BLISS RATING: ★★★★
“In matters of love, there is no such thing as being late. It’s only about whether you want to love and are willing to love.” – Quote from VIP Only
Perplexing. I really do not know how else to describe this series. It is indecisive yet oddly compelling to watch. The two main leads are strangely engaging together, yet individually, blend into the woodwork as part of the background furniture. This is completely a story of synergy.
Liu Li (Chen Xuan Yu) is a struggling novelist who has written two novels but is struggling internally with ideas about the third one. Liu Li looks angelic and appears to be younger than he is and therefore almost child-like and innocent. The innocent part may be a reality, however, as he has been fixated on a love that never was and is seemingly unable to move past that. He lives above a noodle restaurant owned and operated by Gu Jing (Stan Huang), a handsome, reserved, man who almost immediately takes an interest in Liu Li. Almost always serious looking, he is nonetheless deeply in touch with his emotions and also to the needs of others. He has learned to ‘sense’ Liu Li without having to read his novels.
It becomes obvious that Gu Jing is taking a deep interest in Liu Li to the consternation of his helper/assistant Liu Da Ren (Tim Cheng). Gu Jing apparently had a very successful advertising management position but gave that up to own and operate a restaurant based upon his grandmother’s recipes and to try and escape his mother’s constant badgering for money. He simply does not know how to say no to her. Unfortunately, she has located him again and is extorting money from him once more.
The relationship between Gu Jing and Liu Li seems to be leading to a greater intensity until Liu Li’s unrequited love comes back into the picture. The teaching assistant, matured now, sees Liu Li differently and understands his own feelings for him better and wants to develop a relationship with Liu Li. This then causes Gu Jing to doubt his own abilities to provide for and be with Lui Li. He begins to further question how does one compete, and should one compete with a first love, especially since it is an unrequited one?
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? Honestly, this is a rather low-key drama that is underplayed and relies more on the screenplay than acting. It is surprisingly well written, which is expected as it is a story about a novelist. So, the one who is captivating and the most animated is Tim Cheng as Lius Da Ren. He throws out caustic zingers and sarcasms as if you are giving out after dinner mints. You know that they are not meant to be hurtful but to play on the reality of the moment. He has a knack of bringing everyone and everything back to a reality. Looking wounded and insulated that Gu Jing pays him no heed, he knows that Gu Jing is falling head over heels in love with Liu Li. In reality, he is nurturing it along, even though it looks like he is not. He is one of a few character actors who can play the role of being the opposite of the meaning of the role. He is a joy to watch and is handsome in his own right. My only criticism is that I wish they would have developed a deeper and greater connection between his character and Liu Li’s best friend Lai Dai Yi (Kurt Huang). These two have a natural chemistry together and you can feel a tingling of sexual tension between them. I do wish they would have intensified that relationship. I can only hope they will further develop these two. They are so cute together and have natural comedic timing. Let us hope that someone else besides me has also seen that.
There is nothing particularly ardent about this series. The chemistry between the two main leads is good and honestly their kissing scenes are certainly much better than a lot of Thai BLs as of late. Not that it goes very fervent, but at least it has a certain sense of sincerity about it.
Where it begins to fall flat is it has some very silly moments that were completely unnecessary. When the teaching assistant and Gu Jing were fighting for the affection of Liu Li, I found that cringey and not something either one of those characters would have done. It seemed and was contrived, and I guess was to provide humor. While the scene where Liu Li says to Gu Jing’s mother that they are now a couple and he will be handling all his finances was so spot on and very well done, the clapping of the patrons in the restaurant was silly and feigned. Why would they have known what was going on? Completely and totally unnecessary to advance the story.
This is an entertaining story to be sure. Nothing deep but well written. Ironically the side couple provided way more interesting dynamics. This is easy watching and not much comes from Taiwan and honestly it is still better quality than many Thai BLs as of late. At least this one is putting an effort into it.
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