This post is a follow-up to the Boss and Me’s Basically Video.
Having seen the entire drama and now looked back at it for a second time, it strikes me how wholesome this story is, and perhaps that is its appeal.
Shanshan (Zhao Liying) is a young graduate who has just gotten her first job, she is bursting with the ambition to advance herself in the business world; at the same time, she takes every opportunity she has to enjoy life in the city.
Re-examining the drama, I also come to the conclusion that the male lead Feng Teng (Zhang Han) is the most generic example of the cold, odd-mannered guy seen in 99% of romances. You know… the kind of male lead we need LESS of nowadays.
He is rude, awkward, has too much time in his hand for a successful businessman he is introduced to be. He constantly makes unnecessarily uncivil remarks towards Shanshan and thinks it’s OK to make her pick out vegetables from his lunches before he eats them. Between the two, he is the one lacking in professionalism despite his position.
However, this drama works due to the reaction of Shanshan to everything around her. Whenever she is put in a difficult position by Feng Teng, she would turn it around with her optimism and curiosity, making it about herself rather than him.
So about the weird lunch business: Shanshan picks out the vegetables from Feng Teng’s food for him because she doesn’t tolerate wastefulness and would prefer to eat those vegetables herself instead of watching him throw them away.
As the romance proceeds, Shanshan dates Feng Teng because she believes she deserves to have fun and genuinely sees some… er… attractive (I guess?) characteristics in him, not because he is the only guy who shows up to help her when it matters or stalks her into it. She even makes it clear that each of them has the right to call it quits if their relationship doesn’t work out because she is aware of how different they are.
So yes, basically, Shanshan has an opinion and she is no bubbly-eyed girl who swoons over a mysterious man in a business suit (even if she might look like such a girl).
Throughout, Shanshan’s discovery of a new life and delicious food remains the focus of the story. And Feng Teng… well, he broods and teases all he wants but he is usually the one to suffer embarrassment afterwards.
The girl only cares about what the kitchen has to offer.
Again: wholesome, short and cozy (the whole story takes place in winter), made watchable by Zhao Liying.
Don’t expect too much logic, don’t bother about what the male lead’s company does. And definitely don’t watch this drama when you’re hungry.
Lastly…
Is she using a sweater as a scarf?
Never got around to watching it though it was on my list. Lol, she does indeed look like a bubbly eyed girl and the mv I’ve seen on this drama makes it look like so. But I’ll take your words on it that she’s not.
I did read the novel but idk why I’m putting off watching the drama.
It’s pretty light-hearted. No annoying second male/female lead or evil in-laws, can be a quick winter watch 😀
I watched the whole thing and that’s about all I can say about it. I just didn’t think they were well matched. You are def right that cdrama writer’s need to find a new male archetype.