Yu Jian Ni Di Na Yi Tian (2024)

Started strong but went downhill towards the end, such a shame!

This show started really strong for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the sweet chemistry between the leads. How I see it, I don’t see a sizzling chemistry between the leads, as you do for the second couple, however, they look good together and complement one another. The acting is also really great by both of the leads and I wish to see them in more works in the future.

However, somewhere towards the middle, the show became a little drag. For a short series of 14 episodes with episodes not that long as well, I feel like it was unnecessary to include some of the tropes like a second male and female lead. It was not even executed well because it was so short that it felt like it was included just for the sake of having that drama instead of actually getting something out of it. Similarly, there were a lot of things happening without any context. Really poor writing and direction towards the middle which made me question if the writer has changed. They’re getting married out of nowhere and many other things happen like that which leave you questioning the entire plot and what exactly is happening.

For instance, Episode 13, though cute, was such a filler episode. No substance whatsoever. They're adding any random fight, argument, or misunderstanding now just to stretch it to 14 episodes. So many good subplots have been missed by their writing team like the business aspect (for the show focusing on her job so much at the start, that is barely covered anymore) or how they got married or even a better confession. As it is now, it starts feeling lame/repetitive/boring to me towards the second half. This was such a good plot, they definitely needed better scriptwriters.

The story in itself is quite simple, straight forward and sweet. I somewhat enjoyed it despite the lack of coordination because I enjoyed their scenes together quite a lot, so I kept my brain aside while watching. It’s an easy and fluffy romance that is a nice watch. Would recommend it for people who’re looking for some cute fluffy romance, no angst per se and no melodrama or toxic people per se (other than that one co-worker). Quite an easy watch (with too many plot holes).

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A Love that was Meant to Be

What a drama! From the first few moments you will find yourself smiling. I did. It is so refreshing and nicely done. From the first episode, you are just captivated by the leading couple. They are both so well suited for each other, that you will find yourself just falling in love with them.

FL (Jiang Zhi Nan aka Xu Mu) is a planner for an Shangxin Advertising Company. She loves her job. The one thing missing in her life is a partner. This is due to certain expectation she has of meeting that certain someone that she feels is right and she wants to marry. Even though after six blind dates, and at the urging of her parents to change her viewpoint, she is not willing to do so. But surprises do come when you least expect them, and it did so with the arrival of ML (Zhang Jiong Min aka Xie Shi/Jiang Zhou) at a client meeting Xu Mu attended. Xie Shi unbeknownst to Xu Mu was the same boy who was her high school desk mate. Talk about surprises! Her life from that moment on changed dramatically. She was now about to find not only her partner who has always been in front of her but the true meaning of love.

Xu Mu when meeting Xie Shi finds him to be aloof and cold. She doesn’t recall much about him from their days at high school. But in a drunken state she finds out the next morning, that she has announced to everyone that Xie Shi is her boyfriend. This was great news for Xie Shi because he had loved Xu Mu since high school. He never knew how to express his feelings to her, so taking advantage of the situation, and seeing how everyone from her family and friends were congratulating her, Xie Shi suggested they become a contractual couple and live together. Xu Mu at first was hesitant but saw this could relieve them both of the pressure of endless blind dates and accepted the offer with a stipulation, if either has a crush on the other the contract would be null and void.

We also had Xu Mu bestie SFL (Yan Zhi Chao aka Song Nian Nian) and Xie Shi’s bestie (Wang Chuan aka Shen Yi). This was another adorable couple.

You will find that Xie Shi is a man of few words, but his expressions show more than what Xu Mu cares to either recognize or consider. He does always the slightest things to please her because he loves her. Cooking, driving her to work, helping make sure that she has everything that she could possibly need to feel secure in this “contractual relationship” which, he would hope would lead to more. But as they say the best laid plans.

Enter a rival for Xie Shi, Zhang Yao (Sheng Yi Chen) who was an artist that Xu Mu had over the years been texting as a friend. He is a famous painter that no one has ever met or had do an exhibit. Zhang Yao leaving a restaurant the same day as Xu Mu didn't have an umbrella. She kindly gives her his. As she smiles and goes, he overhears her colleague call her name, "Xu Mu." He then realized who Xu Mu was and texted her back to say he would do the exhibit. Zhang Yao immediately wanted to be with Xu Mu but found out that she was with Xie Shi. Ironically, he heard Xu Mu and Xie Shi both talking about their video chat with her mother and how well they performed which he then knew they weren’t a couple. Of course, he confronts Xie Shi about this and tells him that he will pursue her at this point. In the end, Xu Mu makes it clear that she only sees him as a friend. Heartbroken, Zhang Yao leaves.

Xu Mu thinks that Xie Shu likes Qiao Nan (Zhang Hao Yue) because of various misunderstandings one in particular was when there was an earthquake, and she saw Xie Shu helping her to a taxi for medical attention. Not realizing that he came there to check on her only to have someone say that she was in the room with Zhang Yao.

Misunderstandings abound and so Xu Mu tells Xie Shi that their contractual relationship is over.

Of course, Xie Shi doesn’t know what to say but he agrees to what she wants. But again, fate intervenes for this couple who is fated to be together. Xu Mu’s mother tells her she has a blind date set up for her which turns out to be Xie Shi. He explains to her about Qian Nan, and she tells him they were a fake couple so there was no need to explain. The matchmaker told her that who she was meeting today was looking to get married. She asks him is he looking for another girl for a fake marriage. If he still wanting the fake thing, she won’t have enough time or energy. She had this blind date just to get a husband. To which she tells her that he is not acting. Tomorrow they can go and get married. Does she dare? She does! This beautiful couple gets married!

Xu Mu finally does understand that Xie Shi did love her for such a long time when she finds his high school book. He goes to explain so much to her which he confesses his love for her. That is what she was waiting from him to hear that he loved her. She then opens up and confessed her love for him.

Xie Shi did have a rough upbringing which Xu Mu found out when his father came asking for money and threaten him with getting rid of his mother’s bracelet. The only item that his father still had of hers. He gives him the money and his father gave him the bracelet. Xu Mu calls her aunt who explains how Xie Shi’s father beat his mother, but Xie Shi would intercede and ended up with learning to use his left hand because his father broke his wrist in one of those beatings, and it didn’t heal properly. This also happened at the same time his mother died.

The surprising part is that Xu Mu did meet Xie Shi's mother. On his birthday, his aunt and mother went to get him a cake. All of the stores were closed. Xu Mu happened to run into his aunt and mother when they ask where she bought the cake. Knowing that they would not make it, Xu Mu gave them the cake and told them to wish her son a happy birthday from her. Hearing this story and seeing her in the background of the photo her aunt took of his mother that day made Xie Shi happy to know that she had met his mother.

We get to see each couple happy six years later. Song Nian Nian and Shen Yi have a son, who takes after Xie Shi in math. Xie Shi and Xu Mu do not have any children but after having an in-depth conversation, they decide to have one -- Manman. So smart and so like Xu Mu. He loves how his parents are so loving, and he goes through their photo album showing us their meant to be love story. It was cute.

I really enjoyed this drama. I feel you will too. There are misunderstandings that don't last long. Both couples are nicely matched. This is one of these dramas that you can just sit and binge. You may even find yourself smiling and thinking about your high school love and how that sweet and carefree years of being young can transcend to being with that same enduring love as an adult.

Get yourself all ready. Cuddle up and enjoy this sweetly done drama.

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