and Jiaxu.
There was a montage of their recent memories together, starting from the disastrous night she had the allergic reaction to milk, their ride on the bus when he protected her from falling and told her to hang on to him, his stolen kiss, their cotton candy date, to finally, her birthday celebration at his apartment rooftop.
I think the montage was told from Sang Zhi’s recollection.
When she looked back on all those times, she realized that:
a) it was the right time – and the best time — to accept him, and
b) this moment would make a perfect bookend to her birthday wish. That birthday was the first time she spent with him, and she wished to celebrate more of her birthdays with him. Likewise, this was his first birthday that they spent together, and he wished that she would consent to date him. The only way both wishes could come true was if she finally accepted him.
SZ: Well…your wish is too easy to fulfill.
DJ: Hmmm?
SZ: The answer is yes.
DJ: Are you saying that you will be my girlfriend?
SZ: That’s because I want to be by your side for all your future birthdays. Can I?
She was so smooth! I like that she reversed the situation. Instead of answering his proposal, she proposed to him herself. Can I be by your side for all your future birthdays?
Her question gave the impression that:
a. she was wooing him, too,
b. she was risking a rejection, too.
c. she wasn’t merely a passive recipient of his attention, and
c. love is a two-way street.
DJ: (grinning) Of course you can.
SZ: Then I will cut a slice of cake for you. The birthday boy eats first.
His eyes were on her as she cut the cake. When she handed the plate to him, he took it from her and held her hand. (Nice hand coordination there. The actors must have rehearsed this.)
SZ: What are you doing?
DJ: (apologetic) I don’t really know how to do this. You always call me old. It’s quite embarrassing to admit this myself. This is also my first relationship. Besides, it is also my first time liking someone so much.
He was talking about their kiss, of course. He was apologetic that he didn’t know how to kiss her properly. He was embarrassed to confess that he’s a novice at it because he was much older than her and she probably expected him to be experienced given his age. But she was his first girlfriend. He never felt the urge to kiss anyone before.
Noteworthy: Sang Zhi’s acceptance and the kiss were deviations from the web novel. Sang Zhi didn’t give her answer till days? weeks? after his birthday. She was only moved to accept him after an ugly encounter with the Psycho girl. The web novel didn’t tie in the parallel birthday wishes together.
Furthermore, skip this, if you’re virginal, the kissing scene was more explicit. When he kissed her, he shocked her because he used his tongue.
I like that the Duan Jiaxu in the cdrama version was “frisky.”
DJ: So, don’t even think about dumping me.
I guess, this could be interpreted in a few ways.
One, she was his first kiss so she must take responsibility.
Two, she was going to be his first and last girlfriend.
Three, she would hurt him very much if she left him.
That’s Sang Zhi’s birthday present to him: her consent to be his girlfriend. The birthday cake was just a foretaste.
He couldn’t hide his amusement.
SZ: Why do you keep staring at him?
DJ: I just didn’t expect you to say yes so soon.
He probably thought that she said yes so soon because he was able to convince her. He didn’t know that she had been planning to all along. It was her “sixth sense” — or her unwarranted fears — that made her hesitate.
SZ: I feel that today is very special.
DJ: How so?
SZ: First this is your first birthday that I’ve celebrated with you. And it’s also our first day together. From now on, I’ll always be by your side.
She was beaming to herself. He didn’t know that she was ecstatic because she always had a crush on him.
DJ: By the way, there are something I feel I should let you know. I don’t think I’ve told you about my family situation. The thing is, my mom has passed away. And my dad is in a coma. He killed someone while drunk driving. But I’ve paid off the compensation. Right now, I don’t own a house, but I have a car. I also have some savings. I’m sorry to bring this up out of the blue. Please don’t feel uncomfortable.
He was bringing this up because he had long-terms plans with her. He wanted to marry her. Although I appreciate his forthrightness, I can’t imagine that this is typical behavior for people who just started dating.
SZ: I’m not uncomfortable. I’m just worried that talking about these things might make you sad.
DJ: Why would I feel sad? But I admit that I might be a bit nervous.
SZ: Why?
DJ: I’m worried that you would mind.
SZ: (quickly) I don’t mind.
My comments:
a. I like that Sang Zhi always considered his feelings first. She wasn’t uncomfortable for herself; she was uncomfortable that HE was dwelling on sad things. She did this too on that cotton candy date. He asked her if she was upset that he didn’t ask her out, and she replied no. She was more concerned however that HE looked upset that night.
b. The close-up shots were important in this scene because they focused the viewers’ attention to the emotional state of both Sang Zhi and Jiaxu.
c. What was left unspoken here is that he was secretly worried that she was doing it on a whim, too. In the same way that Sang Zhi was worried that he would lose interest in her after a while, he was worried that she would lose interest in him if she discovered the truth about his family situation. He wanted them to be together for a lifetime. Her answer and the look on her face reassured him.
Gifs. Because you’ve all been so patient. Enjoy.
Those gifs are a feast to my eyes!!!! 😍😍😍
I love this couple a lot!!! ❤️
I’ll be back later, just at Mom’s 70th Birthday. ☺️
XIEXIE!!! 😘😘😘
Happy 70th birthday to your mom, @agdr03. That a milestone!
I love how tuned in this couple are to each other. I love the concern these two feel for each other and the kindness they show one other.
You are right about SZ starting their dating relationship evenly balanced by assuming some of the risk of wooing. I like how DJ clarified once again that he’s a dating novice, and that SZ is his first love. I’m delighted to hear both SZ and DJ declare they want to be together for a lifetime. These words should put to rest most of their fears.
Happy Birthday to your mother, @agdr03.
Thank you @packmule3. They can never forget the anniversary of the official start to their relationship if it’s on his birthday. Great planning. This is much more like a marriage proposal than simply the start of ‘going steady’, right?
Yes, it’s inconsistent and also inconsiderate for DJ (in the novel) to give SZ a French kiss the first time both of these novices kiss.
I liked that DJ was clear about his family history and I’m also glad that SZ had received some information from her mother about it back when DJ was in the hospital. It wasn’t a complete surprise to her.
@Fern,
Agree. It didn’t make sense. A French kiss (or kissing with tongue, for the innocents abroad) is somewhere between 2nd and 3rd base, if we use baseball analogy. A newbie to kissing wouldn’t know how. A French kiss would require the kisser to stimulate the kissee so she would open up her mouth wide enough to let the tongue in. Given that the kissee was a novice, too, she’d probably freak out at the sensation of a weird foreign thing inhabiting her space, and clam up.
Nope. It’s just a weird thing to do for a first kiss. (It made me wonder whether the writer had ever been kissed.)
And oh! I almost forgot this. In the novel, he asked her if — let me check my notes here — his teeth bumped her lips.
That’s a nope, too. He supposedly got carried away and kissed her roughly. But I can’t imagine the Jiaxu in the cdrama doing that in the beginning stage of the dating relationship. Maybe later?? (I’m about to watch Episode 18 now).
I think the screenwriter really did a great job of re-shaping the original story to what it is today.
For me, the only good thing about the novel with regards to DJ’s birthday is when he told SZ to eat vegetables. 👍🏻
I love love the way she said yes to him. I felt DJ’s happiness when SZ asked him if she can be with him in all his birthdays. 😍 it’s the best birthday ever. She made him feel special. 🥰
Wow! Grateful that our kiss is innocent and honest in the drama. Thank you scriptwriter! 👏🏻
French kiss is not for first kiss, second, third or fourth. This is just me. 🤣
I especially love the gif of the finger kiss. 😍
There’s Duan Jiaxu, the boyfriend bag carrier. 🥰
I agree with you @packmule3 💯 I read portions of the novel and all the intimate scenes were clunky at best and kind of disturbing in parts. I think it might have been the translation but there was no sweetness and some unkind teasing. The series is much better.
I suppose in the novel, the inexperienced ML could have been clumsy if his teeth bumped her lips, but we can’t use that excuse for a French kiss because it speaks of experience. –And absolutely nothing worse if the person being kissed is not expecting it and not ready for it.
Annyeong ~
I’m glad to hear thoughts or comparison of the web novel to the cdrama series. i will settle with re-watching this show if ever haha.
i do love the Jiaxu’s cake – how simple it is. i agree with you @pm3 that the smile on the cake is Zhi’s smile – both their smiles are great. i love their happiness. thank you for the gifs and again for transcribing their convo’s.
as Jiaxu was touched by how Zhi prepared for his bday – i feel him and how loved he feels. Zhi did put a lot of effort for this bday. I love her bear balloons and also the heart of white balloons. funny how Zhi made all that effort to make this noodles and yet it’s just for looks- she didn’t want him to eat it at all. hahaha. i like your observation that he looked at her as he swallowed the noodles just in case he dies – her face would be the last thing he sees. awwww. i really wonder how good that noodle bowl was. i don’t think he got to finish it coz Zhi lit the cake candle right away haha.
i like how they played the montage before her “yes” — it was indeed a perfect day for both their wishes to come true. thanks for pointing out how the show paralleled their wishes, their bday wishes side by side.
i like how they both have their hands folded as Jiaxu made a wish – Zhi’s hands were shaped like a heart. so cute. so beautiful. so happy. i do like her proposal as well – to answer to his proposal (your term “reverse proposal). love is indeed a two way street. they’re both wooing each other. i love it every time she says “i want to be by your side” and “i’ll always be by your side.” who doesn’t want that. and i think Jiaxu needs this so much. Zhi grew up with a lot of love – so she was able to extend this Jiaxu who lacks of it.
that hand coordination with Zhi handing him the cake plate and Jiaxu taking her hand is a pretty smooth that leads to their first kiss. i love it. even though Jiaxu feels like he is a novice – i think that he did pretty well with that kiss. bold move. but timely – from the Yes to the Kiss -like the icing on the cake haha.
Jiaxu as a “frisky” fox – he has no problem with the skinship. i actually like that he’s good with “touch” – a love language.
Jiaxu’s honesty about his family drama seems abrupt. almost like a joy killer. i’m glad that Zhi did not feel uncomfortable coz she already knows a bit from her mom… but coz it’s something he doesn’t talk about – who else but Zhi to know the darkness he struggles with.
i noticed that they were sitting outside the restaurant and it’s the beach front or waterfront? i like that. Thanks for the gifs. love love love love.