Watch if you lack stress in life

I did not really want to post a review of this. Since I dropped it mid way around episode 20ish and just watched the final 2 episodes. For me the chemistry is low for this pairing too.

Warning this is a very tiring, stressful and frustrating series to watch. Because the plot is so extreme with never ending issues. From the start of their relationship, its just non stop issues, issues and issues. The issues are so forced, ridiculous and extreme every other episode.

So if you want to pull your hair out, feels nauseating, experience cringe and dog blood. This series is for you. Happy ending in the end so if thats the goal, just watch a few early episodes and then skip to last 2 episode will make it a better experience.

But really there are better things to watch out there.

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Obvious from the get go

WARNING this is not a romance series. This series is a slow burn about the locomotive /train industry in china. Its also predictable how this series will end, that I had fast forward so many times. My rating of 6/10 is seriously generous for this series. Avoid watching if you dont have spare time.

Start of the series its about the negotiation of 2 locomotive companies for the past 2 years. Yet it is unresolved for large parts of the drama as each company tries to get the upper hand in this negotiation so its always still negotiating. Tan Jing Chuan is the one that is heading this negotiation.

2ML Tan jing chuan, FL Lin zhen yi and ML Li yan feng are a trio of childhood friends. That's embroiled in this train industry. This relationship obviously becomes a love triangle, Li yan feng for some reason is obsessed with Lin zhen yi, but Lin zhen yi likes tan jing chuan, while tan jing chuan only sees lin zhen yi as a sister. There you go 2020 and its still "dog blooded" like that.

What I dislike was the ML character setup, Li Yan Feng has left china for 10 years but when he returns to china, he is suddenly obsessed with the FL. Stalking her, renting a house next to her and live as her neighbor. He is also 1 of the locomotive's CEO son, a genius of sorts and everything he does is for FL. This is just a silly concept, its like after 10 years of not seeing each other suddenly he is so in love with FL even thou they were childhood friends. Coming back to china, he just confessed to her, doesn't hide that he loves her, wants to marry her, but FL just takes it as a joke.

I really liked ML Oliver chen's role and acting ability in "Goodbye, my princess", which shows that a script really makes and breaks an actor. However for this series the early parts of his obsession was really hard and cringe to watch.

So what's the watching point for this drama?
ML trying to win over FL (non existence romance, skin ship and i only recalled 1 quick kiss in a basketball court, even the proposal is bad, finally FL leaves for Africa just to show another sacrifice for china train industry.... its all about this china train company. The wedding is also in a train and speeches about trains too lol.)
FL eventually being confident to be a successful project leader
ML relationship with his CEO father
2ML love relationship
Plots and schemes of the negotiation
The obvious success of china's locomotive industry after all the challenges (annoyance was that this series kept highlighting the number of employees and hope of china on this company)

Such drama is obvious from the get go, obvious because regardless of what hardship and challenges, this china train company will overcome it. It is pretty much a "butter up" china train industry series, which shows that the employees will take low pay, fall ill, sick, go blind or get heart attack and have family issues but everyone will still work and overcome all challenges for this train company because of loyalty and patriotism.

From getting a free patent from ML that is jobless and was offered 10 million yuan and a position of director for it yet gives it up for free and become an assistant for FL by staying in R&D, to giving up the negotiations, to being an independent company with its own technology etc. Its like even if the sky collapses they will still survive and its because they have a set of beliefs, unity, patriotism and righteous blah blah blah *rolls eyes*.

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Speechless dog blood low production series

To put it into perspective, the ML and FL will not be able to put their lips together since they are married IRL (not to each other). So this is a low chemistry romance between ML and FL. Yet this is supposed to be some sort of romance drama with alot of blue screen work.

At the start of this drama, it has an interesting hook, FL is rich girl that fakes marry ML, a poor guy just to save face after breaking up with her 2ML real boyfriend. They even went to the extend to get fake marriage certificates etc.

After that it just goes downhill, for 80% of the drama ML just gives in, pleases and follows the FL like a puppy. The acting is just so exaggerated for most of the series. With various splashes of "dog blood", cliché, cringe and uninteresting plots.

Of cos its discovered by both respective families and they are separated, but ML and FL falls in love somehow and continued in a relationship. Then ML joined FL's family business but FL family went bankrupt.

For no logic reason except that ML is friend with a rich owner's daughter, suddenly ML became a CEO of a company just to solve the mystery of why FL's family went bankrupt. Which was caused by the Uncle of the company.

In the end ML achieved his dream of being an interior designer. But he must be the most talented interior designer, since he can be a property agent, a marketing director, a CEO and of cos ends up with FL.

Even recalling and typing this review was lame and I had to roll my eyes so many times. But still I figured that maybe this review will help others make better decision when picking up this drama to watch.

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Beautiful cinematography series but with plot loopholes

The start of this series is slow and cringe worthy when both FL leads are playing younger roles. But it does get somewhat better, especially when Nan sun's dad committed suicide.

Both FL's character personality changes are also huge for this series. From Suosuo's love and greed for money to suddenly giving up everything to have a "family" even when she has a daughter (this is very different from the novel). Likewise for Nan sun, to have been so trusting, "loving" and even emotionally dependent on Zhang an ren in the early episodes but yet she changes drastically once she is in debt and with a seemingly perfect Wang Yong Zheng. This character flip flop for both the FL is just hard to buy.

Its hard to watch the changes as well, which i feel is not clean nor weave the series well. Reality vs Idealist seems to the be the theme for the later episodes.

The plot loopholes are a major annoyance for me in this series.
1. Nan sun debts that are owned isnt even a huge amount (look at the list, maybe 11 names? less than 2 million yuan surely) if she could return it to so many debtors, she could secure a loan (especially when she is connected to so many rich people) and repay to just 1 party. When she requested that Zhang an ren helped them when her dad ran into those debtors but yet refuses to reveal it to Wang yong zheng.

2. When Ye jin yan can give up his position in jing yan just for Suosuo, this is a huge plot twist from the novel and made me sigh at the unrealism of it, especially when Daisy went back to jing yan to help him, saying he doesnt care. But eventually adding the story of her daughter's suicide still doesnt make it convincing and just because suosuo have the same birth date as his daughter.

3. In spite of all the debts that Nan sun have and suosuo not having a job, they still live well, can still afford that huge rental, eating heartily every time, doesnt look to be suffering from poverty anytime soon.

Its still a watchable series, not for the plot (the plot, character and ending have been changed from the HK movie adaption and the novel too) but for the FL leads and great support casts (there's so many great support casts to mention) which carried this with their acting abilities. Suosuo always looks sensual and sassy through out this series and Nan Sun has that innocence attraction.

As for the friendship, that is at least convincing due to the acting and the extreme challenges that both FL faces. I am sold that both FL will do anything and protect each other. Yet it does not carry this series, the hook really is the romance of both FL. For Nan sun and WYZ, this pairing works because WYZ is so carefree and seemingly perfect, even her ex boyfriend Zhang An ren did well being a selfish, self centered and scheming character, Li Yi Fan is another romance interest but his character is bland and robotic. For suosuo, she has 4 controversy romances with the driver MA, her cousin's infatuation, ye jing yan and finally xie hong zu. Yet the romances arent a huge part for this series, it exists but its not everything.

However ending is very open ended and doesn't clean up any of the loose ends. This is where this series failed badly.

The OST is memorable, the cinematography and palette used is warm and calming which have a slice of life feel.

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Nice pace, opening and chemistry

I like how this series starts with ML and FL wedding, with the start of each episode the wedding proceedings are played out. The pace and flow so far is great for this series. It keeps you hook on the series just to see how the wedding plays out and how the couple got to this point.

I was not that convinced with this pairing from the start, but the FL lead Xiang Han Zhi really played out her role of a perfect student well. This is the first project that I have seen her in but I was sold after 8 episodes. FL character is fiercely loyal and a brilliant student but with a tiger mom that is very focused on ML's school results only.

Wang An Yu has also grown in his projects till date and he looks great in this role too. I am a fan of his growth as an actor. In this series he plays a math/computer genius but with many personal issues after his family's factory closes, from financial burdens, moral burdens and even parent's health issues.

The ML and FL chemistry can really be felt from the wedding proceedings and how they look at each other. After the 8 beginning episodes, I feel that this will be a good couple pairing and is sold that they really care and grow with each other. ML really knows how to flirt with the FL very well and the FL responses well too. Its really sweet to watch the process and end the year 2020 with such a sweet series about promises (which are not meant to be broke). So in my opinion this is a better pairing than the currently running chinese drama of twisted fate of love and you complete me.

Episode 1-6 is when they are in high school, puppy love or infatuation stages, FL really starts to understand ML at this stage and ML opens up to her when he has shut out the world and was only focused on monetary gains.

Episode 7-12 is when they are at the same university, So it should be the pursue/ courtship stages. Episode 12 is when ML and FL confirm their relationship.

Episode 13-18 the development of their relationship and the side couple relationships

Episode 18 -28 onwards its just career, family and getting to the marriage stage

If there is one weakness in this series, I would say its the voice dubbing, especially the voice of yuan hao (FL neighbor that is interested in her), which is a pity because I had really liked this actor in the Romance of Hua Rong when he played a pirate captain.

Completed this series and the early stages of this series is the best in terms of romance, but as it went on, the love scenes became lesser and lesser, last deep kiss scene that i can recall is at the cinema. After that its just downhill and we dont even see a wedding kiss, which is a pity since the FL and ML had such great chemistry. The kissing scenes are there but was edited or removed as shown on this link https://www.instagram.com/p/CJXNC3vFHZV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Nothing new here

The typical dog blooded corporate drama about cosmetics, with the political and romance elements. Score of 5 is generous.

You should only watch this drama if you like the cast, else the dialog and dubbing is really very hard to swallow and digest.

Watching such corporate dramas, especially for western or korean dramas, there is always a theme. Schemes, politics, corporate espionage etc, but these are not elements thats fullfilled in this drama. Especially when its all about how Lin rui wants to be the CEO of this cosmetics company called SW. But when she finally got the position, she decides to resign, all of this happening in the last episode, so it felt very rushed and patchy, also in that last episode she then agrees to go back to the cosmetics company .... hey welcome to the carousel, more round about we go. On to the romance elements.

Romance spoilers Lin rui played by Yin tao ends up of cos with Jin xiao bei played by Zhang tao. While Zhang xiao yu played by Wu Jin yan ends up with Dan ding played by Hong yao. But its filled with the usual rollercoaster of does she likes him or likes him not, does he likes her or likes her not, yes, maybe, dont know, its happening. There is nothing wrong with such rollercoaster, only problem is this isnt an enjoyable rollercoaster ride, because it just goes round and round and feels more like a carousel than up and down. The reasons for breakup or not being together is soooo lame and the script dialog doesnt help.

Meng Zhe played by Peter ho has the hardest time I feel in this drama, he got to keep appearing in speedos (since they like to show that he is always swimming) and be the third wheel in both couple's romance. He got to have a kiss scene with lin rui and a proposal rejection from zhang xiao yu. So he is the ultimate desperado here.

So should you watch this drama?

Reason to watch:
Only if you are a fan of any of the casts.
Zhang tao /Jin Xiao bei as the perfect handsome and rich young kid falling for the older Yin tao /Lin Rui
Hong yao /Dan ding did well in his sad scenes but really the romance logic for him is so flawed
Wu Jin yan .... i feel she has too many ups and downs, that made me believe her character got some sort of personality disorder or she is just crazy, because she is suddenly cute, loud, offensive, intelligent, dumb, sales genius etc. This is not her best work or the right script for her.

Warning : Do not watch if you prefer intelligent and interesting story plot, this is not the drama.

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Only good as a filler series in 2020

Having watched this in 2021, the overacting from the FL is obvious. Likewise average support cast doesnt help. The one that shines is perhaps the ML in this series.

The plot is loose and full of loopholes and clichés. From episode 26 when ML is forced to leave FL and get engaged with 2FL just because 2FL commit suicide is a little extreme for such a light hearted drama. Especially when in episode 25 ML just confessed his relationship with FL. Only to have FL buy alot of ML's album for a 5 secs handshake and to appear at the engagement of ML and 2FL. Yup that will stop the 2FL's suicidal attempts surely lol.

Overall this series is only good as a filler series running in the background. However the Singer character that ML plays is at least convincing with decent OST.

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Cringe, frustrating to watch and fast forward

The story started nicely and the hook is well laid out to keep the audience going.

But it just turned dark mid way and with a bad ending too, makes it seems to try too hard to be a tear jerker. Maybe that is why they added a special episode after episode 35. I just did not like the story flow of this series, the plot is just obvious and the story just tries too hard to inject all these crazy break up misunderstandings. etc like the fact that the general's brother had loved and saved the princess only to get revealed that he went back into the burning building to be killed by the advisor is just such a forced tragedy.

The fact that from episode 1, this series started by showing the princess sleeping and not having an escape clause means that the tear factor must be the developed love, challenges and hardship, but the 2 leads just love too easy, break up too easy, patch back too easy, so alot of attachment to character then becomes lost.

I wished the story had developed slowly, showed the cute animal transformations of the princess and how the general tries to cover up or accept the changes, it might have been a better story than how it developed. I mean if you watch episode 1 and then watch episode 35, you really did not miss anything.

I also did not feel the chemistry between the stoned faced general and the princess, they fight, they break up, they patch back and then repeat the cycle, by the 3rd time it just gets old. Even the lines just feels forced after that. So by mid series the fast forward is used alot.

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Smiling or kissing while losing the esports plot

If its an esports romcom for this period, this is really decent. The ML and FL got that chemistry going and there are alot of intimate scenes all of a sudden once they are together. Its to that point that where they behave like a real couple with the kisses.

However the esports scenes in this series is kinda weak and different in class from king's avatar, gank your heart, cross fire etc. Its like no explanations are given for the various heroes and just alot of the 3d animations of the game while they are playing the game. The animations are decent but really I rather watch the acting and facial expressions with the animations in game.

The players in this esports scenes also really act like kids, giving kills for love or getting into fights irl etc. The drama then becomes very childish like and unconvincing.

Happy ending in this series and the relationship drama is low, no flip flopping or frustrating 3rd party and misunderstandings or ntr etc. The FL did well and was convincing thru out as an esports gamer, the same can be said of the ML. Costume and scene set was also on point with the colors and modern futuristic sets.

Personally I wouldnt rewatch it but I did enjoy this series as it is a lighthearted watch with some funny moments.

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Novel story plot

Pikachu (electric generating female lead) and swimmer romance is at least a novel concept.
Its also a short series of 24 episodes thats like 25 mins each. The FL lead can generate electric currents that will make those affected fall in love with the 1st person they see eye to eye with.

However the FL lead Ling Mei Shi looks plain and ordinary, not sure if its intended. But for most of the series she always looks conflicted. Definitely looks very different from her role in Love by Hypnotic.

The ML lead Zhang Ling He does carry this series as he did well too in maiden holmes. He looks like he will be the next new breed of good looking actors for the next generation as with Wang An yu. Looking forward to his other projects.

The fresh face support casts also helped move this series.

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MMA themed romcom

Not sure how to begin the review for this drama because everything is just average in this drama, the comedy elements stems from the emotional and physical pain exchange between the ML and FL. But its just too far fetched a concept. Some efforts have been put into the mma fights, but its clearly not convincing.

The straight faced emotionless kris fan is just painful to watch, because that is really not his type of genre. judy qi as a mma fighter is also not convincing. Chemistry between the ML and FL is average at best even thou they have alot of skinship and kiss scenes.

Its also the usual bossy CEO ML and dumb FL combo, but without high chemistry and hook for the plot, this is just a tough drama to like or anticipate weekly.

So to sum it up, I can only think of the following reasons to watch this drama.

Reasons to watch this drama:
Judy qi or kris fan as main leads if you are a fan
MMA theme
Soul exchange theme
Revealing outfits because of mma?
Only good as a filler drama if you have nothing else to watch.

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Female lead was the only reason to continue watching

This series has a weak plot overall for me. Watch only if there is really nothing else in this genre. However the story flows well throughout this series. Very few frustration levels too.

The saving grace is the female lead Rain lu, she kept this series watchable while the male lead acting and looks are acceptable at times but its not the best couple romance and pairing that's out there.

The villain is also played well, with his beady eyes and irritating looks which i felt he acted and carried it out well.

The costumes, hairstyles and music for this series is also above average with very few day and night mismatches thru out the story.

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Original plot

Its at least an original starting plot of fake amnesia and a planned going back to history in a modern world setting. The chemistry between ML and FL is average at best. 2 other couples are also thrown into the script. But when the 2nd couple of dai fu and linda has deeper/stronger kisses than the ML and FL, its just a bad look.

Also it seems strenuous for this drama to weave, tidy up, make sense of the FL illness and clean the last 2 episodes. So dont try too hard to make sense of how their "past life" ties into this current one.

But I definitely missed those moments when they were in the palace and with a historical setting. So the earlier episodes were great for me, but mid to end becomes about redemption, jewelry company, corporate power struggle and the relationships of the 3 couples in a modern setting.

But it ends with a happy ending as expected.

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Excellent plot even if you dont know Go

Not being a fan of the game of Go but I do know the rules and moves but this series does not require an understanding of the game, as it is more about the life, the growth and challenges in the world of Go.

This series is so layered with an excellent plot, support cast and main leads.

From the 3 male leads growth, to the struggles of academy and professional players, the eventual separation of chu ying and shi guang.

A good series will have the ability to get you attached to the characters and share the feelings. This series does it very well, from growth, the happiness, the motherly love, the bromance and the family relationships.

Highly recommend this series even if you are not a fan of the game of Go.

Looking forward to Juck Zhang's career, especially when he did so well in his role for this series. As well as getting the role in Dear Missy in 2020.

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Best couple pairing award

A little late to the party for this review, but since I have rewatched this before Cha Eun woo's next Kdrama series True beauty starts, I figured adding a review/notefor one of my favorite drama pairings is the least that I could do

This pairing is up there for me along side the likes of deng lun and yang zi in ashes of love, xu kai and bai lu in the legends, yang yang and zheng shuang in love o2o.

Been taking note of Cha Eun woo since ID gangnam beauty, but in this series for this pairing it really caught my attention. Thou Shin Se-kyung does look older than Cha Eun woo, but its also what makes it work as she is assertive, bold, matured and direct in her approach.

Storyline and plot moves along fine and I have watched it more than once, the visuals are really captivating to me, and the OST are great too.

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