Chinese Drama 2020

Go Ahead (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 

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Global Granary Drama Recommendation

✴️✴️✴️✴️½ (4.5/5)

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• Genre: Youth, Modern, Family
• Release Date: 10 August 2020
• Origin: China
• Cdrama: 40 Episodes

 

Cast

• Seven Tan Songyun as Li Jianjian
• Song Weilong as Ling Xiao
• Steven Zhang Xincheng as He Ziqiu
• Tu Songyan as Li Haichao
• Zhang Xilin as Ling Heping
• Sun Yi as Qi Mingyue
• He Ruixian as Tang Can
• An Ge as Zhuang Bei
• Yuan Ran as He Mei (Zi Qui’s mother)
• Yang Tong Shu as Cheng Tin (Ling Xiao’s mother)
• Vian Wang as Du Juan (Jian Jian’s business partner)
• Cong Shang as young Jian Jian
• Xu Wai Luo as young Ling Xiao
• Li Zhen Zhen as young Ziqui
• Xue Shu Jie as Mrs Qian
• Yu Zi Yang as Zheng Zhuran
• Zhao Pei Lin as He Lan

Quick Precis

Three youths found the family life they were longing for with each other.

Episode 1

OMG this first episode is so cute and yet poignant.  The child actors are all adorable, brilliant actors.  I particularly like the one who plays the young Ziqui.

His looks and acting immediately knock you in the heart.  His adoration of the young JianJian, who doesn’t like him at all as a potential stepbrother was really heartwarmingly sad.

Anyway, the story is that Ling Xiao’s family had just moved to Jian Jian’s neighbourhood.

The first time Jian Jian saw young Ling Xiao, she liked him and treated him as a friend despite the boy’s snubbing her every effort of friendliness.

Ling Xiao’s family became a topic of conversation in the neighbourhood because his mom and dad are screaming and shouting at each other every day.  Their fights got so bitter that Ling Xiao would often go out of the apartment and sit down by the stairs reading his book.  His father is a policeman and his mother cannot get over the death of their young daughter.

Jian Jian’s father who owns a restaurant tried to invite the sad little boy by the stairs but he declined. And the father said that if he needed anything he can knock at their door and can come round and play with Jian Jian.

Jian Jian’s father is a widower.  One of the neighbours had arranged a blind date for him.  The woman was quiet with an even quieter little son who was dying to get to know Jian Jian.

Jian Jian however was against having a stepmother and told her dad in a huff.

The woman came to visit at Jian Jian’s house.

At the park, Jian Jian found Ling Xiao being bullied by a tall tubby boy and some other children.  Jian Jian came to the rescue and fought the other children. And then Ziqui ran in to fight with Jian Jian, who was biting the tubby boy.

Both Jian Jian and Ziqui were in trouble as the mother of the tubby boy went to complain to Jian Jian’s father, who said that her son was no angel and showed that he scratched Jian Jian’s face and gave Xiqui a black eye.

When the mother and her tubby son left, Jian Jian’s father apologised to Ziqui’s mother who was actually happy that her son fought alongside Jian Jian, who was giving Ziqui the evil look.

When Jian Jian’s father told her that she made Ziqui fight, Jian Jian said Ziqui did it himself and Ziqui quickly agreed that he did.

Then there was a knock on the door.

Episode 2

It was Ling Xiao who was knocking with a bottle of iodine to clean wounds for the two children.

Anyway, Jian Jian was a force of nature and in the end, she was able to cajole Ling Xiao to eat dinner with them, and then it became a daily routine which Ling Xiao started to look forward to especially when his parents daily fight was not abating.

One day Jian Jian and Ling Xiao were coming home from school when they met Chen Tin (Ling Xiao’s mother) leaving the flat with a suitcase.

Even at such a young age Jian Jian knew that Chen Tin was leaving so she asked Chen Tin if she could keep Ling Xiao as she wanted a brother.

Chen Tin said to keep him.

Meanwhile, Heimei, Ziqui’s mother, called Haichao (Jian Jian’s father) begging him to lend her cash, and could he also look after Ziqui.

Hiachao agreed and looked after Ziqui who initially suffered from Jian Jian’s jealousy.  She bit him one day and despite the excruciating pain, he just let her.  When Haichao tried to stop her she bit him too because she was annoyed that Ziqui had started calling Hiachao, ‘Dad’

She put Ziqui through a lot and would push his suitcase in a steep staircase. He would pull it up without complaint all the time that he had to do it.

But Jian Jian finally thawed at him because he just adored her.

Ling Xiao’s father became a regular at Jian Jian’s house as well.  He told Hiachao the story about his dead daughter.

Chen Tin was asked by her friends to play mahjong so she left young Ling Xiao to look after his three-year-old sister who was very partial to walnuts.  The girl choked on the nuts and Ling Xiao can’t get any help as they were locked in the house.  His sister had stopped breathing when Chen Tin arrived.

Ten years later… 2009

Episode 3

Ten years later, it was the first day of high school for Jian JIan.  She is as boisterous as ever and her two brothers indulged her.

Ling Haping and Hiachao bring up the three kids.  The two men are like a bickering married couple and both contented to be single fathers.

Chen Tin had divorced Haping and had remarried and had her own child.

Meanwhile, Heimei had completely disappeared leaving Ziqui to Hiachao.

Having only men in their household, they were the ones that Jian JIan talked to about her female problems. The men were uncomfortable when she announced about having her first period at sixteen.  She was telling them that probably it was genetic.  No one really can answer her questions because they don’t know about menstruations.

At school, Jian Jian met a girl who is their class president. She is Mingyue who invited her to get ice-cream but Jian Jian turned up with her brothers which rather overwhelmed Mingyue.  But she noticed the extra-closeness of the three.

The four started hanging out and the shy MIngyue started to come out of her shell.

Jian Jian happily related that she has a child betrothal with Ling Xiao when she asks Hoping if he could be her adopted father.

Apparently young Ling Xiao begged her on bended knees not to do it because he will marry her one day.

Despite the marriage thing, Jian Jian treated both guys as her real brothers, although Ling Xiao is beginning to feel uncomfortable with Jian Jian lying in his bed.

I am really loving this drama more and more.  The leads are gorgeous and charismatic.

Episode 4

Chen Tin suddenly turned up out of the blue at Ling Xiao’ school.  She wanted him to meet his young half-sister.

He was very upset with his mother as she left him to a young child, who was younger than him ten years ago.

His mother had the grace to be embarrassed but not enough because she then dumped her young daughter at Heichao’s restaurant.

She also told Ling Xiao that Heichao’s fatherly love towards him was fake. He was being paid by Hepang to feed him and look after him.  His real blood family is his half-sister.

Nasty woman.

Meanwhile, Ziqui was affected by the sudden appearance of Ling Xiao mother.  He began to miss his own.

Episode 5

This episode will make one cry.  The child Ziqui made me cry.

The relationship is becoming more complicated.

Jian Jian is becoming rather jealous of Ling Xiao’s growing closeness to his blood sister especially when he noticed that same birthmark that his dead sister had on his new sister.

It was Ziqui’s birthday and his aunt came to visit.

Heichao was absolutely heartbroken for Ziqui when he overheard the aunt telling Ziqui to be so extra good, extra helpful to Heichao.  Ziqui owes Heichao so much for bringing him up.

Heichao knew that among the children Ziqui was the most helpful.  He does everything without being asked.  He used to find him at the dead of the night doing the laundry. He used to eat only vegetables because the young child thought he was not deserving of meat.

Heichao feels that Ziqui is his own and should not feel grateful for everything he was given.

Is blood thicker than water?

Chengzi, Ling Xiao half sister had an accident while she was with Jian Jian.

In the hospital, Jian Jian was just about to talk to Ling Xiao when his sister called. Ling Xiao told Jian Jian to go home.

Jian Jian was a little upset but Ziqui took control and told Jian Jian that they should go home as they were not welcome there.

Episode 6

Life is beginning to go back to normal after Chen Ting and Chengzi went back to Singapore.

But it did not last long as Zi Qui was located by his estranged father, Zhou Huaguang, who had remarried to a rich woman from the mining industry.

Huaguang wanted Zi Qui to go live with him abroad so he can send him to the best university abroad.

Zi Qui told his father never to contact him again.

Jian Jian won a gold prize in wood carving.  She may be artistic but she was near the bottom of the class and rather proud of it.

The very bottom of their exam result was taken by a transfer student, Tang Can, who is an advertisement superstar.

Meanwhile, Mingyue’s mother now encourages her daughter to be friends with Jian Jian after she heard that both her brothers are in the top 10 of the school and that Ling Xiao had been accepted at Peking University.

Episode 7

Finally, Jian Jian had gone to the dreaded dentist with Ling Xiao.  She told him that she wishes that he becomes a dentist so she would not be scared of them.

This episode is really about Ziqui and his estranged father, Huaguang.

Mingyue unwittingly revealed that Ziqui had a run-in with his biological father at school the other day.

Both Jian Jian and Ling Xiao were shocked because Ziqui had kept this a secret from them.

They then tried to ask him about it but he would not say anything and then he took out his anger towards Mingyue for being such a blabbermouth on things that don’t concern her.

Mingyue was so upset she ran out of the house followed by Ling Xiao, who told her that he noticed her lack of confidence.

He continued that she is beautiful, intelligent, and kind so there is no need not to believe in herself.

In that instant, her crush on  Ziqui quickly transferred to Ling Xiao.

Meanwhile, Jian Jian and Ling Xiao are still annoyed with their brother so they gave him the cold shoulder for keeping secrets.

But the secret came out with a bang when Huaguang contacted Heichao himself.

This annoyed Ziqui so much he was almost violent to his natural father.  Ziqui began worrying that his natural father might force him to live with him.

His basketball mate told him that he was almost 18 so he can choose where he wanted to live.

Episode 8

Ziqui suspected his bio-father to have had something to do with a customer who reported hygiene issues in their restaurant.

Heichao had to temporary close his restaurant but he said he will not be defeated because he plans to open an even bigger noodle shop.

It looks like Tang Can might become a friend to Jian Jian and Mingyue.

It was the National College Entrance test time for both Zi Qui and Ling Xiao.

Jian Jian was studying when Ling Xiao looked over her answers. He flicked her on the forehead for getting some wrong.

She told him to stop knocking her on the head because he had to marry her if she becomes brain-damaged.

Ling Xiao said. “I will” and repeated it twice which actually surprised Jian Jian.  She did not expect that he would take their running joke seriously.

Ling Xiao’s grandma was taken to the hospital for a suspected heart attack.

Episode 9

This episode is a bit dark, a downer.

Ling Xiao’s grandma was in a bad way.  His mother along with her husband was driving to the airport to be with the grandma.  The husband was driving too fast, he crashed his car and died instantly while Chen Ting was in a critical condition.

Poor Ling Xiao was in a very traumatic state.  He was to say goodbye to his dying grandma while he was on the phone about his mother’s accident.

He later had to fly to Singapore with his Uncle (his mother’s brother) to see Chen Ting right after his grandma’s funeral.

His mother’s husband’s family had the funeral for Chen Ting’s husband and then they left for Malaysia.

So Ling Xiao with his uncle ended up looking after Chengzi and his mother who was still in intensive care.

After a month, his uncle said that he had to leave as he has a family to take care of.  He told Ling Xiao that as he was now 18, he is man enough to take care of his mother who is now out of danger but would likely be paralyzed.

Ling Xiao said that his mother abandoned him when she divorced his father.

His uncle said that Chen Tin is still his mother.  Bummer.  He advised that he studied in Singapore so he could be near his mother and sister.  Noooooooo

Meanwhile, Jian Jian was so worried about Ling Xiao she misstepped on the school stairs and hurt herself. She then lied that someone pushed her but she did not know who.

Ziqui immediately suspected his bio-dad to have arranged the ‘accident’

Poor Haichao ended up in the hospital after collapsing.  He was apparently overworked and malnourished.

Ziqui realised that he will be a burden to his father who was now struggling financially.  So he thought the best way was to take his bio-dad’s offer of sending him abroad to study, then he planned to come home as soon as he finishes his studies.

Heimei turned up out of the blue.  She told Haichao that her ex-husband was determined to take Ziqui abroad to study.  Heimei said that her ex was a real nasty piece of work but he could give a better future to Ziqui and they had to think of Ziqui first; what is good for him.

I love the bromance between Haichao and Hepeng.  They discussed the issue of Ziqui going abroad.  Hepeng said that he does not support the idea.  Abroad is too far at least 10 hours on the plane.

Haichao, however, said that they had to look at the bigger picture.  When Ziqui finishes his studies, Haichao was very sure that Ziqui would come home immediately because he is very filial.  So it would be a win-win situation.

When Ziqui got home, Haichao and Hepeng tried to broach the subject of studying abroad but Ziqui himself said it first.  He told them that he wanted to study abroad.

Episode 10

Omigod!  This episode is an absolute cryfest.  You will need a box of tissues.

Anyway, Ziqui told Haichao that he was going to study in the UK (good choice btw, lol). He explained that it would remove the onus of tuition fees from Haichao.

For some reason, Haichao got very very upset despite originally planning to encourage Ziqui to go abroad.

Ziqui promised that he will come back immediately after his studies.

Ling Xiao celebrated his 18th birthday in the hospital corridor reading texts from his dads, brother, and sister, which made him smile.

That little smile was seen by his uncle who berated him for being happy when his mother was flat of her back in the hospital bed.  The uncle said that he was leaving in a few days.

Ling Xiao also said that he was leaving as well because he misses his sister.

His uncle went mental and told Ling Xiao that he owed it to his mother to look after her because he killed his sister.  Nasty man.

Poor Ling Xiao felt so defeated.

Hengzhi gave him a slice of birthday cake.  She wanted him to make a wish but he said he never make birthday wishes because he does not believe in miracles.  Anyway, he did make a fervent wish.

A few days later he was back home in China. Jian Jian was so happy to see him, she jumped into him and clanged like a limpet.

Their happy reunion did not last as Ling Xiao and Ziqui started fighting at the rooftop when Ziqui found out that Ling Xiao was going to study in Singapore and basically leave Jian Jian alone.

Everything then came out in the open that both brothers are leaving China.  The saddest of all with this turn of event was Jian Jian.

She went to her bedroom sobbing her eyes out.  Ling Xiao followed to comfort her but she cannot be comforted.  Then Ziqui also went in and she said they were all leaving her, contrary to their promises that they will always be together.

Ziqui was so upset he had to leave the room.

Jian Jian suddenly came out of her blanket cocoon.  She told Ling Xiao that actually they are not related.  He was just a neighbour who she grew up with.

Ling Xiao told her that when she had grown up he will stay with her for a lifetime (another hint of a marriage).

But Jian Jian said she does not believe him. When he leaves, he is no longer her brother.

Ziqui really felt the sadness of Jian Jian and kept a sad vigil in a corner of the living room overlooking her bedroom door.

Haichao found him all crouched out, looking sad and pathetic.  He made Ziqui a glass of milk.

Ziqui said that he was so sad and worried about Jian Jian.  What if someone bullies her when he was away?  This scene was really emotional and I’m crying remembering it while I am typing this.  I hope all the tears falling on my laptop does not get me electrocuted.  LOL

Anyway, Ziqui promised again that he will be back after his studies to live with Haichao.

Haichao said that was not a good idea.  He will be living off his parent.

Ziqui then said that he will live and protect Jian Jian.

Haichao said that what if Jian Jian gets married.

Ziqui was having none of that. He does not believe that Jian Jian should get married at all.

Haichao painstakingly explained about natural separation. He said that Ziqui will form his own world one day with his own wife and children.

Ziqui asked about brothers and sisters.

“They will have their own world.”

Ziqui said he will never ever going to get married.

The next morning, Haichao found Jian Jian’s bedroom empty.  She was on her way to stay with her grandma.

Hepang arrived and saw the state of both Ling Xiao and Ziqui, both bruised in the face.

The reason came out and he went ballistic.

He called his brother in law to castigate him over guilt-tripping Ling Xiao to look after his mother.  But the die is cast. Ling Xiao had already enrolled at a Singapore University and missed his chance to take a placement at a Chinese university.  He needed to repeat the year to get a chance to enroll in a Chinese university. Bummer!

Hepang was upset with Ling Xiao for not consulting him over such a major decision.

Anyway, both the boys were packing their things when each found a box of Adidas trainers with a sweet note from Jian Jian.

Ling Xiao wore them and walked to and pro in his tiny bedroom.  He was happy.

Ziqui clutched the box to his chest and sobbed his heart out. He really adored his little sister from the moment he saw her despite her being mean to him at first.  He was always her staunchest ally.  She can never do wrong in his eyes and now he was leaving and she was not there to say his goodbyes.

The boys left with so much sadness. And I was left with swollen eyes.  huhuhu

Episode 11

The boys went back on their promise to come back as soon as they graduate.  It has been nine years and there was hardly any contact with them.  Their once close-knit ties are just now a yesterday’s fond memory.

They were all busy and their only contact was a quick text during holiday seasons and birthdays.

To start with, Jian Jian would not facetime/video call either of the boys to get over missing them and when they caught up with her, she was lukewarm and would pass the mobile phone to either Haichao or Heping.

Ling Xiao’s would sometimes text Mingyue to ask her to secretly send him Jian Jian’s latest photo.

Jian Jian went to study sculpture and after she graduated she opened a studio with her senior, Du Juan.

She then rented an apartment and now lives with Mingyue and Tang Can, who came back from Beijing.

Jian Jian realised that those people who wanted to come would come back and those who don’t would stay away out of your life and out of your mind.

Ziqui did not come back because he wanted to specialise in dessert.

And Lin Xiao had a gap year from school to care full time for his mother and sister.

Her last news about Ling Xiao was that he accepted a position in a hospital in Singapore to be with his mother.

Episode 12

At last, not a tear today.

Ling Xiao had finally escaped from the controlling grasp of his mother.  He is back.

Jian Jian was becoming popular as a sculptor.  Her work was part of a well-subscribed exhibition.

She was looking at a piece called Dream Lover by her friend when she got knocked over and would have fallen had a pair of hands not caught her.  Unfortunately, the hands were too familiar and squeezed her in the boobs.

The culprit was arrested and taken to the police station.

The man was Ziqui.  He was so embarrassed and gutted when he found out that he had to confront the victim of his misdemeanor and it would be up to the victim if she goes ahead to press charges.

Ziqui kept begging the police to just let him pay fines but Jian Jian turned up.

Jian Jian graphically described how the perpetrator was such a pervert squeezing her boobs.

Ziqui still hiding his face said that he used to squeeze a girl’s tummy.

Jian Jian then realised that the perv was Ziqui.

Anyway, Haichao, who was with Ling Xiao, found out that Jian Jian was at the police station.

Ling Xiao ran to the station and saw Jian Jian who he looked at longingly.  He also noticed Ziqui with her.

They all ended up sitting on a bench overlooking the sea.  After an awkward catching up, Jian Jian decided that it was just too excruciating to be in the middle of Ziqui and Ling Xiao, who were scoring points against each other.  She just had to escape and she did.

Poor Ziqui missed the family so much but did not know what to do, how to come back to the fold.  Instead, he is all alone and reduced to stalking and peeping at how happy the fathers at the return of Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao told his fathers that he was moving out.  At first, they were rather sad that he was going again just after he had just come back.  But he told them that he was moving in the apartment opposite Jian Jian.

Mingyue was Ling Xiao’s fait accompli, she was crushing on him.

Mingyue had to bring Jian Jian to the dentist as she was suffering from a toothache because of her addiction to lollipops and anything sweet.

Episode 13

Ling Xiao and Ziqui half expected that they can just pick up where they left off with Jian Jian.  They did not expect that it would be so awkward between them.  Every time, they saw her, she could not wait to leave.

But Ling Xiao and Ziqui were not giving up.

Ling Xiao became a dentist because he knew how phobic Jian Jian of the dentist and he wanted to be a reassuring figure for her oral problems.  And he made such a  gorgeous dentist as well.

Mingyue took Jian Jian to the dentist without telling her that the dentist was Ling Xiao.

After her treatment, he gave Jian Jian extra aftercare including holding her hand for reassurance while a compress was applied to her painful cheek.

She then remembered the time he took her to the dentist.  He held her hand as well and comforted her telling her that he was never going to leave her.  But he did.

Because of this, she pulled her hand away from his tender ministering and left soon after.

She then went to a client who commissioned an art piece for his newly opened restaurant.  She was spooked when it turned out that the owner was none other than Ziqui.

Ziqui said that he made the array of cakes on the table just for her because he’s always remembered what she said all those years ago that she wanted to open a cake shop.

Due to the dental work on her mouth that day, she really can’t eat anything, much less cakes, but Ziqui was insistent not knowing her predicament.

She gave in with a bite of the blueberry tart but when he spooned another piece.  She then told him she was sick, unwell, and can’t eat anymore.

He finally realised that there is a massive gap between them, his beloved sister, the person he was closest to.

He did everything to close the gap.  He rented the apartment opposite her flat, not knowing that he was gazumping Ling Xiao.

Mingyue pleaded with Ziqui to give up the apartment because the guy who originally rented it was her crush for many years.

Ziqui, however, was not moved.  He wanted to be with his sister in order to protect her as he had always promised Jian Jian.

Meanwhile, Hepang and Haichao were talking about the kids.  Hepang said that he does not mind Ling Xiao moving out because he had gotten used to living alone.  He then said that it would be nice if Ling Xiao marries Jian Jian. They were so suited together.

Haichao just said to leave the affairs of the heart to the children.

Jian Jian came home not knowing that Ling Xiao was at the flat.

She started telling MingYue and Tang Can that she met both her brothers but she felt awkward around them.  She really doesn’t know them anymore.  She anologised the situation with her brothers as like 2 cans of expired peaches.  You can’t really have them anymore.

Mingyue was trying to stop her talking but Tang Can was encouraging her.

Ling Xiao was upset but he can relate.  Afterall he left her for 9 years with barely a contact over the past seven years.

They found out their new neighbour was Ziqui.

Mingyue went to see him and begged him not to tell Ling Xiao about her crush on him.

Ling Xiao asked Ziqui if they could be flatmates in the two-bedroom apartment.

Ziqui said to beg him.

“Please” begged Ling Xiao

‘Ok” Ziqui replied easily.

I love their bromance.  They are so gorgeous.

Meanwhile, it looks like that Jian Jian has a boyfriend because she has got a textmate.

Episode 14

In my opinion, this drama is cut above the rest.  It is so good, the story is told in a very simple style, no beating around the bush.  But the cast is perfectly performing their characters with so much sympathy.  You can feel the pathos, the worry, the sadness, the sorrow, the feeling of helplessness, and most importantly the loneliness and of course the occasional joy and happiness which makes this drama so uplifting and heartwarming.

Episode 14 is about that time after the surprise meeting of the pseudo-siblings again after such a long time.

Jian Jian felt every bit of the awkwardness of being with her once adored brothers. Being virtually being cut off from them gave birth to a sense of not exactly alienation but more of indifference.

How can you get back the closeness of practically living in each other’s pockets once?  After so many years without each other, there’s bound to be factors that change one’s perspective, experience, way of doing, and seeing things which are called growth.

Anyway, let’s go back to the drama.  Jian Jian was telling Mingyue and Tang Can about her feelings about her brothers.  She said that she doesn’t feel the same clossness about them.  In fact, she had forgotten how it was but she was expected to carry on as if the years that had gone by did not happen.  They expected that she had stagnated as a second-year high schooler whose world is a capsule of her brothers and fathers.

Tang Can said that she should just treat them as relatives as distant relatives.  Be casual and not to force herself to be sisterly if she doesn’t feel like it.

Mingyue thought that Tang Can’s advice was crap but Jian Jian liked it.

The next morning she was chill.  She knocked at the opposite apartment occupied by Ziqui.  She was friendly but aloof. She told him to prepare a cake for Hepang who had a birthday.  And also bring gifts for the father.

Ziqui did not notice it though, he was too elated that his sister knocked on his door.

Ziqui finally showed himself to Heichao who was so overcome with happiness.

Haichao had long for his son to come home.  This scene made me tear up again despite seeing the trailers with and without sub so many times.

The get-together was a very happy occasion. Everyone was happy to see each other.

Then a secret was revealed which almost derailed the glorious family dinner.

Ziqui accidentally pulled on Ling Xiao’s shirt collar which revealed a big scar.  Ziqui was so shocked and so annoyed that Ling Xiao got a scar. Who maltreated him?

Everyone looked at that scar.  Ling Xiao said that he got burnt.

Hepang was in despair and Haichao was equally worried.

Seeing that the family dinner will descend to something maudlin, Jian Jian said that it was time to eat the bubbling hotpot.

Jian Jian made everyone overcome the sense of worry over how Ling Xiao must have lived with his mother.

Again the hotpot brought out their sense of wellbeing.

Ling Xiao, walked Jian Jian and Ziqui outside.  Ziqui said he was going to give Jian Jian a lift back home.

They found out that Ziqui had bought a cute pink moped online.  But it doesn’t look like it was going to work.

Ling Xiao worried for Jian Jian so he said he was going to get her a taxi but at the opportune time her phone rung.  She told them she got to go to meet her boyfriend.

The look on her brothers’ faces was more than shock.

Ziqui tried to catch up with Jian Jian’s taxi but what he saw on his peripheral vision was someone who looks like his mother. He gave chase but he lost her.

And poor Ling Xiao was alone at the rooftop trying to contact Jian Jian.

He then listened to his mother’s many messages.

It seems that Ling Xiao did escape rather than leave.  His mother was still expecting him to come back after his ‘holiday’

Episode 15

This episode is all about Jian Jian and her new boyfriend, Zheng Shuran, who she had known for many years as an internet buddy she shares a love of sculptures.

Out of the blue Shuran asked to be her boyfriend and she said yes because she wanted to get inspiration out of the relationship for her art.

Unfortunately, her brothers’ protective instinct kicked in in overdrive.  They started thinking of the worst scenario that could happen to her which is the boy forcing her to a hotel.

The boys hunted the lovers from the cake shop where they were last seen to the nearby shopping centre.  As they were running out of option, the boys went to the police.  It so happened that Hepang was on duty.  The boys told them that Jian Jian had been forced into a hotel by her boyfriend.

Hepang tried to calm the boys down because he said Jian Jian had only been on disconnect for an hour.  Hepang asked the boys if they had called Haichao.

They said that they had not as they don’t want to worry him.

Hepang called Haichao and informed him of the dastardly situation concerning Jian Jian.

Haichao was so surprised because he was looking at Jian Jian and Shuran at the noodle restaurant chatting merrily away.

The boys turned up like a flash of lightning in front of the lovers.

Episode 16

And it got really worst.

Both Ling Xiao and Ziqui said that they had noticed that Jian Jian’s new boyfriend is untrustworthy, a real pervert, who stares at women all the time.

Jian Jian dismissed it explaining that Zhuran is an artist and he was trying to get inspiration.

Ling Xiao was having none of it and gave her his mobile phone in front of everyone at their dinner table.  He ordered her to call Zhuran and break up with him.

Jian Jian was annoyed.

Ziqui also backed up Ling Xiao and told Jian Jian that she had to break up with Zhuran.

Jian Jian had had enough and told them that she doesn’t need them.  She was fine when they left to go to their respective family abroad, she has friends and was really happy. Now that she is 25 she can decide for herself, she doesn’t need them anymore, she can go to any dentist for treatment and there are plenty of dessert shops.  She also said that they were not really blood families.

Everyone was shocked, her father was so shocked and told her to apologise but she would not have it.

Ling Xiao declared that she had been wanting to say what she just had mentioned from the first day that they had returned.  This was how she really felt about them.

He then left feeling sad because she was the one anchor in his life that he cherished, valued, and thought would remain constant.  He remembered the time when he almost lost her.

They were very young, just after his mother had left.  Jian Jian was begging him to buy her sweets but he told her that it was not good for her teeth.

Jian Jian though threw a strop and had a sit-down strike on the street.

Ling Xiao counted to three and expected her to comply to go home with him but she did not. He started going but he got concerned when he noticed that young Jian Jian was not following him as she always does in the end.

When he returned to the spot where he last saw her, she was not there.  He ran around trying to find her until he heard her screaming for him.  She was being abducted.  Ling Xiao went and grabbed Jian Jian by biting the abductor’s hand.

Ling Xiao kept a tight hold on Jian Jian and won’t let go of her no matter how much a couple of abductors were trying to beat him up.

Thank goodness some passersby saw what was happening.

Heichao was so grateful to Hepeng that he declared that Heping will be Jian Jian’s godfather.

Heping, however, said that he will be Jian Jian’s father as well.

Then Haichao told Jian Jian to honour Ling Xiao as he will be her new brother.

Cute Jian Jian bowed to Ling Xiao and said “Ge ge”

Ling Xiao bowed back at Jian Jian and said “Mei Mei”

“Ge Ge”

” Mei Mei”

“Ge Ge”

“Mei Mei”

They unwittingly bowed at each other three times which symbolizes childhood betrothal.

Jian Jian might not have realised it but even at a very young age, Ling Xiao knew that Jian Jian was the one, his soulmate.

Now, his soulmate is leaving him and he can’t do anything about it.

Ziqui remained glued to Jian Jian.  Despite telling him to leave her alone, he made sure Jian Jian is fed a good breakfast.

Then the bombshell!

Heping got a call from Chen Ting. She wanted to know if he was well and when he was going to send Ling Xiao back to Singapore.

Episode 17

Jian Jian was left alone by Ling Xiao to the point that when she had a dental appointment, he recommended Xixi to do Jian Jian tooth extraction.

Suddenly Jian Jian realised that she wanted her brother.

And this really made more apparent when she met him on the lift where he was pulling a suitcase.

Jian Jian repentantly begged Ling Xiao not to leave for Singapore.  She apologised profusely.  He is her brother, she gets that but he and Ziqui have to give her time to come to terms that they are back.

Suddenly Ling Xiao stopped at the bins and started to open the suitcase full of rubbish by the previous tenant.

Jian Jian was so embarrassed and was so grateful when Mingyue turned up.

Ling Xiao though had never been happier for a long time.

Then Jian Jian heard from her father that Ziqui was in a bad accident.  She was so frightened and stressed and when she met Tang Can at the hospital, it was the last straw when Tang Can jokingly said that Ziqui was all bloodied and the doctor had said that they did everything they could.

Jian Jian started crying for Ziqui.

Ling Xiao came to see her immediately and assured her that Ziqui was not dead.  Ling Xiao then scolded a very sorry Tang Can for joking which was out of place at that time.

It was later revealed that Ziqui, feeling drained from work, took some of the vitamin pills of Ling Xiao.

He did not realised that they were valium as Ling Xiao had put the tablets in vitamin pills containers.  So he drove his moped under the influence of drugs into a tree.

It then came out that Ling Xiao has insomnia and relies on drugs to relax and sleep.

The three really bonded again as if the years they were away from each other never really happened or they finally reconciled their hurt feelings from each other.  Awww

Episode 18

The girls threw a welcome/karaoke party for the boys, which included Zhuang Bei who is Ziqui’s best friend.

Tang Can has a massive crush on Zhuang Bei but he fell in love at first sight with Mingyue upon seeing her at the party.

They noticed the easy closeness between the ‘brothers and sister’ who remained eating at the dinner table while Tang Can was giving her all trying to impress Zhuang Bein with off-key singing.

Zhuang Bei whispered to Mingyue that the brothers and sister were not blood-related.  He reckoned that Jian Jian will end up as a couple with one of the brothers.

Mingyue immediately said that it would not be with Ling Xiao because he was in love with someone else already.  Thinking that he had been carrying a torch for her since high school.

While Ling Xiao was helping Ziqui to the toilet, Ling Xiao’s phone rung and Jian Jian answered it.

The caller was XiaoMei (little sister), Ling Xiao’s sister, wanting to know when her brother was coming.  Mei said that her brother was only supposed to be away for a month.

Episode 19

It looks like Haichao had genuinely fell for He Mei.  Nooooooooooo

Anyway, Ling Xiao told Jian Jian that he will really be away for a couple of days to Singapore.  To reassure her, he showed her the confirmation for his return ticket.

He Lan came to visit her nephew Ziqui to fleece him off of 20,000RMB as her husband has stomach cancer and needed money for chemo.

Seriously, the writer has a problem with the older women.  He made them all horrible, unreasonable, mental, unfilial, and money-grabbing bitches.  LOL

Mingyue drove Ling Xiao to the airport.  She told him that she can no longer be in an ambiguous relationship with him so she kissed the surprised Ling Xiao on the cheek then told him they will talk when he gets back from Singapore.

Ling Xiao was back in Singapore.

Jian Jian tried to call him but she can’t get through because his phone was broken by his furious mother when she realised that Ling Xiao was not staying permanently in Singapore with her and he calls the place in China home. Chen Ting was going mental.

Episode 20

This episode is bittersweet.  Poor Mingyue.

Ziqui is constantly worrying about Jian Jian and her being too young to have a boyfriend.  His friend, Zhuang Bei, told Ziqui that it looks like he was actually in love with Jian Jian.

Ziqui was rather clueless about love but somehow Zhuang Bei convinced him that he was indeed in love with Jian Jian.

After all, Jian Jian is always on his mind and that she also features in a major way in the future he was envisioning for himself.

Due to this newfound knowledge that he is in love with Jian Jian, suddenly the innocence of their relationships as siblings was breaking down.  He was looking at her differently.

During the anniversary of Jian JIan’s mother’s death, Jian Jian drunk part of the strong wine offering to her mother, and she got a bit merry.

Ziqui had to piggyback her home.  She sleepily whispered to him not to leave her.  And he promised he won’t ever again.  Without Ling Xiao, he will look after her and their dad himself.

Ling Xiao did return to China fairly late at night on the 21st death anniversary of Jian Jian’s mother.  He insisted on paying his respect to Jian Jian’s mother.

He then hurried to Jian Jian.

Mingyue was all excited to see Ling Xiao’s backpack in their living room.  She saw the ajar door to  Jian Jian room.  She was all happy but got the shock of her life and heart when she saw Ling Xiao tenderly kissing the sleeping Jian Jian.

She realised that she was not the girl he loves since highschool.  It was Jian Jian all along.

Poor Mingyue moved out… for a while?

Episode 21

This is an OMG episode.  So cute and then ruined in the latter part by the appearance of Hei Mei.   Seriously, the writer has a big problem.  Why make a perfectly interesting drama by adding a boring token romance for Haichao?  Why? Why?

This part of the drama made Haichao, a favourite character, not the romantic husband pining for his dead wife all those years ago.  I thought he only wanted to marry Hei Mei to give Jian Jian a mother figure when she was just five years old, just a year after her mother died.

It this episode, it makes it looks like Haichao had been in love and pining for Hei Mei instead longer than he loved his dead wife.  It seems he just can’t forget the grim face HeiMei.

But let’s leave this boring bit and go to the most romantic and cutest confession of love.

This was the morning after Ling Xiao couldn’t help himself anymore and just had to kiss Jian Jian while she slept.  The kisses woke her up and she was in complete denial of what had happened.

But Ling Xiao would not let her forget.

She tried to convince him that what he was feeling was just a result of meeting each other again after such a long time and the residue of the guilt from that made him think there was more to the sibling love he felt for her. And probably he was traumatised by whatever occurred in his recent visit to Singapore.

But gorgeous Ling Xiao (please Song Wei Long, grow your hair back) confessed to Jian Jian…

“When I was in my senior year in high school, I told you I would marry you in the future.

Since then, I’ve made up my mind that I’ll leave you the watermelon core right in the middle,

the rice crust at the bottom of the rice cooker,

the meat on both gills of the fish,

The marrow in the marrow bone,

And the stuffing in steamed buns.

You took me in your house when we were children,

So I am yours

For my whole life.”

I must say I really savoured the confession.  I had to stop the mouse every phrase and smiled myself silly each time.

Yes, if Jian Jian, doesn’t like the marrow, the meat from the gills, stuffing the buns and the watermelon, send them to me, Ling Xiao.  I’ll pm you my address.  LOL

And then this gorgeous episode is let down by that Hei Mei story.  Why oh why?  I am not interested! SERIOUSLY.

Episode 22

The HeiMei storyline continues… yawn

Hepeng and Haichao decided to tell Ziqui that Heimei has been back in the country for a while.  She runs a beauty parlour, married with a four year old son.  They also told him that Heimei had not mentioned Ziqui to her current husband.

Ziqui said that he does not care.  He has his own family.

Ling Xiao, however, told him to go see HeiMei and tell her that he knows the situation right now and that she should never come to him one to ask him to take responsibility for her.

Ziqui (Steven Zhang is such a good actor, a joy to watch) asked to speak to Haichao privately.  He then told her that he wanted to be a real family because he wanted to marry Jian Jian, who had broken up with Zhuran.

Haichao was shocked and surprised.  He asked if Jian Jian agrees with the marriage thing.

Ziqui confessed that he had not told her yet. He wanted first to ask Haichao’s permission to court Jian Jian.

Haichao asked him what if Ziqui does not get his permission and what if Jian Jian does not want to marry Ziqui.

Ziqui said he will work really hard and won’t stop until he gets permission from Haichao and agreement to marry from Jian Jian.

Haichao told Ziqui that it was so sudden and he needed time to get around the idea first.

Meanwhile, Ling Xiao told Jian Jian that he was a bit jealous of Ziqui because Ziqui seemed to always come first with her.  Even when they were younger, it was Ziqui who she went with to the arcades and computer centers.  They always shared laughs and misdemeanors and ate junk foods.  He felt excluded.

Jian Jian said that because Ling Xiao was anal. LOL  He was always the voice of reason and stop them doing what they thought was fun.  And as to junk food, she remembers that he would not eat anything after he had brushed his teeth.

Anyway, Ling Xiao told her to think seriously of what he said to her (his confession).

Jian Jian finally agreed that she would but she made him promised not to tell anyone especially Ziqui for now.

Ziqui found Jian Jian alone in the living room.

Jian Jian asked him to apply the tincture to her mosquito bites.  She felt comfortable with him, like the brother when they were younger.

And she told him so.

This gave Ziqui the confidence to broach the subject of becoming closer still by being her boyfriend.

Jian Jian was shocked.  This was just too much.  Both her adored brothers confessed to her.  She can’t take it anymore so she left him and locked herself in her room.

The following day, Ling Xiao went to her studio and asked her to lunch.  He was really serious about his courtship.  He wanted to hold hands while they were walking together.

Jian Jian was unsure at first but told herself and Ling Xiao that they did hold hands as children.

Episode 23

Ziqui had his confrontation with Heimei, who came to his restaurant.

He Mei told him about her life with her current husband and her four-year-old son.

She asked why Ziqui wanted to see her.

Ziqui said he had some questions he wanted to asked her to get closure.

He wanted to know why she did not send for him like she promised when she went to Shenzhen all those years ago.

He Mei said that that time was hard.  She could barely take care of herself so she could certainly not be able to look after him.

Ziqui declared that he was an inconvenience for her.  Ziqui said that he has his family and he will not have anything to do with her the buck stops here.  She should not come to him to ask him to take responsibility for her in the future.

HeiMei was unmoved.  All she said was that she had another son.

Ziqui returned the pocket mirror with her photo back to Hei Mei as a sign that they were through as family.

Hei Mei did tell Ziqui rather belatedly that he could come to her if he faces any problem.

Jian Jian went to see Mingyue, who so upset with her.

Jian Jian said that she found out that Ling Xiao likes her the same time as Mingyue did.  She then added that she was shocked to know that both her brothers love her.

This only made MIngyue fumed even more.  Mingyue told Jian Jian that she came to see her to brag because she knew she liked Ziqui in highschool.

Mingyue called Jian Jian a dog which insulted Jian Jian so much it made her cry.

Ling Xiao could not help but smile when she was telling him what Mingyue told her.

Then Ziqui came home and told them that he just met Auntie He.

At first Jian Jian did not know who Auntie He, but Ling Xiao elaborated that it was He Mei.

Ziqui said he was alright and went to his bedroom.

Jian Jian later went to see him and found him covered in his duvet from head to toe, looking pathetically sad.  Jian Jian gave him chocolate to cheer him up and ended up holding his hand to comfort him.

Jian Jian and Du Juan’s studio is becoming popular.  A foreigner wanted to do business.

Jian Jian and Du Jian asked Ziqui to act as their interpreter.

When he turned up, he looks rather suave in his grey suit.  But he is Zuqui, a prankster.  He asked Jian Jian to smell his hair, she said it was ok, he then said that he had not washed it for three days. They ended up chasing each other in the studio.  They are really brother and sister.

Episode 24

Within 2 minutes of this episode, I was shedding tears.

It started with Ling Xiao having a nightmare which so affected him, he started having hallucinations from the guilt trip his mother had put him through.

Jian Jian was just in time to console him as he was going deeper and deeper into depression.

Jian Jian later took him for a jog to increase his endorphins, thus would make him have a good night’s sleep.

Jian Jian asked him what happened in Singapore.  She did not expect that his mother could just let him go without a good fight.

Ling Xiao told her that his mother confiscated his certificates and passport but in the end Mei had spoken to their mother about being grown up and time for her to look after Chen Ting.

His mother grudgingly agreed to let him go but he feels guilty of leaving them and yet he just can’t help himself from returning back to China.

HeiMei came to see Haichao.  She told him that she had spoken to Ziqui and seen the place where he works.  She reckons that the cake shop is hemorrhaging him of money.  He opened up in the wrong location where his main customers are students who can ill-afford to buy expensive cakes.

HeiMei told Haichao to tell Ziqui to contact her friend who can advise him about running a restaurant.  HeiMei told Haichao not to tell Ziqui that the friend is her friend.

Mingyue met up with Jian Jian.  Mingyue said that they are the bestest of friends that is why it was hard to continue on living together in their flat.  Jian Jian was very upset because it was like an end to an era.  She and Mingyue had been best friends for such a long time.

Tang Can was having a bad time with her parents who look down on her business in Taobao.

It got so bad that she brought home her bad feeling and Jian Jian got the full force of it when Jian Jian said that perhaps her parents were right that she should work in a museum rather than caring service from strangers.

Tang Can was upset and accused Jian Jian that she was looking down on her and perhaps when Jian Jian becomes a really famous artist, she would drop Tang Can without a thought.

They fought bitterly so Jian Jian escaped to her brothers’s apartment.

Ling Xiao saw how upset she was and very disturbed by her fight with Tang Can that she reckoned she would not be able to sleep.

He told her that he had something that would make her forget about her row with Tang Can.

Jian JIan said nothing can take it off her mind.

He then kissed her deeply (me next, I am upset too, lol). They were so cute.

Jian Jian liked the kiss but was so embarrassed about it she buried her head on the cushion.

Ling Xiao left her alone to shower and then he will take her to get ice-cream.

Poor Mengyue was being bullied by her mother to give up her news reporting job and become a civil servant instead.

Episode 25

Mingyue decided to return to the flat as it was more bearable to face the embarrassment of misunderstanding Ling Xiao rather than put up with her mother’s nagging.

The following morning, Mingyue made up with Jian Jian, who she teased as being in a deeper shit that her.  She said that Jian Jian in cheating on two men under one roof.

Jian Jian was with Ziqui when she imagined the kiss with Ling Xiao the previous night.  She asked Ziqui whether he would suddenly kiss her if he saw that she was mad.

Ziqui was shocked by the idea of kissing her, instead if she was really mad he would stick her head in the freezer to cool off.

Jian Jian said it was a good answer.

Ling Xiao took Mingyue to lunch to apologise and clear the misunderstanding.

He said that he owed her an apology because he befriended her at first in order to use her when he was in Singapore.  He told her a bit of how it was like then.  He was looking after a temperamental mother who often would exhibit some bizarre acts then he had to act as mother and father to his sister and then he had to study as well.  There was enough days of the week.  When he felt like giving up, he would call Mingyue to ask her about Jian Jian. The photos and news about Jian Jian were what kept him going.

Kind Mingyue was so moved and said that he needn’t apologise but just say thank you instead.

Mingyue and Tang Can were talking in the living room, when Jian Jian overheard Tang Can venting her jealousy about Jian Jian.

Tang Can said that Mingyue was unlucky in love and she was unlucky in her career.  Meanwhile, Jian JIan has everything and she is now a real artist.

Jian Jian was upset about Tang Can being sniggering towards her so she went to a coffee shop and ordered a huge cream cake she busily enjoyed all to herself until the gorgeous Ling Xiao showed up.

He said that he was at the shop to get her a cake but saw she was already demolishing one.

She said he could have some if he wanted and he did, using the same spoon as Jian Jian used.  She was shocked at first but he was just so GORGEOUS!

Jian Jian told him about Tang Can being jealous of her, she said she just wanted prosperity to their country and world peace.

Ling Xiao said that he has a simpler wish, good health to the family, no one gets sick and for himself when he marries he wanted a couple of kids.

Jian Jian was curious about two kids and asked about it.

Ling Xiao made it sound as if the two kids are negotiable and it will really be up to her.  So cute… omg.

My wish is also simple.  Please give another romance drama to these two together immediately.  Their chemistry is up the roof.

Ziqui’s restaurant was not doing well.  He was hardly making any money.

Anyway, Jian Jian was being interviewed about her rising career at the cake restaurant.

After the interview, she took the opportunity to speak about being together in a romantic way with Ziqui.

She told him that she had actually though of the wedding with him.

Ziqui became bashful but excited that she was thinking of marrying him.

Jian Jian continued that she reckoned being married with him will be a bad idea. She said what if they had an argument during a celebration, they would not be able to escape to other families because they were it.

She said that while not in good terms they will still eat together on the same table and sleep on the same bed.

Ziqui said then they will eat at the same table and sleep in the same bed just like when they were children.

Jian Jian said he was talking about sleep as a noun form rather than action word.  LOL

Ziqui was so shocked that a girl like her would come out with such filth.  LOL

Jian Jian said that she is 25.  She further elaborated that the girl he really wanted to look after was her 6 years old self, her 10 years old self and her 16 years old.

Ziqui finally realised what she was saying but he was sad that they could not be a real family.

Jian Jian told him that though they are not legally a family in her heart he was always has been.  In her heart’s family register, Haichao is their father, her dead mother was their mother, her older son was Ziqui and she was oldest daughter.

Ziqui asked where Ling Xiao figures?

Jian Jian said that he was his own family register with Heping.

This heartwarming declaration from Jian Jian mollified and gratified Ziqui.

Episode 26

Tang Can was really feeling sorry for herself.  Mingyue tried to pacify her but Jian Jian gave her a good talking to. Jian Jian asked her what she really wanted to do.  She kept going to auditions and get disappointed when she doesn’t get the role but the thing is that she does not really give it her 100%.  She just wanted to become an actress for her parents’ vanity.

She said that Mingyue and her are her friend, not her punchbag.

She then ran to Ling Xiao.

She got annoyed with Zhuang Bei, who was with Ling Xiao looking at her contract, who disrespected Tang Can.

Jian Jian went to Ling Xiao’s room in a huff.

Ling Xiao followed her and they got talking. They even had a short conversation with Chen Ting, who insisted on speaking to Jian Jian over the phone.

Later on, rather excitedly curious, as one does, she asked Ling Xiao when he first found out he likes her.

Ling Xiao said that when he was in high school, that was why he did not want her to go to his room and climb on his bed.

She asked what would he had done if she had married someone else while he was away in Singapore.

Ling Xiao confessed that he had thought about it and he said he would have waited for her to get a divorce and help her look after the children, if she did not get a divorce, he will just be her faithful lifelong brother.

Jian Jian got more curious because as she rightly said, why her when there are plenty of other good girls around?

He said that people like him have no energy to look at other women to get to know.  He looks for Jian Jian by instinct and without here he would feel like he was drowning.

Jian Jian held his hand and told him that she doesn’t have much energy either because she used it up with both him and Ziqui.

They were about to kiss but got interrupted by Ziqui who wanted to know what they were doing.

Jian Jian said they were playing.

The scene about Mingyue having fun inciting Jian Jian in front of Ling Xiao and Ziqui was absolutely hilarious.

Mingyue came to the breakfast table with a manga book entitled “Troubled by my Brother’s Love” Mingyue was laughing and Ling Xiao couldn’t help smiling, while Ziqui was shocked that Jian Jian reads such filth.  LOL. He confiscated the book.  Steven Zhang was such a brilliant actor.

HeiMei’s friend came to see Ziqui and advised him to downgrade his restaurant. Offer a cheaper, more suitable food for students’ budget or just close down the restaurant as it would continue to drain money.

Ziqui twigged that the woman was Heimei’s friend as he recognised him from before.

He went to Haichao with Jian Jian and talk about the woman.

Haichao admitted that the woman was indeed Heimei’s friend and it was all Heimei’s idea.

Haichao then asked if Ziqui and Jian Jian are dating.

Jian Jian enlightened her father that Ziqui really doesn’t love her as a woman but he just wanted to be included in the Li Family Register.

Ziqui denied this but Haichao asked how Jian Jian convinced Ziqui to cease and desist from pursuing her.

Jian Jian said that it was love.

Jian Jian was with Ziqui when he as withdrawing cash for staff pay.  Jian Jian was shocked to know that he was using a credit card.

She told him that she thought he was loaded with his rich father financing him.

Ziqui confessed that he can’t stand his father and would not kowtow to him while he was studying abroad. His father, therefore, stop financing him, his tuition, his allowance, etc. Poor Ziqui had to take every available job that is going to finance himself.

Episode 27

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS DRAMA SO VERRRRY MUCH!

Jian Jian and Du Huan held a hotpot party for their friends.

Du Huan’s annoying boyfriend highlighted a trending topic that may interest Jian Jian.  So they were curious what it was and told him to post in Moments.  Du Huan tried to signal Jian Jian about it but it was too late everyone at the table was reading it.

It was Jian Jian secret blog about her two brothers who both confessed to her.

On their way back home, Jian Jian was supported at each side by MIngyue and Tang Can but both Ling Xiao and Ziqui pulled her into their flat to talk about their issues.

Now that Ling Xiao and Ziqui knew that they both confessed to her, each tried to convince each other how more suitable each of them for Jian Jian.

Ling Xiao said that he had a childhood betrothal with Jian Jian which can be attested by their neighbours.

Ziqui can’t be outdone.  He said that he had a childhood marriage with Jian Jian, they slept on the same bed together.

But in the end, Ling Xiao pulled Jian Jian towards him and said that he was already going out with Jian Jian.

Poor Ziqui asked Jian Jian if it is true.

Jian Jian could only nod.

Poor Ziqui asked why Ling Xiao and not him?  Why is he always abandoned?

Both Ling Xiao and Jian Jian felt the desolation from Ziqui which enveloped them as well.

That night all three could not sleep.  Ziqui was crying himself to sleep,  Ling Xiao took a couple of valium to calm himself down. And Jian Jian sneaked in between the sleeping Tang Can and Mingyue.

The next morning, the girls woke up talking about what happened.

Tang Can said that she would have chosen Ziqui because he comes from money, his father is rich.  Although, Tang Can said that Ling Xiao will be rich one day from being a dentist.

Mingyue said that Ling Xiao is handsome but Jian Jian will have a hell of a mother in law.  Mingyue also added that if she were a guy she would also choose Jian Jian. Tang Can objected but Mingyue said with Jian Jian there is no issue of a mother-in-law.

The girls were talking about going for breakfast somewhere but they were surprised to see the breakfast table already set by Ziqui.

Jian Jian felt guilty and followed him as he left their flat but he told her that he was not upset (but obviously he was).

Now, something is being set for the unlikable Heimei.  She was talking to her friend who was telling Heimei that she had seen Ziqui who is such a good boy, as good as Heimei.  No Heimei is no good.  Seriously, she is something that rhymes with witch, LOL

Anyway their tete a tete was interrupted by a call from the kindergarten.  Apparently little Dongdong has been a naughty boy, biting his schoolmates.

It turned out good old Heimei had ruined another soul.  Her baby son had become autistic and the school had advice to pull him up and enrol him to a special school.

What is this special school?  Haichao’ Noodle Restaurant?

Seriously, leave kind-hearted Haichao alone.

Jian Jian and Ling Xiao went to the garden of her university where she planted a tree.  It was so verdant, it became known as the wishing tree, therefore, red ribbons surround it and cute little ornaments and wishes were hanging on it.

Jian Jian teased Ling Xiao when he posted a wish and had a little prayer.  Ling Xiao said that you become a little superstitious as you grow older.

He said he wanted to wish “May our love last forever”

Jian Jian said it was old fashion but he hefted her against the tree and asked her how tall she was. She said she is 5’4″, he looked at her and she said she is 5’3″.

He then kissed her.  Awww, how romantic but Jian Jian was left wanting more.  Yes more, more.

They ended up in an eatery where they had their first domestic.

It started when they were talking about her height. Ling Xiao said that he will go down on his knees with a ring.

Jian Jian was rather shocked as they had only been going out for a few days.  It is too easy and too soon to talk about a ring.

The atmosphere between then got even darker when Ling Xiao said that she should stay away from Ziqui.

Jian Jian said that they should also stay away from each other when Ziqui is around.

Ling Xiao was suddenly becoming emotional and told Jian Jian, “If you have mercy on me, just go ahead till the end. Don’t show your mercy to whoever more pathetic.’

Jian Jian was not having this but Ling Xiao had said his piece.  He took his bag and left.

Jian Jian was running after him.  She asked him what was going on?

Ling Xiao said that if she had changed her mind, he will still be her family, her brother to the end.  Perhaps she was having a second thought and thinks Ziqui is more suited to her?

Jian Jian said she chose him because she likes him.  She asked him what was going on?  Did he not have any other outside passion?

Often Song Wei Long comes rather underwhelming in the acting department compared to Seven Tan and Steven Zhang but in this instance, this acting is spot on.  He really made Ling Xiao looks lonely and a little needy.  Good acting, I wanted to give him a hug.

What did you do in Singapore aside from looking after Auntie and Xiao Mei and going to school?, Jian Jian asked.

Ling Xiao said…

Missing you, missing home.

Daydreaming; seeing you when I come back, marrying you, having a child with you, being happy together as a family.   I even thought of a name for our child.

Omg, it was filled with emotion.

Jian Jian was so worried that she asked him what was wrong with him?  Was he sick?

Why did no one notice that he was not well?

Episode 28

Jian Jian was feeling out of sort because of the issues with both Ziqui and Ling Xiao so she called her father.  They had a very heartwarming conversation.

Heping took Ling Xiao to a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor.  He diagnosed that Ling Xiao had some serious psychological issues.  He is depressed and needed to see a psychiatrist.

Heping suddenly told the doctor that all he wanted to know was about Ling Xiao’s insomnia.

The doctor gave the prescription to Ling Xiao and sent him out.

However, Ling Xiao stayed outside the door where he can hear his father talking with the doctor.  Heping told the doctor that he could not send Ling Xiao to a psychiatrist because he is not even married yet.  What would a potential bride think if they found out that Ling Xiao had been to a psychiatrist?

The doctor finally saw the point of Heping’s concern.

Ziqui found a dog abandoned by the dumpster.  He took it home and with Jian Jian, they gave the dog a bath.

ziqui told Jian Jian that the dog was like him, abandoned and no one wanted.

Episode 29

This episode is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

Mingyue applied for a job in Beijing.

Tang Can learned that Zhuang Bei has a  crush of Mingyue.

Jian Jian was finally able to make Ziqui understand that she might be with Ling Xiao in a romantic way, but he is still her brother that she cherished.

At first Ziqui was not convinced and said that once she’s married to Ling Xiao, he will become her family.

Jian Jian said that marriage relationship might be a temporary one. Once you don’t get on and get’s on each other’s nerves, you divorce just like Hei Mei and  Hua Guang as well as Heping and Chen Ting.  What she feels for Ziqui in from the heart, there are cases that you don’t get on with your own blood family like Ziqui and Huaguang but Jian Jian choose Ziqui as her brother.  He is in her heart forever but he must nurture this relationship with her and she with him.

She reminded him that when he left for nine years, she had almost forgotten him and she doesn’t want that to happen ever again.

The next morning, Jian Jian, Ling Xiao and Ziqui went for noodles at Haichao’s.

Ziqui told the lovers that as a brother to Jian Jian, there are three rules to fallow.

First, Jian Jian must be impartial.  She must not favour Ling Xiao over Ziqui.

Second, if Ling Xiao quarrels with Ziqui, Jian Jian must stand on the side of her brother.

Third, if Ling Xiao is not good to Jian Jian, Ziqui will beat him up.

Ling Xiao was about to say something but Jian Jian signaled him to just chill.

Haichao finally twigged that Jian Jian was in a relationship with Ling Xiao.  He tried to get some feedback from Ziqui, who cheekily said that if Jian Jian and Ling Xiao don’t work out, he will take over.  LOL

Ling Xiao and Jian Jian were in the house when Haichao turned up.  He interrupted their kissing.

Haichao sent Ling Xiao to get him some muscle relaxant strips.

While Ling Xiao was away, Haichao talked to Jian Jian.  He said that not that he was not in favour of Ling Xiao, he is worried of Chen Ting.  He doesn’t want Jian Jian getting crap from her mother-in-law.

Jian Jian assured him that she and Ling Xiao are both young and can work through anything.

And they seemed to work together well because Ling Xiao surprised both Jian Jian and Ziqui by paying Ziqui’s credit card bill.

Ziqui did not complain much.  He felt the close relationship that he has with Jian JIan and Ling Xiao.

Hei Mei was circling around Haichao again.  She brought Dong Dong with her to Haichao’s restaurant.  Good move, Haichao was totally enchanted with Dongdong.

Hei Mei said that she heard Huaguang had another son who he had celebrated with great pride and much expense.  She then heard that Ziqui was working two jobs and struggling with money.

Hei Mei called Hua Guang in front of Haichao and berated him for the mistreatment of Ziqui, for not providing for Ziqui.

Huaguang said that he gave Ziqui every chance to recognise him as his father but Ziqui would not.  He, therefore, washed his hand to an ungrateful son.

Hei Mei went mental.  She said that she will go back to their village and will announce to the neighbours how Hauguang got his money and while living in the lap of luxury, he disowned his first born son.

Huaguang was raging and called Ziqui who knew nothing about it.  Huaguang told him that Hei Mei was pestering him for money to give to Ziqui.

Ziqui could not believe her parents using him as a pawn against each other.  She went to Heimei’s salon, which was closed already, followed by Jian Jian and Ling Xiao.

Poor Ziqui was absolutely heartbroken with what was happening with his life. Then Jian Jian came to him with his missing slipper and gently wiped off the dirt and grit from his foot before putting his slipper on him.

He just had to hug her because he felt that she was the only one on his side.

Ling Xiao, Jian Jian, and Ziqui were shocked when Hei Mei and Haichao with sleeping Dongdong in his arms turned up.

Episode 30

Omg! This episode is the rehabilitation of the character image of Hei Mei.  They are making her to be some sort of a martyr for abandoning Ziqui.

Nope, I don’t buy it.  Heimei was a con-artist, much too inferior for the saintly Haichao.

Perhaps they are trying to make Heimei more likable so she could be the token love interest for Haichao; they will get married and therefore this will have a closure to Ziqui’s wish of being in the family register of the Lis.

Nope, that storyline will ruin this excellent drama.  It would make it too shmaltzy, there are already too many coincidences as it is, e.g. the both Ziqui and Ling Xiao was abandoned by their mothers almost at the same time, Both left to go abroad to be with their real family, they then both stayed abroad for nine years, and then they both mind-bogglingly turned up at the same time.

I would rather see Haichao and Heping retiring and doing a lads’ holiday.  Going fishing, traveling, and looking forward to their grandchildren.

As Jian Jian said, her father is getting old.

Haichao needs rest and relaxation for his bad back due to years of kneading, cooking, crouching, etc. He should not be looking after Dongdong in his time of life and dealing with the cold face Heimei.

Anyway, I said my peace.

As I said this episode is mainly about Heimei who said that she went to Shenzhen with the intention of sending for Ziqui when she had found herself a job.

She found a job in a beauty counter and man trouble as well.

Her manager wanted a relationship with her which she said she did not like.  The man’s wife was so upset she went to make a scene at work, slapped Heimei in public.

The manager then sacked her but her trouble did not stop there because the wife continued to harass her by graffitying the block of flats where Heimei was living.  She was daubbed a husband grabber. Her landlady told her to leave and to find herself a single man instead of snatching other women’s husbands.

That was during the first year, what about the other 19 years?  She did not think of her son at all.

Ziqui confronted her, she can see how she messed him up mentally. The boy has abandonment issues and Heimei does not acknowledge this seriously.  Instead she was letting her friend convinced her to forgive herself of what happened twenty years ago, apparently it was not her fault, it was beyond her control.

Instead, she needs to find her own happiness.  Whatttt?

Then they talked about who can be their best victim.  They agreed that it can only be Haichao because he is single and kind and could look after Dongdong and Heimei.  Bitches… LOL

Meanwhile, Heping got back from his two-months stake-out or seminar.  Haichao told him about LingXiao and Jian Jian.

Heping couldn’t be happier. He said he had always hope that they could be a real family together.  But he noticed that Haichao was not as enthusiastic as he is.  He asked Haichao if he thinks Ling Xiao is not good enough for Jian Jian?

Haichao immediately dismissed the idea.  He said that Chen Ting does not like Jian Jian and he would not let anyone bully his daughter.

Heping understood but said that Chen Ting is in Singapore.

Zhuang Bei invited Mingyue for coffee.  He then said that he had something to say to her but he was too shy to say it so he asked her to read the text he was sending.

She read it as she sits in front of him. She was shocked and scandalised because she did not expect that it was a confession of love.

She told him that he was out of the line, how could he confess to her when he knew that Tang Can, who has a massive crush on him, is her best friend.

Poor Mingyue was dithering at the doorstep of their apartment block, too nervous to go in as she feels guilty about Tang Can.

She was still in two minds about whether to go in when Jian Jian and Ling Xiao saw her.

Ling Xiao read the situation that the two girls needed a little privacy so he left them to it.

Jian Jian advised her to tell Tang Can everything upfront and dragged her to their flat.

Episode 31

This episode is more about Mingyue and Tang Can.

As Tang Can said the one she likes like Mingyue while the one Mingyue likes like Jian Jian.  Therefore she is the sorriest of them all.

Tang Can was indeed feeling sorry for herself because she went to an audition talk with a producer and director. All they wanted was to see her back.  She then learned that the role they were offering her was an stand-in fro Sun Yi who hurt her back so she couldn’t do the stunt which she insisted on doing.

Tang Can felt aggrieved.  She had just accepted that she may not get lead roles but being a stand-in was just too much for her to take.

She decided she needed a change and asked her father if the museum job was still available.

Meanwhile, Mingyue was feeling suffocated.  She feels like she was in a cocoon which somehow can’t break through.  It made more aggrieved when her mother showed her brochure for new flat being built near their house.  Her mother wanted her to put her name on.

She said that she cannot afford it but her mother said they will pay the 50% downpayment.

When she spoke to her father, he said not to do as they don’t have the money really.

Now the three girls are comparing notes who has the sorriest life.  Jian Jian said that she feels sorry for her father.  He is getting old.

Episode 32

Cheng Tin with Chengzi are back in China and did not wait to spread bad vibes to Ling Xiao and the family.  Everyone was worried how Ling Xiao might be feeling and can’t wait for mother and daughter to return to Singapore.

And they are right to be concerned because Ling Xiao had another episode of hearing the complaining voice of his mother.  Thank goodness, Jian Jian knew how he would be feeling as she turned up and slipped into bed with Ling Xiao.

Jian Jian told him to empty his mind, don’t think of anything, rest because if a comet collided with earth at least he had a goodnight slip.

This is all Ling Xiao needed to hear from dearest person in his life to be able to go to sleep.

Boring He Lan and He Meil had a tete a tete.  It turned out that Dong Dong is not He Mei’s son.  He is a son of a former employee of Hemei who ended up in prison for killing her husband after years of domestic violence.

Dong Dong, the poor neglected boy, went missing but ended up in the police station.  As Hei Mei doesn’t have the necessary paperwork to prove that she was Dong Dong’s parent, Hemei called Haichao for help as he knew a police officer that could probably sort out the mess.

Hai Chao with Heping found out about Hemei’s lies.  And HaiChao being a sucker of lies and pretty face, quickly took Hemei and Dongdong to his house and got the whole story from Hemei.

Meanwhile, Chen Ting is not leaving any place sacred for Ling Xiao.  She and Chengzi turned up at his place of work with some goodies for the staff.

He then toured them around until late.  When he got back, Jian Jian was waiting for him in his room.  He told her to go back to her place.

She asked if he could sleep without her, he confessed that when she first sleep over she moved so much in her sleep, she kicked him awake. LOL

Episode 33

Mingyue got caught between her parents’ disagreement over helping her pay for her flat.  Her father said that it was out of order.  They can’t afford to pay for it as he was nearing retirement age and need to save for themselves.

Her mother however said she will pay for it.

They started arguing until divorce was mentioned.

Finally, Tang Can seemed to please her parents when she decided to work in the museum.  They encouraged her to go further by taking the Civil Servant exam for next year.

Du Juan was beginning to wise up on her scumbag boyfriend who she found out went on a blind date.

It was Ling Xiao’s 27th birthday and Cheng Tin threw him a party inviting the family.

Ziqui opted not to show up because he was already insulted earlier that day when the cake he baked for Ling Xiao was forcefully paid and collected by Chengzi.

Cheng Tin queened it during the dinner party and made veiled insult to both Haichao and Hepeng.  It was a very uncomfortable event and everyone was happy for it to end.

But not before Chengzi told Jian Jian was wasting her time with her brother because her mother does not like her.

The she said she doesn’t like Jian Jian herself.

Jian Jian said, “whatever, I don’t like you very much either.”

Ling Xiao kept asking his mother when they were returning to Singapore so he can book their a tickets.

Thank goodness, his birthday started well with a present of Nike Air from Jian Jian and ended with the two closest to him, Jian Jian and Ziqui.

He thought that Ziqui would have been upset but there he was he had another smaller cake for his birthday just for the three of them.  He looked fondly as his brother Ziqui who does not have any bad bone in his body.

HaiChao was truly hooked.  He kept thinking of Hei Mei who finally confessed tearfully that she did not send for Ziqui during the early days because she was in prison for four years for manslaughter when she accidentally pushed a hyper lady who ended up cracking her skull on a concrete step.

Ziqui visited his sponger aunt He Lan who encouraged him to make up with his mother.   HeMei gave He Lan money.

Episode 34

Ziqui learned Heimei story from He Lan including being in prison for manslaughter.

Thinking that Ziqui will be upset, both Jian Jian and Ling Xiao raced to find him.

When they did find him, he is upset not because of how Heimei left him but the lost time that he could have had with her but then again, he said he had a great childhood.

He then asked Jian Jian if she was always into Ling Xiao from the moment she first saw him.  Ziqui realised in hindsight that Jian Jian was always hanging around Ling Xiao and the sight and mention of Ling Xiao always made her eyes megawatt.

This tickled Ling Xiao so much that when he was alone with Jian Jian he said to her, “Let’s get married.”

“I’ll make money and buy you a house.” he continued.

Jian Jian, however, changed the subject immediately.  She said she doesn’t need a house, she’d rather eat fruits as she chewed on another slice of peach.

Poor Ling Xiao was gutted.

Meanwhile, he was not the only one who got disappointed.

Mingyue and her mother got disappointed with one another.

Mrs Qi thought that Minyue was studying for the civil servant exam but found out that she did not even make a start.  The books she gave Mingyue were as pristine as the day when she gave them to her.

Then they had their confrontation.

Mingyue said that she does not want to take the civil servant exam.  She wanted to be a journalist.

But her mother said that she needed something that would see her through her life and being a civil servant would be the answer.

It then came out that Mingyue purposely failed the mock exam to the college entrance so does not have to study Political Science and become a lawyer/prosecutor as her mother had wanted.

This ended with a real rupture between the mother and daughter.

Mrs Qi said that she will cancel the apartment and she can now do whatever she wants.

Mrs Qi left furious and upset but I have to say her power to buckle up the complicated straps on her highheels took her less than a minute.  What a superwoman!!!

Finally, Mingyue sent her application to study journalism in Beijing.  She said that she would still pay the rent so she has a place to return to.

Meanwhile, Zhaung Bei seemed to be seesawing between Mingyue and Tang Can.  They were encouraging him to pursue Mingyue but he was more attentive towards Tang Can, who said she was over him.

Episode 35

Chen Ting dropped a bombshell.  She decided to stay and live in China, practically in their  doorsteps, in their residential quarters.  And she wanted Ling Xiao and Chengzi to stay with her.

Poor Ling Xiao was having his dark moment and he had to go hug JIan Jian to get out of the black thoughts he gets whenever Chen Ting messes with his head.

Even Chengzi can’t take their mother’s sneaky and mecurial attitude anymore and decided to stay with Ling Xiao, who made her stay in the girls’ apartment.

The girls though are wary of the temperamental girl.  Chengzi is very anti-social and yet she does not get it why people tend to be cautious of her.

But it seems Ziqui is the one who can control her because he won’t take any of her crap.  He told her that Jian Jian is the cutest member of their family and she can see that he meant it.

Whether he meant it or just joking, Ling Xiao asked if Jian Jian would sleep with him that night.

Both Ziqui and Chengzi were shocked.

Ziqui said that nothing that kind would be happening, otherwise, he will report it to their Dad.

Jian Jian just laughed it off, saying that Ling Xiao was joking.

Chengzi said that she bet they’ve already slept together.

Ziqui was so shocked and told her that she has got a sewer mouth and if he hears her saying things like that again, he would smack her face.

Heping met up with Chen Ting.  He told her that their son has some mental problems and that he was currently on medication for depression and insomnia.

He was surprised that Chen Ting seemed to have not noticed.  But he told her that the best medicine for Ling Xiao is Jian Jian so whatever issues Chen Ting has with Jian Jian, she must overcome it for the sake of their son.

Heping was really worried about Ling Xiao.  He went to see his son at the dentist and went out to lunch.  They finally had a heartfelt talk where Ling Xiao admitted that he had always admired his father for being a policeman.  They really had a loving male bonding.  Heartwarming.

I have to say that Song Wei Long has caught up with Seven and Steven in the acting department.  Wei Long was really giving his all in this drama and you can see and feel it.

I think this is my favourite drama for 2020.

Episode 36

This is a very hectic episode.

Mingyue learned that her dad was now determined to divorce her mother after putting up for so long on her dictatorial ways.

Chengzi was told by Ziqui that she was talking space at his restaurant so he suggested for her to go back to her mother or work in his restaurant.  She opted for the later and Ziqui was like a proud father when he saw that the spoilt Chengzi could behave like a reasonable human being given half the chance.

Meanwhile, Cheng Tin is not giving up easily in trying to control Ling Xiao. She came again to visit the dental clinic and quizzed Dr XiXi if she’s already got a boyfriend.

Dr Xixi thought told Cheng Tin that Ling Xiao is already taken by Jian Jian.

Ling Xiao took his mother to lunch and told her point blank that he was going to marry Jian Jian.  His mother said that it was his decision but how could he marry when neighter has a house nor even a car.  She told him to wait for next year when she could sell her flat in Singapore and buy him a flat.

Speaking of Jian Jian, her career as a sculptor met a bit of a hiccough.  Her university newspaper had printed an article from her senior accusing her of plagiarism.  He said that her sculpture of ‘Family’ was copied from his work released four months earlier.

Everyone in the know, believed her because they know her story with her two pseudo-brothers which is so close they were like brothers and sisters.

Du Juan told her to go home as she looked all done in.

In the meantime, Cheng Tin with her sister were at the doorstep of Ling Xiao and Ziqui’s flat.  She called Ling Xiao for the passcode but he refused to give it to her.  But she said not to worry as Jian Jian was just approaching.

This was enough for Ling Xiao to race back home.

Jian Jian made some tea and sliced fruit for Cheng Tin and Auntie.  Cheng Tin was not at all grateful and told Jian Jian to go about her work and leave.

Jian Jian was lying on the sofa having a bit of a cry from the shitty day she had when Ling Xiao suddenly appeared.

He saw that she had been crying and told her to stay put and not to come to his flat.

He went for his mother.  He told his mother that she could put him and Chengzi to all manner of humiliation but Jian Jian is his bottom line, he would not allow even one sentence that would upset Jian Jian.

Jian Jian heard this and suddenly realised that Ling Xiao misunderstood the reason she was crying.  But he was already in the full force of letting his mother know how he really feels.

Cheng Tin said that he if treated his sister half as well as he dotes on Jian Jian, his sister would have not been as rebellious.  All he cared about is Jian Jian, his father, and their neighbours.

Ling Xiao said, “Because they love me!”  He then asked? “Why don’t you love me?”

He then went to Jian Jian and hugged her tightly as if his life depended on it.

Chengzi warned Jian Jian not to sleep with her brother because if she does it would be embarrassing if she meets her brother someday. She reasoned that Cheng Tin will never allow marriage between Jian Jian and her brother.

Heimei was completely rehabilitated.  She and Haichao are flirting up a storm and pursuing each other. Enough said!

Episode 37

Ling Xiao hugged Jian Jian for the longest time, not because he was comforting her but he was getting strenght from her.  He told her that next time she sees his mother, she was stay away from her.

Jian Jian said that she can’t do that because Cheng Tin will hate her more.  They should still respect her because she is his mother.

Ling Xiao said that if you want respect then you should at least be respectable.

Cheng Tin was still in Ling Xiao’s flat with her sister feeling sorry for herself.  Her sister did not help at all; infact she was inciting Cheng Tin to break up Ling Xiao and Jian Jian.  The sister said that if Ling Xiao ends up with Jian Jian, she will never see her son anymore.

Parents, eh!!!

Mingyue had to beg and audience from her mother who was absolutely livid that she was being left behind by both her daughter and her husband, who wanted a divorce.

Finally, Ling Xiao found out the real reason why Jian Jian was crying.  She explained about her senior accusing her of plagiarising his work.

Zhuran called and said that they will need the photo she based her sculpture to roast their lying senior.

So they were in the hunt to find the photo.

Their first stop was coffee at Ziqui’s restaurant where Chengzi is enjoying her joy.

Ling Xiao said that he can’t remember where his copy of the was but Chengzi interrupted and told the truth, the sorry sad truth of Ling Xiao’s life in Singapore with their disturbed mother.

Chen Ting has a pathological hatred of her ex-husband and Jian and her family.

Ling Xiao came home one day to see his sister being so bothered.  He then found out they their mother threw away the pair of sneakers Jian Jian gifted him which he treasured more than anything and not only that she was cutting all the photos from China from his beloved photo album.

Ling Xiao rushed out of the flat to at find his sneakers because he was going to lose his mind completely.

A very worried Chengzi chased after him and told him that he secretly took back his trainers from the bin and hid them in her backpack.  This is such an emotional scene, very dark.  Song Wei Long is doing really great.

So it was left to Ziqui to find his copy.  He called his bio-dad and asked to send him his photo album he left in the house.

His bio-dad said he will do it but with a condition.  Ziqui had to visit his dying grandpa a couple of times.  Ziqui was given by his bio-dad a million RBM which Ziqui wanted to return but his bio-dad to keep it as he deserves it.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Bei realised that he was really attracted to Tang Can but she said she was over him.  Now, Zhuang Bei was doing everything he can for Tang Can including getting her an interview with the director of a stage play.

Episode 38

Chengzi (Little Orange) finally moved out to move in with her mother.

Cheng Tin is as paranoid as ever and said that Chengzi had been brainwashed.

Chengzi said that Ling Xiao, Ziqui, Jian Jian and the rest of the family are too busy with everyday life to talk about Cheng Tin, much less to plot against her.

For some reason, Du Juan’s boyfriend Zhou Miao, was taking the plagiarism personally and had the gall to tell off Jian Jian about being so calm with the trouble she landed the company in.

He told Du Juan that she should leave the company and work with him as he will he graduating the following year.

Du Juan was even more troubled.

Mingyue got caught between the battle for divorce between her mother and father.

The father said that he could not take any more of the controlling habit of his wife and felt suffocated and, therefore, to get out, i.e. divorce is his only way out.

Mingyue said that as much as she sympathisers with his father, her mother’s controlling attitude was partly his fault.  He made and encouraged her to be that way.  He never said or really contradict his wife, he just stayed quiet and let her get on with it.

Becasue he knew that despite his wife ruling the roost, she did it very well.  She did the housework, she works, she did childcare and everything else.

Her father avoided strife for a quiet peaceful life.

And now that they are getting older, he just wanted to leave a ‘monster’ he created.

Jian Jian and Ziqui learned that Haichao and Heimei are getting closer.  Jian Jian was all for it and told Ziqui that he will finally realised his dream of belonging to the Li family register if Heimei marries Haichao.

Ziqui was troubled.  He said what if they did get together but Heimei ending up dumping Haichao again?  He doesn’t think Haichao could get over being dumped the second time around by Heimei.

Jian Jian had to agree but will not completely give up because she convinced Ziqui that they should spy on Heimei and Haichao the next day.

Tang Can and Zhuang Bei are being best buddies, although Zhuang Bei wanted to be more but Tang Can kept saying that she was over him and being best friends are the best for them.

Mingyue had a talk with Zhuang Bei to apologise for how she treated him after he confessed to her.

Episode 39

Mingyue had her distraught mother stay for the night at her apartment.

Her mother asked her if she hated her as well like her father hates her.

Mingyue truthfully said, “yes’ sometimes.”  She then asked if her mother hates her.

Her mother just plainly said, ‘You are my life.’

After a while, Mingyue promised her that she will look after her mother after Beijing because, her mother is her life as well.

It is a different case for Ling Xiao’s mother, who had a housewarming party and invited only Xixi, who became rather uncomfortable to learn about it.

During the dinner, Xixi excused herself to go to the loo and while she was out of the way, Cheng Tin complained of Ling Xiao’s long face.

He said to Cheng Tin to stop whatever she was doing; if she was matchmaking then forget it because he has a girlfriend already.

Cheng Tin said that she does not mind if he has a girlfriend as long as it is not Jian Jian.  She apparently tried to like Jian Jian but she just couldn’t do it.

Ling Xiao told Cheng Tin that she doesn’t have to like Jian Jian.  But when Cheng Tin said she hated Jian Jian.  He then left furiously and the dinner became more uneasy for poor Xixi.

Tang Can told her parents that she will be an actress again in a stage play.  She had chucked in her job at the museum.

Meanwhile, Jian Jian was treating both Du Juan and Zheng Zhuran to dinner.  It was a long story.

Du Juan both called Jian Jian and Zhou Miao to have a talk.  She asked Jian Jian if she can produce the copy of the photo which was the inspiration of her ‘Two Brother’s sculpture.

Jian Jian less than committed with just a maybe, which only fired up Zhou Miao and started berating Jian Jian for plagiarising.  His holier than thou attitude was so apparent as he continued on that Jian Jian should not make a habit of copying other people’s work and then said that she should should the repercussion of her plagiarism into their business and should alone foot the penalty from their furniture commission.

Surprisingly, Du Juan moved seat and sat next to Jian Jian.  Du Juan then said that she was firing Zhou Miao from the business and breaking up with him as her boyfriend.

She continued that she totally believed in Jian Jian, who had been so kind to allow Zhou Miao to stay even before the problems occured.  Du Juan said that Jian Jian tolerated Zhou Miao because he was Du Juan’s company.

And she is not mortified that Zhou Miao was overstepping his role in the company.

Jian Jian was overwhelmed with Du Juan’s loyalty to her.

She said that she foresees a next boyfriend for Du Juan coming from the garden rather than the garbage truck.

Du Juan said she will never get a boyfriend again, to which Jian Jian countered with Du Juan saying the same thing regarding another boyfriend in the past.

Ziqui, the ever-faithful and loyal brother braved his unknown relatives to see his grandpa.  There he saw his bio-dad who took him for coffee.

Ziqui returned a cash card to his bio-dad containing the million he gave Ziqui.

His bio-dad told him to keep it.  But Ziqui said that his Dad told him not to accept money from just anyone.

His bio-dad commented that Ziqui had never once treated him as a father.

Ziqui said that he first met him when he was 18 and father bonding was impossible by then.

But he said though he does not see him as his father, he was still grateful that he is his bio-dad because he found out that there is another side to his bio-dad.  He was very filial and caring to his own father.

This somehow lessened the snub he got from Ziqui and the most thing that he wanted to hear was that he was finally acknowledged by Ziqui as his father.

Bio-dad then sent a copy of the photo that Ziqui wanted.

Ziqui sent it immediately to Zheng Zhuran who did a long diatribe against Yifei, who he found out was the real serial plagiarise.

Jian Jian and Du Juan are so relieve and took Zhuran out to dinner.

Meanwhile, Heimei told on shy Haichao that they are dating.  And Jian Jian approved and so did Ziqui quietly.

Where is poor Dongdong?

Episode 40- The Finale

Xixi put Cheng Tin in the picture that she only ever see Ling Xiao as a brother after she read how Jian Jian and Ling Xiao were always meant to be from a trending blog, which was written by Jian Jian herself.

Xixi said that it would be cruel if something gets in the way on the relationship between the two.  Xixi then forwarded a link of the blog to Cheng Tin.

In the backdrop of thunder and lightning, Cheng Tin started to read the blog and recalled the things that she savagely put Ling Xiao into.  Telling him that he killed his sister, not allowing him to keep their only family photo, abandoning him, then suddenly showed up to force her presence to him then making him be responsible for her care and that of Chengzi for nine years, thus robbing him of a carefree young adult life.

The guilt ate her up so she started writing her suicide note.

The next day, Jian Jian was looking after Ling Xiao who had a hungover from his dinner/drink up with his father the previous night.

Ziqui was ecstatic and can’t help but brag about Heimei waiting for him outside work with an umbrella so he would not be rained on.

Jian JIan told him to pipe it down but Ziqui cheekily said that they told him before not to bottle things up, just let it all out.

They were still arguing when there was a knock on the door.  It was Chengzi who was so burdened.

Chengzi said that Cheng Tin had gone and left a suicide note.

A shocked Ling Xiao read the note and I must say I did not shed a tear.

Yang Tong Shu as Cheng Tin was such a good actress, she made Cheng Tin so hateful but she remained rather elegantly beautiful and aloof.

So as she voiced over the content of her suicide letter, I was so unmoved because of how she cruelly treated Ling Xiao.

She did not die but she almost drowned and had a lung infection.  She was saved by two fishermen.

Ling Xiao was there when she woke and told her that he was glad that she survived because if she had died the pain of her viciousness towards him would linger throughout his life.

And her being alive would somehow make up for it as long as she is repentant. He likened the situation to something she told him when he was still a young boy:  it was like a boil when all the pus had gone, it will then start to heal. Good analogy!

A month later…

Cheng Tin and Chengzi were all packed and ready to leave for Singapore for good.

Heping was there to help Cheng Tin to take her belongings into the waiting car. But beforehand, he apologised to her for not being supportive enough as a husband and not recognising that she was suffering from PTSD after the death of Yunyan, their daughter.

Yeah, yeah! PTSD is a very convenient excuse for Cheng Tin’s evilness, seriously scriptwriters?!!!

Somehow, Cheng Tin had made up with Jian Jian and she told her that she was leaving Ling Xiao on her hands.

Jian JIan said that she will make him happy.

Ling Xiao said that he and Jian Jian will visit them during the spring festival (New Year).

After seeing the car pull away, Ziqui, Ling Xiao and Jian Jian raced to their next event to attend to.

The wedding of Heimei and Haichao.

Ziqui was in the car with Heimei and told her that Dad Li is a good man and would look after her.  The good son of Dad Li that he is, Ziqui beseeched Heimei to be good to Dad Li.

Then they had a family photo which included Heping because he will be part of the family officially once Jian Jian and Ling Xiao marries.

Again, where is poor Dongdong?

The other characters:

Tang Can was doing well with her stage play and looking forward excitedly but with tremendous trepidition to the opening night.

Mingyue was letting go of her beloved fish to the nearby pond as she was imminently to leave for Beijing.

Mingyue’s mom seemed to have transferred her overly nurturing motherly love to the nervous Tang Can and Jian Jian.

Chengzi loved Ziqui as much as she loves Ling Xiao.  Actually, she found real brotherly/sibling love from Ziqui rather than with Ling Xiao.

Unlike Ling Xiao, Ziqui did not take Chengzi’s crap and told her off when she was bad and explained to her that she should be kinder because it begets kindness.  She promised Ziqui that she will come to visit him.  Nooooo. I hope they would not end up together.

And Ziqui himself – he decided to move his restaurant to a more viable location so he could make proper expensive but delicious desserts again; after all, he is a dessert chef.

Now I sort of understood why the women made to appear deviant and rather horrible at first.  It was probably to show how their nurturing or lack thereof will mold their children somehow.

Jian Jian being motherless is wild and tomboyish, she says everything that comes to her head and yet doesn’t play mind games because she grew up with fathers and brothers who were all WYSIWYG. LOL

Mingyue is indecisive and lacks confidence but with good manners because of her controlling mother.

Tang Can is almost like Mingyue but she was aching to be loved  because of parents who saw her mainly as a cash cow and a possession.

Ziqui always felt a sense of abandonment because Heimei abandoned him when young and not showed up for 20 years because she thought she was doing him a favour for not involving him in her rather murky past.

Ling Xiao is depressive, insomniac, rather clingy, and ultra-sensitive because he was mentally and physically abused by the madwoman, Cheng Tin.

I must say I saw a lot of behind the scenes in youtube and I have to say that the young director was so good.  He was able to convey every little detail.  He was friendly but firm so he was able to get the best out of all the cast and it showed in this beautifully crafted drama.

Highly recommended to go to drama to watch over and over,

The End