The Jin Pai leader confronted Shao Xi for fighting. She demanded that Shao Xi go to the school administrator to admit her mistakes. Li Zheng came to her rescue and defended her. The video was shown and Li Zheng noted that there was a girl in the background; hinting there was another theory to why the fight broke out. The Jin Pai side finally took notice of the said girl in the background and even noted that this other girl was dressed similarly to Shan Shan, the Jin Pai victim. Finally, Shan Shan came clean and told everyone what happened. The Jin Pai leader scolded her for staying mute and she apologized to Shao Xi for misunderstanding the situation. The Jin Pai leader even offered to relinquish her position as the leader to Shao Xi! Lol. But Xiao Ciao put an end to all these foolishness and told the Jin Pais to go away. Bai Bai intended to escape quietly in the background but Xiao Ciao stopped her. Xiao Ciao even wanted to take matters further since Bai Bai still insisted that Shao Xi pushed her off the stairs! Delusional much?! But Shao Xi stopped Xiao Ciao and told her to just drop the issue.
Shao Xi and Li Zheng walked off together to another part of campus. Li Zheng voiced his concern over Bai Bai’s constant disturbance and promised that he would sort everything out. This was considering that Li Zheng was the reason Bai Bai kept pestering her. Li Zheng also urged her to always go to him for problems so that she did not fall into others’ traps. Shao Xi expressed her gratitude for his care and Li Zheng nonchalantly poked her forehead, as it was it was a no-brainer thing to do as her boyfriend. This is a relationship goal right here! Although I must admit, I do not particularly care for Li Zheng’s condescending manner.
Xiao Ciao, Shao Xi, and Xiao Yu came out of their class as they finished their last exams. Jin Li came rushing towards them and informed Shao Xi that Li Zheng was in trouble. They all rushed to the campus security office and saw Li Zheng being interrogated while he was wiping blood off his hands. Bai Bai’s name was mentioned as the injured victim, Li Zheng admitting that he contacted her for a meet up, and the campus security asking Li Zheng to follow them to the police station for statement. Shao Xi looked on worriedly. Xiao Yu asked outloud if Li Zheng tried to seek revenge on Bai Bai because she bothered Shao Xi. Jin Li told him off but he was just vocalizing what everyone was already thinking, including Shao Xi. Hmmm…
Shao Xi was resting in her room when Da Mao called. He informed her that Li Zheng was the mastermind behind his transfer: how he befriended him, convinced him to steal the tests, and forced him to transfer by threatening to push him off a bridge. These claims further fueled the seeds of doubts in Shao Xi’s minds. She started to entertain the idea that Li Zheng also manipulated the circumstances surrounding Bai Bai’s injuries. Sigh… Girl, have more faith in your man! Shao Xi rushed out to Li Zheng’s room but stopped short before knocking on his door.
Shao Xi shared her concerns with Xiao Ciao; on how to find out the truth. She recognized that she could not just come out and ask for clarifications. Shao Xi decided to just wait until Bai Bai regained consciousness and just asked her then. Jin Li, however, overheard their conversation and said he had an idea. Lol. So the idea was to host a mini get together at home with the intention of getting Li Zheng drunk so that he could be interrogated on what really happened to Bai Bai that day. Jin Li prepared snacks, games, and liquor to get him drunk. He solicited the help of Xiao Yu as well.
Li Zheng, Shao Xi, Xiao Yu, and Jin Li sat around awkwardly while waiting for Ru Ping and Xiao Ciao to come. Jin Li suggested that a drinking game and Xiao Yu concurred. Xiao Yu even suggested that just the boys played while Shao Xi watched. Li Zheng was suspicious but wanted to see what was the plan so he just went along with it. Of course, Li Zheng happened to be an expert on the game and won every single hand. Jin Li was quickly becoming intoxicated and excused himself. Xiao Yu in turn, too his place and challenged Li Zheng. Shao Xi looked on worriedly. And rightly so, Li Zheng managed to win against Xiao Yu too. By the way, that is too much alcohol and too quickly! Alcohol poisoning?! I think these boys need to have their stomach pumped.
Shao Xi finally noted that Li Zheng was just too good. Li Zheng admitted that he found a tell in both Jin Li and Xiao Yu so he could always tell which directions they would take. He asked Shao Xi if she wanted to learn the trick. Shao Xi refused and instead, used this knowledge to beat him. Lol. And finally, the mighty Li Zheng was defeated. Just then, a bell sounded and in came Ru Ping and Xiao Ciao. Xiao Ciao told everyone that Bai Bai had regained consciousness and that the perpetrator was also caught. Apparently, it was one of her classmates who was infatuated with her and was stalking her. Shao Xi was finally aware that she had misunderstood Li Zheng this whole time and quickly ran back to the living room. Only to find, Li Zheng already sleeping soundly on the sofa. Lol. After 1 shot?! The girls helped Shao Xi carry Li Zheng up to his room and then, proceeded to care for Jin Li and Xiao Yu who were in his and Shao Xi’s room, respectively.
Shao Xi dropped Li Zheng onto his bed. His phone suddenly rang and she carefully took out his phone to answer it. It was Bai Bai calling to express her gratitude for his help and also, promising to never trouble Shao Xi anymore after this. Shao Xi finally realized that she doubted him for no reason and silently apologized. Suddenly just as Shao Xi was turning away, presumably to leave the room, Li Zheng jumped on her and pulled her down. That scared me!
Jin Li just came out of shower and found Xiao Ciao waiting in his room. Xiao Ciao explained that she was just there to make sure he was alright after drinking. Jin Li seemed to be in a daze: he closed his door, locked it, took off his shirt and climbed to bed. He then gestured for her to lie next to him. Xiao Ciao contemplated whether she should take up the offer or resist. I love this little firecracker. Of course, she laid down. Jin Li took off his boxer shorts and just slept. Lol. Xiao Ciao complained for his lack of action. This is too funny. In Shao Xi’s room, Ru Ping was trying to wake Xiao Yu up and convinced him to return to his house and sleep. But instead, he gestured for her to join him and kissed him. Wah, a lot of actions tonight.
Li Zheng in his drunken stupor started to open up all of his secret thoughts: how jealous he was over her interactions with Jin Li, everything that he did so that Da Mao transfer out of school, and even how he manipulated Papa Zhong so that Shao Xi had to accompany him buy present for Mama Zhong instead of going on a date with Jin Li, a date that unfortunately led to her accident. He expressed his deepest regret over that turn of event. Shao Xi told him that his worries were all unwarranted because she liked him anyway. She then asked if he had any more secrets. Li Zheng also admitted that he enrolled to Lunghwa University because it was Shao Xi’s dream for them to be together at college and to him, her dream was his dream too. He too, wanted them to always be together. Awww…
Shao Xi told him to go back to bed and started tucking him in. Li Zheng pulled down the nicely tucked blanket and invited her to join his bed. Shao Xi was reluctant to join him but then, he just pulled her down while promising he would do something to her. Lol. Under the warm blanket, he declared that Shao Xi was the only one that he was not afraid of hugging.
Later that night, a recurring nightmare that had not recurred in a while, came on again and woke Li Zheng up. Shao Xi, on his side, was also woken up. Shao Xi asked what the nightmare was affected him so strongly. Li Zheng started sharing about the fatal car accident that killed his parents. He talked about the pain that he felt and the exact moment when he realized that his parents were dead. Many commented that he survived because his mom’s tight grasp but he wondered if it were better that he was not hugged so tightly and if he had not asked to go to a theme park. He realized that he slowly changed since the accident. He found himself unable to get close to other people because proximity to others invoked a smell of blood that reminded him of that fatal accident. He slowly withdrew himself and became a loner mainly because he did not want to be branded as a freak.
Shao Xi listened quietly as Li Zheng shared all his secrets. But as he was done, she brought up her own accident. She told him that when she was conscious, she felt relieved and happy seeing him standing by her side. And for this very reason; she also believed that his parents, Papa and Mama Yan, would also be happy that he survived the accident and lived on. She further added that she felt it was a blessing that he survived because if not, she would not have met him. This is a very personal breakthrough scene between Li Zheng and Shao Xi: Shao Xi finally understood why Li Zheng was the way he was and Li Zheng too, understood that everything that happened was to prepare him for his relationship with Shao Xi. As a viewer, it almost makes me uncomfortable watching it as if I was intruding; definitely a testament to their awesome on-screen chemistry.
Next morning, Xiao Yu woke up on top of Jin Li. Lol. The two boys screamed loudly when they both realized that they were not dreaming. Shao Xi, Li Zheng, Xiao Ciao, and Ru Ping all burst in. What followed was a comedic scene where the two boys tried to piece together what happened last night. Xiao Yu questioned who he kissed last night; much to Ru Ping’s embarrassment. And Xiao Ciao suggested that last night, Jin Li behaved “worse than a beast” after he took off his clothes and pushed her onto his bed. So misleading. Lol.
While Shao Xi and Li Zheng were enjoying a meal together, Shao Xi admitted that she finally realized that her perception of Li Zheng before was not reflective of the real Li Zheng. He looked alarmed at first thinking that she was backing away. But then, Shao Xi admitted that she realized the more she got to know him, the more she liked him. This earned a big smile out of Li Zheng. So their heart-to-heart the night before was successful in breaking barriers as Li Zheng started to drop his communal chopsticks habit. Sigh… Li Zheng even grabbed a piece of food with his chopsticks and intended to feed Shao Xi with it. But lo and behold, once she was near, he kissed her instead. Squeeee… My heart stops right there. Shao Xi must have thought it was unfair since she was caught off guard and asked for another kiss. Li Zheng was more than happy to comply.
Jin Li was shooting some balls when Xiao Ciao approached him wearing in her sports gear. Xiao Ciao challenged him to a game and said that if she won, he had to date her seriously. If she lost, she would bow down and not bother him anymore. Jin Li agreed and a game started. Obviously, Xiao Ciao was losing but she was losing very adorably and I think, Jin Li started to notice her charms. Finally, he told her that if she could make this one ball, he would consider her a winner. There was a comedic moment because the word “catch the ball” sounded similar to “kiss me” and Xiao Ciao thought Jin Li was asking her to kiss him instead. Lol. She finally readied herself to make one hoop and she shoot rather short but Jin Li jumped and assisted so the ball went inside the hoop. Awwww… I think Jin Li was falling for her. The scene ended with him playing hard to get as she pestered him for a date.
Ru Ping held a book-signing event. There was another author across from her that attracted a larger crowd. But suddenly, Xiao Yu came by with his collection of books. In each book, he repeatedly asked her to get together with him. This is definitely very cute. I do appreciate their light teasing dynamics. When she was done signing everything, Xiao Yu packed all the books intending to leave. But she urged him to open and see all her signatures. On one of the books, Ru Ping actually somewhat agreed to begin a relationship with him. Xiao Yu screamed happily and wanted to come closer. The security stationed on Ru Ping’s side prevented him and so she declared that Xiao Yu was her boyfriend. Yipeee… In a voiceover, Shao Xi narrated that Xiao Yu carried and spun her around in excitement. But he fell and so he had to woo Ru Ping for another 3 months before he truly became her boyfriend.
Jin Li was in a café with his two buddies waiting for two more boys for their group blind date. His friends were concerned, as the two promised boys had not come yet. Finally, Li Zheng and Xiao Yu came but they turned around quickly when they realized that they were invited to a group date. Jin Li pleaded and begged them to stay. And in came a skimpily dressed girl with big boobs. This stunned everyone and the boys started using musical scales to rate girls’ bosoms. As a girl, I should find this offensive but I cannot help not to laugh at their antics. Of course, just as Xiao Yu was describing Ru Ping, she came in and overheard everything and he got into trouble.
Xiao Ciao and Jin Li were still not together by this point. She had not given up though and still actively pursuing him. In a voiceover, Shao Xi was convinced that it was only a matter of time before he accepted her.
Shao Xi walked off upset after the café incident. Li Zheng followed closely behind. Realized that he was being ignored, Li Zheng begged that Shao Xi not give him the silent treatment. Shao Xi finally explained that she was not upset. She was worried; worried because if girls were to rate boys as they just did. Li Zheng would be at the highest scale whereas she was on the opposite side of the scale. So of course, she was worried. Li Zheng laughed and told her not to worry because ever since he met her, there had only been 1 song playing on his head. Yup, you guessed it: “Close To You”. Li Zheng leaned in and kissed her. Yipeeee…
A flashback to their parents’ days finally revealed why this song was so meaningful for the two of them: their parents danced to this song while they were pregnant and it was also played on Li Zheng’s second birthday. Every time Li Zheng looked at second birthday picture, he was always reminded of this very song. This is beautiful.
The next scene was with Shao Xi and Li Zheng playing with a newborn baby. This was a trick because the baby was actually Shao Xi’s sibling. The mom however scolded their slow progress. She commented that since they loved playing with the baby so much, they should marry and make one of their own. Agree! But Shao Xi and Li Zheng escaped and ran out the door as soon as they could. And the series ended with the two leads walking hand in hand together to their bright future.
Comment
I am rather disappointed with this drama. Other than the great chemistry between Joanne Tseng and Wang Zi and sometimes the supporting leads, there is almost nothing special about this drama. It started very strong but somewhere in the middle of the story, the storyline stalled and the character development became pathetic. I think this is a mediocre drama with rushed ending. The last episode feels a bit like the Cliff’s Notes version of the real deal. I felt like the characters were narrating the outlines of the scene rather than actually experiencing them; must be due to the many voiceovers. I have never been a huge fan of them.
I think there were so many potentials that were not sufficiently developed; Jin Li’s complicated family is definitely an example of a wasted plot. If Li Zheng confessed earlier, there could be a potential of a sweet bromance between Jin Li and Li Zheng. And the Angelina plot, as the girl hand-picked by the father, could bring in some exciting suspense as Jin Li pushed her away in rebellion.
I actually do not mind that there are not any real obstacles between Li Zheng and Shao Xi, expect for some minor misunderstandings here and there, but I do wish there is real couple growth as they navigate through his personal childhood trauma. The comedic moments were not great but I did enjoy them at points. Although towards the end, these comedic moments became almost too expected; they tend to always happen when things just get a little too serious. The great chemistry between the two leads managed to hide this drama’s forced humor and weak exposition. Case in point: the Jin Pai antagonist storyline. Without it, I probably would have dropped it somewhere around Episode 7. This seems to be a classic problem resulting from drama-makers’ inability to connect to their materials.
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