Episode 1: Go, Chen Xin Yi!

The protagonist Chen Xin Yi AKA the post-it note girl is a nice, naive, ordinary girl working at a law firm. Her post-it note girl nickname comes from her inability to say no to people. As a result, her coworkers take advantage of her by writing their share of work on a post-it note and leaving it for her to do. Chen Xin Yi, in her own words, her "personality is having no personality".

But because of the post-it note, Xin Yi met her first boyfriend Gucci. And because of her resemblance of the characteristics entailed by a post-it note (easily accessible, ordinary, once teared off, it can be tossed away without a second thought), Gucci loses interest in her soon afterward.

To save the relationship, Xin Yi decides to go on a two night one day cruse with Gucci. Unfortunately Gucci turns out to be an absolute jerk. He cheats on Xin Yi with an older woman he meets on board. Xin Yi, having caught a cold the previous night, was told to take cold medicine which makes her drowsy and rests in her room 1006 while Gucci takes her credit card.

Ji Cun Xi is the rich heir to a family company who decides to ask for his girlfriend Anna’s (Bianca Bai) hand on the cruse. He decorates the room, has a Mont Blanc ring ready for her and determines to succeed in the proposal. Anna is a ballet dancer who is very focused in her career and aims at being the odette in Swan Lake. An agency from NY asks her to perform in Swan Lake but she does not get to be the odette. She refuses and decides to stay by her boyfriend’s side and sets out to rejoin him on the cruse. On the taxi, before getting off, she receives a call telling her that the agency agrees to let her be the odette on a contract of two years. Facing the dilemma of love and career, she finally leans toward the career opportunity. (First Asian odette man! How alluring!)

On the cruse, due to business issues, Wu Qi Qi and Wu Lu Lu, the former owner of the company Cun Xi recently obtained ownership decide to set him up. They tricks Cun Xi drink alcohol where they blended medicine that’s said to have an aphrodisiac effect. They had an acquaintance opening Cun Xi’s room (1009) to let someone in, hoping to blackmail Cun Xi with pictures of him with another woman under the influence of the drug. Unfortunately, the acquaintance had trouble opening the door, and through force opening it, he accidentally bumped the letter 9 loose. The letter comes loose and takes a 180 degree turn and becomes a 6.

Xin Yi, now dizzy from the cold medicine, goes back to the deck and looks for her room 1006 and enters 1009 (now 1006 too) and goes straight to bed. Cun Xi, feeling dizzy and hot, returns to his room and finds someone sleeping on bed in the dark. The two of them holds a conversation that seems to correspond well. Both disoriented and dizzy under the influence of drugs make passionate love in the dark. As the two bodies mingle in darkness, juxtaposed is a series of symbolic scenes of a train going into a tunnel and air crafts shooting into the sky. Finally, as the consummation reaches a completion, Cun Xi proposes to whom he thought to be Anna and makes a vowel of staying by her side before slipping the ring on her finger. Xin Yi becomes overwhelmed with emotion, whispers Gucci's name while Cun Xi whispers Anna's name. Upon reflection, both realize there's something wrong and turns on the light. *Pa*

Once the light is turned on, the two immediately jump apart and wrap themselves with as much of the blanket as possible. (What happened to the passion before?) Wu Qi Qi and Wu Lu Lu rushe in to take pictures but find Xin Yi in bed with Cun Xi. They reveal that Xin Yi is their sister in law! Talking about coincidences. Then a series of confrontations take place. Ashamed and disoriented, Xin Yi runs out of 1009 to go back to 1006, only to find Gucci and Rebecca (the middle aged widow Gucci picked up on the deck) in bed together. More confrontations take place where Gucci humiliates Xin Yi and kicks her out of the room she paid for.

Dressed, Xin Yi looks out to the sea on the deck to let the emotions distill within. Soon, she receives a text message telling her that her credit card has been swiped to the amount of 200 K. Exasperated of how huge the sum is, she accidentally drops her phone into the ocean to add to her misfortune. Trying to retrieve her phone, she climbs the deck. Cun Xi sees it, mistaken that as an act of committing suicide, saves her and hears her out. Xin Yi laments the life of being a post-it note girl because she is often easily discarded by people. To that Cun Xi claims that they should be super glue, even if the other tries to tear them off, they would have to lose a patch of skin first and drags her away to the salon.

Cun Xi orders a full scale transformation of Xin Yi before they seek revenge. (Here's your classic, long drooled for scene of the female protagonist going through a make over in the First episode!)

The revenge takes place on a gamble table where Gucci loses 200 milllion. (Notice the singularity of gamble tables?) In order to get his money back, he kneels down to Xin Yi and apologizes to her. Xin Yi forgives him, runs outside. Cun Xi follows suit and gives Xin Yi a chip. He wants her to remember the day. Just when Xin Yi is going to return Cun Xi's ring, the staff of the cruse comes to celebrate Cun Xi's success at proposing to Anna.

Embarrassed, Xin Yi plays along and dances with Cun Xi. The first episode ends with Xin Yi sleeping deeply on Cun Xi's bed while Cun Xi, resting on the sofa thinks to himself that everything would be perfect if Anna were in Xin Yi's place.

Episode 2: Pregnant?

Continuing from last episode's seamless, almost cleverly connected coincidences, this episode adds more of the mainstream Taiwanese too-exaggerated-to-not-seem-silly humor and those stupidity-rich, oh I mean, Humorous characters.

The episode starts with the end of the one night two day trip and the two main protagonists awkwardly saying goodbye to each other.

Then a set of new characters are introduced: Ji Wang Zhen Zhu and Ji Zheng Ren. Ji Wang Zhen Zhu is a shameless woman and the wife of Ji Cun Xi's father. However once the father dies and the company faces its bottleneck, the wife leaves the family with her son Ji Zheng Ren to avoid being burdened by the family. However, once she hears Ji Cun Xi's success at making the company one of the elites, she, like a moth sees fire, doesn't waste a minute to return to the family in order to gain a share of the wealth. Ji Zheng Ren is Ji Wang Zhen Zhu's son before she marries Ji Cun Xi's father. He is just as shameless as his mother. The two of them take out a loan in order to bid on a vase in an auction. They plan to give to vase to Ji Cun Xi's grandmother as a birthday present, oops, I mean, as their gateway to wealth.

In the auction, Dylan is introduced as an art collector whose particular interest is to discover undeveloped rock and make them into diamonds, figuratively that is. The artist whose vase is the subject of the audition displays 6 vases of which only 1 is his master piece. The rest are all forged by his pupils. Sly and a clever money maker, no? The rule is for the bidders to take turn looking at the vases and select and place a bid on the authentic vase. Of course the Humor intending characters Ji Wang Zhen Zhu and Ji Zheng Ren have no real aesthetic taste, therefore they try to look at Dylan's choice of selection and mimic it as their own. Ji Zheng Ren looks over Dylan's shower, sees a 1, goes back to his mother, selects 1 as well and bids all their 1.1 million. The camera zooms back to Dylan, who moves his finger and shows a 6 rather than 1. As it turns out the mother and son spent 1.1 million on the forged vase while Dylan takes home the authentic vase 0.1 million shy of the 1.1 million. Naturally, the mother and son are not stupid. They refue to pay for the vase and got kicked out. Shameless pair.

The vase story doesn't end here. We are then revealed that Dylan in fact, knows Ji Cun Xi's grandmother. He bids on the vase to give it to granny as a gift. He also reveals the secret to selecting the authentic vase: the artist takes pride in his work, hence USES it. All Dylan did was look for signs of usages.

Ji Cun Xi returns home from the trip, the grandma displays her dissatisfaction at his failure of wooing Anna's heart. The reason for her eagerness for her grandson to marry is that the Ji Family has only been reproducing one male offspring for the past 9 generations and each time the man of the family dies young. She is eager for Ji Cun Xi to pass on his genes in order to continue the family name and blood. Anna calls Ji Cun Xi through her computer and apologizes for her sudden change of heart but promise that she will stay by his side by the end of her contract in 2 years. She says she has a present for him. Upon cue, the box opens by itself and a dog appears.

In 3 and half weeks, we find Chen Xin Yi resuming her ordinary life after the cruise. The only difference is, after she buys food for all her coworkers, upon smelling the food, she becomes nauseated. She wonders to herself, “Could it be that ' ' ' ' yesterday's night out at the seafood restaurant, the seafood isn't fresh?” She leaves, the camera zooms in on a near by magazine with the huge picture of a pregnant woman. Juxtaposed is the caption: 70% women neglect the early signs of pregnancy. Talking about irony.

The next day the mother and son go to find Ji Cun Xi hoping to return to the Ji family. Cun Xi rejected their “offer” when Wu Qi Qi and Wu Lu Lu come to hand Ji Cun Xi a CD. So before they accidentally dropped the camera into the ocean, they took out the memory chip. In other words, all the pictures are still in their hands for blackmailing. They hand Ji Cun Xi a burnt CD named “Secret” after Jay Chou's movie. They hinted that it's not the old movie played by Jay Chou, but it's the new version that can't be found in any rental stores, played by Mr. Ji. Ji Cun Xi should consider watching it and go find the two in Jiang Mu Island first thing tomorrow morning.

Ji Cun Xi returns to his office to watch the CD. It's as expected, a picture slide show of the pictures taken on the “Ship”/”Bed” (the two words sound similar in Chinese). The funny part is, in each of the pictures, the female protagonist's face is blurred out in order to preserve Chen Xin Yi's identity. Ticked off at the fact that he's being blackmailed, Cun Xi rushes to see his lawyer without taking the disk with him or locking the door.

The opportunist mother and son sneak in, impromptu a silly dance to celebrate their victorious entrance of the CEO's office. They proceed to make a copy of the disk to blackmail their way back into the Ji family. Knowing Grandmother Ji, that plan is definitely going to back fire and make grandmother extremely happy. :]

The law firm Ji Cun Xi goes to happens to be the same one Chen Xin Yi works at. Talking about the spendthrift use of coincidences in this drama. The lawyer is a brilliant, sharp half-midget who plays his video games the entire time while meeting his client. He listens to Ji Cun Xi's complain about this new problematic encounter and interjects from time to time. He dissuades Ji Cun Xi from filing a law suite against the two blackmailers but urges him to resolve the conflict privately by going to Jiang Mu Island the next day instead. In the middle of this discourse, one of the workers called Xin Yi come in to bring coffee. Ji Cun Xi becomes almost immobilized at hearing the name but manages to turn half way to see that it's not the same Xin Yi he half cares about half wants to block out of his life. The lawyer tells Ji Cun Xi upon questioning that he has 3 employees by the name of Xin Yi in the law firm and jokes for Cun Xi to bring one home with him. He sure will in an episode or two.

Of course in such a coincidence abundant drama Ji Cun Xi simply cannot leave the firm without seeing Chen Xin Yi. So before he reaches the main exit, he sees Xin Yi's coworkers taking advantage of her again while Xin Yi for the first time showing the slightest tinge of unwillingness. However once the coworker sinisterly points out that Xin Yi = no boyfriend = no date = go home and watch TV anyway = has lots of time on hand = has more than enough reasons to take other people's load, Xin Yi backs down and takes the work. Ji Cun Xi sees that, walks out, takes the pile of work from her hands and tells the people in the vicinity that from now on, don't give Xin Yi extra work because her time is booked by him for going on dates. Then in a manly gesture, he grabs her away from the awkward scene.

Once alone, the awkwardness returns. Before the awkward atmosphere can become suffocating, Xin Yi feels nauseated and runs to the bathroom. Ji Cun Xi on the other hand takes it half offensively as a sign that seeing him is repugnant. He somehow stays to wait for her to come out and sends Anson away to wax his car.

Xin Yi meets a pregnant mother in the bathroom. The mother congratulates her that she is pregnant. Xin Yi nearly collapsed. The woman walks out of the bathroom to her husband and tells him her experience of seeing an unaware pregnant woman in the bathroom. Cun Xi overhears it and immediate makes the connection. When Xin Yi walks out, he asks for her reason for not feeling well. She lies that it's just the normal effect of mild food poisoning. He turns to have an aside of thankfulness when she managed to squeeze out, "Do you like kids?" He jerked backward and subconsciously yelled, "What's that?" She is taken aback, searches through her head for the most plausible explanation. She tells him that she volunteers for an orphanage on Sundays and those kids lack love and money. She is seeking kind people for donation. He takes out his wallet, pulls out a couple of bills. She thanks him then keeps telling him that it's getting cold, the kids need presents. So he takes out more money for her. She thanks him again, continues talking. Finally he opens his wallet, takes the last few bills and gives all his money to her and confirms that he has no money left. She finally stops. Instead she tells him the donation can be tax deductible, he can leave his phone number. So he does and awkwardly tells her that if she has something that's hard to mention to people, she can call him and leaves.

Xin Yi is scared about being pregnant, so she hastily runs to church to pray and confess her sin. Dylan appears at church as well. We are told that he is one of the fathers in the church and he has a lost sister with the name of Xin Yi as well. When he hears Chen Xin Yi's name from the children, he feels a sense of warmth towards that stranger.

Xin Yi runs to the confession room, confesses her sin to the father as well as her worry of being pregnant. Dylan tells her the most important thing right now is to do a pregnancy test. He proceeds to tell her there are many different types of pregnancy tests, there's the circular kind, the stick kind" " The father is apparently very, very Experienced. Before Xin Yi leaves, Dylan reminds her that if she feels embarrassed, she should stay low when she goes to the pharmacy to buy the pregnancy test.

So she stays low by putting on a pink rain coat and a pink helmet and cruses into the pharmacy like a casual ghost. It just happens that there is a rubber who is dressed in raincoat and a helmet as well. The pharmacist sees Xin Yi, mistaken her as the robber, lets her take away the prescription drugs and the pregnancy drugs without pay and calls the police immediately. Xin Yi runs to a near by park bathroom to test for pregnancy completely oblivious of the press and police force following her.

So the exaggeratedly WELL equipped FBI agents, I mean policemen and the press rush into the girls bathroom. (It would be fun if someone else were in the bathroom as well) They spot the pink raincoat and knock (!) on the bathroom door. Xin Yi hears the knock inside and knocks back. The policeman knocks again, Xin Yi knocks back. Back and forth, back and forth until the policeman finally loses patient and break open the door. Shocked, Xin Yi drops the pregnant testing stick. The policeman picks it up, and with the help of the reporter, announces to the world that Xin Yi is pregnant. Staying low huh?

Now both aware of the pregnancy, Cun Xi wonders what to do while Xin Yi goes and buys 235409458 types of pregnancy tests to confirm. While staring at the all positive results of the 834389343 pregnancy tests, Xin Yi receives a call from her family telling her to go back to Jiang Mu Island the next day morning because she has done something intolerably wrong on the ship. (Coincidence detector immediately turns red)

So the next day, them both set foot on the same boat to go to Jiang Mu Island. Out of a moment's neglect, Ji Cun Xi gets knocked backwards and falls into the lake! Anson, who is completely unaware, goes and tells the boat owner to operate the boat faster so they can reach their destination quicker, leaving poor Cun Xi feebly paddling in the icy cold lake water, trying to catch up with the boat. (and to add to his misfortune)

The boat soon reaches the port. Xin Yi attempts to walk by her mother and sisters unnoticed, but fails to do so. They stop her, makes a big deal out of the event occurred on the "ship" without clearly addressing the real issue. Misunderstanding, Xin Yi blurts out that it's not her intention or choice to become pregnant.

"PREGNANT?" Now the whole world Really knows she's pregnant.

This episode seems to spiral down from the high mark set by the previous episode. Hopefully the next one will reset the bar.

Episode 3: The Baby is Mine

So Xin Yi slips out that she's pregnant and stir up quite a fuss. Her mother Xi Shi (I hope the name is not intend to be a mockery of her well-roundedness as ancient Chinese beauties are famous for being plump) and Xin Yi's sister drag Xin Yi home, promising punishment. The rest of the mob rearrange their formation in preparation for attacking Ji Cun Xi's arrival. (One of those typical Taiwanese no-brainer humor. Please, give us some well polished humor instead.) You see, none of them has seen him, so no one knows how he looks like. Their leader Feng Jiao, AKA Xin Yi's older sister and Wu Qi Qi's wife, confabulates a description and tells them that a person with bad character most likely will have well coiffured hair, expansive clothing, and constantly holding a phone pretending to be busy. The description coincides with Anson, who's actually busy looking for Ji Cun Xi, oblivious of his boss's little diving accident. Naturally the mob corners Anson and attacks this poor escape goat.

Ji Cun Xi finally swam across the lake and made it to the island. He overhears two people talking, one of which being Wu Liu Liu. This supposedly dashing heir to an elite company sneaks behind the two like a burglar and eavesdrops. His out of character behavior turns out to save him quite a lot of trouble. Wu Liu Liu brags to an ex-employee about a series of intricately planned traps in the factory intending to be used on Ji Cun Xi when the phone rings to deliver the news that Ji Cun Xi is captured. So lucky Ji Cun Xi, I guess a little swimming exercise is worth escaping the mob at the dock and the free information.

So while everybody is at the dock, Ji Cun Xi goes to the factory to find Wu Qi Qi. Ji Cun Xi demands for the memory card, Wu Qi Qi prompts Ji Cun Xi to retrieve the card across his dead body. Ji Cun Xi walks up the scaffolding and stops short before the first trigger of the traps. Wu Qi Qi, who's a little too into luring Ji Cun Xi to cross the threshold, accidentally steps on a skateboard, leans forward, trips on the threshold, turns back around to welcome the sandbag square in the face. The exerting force of the sandbag knocks Wu Qi Qi off balance, as he extends his hand out for balance and support, the mouse trap snaps hard on his fingers. A bucket falls immediately on his head, then finally, he falls off the scaffolding and beams at the memory card still in his hand before he passes out. To make matters worse, Ji Cun Xi couldn't reach the memory card in Wu Qi Qi's hand with the scattered boxes which Wu Qi Qi fell on blocking the way. So he ends up stepping on Wu Qi Qi to snatch the memory card off Wu Qi Qi's hand, validating Wu Qi Qi's boast: "the only way to retrieve this is over my dead body".

The mob of people come back to the factory and find Wu Qi Qi "dead". They start crying over his unconscious body (oh the farce!) then Wu Qi Qi wakes up (surprise!) in the middle of all the wailing. Now that they've lost their last card, the villagers (or islanders) stop the boat from operating to trap Ji Cun Xi on the island. They then start an elaborate search skipping Xi Shi's house because she's beating Xin Yi and should not be disturbed. Naturally Ji Cun Xi overhears it and decide to hide in Xi Shi's house. Oh the art of overhearing.

Inside Xi Shi's house, Xi Shi and her oldest daughter are convicting Xin Yi, yelling to kill the irresponsible man. Ji Cun Xi is outside listening. The mob is coming in the direction of the house, trying to capture Ji Cun Xi. Inside outside, either way is safe. Getting a beat is better than being cornered by a mob, Ji Cun Xi jumps into the house proclaiming his fatherhood and demanding the two women to stop beating Xin Yi. Yay, the prince comes to the rescue. Xin Yi's oldest sister sees Ji Cun Xi's wet and dirty clothes and deduces that he just swam across. Ji Cun Xi's affirmative reply makes the two think that he's an illegal immigrant. Ring a bell here? Prince turns to Frog, anyone? It just happens that he lost his ID in the lake, so the two believe now without a doubt he's an immigrant who just swam across the border. Wow this guy must've came a long way, no? Xin Yi and Cun Xi both try to clarify but the two women would not believe. Finally they ask him for his salary. He replies that he doesn't receive a salary but he draws dividend. Now the two think he's a gigolo who just swam across the border and hit him harder. Bingo, why are you so smart? But because they mistaken the man who got Xin Yi pregnant as an illegal immigrant, they in tern conceal Cun Xi's whereabouts so that the baby's father's sorry identity will not spread out.

Ji Liu Xiu Ling and her son brought the stolen disk to blackmail Ji Cun Xi's grandmother Ji Wang Zhen Zhu. Their plan backfires a little, as Ji Wang Zhen Zhu becomes extremely happy that her grandson is seeking out mates to pass on the family line. When Xi Shi calls Ji Wang Zhen Zhu to tell her that her son is in Jiang Mu Dao, Ji Wang Zhen Zhu is exhilarated to find out she now has a grand-grandson and decides to depart for Jiang Mu Island the next morning. While still immersing in the happiness of the news, she also premits Ji Liu Xin Ling and Ji Zheng Ren to return to the family.

Ji Cun Xi gets thrown into a pigpen, I mean a messy room for the night. He throws a tantrum but eventually stops after Xin Yi steps in to hand him a set of clean clothes and food. They both settle down to talk. Xin Yi shows Cun Xi her artwork. She hides her wishes in a little pink box. Cun Xi discovers the box and reads her childish but sad wishes. She wishes for people to remember her birthday, to not forget her before they leave when they play hide and seek, and to find someone whom she loves and loves her back. They then talk about Anna, about the child. Cun Xi doesn't want Xin Yi to give birth, he thinks it will become the barrier between him and Anna, not knowing the barrier has already formed. Xin Yi, being the nice and understanding person that she is, puts herself down to make Cun Xi feel better about not wanting the child. To make up for her, Cun Xi insists to accompany Xin Yi to the hospital the next day for an abortion. They both lay down to sleep.

Ji Cun Xi has a cute habit of going to sleep holding his strawberry blanket. Without it, he can't fall asleep. Xin Yi sings to him to make him feel more at home. Her song works like a lullaby, Cun Xi falls asleep soon after. The next morning, Ji Cun Xi wakes up to find Xin Yi's note saying she's going to the hospital alone for the abortion. Worried, he runs out to look for Xin Yi.

In front of the hospital, the hesitant Xin Yi (now wearing a different pair of glasses) holds the chip Cun Xi gave her and slowly enters. Cun Xi rushes in just in time to sign the agreement. The two of them under the doctor's advise performs an ultra sound for the fetus. After seeing the outline of the fetus and hearing its heart beat, Cun Xi's attitude towards the abortion starts to shift. When he overhears (I tell you, this episode is all about eavesdropping) a couple's argument where the boyfriend wants an abortion while the girlfriend wants to give birth to the child, anger bursts. He shoves his fist into the boyfriend's face, demanding for the man to consider his girlfriend's feelings. The man reminds Ji Cun Xi that he's here for the same reason, it's hypocritical of him to lecture others. Realizing what he is doing, Ji Cun Xi runs upstairs and breaks open the operation room's door to stop the abortion.

At the door of the hospital, Cun Xi's grandmother and Xin Yi's mom and sister storm down to accuse Cun Xi of murder. After finally getting grandma to listen, she realizes that her grand, grandson is safe. She then turns to see her daughter in law. Slightly disappointed, although there should is no reason to be, she blurs out that Cun Xi has matured because he knows to appreciate inner beauty. She then introduces herself as the grandmother of the bastard who made her pregnant. The bunch of people rush onto the Mercedes leaving Ji Cun Xi along in front of the hospital, penniless and in need to pay for co-payment of the abortion and breaking the door. As he stands, he murmurs to himself, "Now that grandma has her grand grandson, she doesn't want her grandson anymore."

An extraordinary first time's meeting ends a not very extraordinary episode. Hopefully the wedding will provide something novel to the audience and help the drama 's delivery of some polished humor and character development.

Episode 4: Hope I'm not the Bridegroom

So they all return to Xi Shi's house from the hospital, where Xi Shi busts out of a piece of paper and starts to read off it. The content of which is an overly embellished denouncement of Ji Cun Xi's various "wrong doings". For maximal effect, Xi Shi takes delicate care of her words by adding an extra "er" to the end of every sentence she utters. The rest of the villagers gush into the house as if on que. In the mob of people, Xin Yi's older sister kneels down before her, begging her to use this fated marriage to save the shampoo factory of the island. While the entire island and Cun Xi's grandmother are all for the marriage, Ji Cun Xi opposes this hasty arrangement of marriage. Seeing all that, Xi Shi expresses her opposition to the marriage as well, reason being that she has no intention to push her daughter into an unhappy marriage. The crowd enters into a brief moment of a semi-chaos as the exchange of opinions fire back and forth across the room, leaving poor Xin Yi in the midst of it all. Finally grandma comes to the rescue and calls for a 10 minute half time for individual family meetings.

Ji Cun Xi's family meeting is a combination of hoaxing and threatening aimed to force Cun Xi to marry Xin Yi whether he wants to or not. Chen Xin Yi's family meeting is oddly formal with one of the sisters recording the content of the meeting while the other family members taking term expressing their opinion. The two sisters are all for the marriage since it provides the key to saving Jiang Mu Island. Xi Shi surprisingly is more concerned about Xin Yi's happiness. Right before Xin Yi gets a chance to speak, Cun Xi rushes in, dragging Xin Yi away for a one on one family talk.

Outside alone, nervously sitting next to each other, Ji Cun Xi finally starts by admitting his misfortune at sleeping with the wrong person. But, he asserts, if it weren't for him to make the mistake, she would probably not be able to find a decent person to be with anyway. (People constantly, unfairly underestimate the charm of the modern day Cinderella, don't they?) The ex-boyfriend on the cruse for example, is such a horrible, horrible person that reflects Chen Xin Yi's equally horrible taste in man. (What does that say about Ji Cun Xi if one day Xin Yi falls in love with him? In any case, it will most likely happen.) Therefore, he, Ji Cun Xi, will not allow his kid to call anyone less than what the kid deserves "father". "NO! So, let's get married!" Chen Xin Yi who's listening silently almost jumped when Cun Xi said those words. Half a second later, Xin Yi bursts into tears. "Who on earth proposes so forcefully?" Not knowing how to react, Ji Cun Xi tells Xin Yi to stop crying so any passbyer won't mistaken that as a sign of Xin Yi being mistreated by him. "But you are!" is the only response Cun Xi receives. Finally Xin Yi agrees to the proposal in one condition: Ji Cun Xi were not to fire anyone in the Shampoo Factory. Cun Xi overtly agrees, but secretly managing ways to get around the marriage so that he can be liberated from the obligation while hide the entire incidence from Anna. Much to his dismay, once he announces this verified marriage, both his grandmother and his mother-in-law reach the decision to conduct the marriage right away. Ji Cun Xi argues that although he is willing to fulfill his responsibility as the groom and marry Xin Yi as soon as possible, he really wants God to witness this holy matrimony. Unfortunately, when he was cruising around the island the previous day, there is no church on the island, therefore". "What church? We have a temple!"

So the couple get dressed in (in traditional clothes) and everybody gather around in the temple for the traditional marriage ceremony. Cun Xi and Xin Yi bow to the Buddha, their elders, finally to each other and make the oath to marry each other in sequence. When it comes to signing the marriage agreement, Ji Cun Xi is full of unwillingness. To ensue the marriage, Xi Shi indirectly threatens to abort the child while Cun Xi's grandmother threatens to call Anna. Finally, yielding to the pressure, Ji Cun Xi signs away. As soon as that's done, Xi Shi holds the marriage agreement, walks in front of the Buddha and swears that if any one of the two decide to be unfaithful to the other, that person will receive punishment like the chicken. As she finishes the sentence, she violently cuts off the neck of the chicken. Ji Cun Xi who is observing passively is, at this point, scared pantsless. Finally the two exchange rings and proclaim to be married.

After the marriage, Ji Cun Xi, Anson, and grandma take the boat to go back home while Xin Yi stays with her family at Jiang Mu Island for one last night. As the boat is rocking away, Ji Cun Xi realizes that he has fallen into a dirty trickery. He throws his arms in air out of anger, while the others mistaken that as a sign of unwillingness to leave the bride. Still angry, Cun Xi yells across the river, "Did you frame me?" The people on the dock mishear it as "Please love me first" as the two sound similar. Xin Yi replies back, "Alright, I will try to love you first." Ji Cun Xi who's now very far away mishears it as, "Alright, I admit I framed you", get more furious and violently throws his arms into midair wildly. A little funny interlude of play on words.

In a flashback, Wu Qi Qi sneaks the aphrodisiac medicine to Ji Cun Xi who's now part of the family to help him with the Ji Family's reproductive problem. Ji Cun Xi eventually realizes that he did not sleep with Xin Yi on accident, it was carefully orchestrated.

Back to Xi Shi's house at night, the mother and daughter say their final goodbyes to each other with a bucket of tear and snot. Unwilling to let each other go, Xi Shi tells Xin Yi that if Cun Xi mistreats Xin Yi, she will ride the dolphin across the lake no matter what time of the day it is. Xin Yi in return reassures her mother that she will be fine over at Cun Xi's.

Ji Cun Xi, unhappy about both the marriage and being tricked, tries to desensitize himself with alcohol. He wonders to himself whether Anna will forgive him if she finds out what has happened in her absence. He takes out a video of Anna and starts to watch"

While Cun Xi is deeply engulfed in memories and sorrow, Anna calls and scares him with, "You did something bad today." She simply refers to his negligence in contacting him. He realizes how much he misses her and right when he is about to confess to her, she hastily hangs up on him fearing being replaced. In the midst of all the negativity, Cun Xi decides to strike back at Xin Yi. Uh oh.

The next day Xin Yi returns to the office to hand in her letter of departure. Her coworker's initial reaction in seeing her is a mockery of her well known live show of pregnancy test. When they hear that she is leaving the job position, they all try to stop her, afraid that there's no more of the does-it-all-post-it girl. But the temporary warmness turns to cold scold in the blink of an eye. When Xin Yi's coworkers hear that Xin Yi's reason behind the departure is to fulfill her happily ever after living with Ji Cun Xi, they laugh at the impossibility of the idea. Before Xin Yi leaves, her boss hands her an envelope of documents and sinisterly hints that if she needs any lawyers in the future, he will provide excellent service with a 20% discount.

Xin Yi waits in front of the building for Cun Xi to pick her up. He doesn't show up. She continues to wait until her coworkers get off work and eventually bump into her. They, pertaining to their character, humiliated Xin Yi once again before leaving the poor Xin Yi alone in the cold. Xin Yi calls Cun Xi to ask whether he'll come to pick her up. Upon being treated coldly, she gathers all her stuff and uncomplainingly walks off by herself. While crossing the street, the document falls to the ground. In order to retrieve the document, Xin Yi almost get hit by a car. The driver, turns out to be Dylan. He helps her picking up the now scattered documents and accidentally sees the document that Xin Yi's boss previously handed her.

It's, a divorce agreement. Dung Dung Dung.

Episode 5: It's Not Easy to be Ji Cun Xi's Bride

It's not easy to be Ji Cun Xi's bride? Definitely.

Continue from last time, Dylan helps Xin Yi picking up the scattered files on the street and accidentally sees the divorce agreement. He slides the file back into the envelope and hands it back to Xin Yi, who is blissfully oblivious of the unpleasant surprise ahead. Dylan offers to take Xin Yi home to Cun Xi's house. In the car, Xin Yi pleasantly tells Father Dylan the series of coincidences that converges her life path with that of Ji Cun Xi's. Whiling sucking his thumb, Dylan thoughtfully and argues that if their marriage life is as wonderful as Xin Yi describes, then Cun Xi must be tremendously busy to not be able to pick up his newly wed wife. Xin Yi shrugs her shoulder, appearing untroubled and says that being a post-it girl, she has gotten used to being neglected. Dylan objects that although post-its are easily accessible, it is an integral part of life. For him, without the post-it, he would've forgotten to buy wood. If he had forgotten to buy wood, then he wouldn't have the material to make a desk for the children at the orphanage. Post-its are important. Before dropping Xin Yi off at the Ji Cun Xi's house gate, Father Dylan tells Xin Yi that high expectation sometimes results in great disappointment. Yet, no matter how terrible the situation, God's love will stay with her. If, she needs anything, someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, she can always call him.

Xin Yi pushes open the gate, a car honks at her to get out of the way. Out from the car, Ji Liu Xiu Ling steps down (majestically, like a greedy, arrogant snot, I mean, ehh.. self-proclaimed Queen) with two handful of bags from her victorious shopping spree. She spots Xin Yi, assumes Xin Yi is the new maid, dumps all her bags onto the pregnant + already holding two bags and a luggage Xin Yi, AND tells Xin Yi to make dinner.

When Ji Wang Zhen Zhu sees Xin Yi, she tells Xin Yi to not trouble about any chores and takes her to see some "elders". They enter the mourning hall of all the ancestors. Ji Wang Zhen Zhu tells Xin Yi to say hello to grandpa and starts to show Xin Yi who's who by telling her "he's his father" and "he's his father's father" etc. Unfortunately the people in the pictures all look the same, freakishly. By the end of it, Xin Yi is utterly disoriented.

Xin Yi stays in Cun Xi's room to wait for him. When she heads over the sofa to rearrange the pillow and the doll, she loses her balance and accidentally sits on the TV remote. Although ideally it takes two remotes or two buttons on a universal remote to turn on the TV and play the tape, in the willing suspension of disbelief driven world of drama, the tape of Anna and Cun Xi starts to play. Xin Yi watches the tape and exclaims that only a girl as pretty and elegant as Anna is suitable for Ji Cun Xi. Ji Cun Xi comes back, turns off the TV, obviously unhappy that Xin Yi has peeked into a corner of his secret garden. He picks on Xin Yi for putting her dirty luggage on the rug Anna bought from Milan, forcing her to move off the rug. After being a complete jerk to Xin Yi, he tells her that there are three rules she needs to follow. 1. She is not to touch anything in the house that belongs to or relates to Anna. 2. She is not to reveal their husband and wife relationship to anyone who doesn't know. 3. Their marriage is a negotiation where once she gives birth to the child, divorce follows suit and she will be given 5 million. However, if she were to fall in love with him and cause trouble between him and Anna, their relationship terminates immediately. After listing the three rules, he forces Xin Yi to sign the contract. Doesn't this whole contract signing plot sound a little like My Lucky Star?

Xin Yi signs the contract, teary eyed and tells Cun Xi that now she understands his feeling towards her and the fellow islanders for disrupting his life but she wants him to understand that relationship between people doesn't necessarily need to be buffered with money. When she hands him back the contract, Cun Xi notices that Xin Yi has crossed off the five million he promised to give her after the divorce.

At night, as Xin Yi sleeps on the couch, she silently nurses her grievance but soon determines to make the best of her time awaiting the baby's arrival. Ji Cun Xi, thinking that once he hurts Xin Yi, he'll feel better about being tricked, tosses and turns in bed instead, replaying what Xin Yi said to him as she signs the contract.

The next morning, Ji Cun Xi extends his hand out to turn the alarm clock off and finds a post-it instead. It reads: I'm preparing breakfast for you. He rolls out of bed, walks towards the bathroom and bumps into Xin Yi's luggage. On the luggage there is a post-it saying: Careful, don't trip on it. A little too late. Cun Xi enters the bath room and finds three post-it waiting for him telling him to not leave his razor outside and hang his towel on the rack etc. The irritated Cun Xi yells at Xin Yi for imposing her office habits onto him over the breakfast table. Disapproving Cun Xi's attitude towards his new bride, grandma forces the unwillingly Cun Xi to take a day off and take Xin Yi for a check up.

So Cun Xi and Xin Yi go to the clinic together to see Doctor Hao. This doctor turns out to be an exceedingly interesting character. He first makes Cun Xi and Xin Yi wait while he's writing down things from a colossal book. Cun Xi becomes a little impatient and starts to shift in his chair. Doctor Hao sternly remarks, "just waiting for a few minutes makes you this impatient, how are you going to wait that long for the delivery of the baby?" When Xin Yi offers him a post-it to bookmark the pages in the book, the doctor softens up and starts to talk about the ultra sound of the baby in the womb. Before he could get to the core of anything, Cun Xi's cell phone rings. He gets up to answer the phone. The doctor turns a little blue. Xin Yi apologizes to the doctor that her husband is a busy man. Cun Xi hangs up, sits back down to listen to the doctor. Before the doctor can say anything further, Cun Xi's phone goes off again. The doctor turns really blue. Xin Yi apologizes again that her husband is very busy. The doctor gives Cun Xi a look and says loudly, "Your baby has a problem." Cun Xi is too engaged in his phone call, he didn't even hear the doctor. Doctor Hao repeats himself, this time louder, "Your baby has a severe problem!" Cun Xi finally comes around and becomes concerned, "What's wrong with my baby?" "Your (plural) baby" the doctor corrects. "Yes Our baby, what's wrong with the baby?" Now he is really getting on the doctor's nerve. The hot tempered doctor yells at Cun Xi at the speed of 80 MPH, "You-would-worry? If-you-worry-about-the-baby-then-put-more-heart-into-it-and-stop-talking-on-the-phone! What's-more-important-than-your-baby?" Silence. Then an exchange of looks. The doctor regains his composure and starts to advise a few things to the couple, such as no intense sexual behavior during pregnancy. Upon hearing that, Cun Xi starts to laugh hysterically. "Doctor, the first time is an accident, if it happens twice then i must be a moron. I won't be stupid enough to let another accident like this happen." The camera shifts from Cun Xi's open mouth to the doctor's flaring nostril and the next thing you know, they are kicked out of the doctor's office.

Although grandma wants Cun Xi to take Xin Yi out to dinner and then a walk after the doctor's check up, Cun Xi has his plan to attend to. He leaves Xin Yi with the dog and a set of instructions: take the dog to eat sushi, the dog only eats the meat but since it has high cholesterol level, the meat must be steamed first. If the dog becomes edgy, let him listen to his ipod (what an extravagant dog) etc and they were to meet in front of the house at 7:30 so grandma wouldn't know he left her. Before leaving, Ji Cun Xi makes it clear that to him, Anna is number one, the dog is number two. He leaves without saying goodbye to Xin Yi, leaving Xin Yi wondering "When the baby enters this world, where will the baby rank?" (What about the grandma?) Penniless, Xin Yi goes to the orphanage to visit the kids and meets with Dylan. The two of them draw on the wall together while the kids play with the dog. While drawing together, Dylan reveals his story. His parents died when he and his sister Xin Yi (yes same name) are young. The homeless pair stay in the back of a truck. One day, after starving for a number of days, Dylan sneaks into a store to steal bread for his sister. Before he can return, the truck drives away, carrying his sister. That's why Dylan feels a particular inclination to take care of Xin Yi. An orphan suddenly runs to Xin Yi to break the news that the dog is missing.

Cun Xi meets with Stephen Chou who intends to buy Jiang Mu Island off Cun Xi's hands. Stephen reveals that he needs the island to bury the heavy metal pollutant. Once the pollutants are buried under the grounds, anything produced on the island will be poisonous and cause birth defects in new born babies. Ji Cun Xi is starting to wake up to what he's doing.

After losing the dog, Xin Yi returns home like a zombie, unable to think about anything but the fact that she lost the dog. Cun Xi comes back home, and waits for Xin Yi in front of the house. Seeing that she's not there, he calls her. Xin Yi is wrapped up in self blame, she forgets that she has to meet with Cun Xi and tells him that she's already inside. Grandma covers for Xin Yi by grabbing the phone and lying to Cun Xi that Xin Yi said he's parking outside and questions why he isn't back inside yet. Cun Xi returns home, the evil Ji Liu Xiu Ling sinisterly hints the dog's absence by asking Ji Cun Xi what to give to the dog for dinner. Reminded of the dog, Cun Xi eventually finds out that Xin Yi lost the dog. To make matters worse, the opportunistic Ji Liu Xiu Ling blames Xin Yi for losing the Precious dog that Symbolizes Cun Xi and Anna's Love. Cun Xi is furious, he yells at Xin Yi to understand the situation. She is here as a mother expecting a baby, not as a wife. Xin Yi runs out looking for the dog. Grandma is just as furious. She yells some sense into Cun Xi, "You think your life has been disrupted, it's You who disrupts Xin Yi's life. She meets you, accidentally gets pregnant, and now has to put up with you for the child. Having such an innocent, kind girl married into the family is your luck!"

Outside looking for the dog, Xin Yi meets Father Dylan. He gives her his handkerchief to wipe those tears. Ji Cun Xi sees that, rushes over, and tells Xin Yi not to talk to strangers. Dylan laughs at Cun Xi for being jealous before he pokes fun at Cun Xi, "so you are the one who prepares the paperwork for divorce on the day of the wedding." Cun Xi looks towards Xin Yi as if to blame her for her "big mouthed blabbering". Dylan adds, "What, isn't it natural for a mistreated person to confess to a Father?" He bends down, putting both his hands on Xin Yi's shoulder, looks into her eye, and mockingly says, "If one day your husband kicks you out of the house because a dog is more important than you, remember to call me." "You're not permitted!" Ji Cun Xi cuts in and draggs Xin Yi away.

They start looking for the dog and overhear a couple's conversation about a Texas serial dog killer looming ahead in the meat shop. (Dear God, get ready for your willing suspension of disbelief for some silliness coming up.) They somehow locate the shop. There's this bearded man who's chopping meat. The man takes out a saw and walks toward the dog, overshadowing it with his dark, dare I say, ominous figure. Xin Yi runs out and grabs the dog while Cun Xi is still dialing 911. So this lame rescuing action ends with the revelation of a big, predicted silly misunderstanding. The man is using the saw to get rid of the gum sticking on the dog's hair and the chopping meat is to make sausages for the starved dogs.

Now the dog is found, Xin Yi and Cun Xi walk home together. Cun Xi lets loose his gentleness for the first time in the episode by handing the shivering Xin Yi his jacket and telling the spoiled dog to listen to his mother, no, stepmother. Back at home, Cun Xi warns the dog again and tells Xin Yi to take a shower since it's getting late. Cun Xi's phone rings, it's Anna. She explains her reason for hanging up on him the other day and asks about the dog. Cun Xi starts to tell Anna what happened to the dog, but decides not to. While Anna's talking, Xin Yi screams. Cun Xi tells Anna he'll call her later, hangs up, and rushes to see what happened to Xin Yi. Turns out, the water turns cold all of a sudden. Cun Xi helps Xin Yi putting towels around her so she wouldn't catch a cold. While Xin Yi is embarrassed that she is only wrapped up in a towel, Cun Xi says, "What are you afraid of? What (referring to her body) haven't I seen?" and proceeds to keep her warm with more towels.

Anna, sliding her phone shut, feels uneasy. It's the first time Ji Cun Xi has ever hung up on her. (It won't be the last.)

Episode 6: Ji Cun Xi's Trap of Gentleness

So hot water suddenly turned cold when Xin Yi is comfortably taking her shower after a Long day. She screams, Cun Xi's protective nature takes over, he rushes over, wraps Xin Yi in layers and layers of towels so she doesn't get sick. Grandma "happens" to brewed ginger tea and "happens" to pass by Cun Xi and Xin Yi's room, (no no no, there is totally no curious grandma who looms over her grandson's room to eavesdrop) she then enters "just in time" to hand Xin Yi a cup of hot ginger tea and lingers to await for any "excitement" that can happen anytime between the couple. Before she leaves, she doesn't forget to hint at Cun Xi "Xin Yi isn't wearing anything" Don't let her catch a cold!" That night, Cun Xi lets Xin Yi sleep on the bed and resorts to sleeping on the sofa instead.

Next morning, Cun Xi climbs onto bed next to Xin Yi in his pajamas and starts to gently kiss her jawline. She turns to face Cun Xi, only gives him the perfect opportunity to trace her face with his lips. Forehead, then nose, and finally her lips" The camera shifts, Cun Xi is dressed and putting a final touch on his tie. He looks over at Xin Yi, who's grasping the air while giggling, "Cun Xi, stop" to the dog that's licking her face. :D Cun Xi thought to himself, "she must've had a rough day last night." He removes the dog to let Xin Yi sleep better. Now without the licking, Xin Yi sits up her in lucid dream, arm stretched and starts calling after the invisible Cun XI, "Don't go! Don't go!" She wakes up. It's all but a wonderful dream. Darn, don't we wish it's real?

Xin Yi gets up but couldn't locate her luggage anywhere. In place of her luggage is a post-it, written by Cun Xi (!) it reads: how many times do you want me to trip over your luggage? I put it away. A little further on the wall, another post-it patiently awaits: Remember to eat breakfast. :)

Out on the breakfast table, Zhen Ren comes over to discuss the negotiation with Stephen Chou. Cun Xi cuts him off and tells Zhen Ren that he changed his mind about selling Jiang Mu Island later when they are away from the dining table. While visiting, Zhen Ren learned that Cun Xi's wife is from Jiang Mu Island and deduced that the reason his brother refused to sell the island at the last minute is because of her. Before Cun Xi leaves the house to go to work, Xin Yi runs out to thank Cun Xi for emptying a space for her to put her belongings. Not knowing how to react to Xin Yi's genuine appreciation, Cun Xi hastily covers it up by telling Xin Yi not to say thank you so often because it gives him a headache. Xin Yi smiles at Cun Xi's reply and wishes him a safe trip. While walking away, Cun Xi cannot hide the smile from his face any longer.

Not long before Cun Xi left the house, Wu Chen Feng Jiao, Xin Yi's sister, comes knocking at the Ji family gate. After welcoming Feng Jiao warmly, Xin Yi asks if something had happened to the family that induced Feng Jiao's visit. Feng Jiao replies that nothing happened to the family, but something happened to her. As Feng Jiao recounts her story with a handful of sobs and snots, Xin Yi and grandma learned that: when Feng Jiao happily bought a camcorder home intending to record the process of delivery one day, her husband Wu Qi Qi responded by turning purple at the idea of having to enter the delivery room and promptly refused. Thinking her husband doesn't display any consideration to the hardship she endures as a pregnant woman, the simple headed Feng Jiao runs away from home and catalyzes "a Series of Unfortunate Events". Xin Yi reminds her sister that Wu Qi Qi faints at the sight of blood, but the determined Feng Jiao insists that it's her husband who is out of line and ultimately unappreciative. Oh the irony. Grandma urges for Feng Jiao to stay and arranges for her to attend Dr Hao's pregnant woman's lesson with Xin Yi.

Back in Cun Xi's office, Anson (long time no see) enters with bad news. The company's rival recently developed a new formula for their soap with added ingredients that's claimed to be mild enough for babies. Johnson's baby product anyone? The connection between Cun Xi and Dr. Hao is poorly threaded. On top of the new product, the rival company has also sent the soap to Dr. Hao Zhen Chang, asking him to aid the promotion. Anson then takes Cun Xi to the window display of a collection of all the soaps sold in the Ji family history, revealing the fact that the soap selling business has been passed on from generations to generations in the Ji family for ages and each time a generation succeeds the business, the soap adorns a different package. "It's been 27 years since the soap last changed its appearance, the lack of product promotion leads to a decrease in consumer's interest for the product." In the midst of all the worrying, grandma's call reminds Cun Xi that maybe there is a way to help the product's promotion without breaking its tradition.

In attempt to out-compete the rival company, Cun Xi arrives at Dr. Hao's pregnant woman lesson. He convinces Dr. Hao to give him a chance to amend for his rudeness during their first encounter and proceed to treat the astonished but content Xin Yi with utter tenderness. When Dr. Hao asks for a couple to demonstrate the correct way of massaging the wife's leg, Cun Xi volunteers and asks Xin Yi to place confidence in him. Up in front of the whole class, Cun Xi tenderly massages Xin Yi's legs while smiling at her for assurance. Dr Hao finally puts down his grudge against Cun Xi upon seeing the loving exchange of glances and the trust displayed between the couple. After the class concludes its session, Cun Xi approaches Dr. Hao with a new set of attitude. He sends Xin Yi away with a credit card, telling her to take her sister to go to the major tourist sites in Taipei. The love, the tenderness, and the attention just a minute ago suddenly evaporated into thin air. Aware of the the subtle changes in demeanor, a cloud looms over Dr. Hao's knotted brow.

While Feng Jiao rejoices at the sight of a credit card and the materialistic fulfillment it promises, Anson stumbles upon them and leaks out Cun Xi's real intention of attending the lesson. Xin Yi feels cheated.

In the doctor's office, Cun Xi openly admits that the goal of attending the lesson and putting on an act is to get Dr. Hao to help promote the product using his influence in the field and lowly presents the doctor with a briefcase full of cash. The doctor firmly refuses and angrily accuses Cun Xi for casting shame on the product because he doesn't understand the essence of the idea behind the product and the true value of a new life entering the world. Cun Xi stands up, unable to understand the doctor's persistence, asserts that what the company embodies is a far more important concept and that concept of tradition means very much to him and his family. The doctor waves his arm in dismissal and challenges Cun Xi to read all of his works before approach him again.

Cun Xi returns to his office with a pile of Dr. Hao's books and starts to read. Stephen Chou pays a visit to settle the Jian Mu Island purchase. Cun Xi confronts the gangster backgrounded Stephen and reasons that before any documents are legalized and signed, he has the right to change his mind on any decision.

Back to Xin Yi and Feng Jiao, the rebellious mother-to-be wants to spice her pregnant life a little and do some things pregnant women can't do. She drags Xin Yi to a bar and orders the strongest alcohol beverage in the store. The bartender hands them two glasses of murky drinks. After taking a big gulp, Feng Jiao calls the bartender back and blames him for his prejudice against pregnant woman. He gave her a glass full of probiotic drink! (yummy!) The bartender argues that if anything (birth defect) happens to the baby because the mother drank before labor, he can't take the responsibility for reinforcing it. Discouraged but not dejected, Feng Jaio drags Xin Yi to the dance floor for a more spacious surrounding. The dancing attempt didn't result well either as the two sisters awkwardly dance in the middle of the stage while the rest of the customers stand around and watch the two. Finally the same bartender interrupts Feng Jiao's dancing and redirects the sisters to the back, free of charge.

As Feng Jiao complains about men leading easy lives while women endure the pain and discomfort of giving birth and being pregnant, they accidentally overhear Stephen Chou and Ji Zheng Ren's conversation about Cun Xi's decision to sell the island for Stephen to bury heavy metal waste. What they didn't hear is Zheng Ren's devious plot to first get rid of Xin Yi's baby then Cun Xi so he can become the successor to the Ji family business.

Distraught, the two sisters eventually walk to the company to find Cun Xi, but are stopped at the door. Xin Yi writes a post-it note to pass up to Cun Xi, Fong Jiao adds a line behind it. Later at night, Anson walks into Cun Xi's office to announce 3 news. The first is that Dr. Hao's conference is 24 hours away, meaning they still have 24 hours to make Dr. Hao change his mind. How very uplifting! The second news is that their rival company has heard Cun Xi's failed attempt at gaining Dr. Hao's support. The information flow sure is fast. The last news is the post-it. Xin Yi writes: You can dislike me, but how can you deceive me? Underneath is Fong Jiao's ingenious addition: I'm going to clamp the baby (referring to abortion). Astonished but more worried than anything, Cun Xi yells out: What! You are going to clamp the baby!? Anson mistakes it as Cun Xi's spur of the moment to visit the arcade and reaches into his pants pocket for coins. An under presented play on words.

Cun Xi rushes home right when Xin Yi is about to leave. A fierce verbal combat takes place where a series revelations eventually manifest. Xin Yi finally finds out about the aphrodisiac in the drink wayyyyy back in episode 1. Now completely defeated, she bids him farewell and apologizes for intruding his life, leaving the angry Cun Xi breathing fire all by himself on the sofa.

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Recap (finally) completed.

This episode is, frankly a mesh of Cun Xi's goal-directed display of tenderness mixed in with Xin Yi's spoiled sister, Feng Jiao's subplot of her one-day-rebellious attempt. It seems rather unfocused, if not clunky, with too many interesting concepts hastily compacted into one. BUT, the preview does look appealing. From Ji Cun Xi being forced to deliver a baby (Feng Jiao's) to learning to treat Xin Yi and the baby whole heartedly, perhaps the drama is gearing towards giving us a fragment of sweetness before more conflicts are introduced.

Episode 7: Sorry, I Wronged You

The wannabe rebellious sister of Chen Xin Yi's drags Xin Yi to the boat station. The station is closed, stranding them in the bitter coldness in the dead of the night. Ji Cun Xi undergoes the trouble of driving out and finding the two runaways, but pride kept him in his car watching the two shivering in the cold. Out of nowhere, Xin Yi jumps up, remembering that she had forgotten to bring the cupid doll souvenir from the Hong Kong trip with her.

Cun Xi sees an old man selling yam on the street and gets an idea. He asks the man to give two yams to the two mothers. That yam seller must be in some serious hardship to be selling food at that kind of hour. After seeing the two sisters eating away happily, Cun Xi decides to stay with them. Bored of watching, he takes our Dr. Hao's book and starts to read and manages to fall asleep. While Cun Xi is drifting into dreamland, Stephen Chou's men "invite" Xin Yi and her sister "for coffee".

In the morning, when Cun Xi wakes up, both Feng Jiao and Xin Yi are gone. Cun Xi assumes the two have already gone on the boat to go back to Jiang Mu Island. He turns his head and expectantly sees Wu Qi Qi who comes to Taipei to look for his wife. Wu Qi Qi greets Cun Xi and thanks him for coming to the dock to pick up his sister-in-law. Cun Xi is in a hurry to ask for Dr. Hao's help before the medical conference. To save time, he brings Wu Qi Qi with him.

In a deserted warehouse, Feng Jiao and Xin Yi are seated in front of a table of two cakes, two meters away from Stephen Chou. Stephen Chou mistaken Feng Jiao as Cun Xi's wife and tells her that the reason he invites them two here today is to discuss her husband's misconduct. Feng Jiao perks up at the idea of discussing her husband. The supposedly heavy atmosphere of a kidnap turns into a complain session the moment Feng Jiao opens her mouth. The next thing you know, she's calling Stephen Chou her friend and introducing this new friend to Xin Yi. What a great way to shorten the distance between two strangers.

On the other hand, Cun Xi gives it another try with Dr. Hao. His impressive reading speed gains himself five minutes with Dr. Hao. As Cun Xi discusses his epiphany from the readings, his phone goes off. It's Stephen Chou telling Cun Xi to go to the warehouse. He leaves Dr. Hao at the spot and drives away with Wu Qi Qi at top speed to save their wives.

Arriving at the warehouse, what can't be excluded is a looooooong fight where the two heroes " Ji Cun Xi and Wu Qi Qi " get bruises and black eye from the flying fists during the combat to save their precious wives. The fight ends with Wu Qi Qi hitting Stephen Chou in the head with a golf club, sending him down to the floor, mud-eating style. After the fight and flight, Feng Jiao experiences a sharp sensation of pain in her lower abdomen. Time for delivery. In the midst of chaos, Cun Xi calls Dr. Hao who's in the middle of the annual conference and asks for the doctor's help. Dr. Hao tells Cun Xi to act quickly and deliver the baby right on the site since the ambulance will not arrive in time. Using the knowledge learned from reading Dr. Hao's books, Cun Xi observes that Feng Jiao's abdomen constricts in a cyclic rate of once per 90 seconds and reports to doctor Hao. The doctor tells Cun Xi this is stage 4, the baby is coming out soon. Feng Jiao's excellent crying skill is finally put into ingenious use. As she yells, cries, and contorts her face in pain, Wu Qi Qi is on the side holding the camcorder and recording the process of the delivery as Feng Jiao wished. Not so bad of a husband after all, in fact, he's a great, if not funny, husband. But when Feng Jiao tells Qi Qi to go to the other side and record the baby coming out, he faints at the sight of blood, leaving the camcorder lying on the ground capture the interplay between the feet.

After the baby is successfully delivered, Cun Xi and Xin Yi arrive at Dr. Hao again and finally convinced him to help promote the product. Dr. Hao reveals that he is aware of the quality of the soap, but he wants the person who produces the product to understand the meaning behind it. Now that Cun Xi has learned the meaning of anticipating a brand new life, Dr. Hao will promote the product to all his friends in return.

Back at home, Wu Qi Qi recounts the story with the embellishment of vibrant gesture and exaggerated vocabulary to recreate the fighting scene with him being the hero of the story. Xin Yi's two sisters and mother and the cute baby listen in awe. Finally Feng Jiao requests to watch the recorded video of the process of her delivery. What they see is of course the shuffling feet of a very worried Chen Xin Yi and the fat foot of Feng Jiao grinding the floor from the pain of delivery. Frustrated at the failure of the recording, Feng Jiao decides to record again. How will she do that? That's right, she's going to get pregnant again (and again and again until Wu Qi Qi learns to not faint at the sight of blood anymore and records the delivery process successfully). :D The room of people settle down and start to discuss the babies' names. Wu Qi Qi names his child Wu Gu Ji. When Xi Shi asks why he wants to name his child after the silky fowl, Qi Qi replies that it's a pure coincidence (right) the name sounds like the chicken. Since the baby is born in a "historical site", he explains, hence the baby will be called Gu Ji, with the surname Wu, it becomes Wu Gu Ji. Yes, it's a play on words, but I definitely feel sorry for the baby. Moving away from Feng Jiao's baby, the family starts to discuss Cun Xi's unborn child's name. Cun Xi decides to name his kid Ji Nian Ping, which sounds and means souvenir. It makes sense, since the baby is a "souvenir" of their Hong Kong cruise, although a little demeaning, equating a life to souvenir.

Cun Xi is warmed up to Xin Yi whole heartedly now. He brings her along to shop for the baby. Anything on the shelf, as long as it sounds high-tech and expensive, he will purchase it to provide his baby and Xin Yi with the best care. That is, before Anna comes back and stands between them again, which won't be long from the look of the preview.

Episode 8: For You, I Can be a Chicken "

Rich husband’s expensive Mont Blanc pen is running out of ink, so if dear wife wants so much as to get him a new one, she needs to buy him a sparkling new pen for his birthday the next day.

Unfortunately, the pen is expensive and rich husband knows his frugal contract wife can't afford it. Speaking of birthdays, Xin Yi's birthday is also tomorrow. No kidding. Why else does the title of this drama start with the word "Fated"? Xin Yi's birthday wish is for someone to remember her birthday because no one has ever remembered her birthday before. I'm sure her mother was in so much pain giving birth to the child she had planned to abort, that she grudgingly, purposely, and decidedly refused to remember her own daughter's birthday. And filling out applications, say for school, medical records and such, don't help with the mother's memory problem either. No matter, the poor gal has finally found someone who will remember her birthday f-o-r-e-v-e-r, since her husband's birthday coincides on the same day.

Ji Cun Xi's birthday wish revolves around Anna, as usual. He wants Anna to spend the birthday with him at Ritz, a restaurant he and Anna frequents on his birthdays. By frequent, I mean twice. The first time Anna won a beer drinking contest and made all the customers congratulate Cun Xi on his birthday. The second year she performed a magic trick so great that the restaurant owner's wallet never materialized after she made it disappear.

When the couple told grandma that tomorrow is both of their birthdays, the grandma laughed for a good five minutes and exclaimed that she had always thought things like this could only appear in idol dramas, but since it occurred in real life, their matrimonial unity must be Fated. Irony, anyone? Nonetheless, grandma made it so that Cun Xi would spend his birthday with Xin Yi.

Right when Xin Yi is happily picking out tomorrow's outfit with grandma, Cun Xi receives a call from Anna. She's in HK and will be flying to Ritz to celebrate Cun Xi's birthday with him. She asks if he's busy tomorrow, he looks towards Xin Yi's direction and lies. "No, I'm free tomorrow." So the date is set. Anna is risking to be kicked out of the dance team to see Cun Xi while Cun Xi is ditching Xin Yi for Anna. Aren't they the perfect pair of irresponsibility? Oh right, they're just love sick. While Anna's talking about her little date with her roommate, a b!*&h, AKA: Tiffany, overhears the conversation and plots a scheme to get rid of Anna. The wall must be paper thin.

Xin Yi returns to her room to think of a present to give to Cun Xi. She decides to pawn the gold necklace passed on to her from her beloved father to gather the money to buy Cun Xi a Mont Blanc pen. Cun Xi walks in to break the bad news, but he couldn't bring himself to it after seeing Xin Yi's astoundingly enthusiastic anticipation of the date tomorrow. He asks her what she wants to do. She tells him the things that happened on her past birthdays, like going to karaoke with friends but end up walking out without touching the microphone. She also wants to see the night scenery of YangMing Mountain, a place all couples go.

The next day, Xin Yi is all dressed up, ready for the birthday date. They walk out of the house together, hand in hand. Once out of sight from grandma, Cun Xi tells Xin Yi the truth. She tries to hide the tears in her eyes, insisting that she's glad Anna is coming back to spend the day with Cun Xi and urges him to hurry out and not make Anna wait. Once Cun Xi leaves, her tears finally roll down her cheeks.

The chauffeur tries to cheer Xin Yi up, but a date wouldn't be called a date if she's by herself. Xin Yi stops at a gallery.

Dylan, the art executive of numerous galleries is in the gallery, making the last preparations for the next day's charity auction. (Isn't his hair so much than the wannabe-artistic-temperament-inspired, hideously-braided-dry-and-damaged-hair in the later episodes?) Once done, he leaves the gallery only to find Xin Yi trying to get in. Unfortunately the exhibition opens tomorrow, but fortunately Dylan is the boss so Xin Yi gets to go in a day early, without the crowd too.

Xin Yi's mood lifted once she enters the world of art. She also exhibited a great amount of knowledge to the art pieces on display. There is a piece of plate called happiness. Xin Yi takes one look at it and explains the meaning behind it: the rim of the plate is very thin, representing a sense of fragility, just like happiness. Because happiness is like treading on ice. Dylan is pleasantly surprised. What surprises him more is that today is Xin Yi's birthday, and she pawns her necklace to buy a pen for Cun Xi. But as long as Xin Yi's happy, Dylan has no reason to object.

Anna is ready to go to the airport. Tiffany intervenes and redirects Anna to leave the building through the backstairs. Not wanting to miss the flight, Anna rushes down the stairs. She trips on the marbles and falls down the stairs. Tiffany's juvenile plot worked.

Cun Xi arrives at Ritz on time with a small bouquet of white roses. Xin Yi and Dylan are already in the restaurant, waiting for Cun Xi so Xin Yi can hand him the present and say "Happy Birthday" to him.

So Ji Cun Xi waited and waited. Anna didn't show up. Dylan gets a call from the gallery, asking him to come back to translate for a few Italian customers. In the world of Taiwanese drama, an exhibition that's supposed to remain closed till the next day can open all of a sudden, especially at night, when most art galleries are long closed. I need to take my willing suspension of disbelief to the repair shop, because it just doesn't working for me.

Well if Dylan leaves, who is to block Xin Yi from Cun Xi's view? No worries, Xin Yi gets an excellent idea. She calls in the chicken mascot from outside the restaurant and changes into the costume. Now she can stay in the restaurant and not be discovered. Ingenious, isn't she?

It's eight o'clock, time for the birthday special. But Anna's still not here. Cun Xi figured Anna probably stood him up again. He agitatedly gets up to leave when the spotlight shines on him, the host bids him to return to his seat and cues for Anna, twice. No one walks up. Of course no one does, Anna's in the hospital at the moment. Cun Xi's disappointed look is unbearable, Xin Yi decides to humor Cun Xi and perform in place of Anna.

Xin Yi can't dance, at least not in a bulky chicken costume. Even the host cues for the drummer to stop in order to spare the chicken some embarrassment. But the chicken doesn't stop there. She picks up three lemons and tries to juggle. The lemons drop on the floor and roll away after one toss. That's not all. The chicken's next performance is a barely recognizable Happy Birthday song using a spoon and a row of cups carrying different amounts of water. Trying to keep the rowdy atmosphere, the host urges everybody to sing Happy Birthday to Cun Xi and promptly deduces that the chicken is Anna. Xin Yi flaps the sleeves to say no only to be mistook as a cheerful wave at Cun Xi.

Cun Xi walks towards her for a hug. Not noticing the height difference, at all. The host takes out a camera to take a picture of the two. Cun Xi tries to take the chicken head off Xin Yi's head for the picture, but Xin Yi resists. In the struggle, Cun Xi is pushed aside and falls on the floor. Xin Yi catches the opportunity and runs down the stage. Cun Xi follows. He stops her and hugs her, promising he won't laugh at her. This is when Anson calls.

He informs Cun Xi of the time Anna's flight arrived in TW, however, he adds, Anna is not on the plane. Cun Xi pushes Xin Yi away from him immediately. "WHO ARE YOU?" She hands him a paper, an advertisement for a club for the lonely bachelor. "So you saw me sitting alone and you thought I need to be comforted? So you orchestrated the performance to get me to join the club?" The chicken nods. That just makes Ji Cun Xi feel so much better about himself. Since the chicken is already there, Cun Xi asks her to stay for dinner with him.

Cun Xi starts to talk about Xin Yi with the chicken. He expresses the guilt he feels for leaving Xin Yi for Anna, who stood him up again. Xin Yi listens to his confession underneath the chicken costume, tears rolling down continuously. Cun Xi then decides to call Xin Yi and say happy birthday to her before the clock strikes 12. He calls, and a phone rings within the chicken.

The chicken tries to take out her phone when Cun Xi recognizes it as Xin Yi's phone. Realization finally hits him, he tries to pull off the chicken head by force, attracting the attention of the near byers.

Right then, the host brings up the birthday gift Xin Yi bought for Cun Xi. He looks at the note left on the present, the name signed at the bottom is Anna. Still angry that Anna stood him up, Cun Xi throws away the present. Xin Yi picks it up and hands it back to him, urging him to open it so she can see his expression when he opens it.

It's Xin Yi's growing tummy that wakes Cun Xi up. It's his turn to celebrate Xin Yi's birthday for her. Since Xin Yi wanted to eat Jiang Jun bun, Cun Xi decides to go to Jiang Mu Island with her. Now. Yes now.

He speeds to the port and shows Xin Yi a boat. A boat for her, so she can return to Jiang Mu Island whenever she wants. *shakes head, rich people* By the boat is Anson, still in his pajamas. Cun Xi sees him and asks, "Anson, what are you wearing?" Anson starts to ramble on and on about how Cun Xi called him at the middle of the night to buy a boat when he's already in bed. He dealt with it but it's not enough, he had to stay by the port in the cold to wait for them. Now they are here, Cun Xi had to pick on his attire. lol poor Anson.

Cun Xi hops on the boat and extends his hand out to Xin Yi. She hesitates, thinking that seven months later, she will have to hand him back to another woman, however unwilling. Slowly, she gives him her hand. Cun Xi starts the boat towards Jiang Mu Island. Anson, who had fallen asleep while Xin Yi is deciding whether to give her hand to Cun Xi or not wakes up in a startle. He holds up the bottle of champaign intending to celebrate the first use of the boat and loses his balance. The next thing you know, Anson is struggling in the icy water. Poor guy.

-

As the title suggests, a belated recap. I thought about not writing this now that we're soooo far in the drama. But hey, I've written recaps for every other episode other than this one, might as well make it a complete set. Besides, poking fun at FTLY is so much fun.

Alright, whoever still wants to read this, have fun reading, while I go off to watch fireworks.

Episode 9: Change

Cun Xi brings Xin Yi to Jiang Mu Island for Jiang Jun bun. It's late at night, the shop has already closed. Despite that, Cun Xi is determined to let Xin Yi have a taste of the longed for bun. He bangs on the door, waking the store owner up. The grouchy store owner slams open the door and yells, "What are you doing middle of the night? If you don't want to sleep, that's your problem. Don't bother other people!" Cun Xi explains that he reallllllly needs two Jiang Jun buns before midnight. The store owner only dismisses him as crazy and walks back inside. Cun Xi follows her inside, begging. He tells her that it's Xin Yi's birthday, she has been craving for Jiang Jun bun for awhile. She's pregnant, women impending motherhood don't have a logical scheme of when to eat what. He then goes on to talk about giving the store owner money to build machine for auto-manufacturing the buns blah blah blah. Xin Yi drags him to stop with the money talk and tries to convince him that it's ok to wait till tomorrow to eat the buns. In the midst of Cun Xi's wild gesticulation and attempt to convince the store owner, he moves about, touching things and rearranging the photo frame of the store owner's dead husband, crooking it. Xin Yi edges closer and straightens the photo. The store owner softens at the sight of the her husband's photo. She tells Xin Yi and Cun Xi that Jiang Jun bun originates from her husband who, made the buns for her during her pregnancy when she has no appetite for anything else. She turns to Cun Xin, nods that it's possible to make Jiang Jun bun, but she won't be making it. Because Ji Cun Xi is.

Cun Xi starts to make Jiang Jun bun with Xin Yi watching on the side and the store owner supervising with a stick standing by to hit him at every chance. It ends up being a circus money show, Cun Xi being the monkey that jumps around wildly while trying to cut ginger, the store owner being the owner training the monkey, and Xin Yi, watching the not so exciting show and feeling pampered.

Alllll done at 11:55! Close! Time for birthday wishes. Xin Yi wishes for Cun Xi to forgive Anna for not showing up and from then on will always be able to spend his birthday with Anna. Cun Xi is amazed at Xin Yi's altruism and tells her that wish is no longer important for him. Xin Yi asks for his birthday wish and he tells her: I wish that every year from now on, there will be someone who spends Chen Xin Yi's birthday with her. I wish for no one to bully Chen Xin Yi anyone. I wish for Chen Xin Yi find a man who loves her, treasures her. Xin Yi turns away, hiding the tears. When Cun Xi says "I really want you to be happy." Xin Yi can no longer hold her tears.

"You are like the prince my dead father brought me. My father used to tell me that if you are willing to give, happiness will come and find you. Because of that, when I was little, I would always try my best to help people. Eventually, I became the post-it girl that I am now."

"What's wrong with being a post-it? Did you know how much post-it inventor Art Fry earned for 3M? If post-its are so widely acclaimed, that means it's pervasive in people's lives. Don't be little it, and don't degrade yourself. Get it?

Xin Yi blows out the candles and picks up the bun. She holds it, teary eyed, but doesn't yet take a bite. Cun Xi urges her to eat it before it gets cold. Xin Yi replies, "This is the first time someone has made something exclusively for me." Half laughing, Cun Xi says, "I've learned how to make it. If you want, I can always make it for you. Hurry, take a bite."

Then the light burns out. Scared by the sudden darkness, Xin Yi and Cun Xi instinctively grab each other into an embrace. And then, they lean towards each other for a kiss. Closer, closer, and the store owner pops out. Xin Yi and Cun Xi jump away from each other in lighten speed, embarrassed.

Back at home, Cun Xi still perseveres on his urge to kiss Xin Yi. Vexed, he grabs the dog and tells the dog that he really, really did not intend to kiss Xin Yi. Nor does he feel his heart pumping wildly seeing Xin Yi, or feeling unusually comfortable hugging Xin Yi. Yeahhhhhh right. Cun Xi starts to day dream about Xin Yi. To shake himself out of the "abnormal" mode, he starts to self-hypnotize that all he thinks about is Anna. Unfortunately, the image of Xin Yi continues to appear in and out of his mind. Uncannily bothered, Cun Xi takes his dog for a walk. He drags Anson out of bed and continues to persevere on the kiss. Poor Anson, who, on Cun Xi's account, fallen in the river, swam onto the shore, and now can't even catch up on sleep. Before Cun Xi leaves, he forgets his cell phone at Anson's house.

Back in Hong Kong, Anna falls from the stairs and is in the hospital. She is cruelly informed that she has strained her ligaments and won't be able to perform. Instead, Tiffany who sets her up is replacing her role as the odette. Crumbling, Anna has no choice but to return to Taiwan.

Next morning, Xin Yi wakes up to the alarm clock and sees the post-it Cun Xi left: You don't need to get up so early, stay in bed for awhile. I'm already taking the dog out for a walk. Smiling to herself, Xin Yi gets up to get dressed but finds the scattered photo albums of Anna. She thinks to herself, if Cun Xi has been looking at Anna's photos all night, he must've cared very much that she stood him up again. Sighing quietly, Xin Yi decides to hide her affection towards Cun Xi just to stay next to him a bit longer. She walks out, says good morning to Grannie and the stepmother but ignores Cun Xi.

Cun Xi jumps up, demanding why she is aloof to him when she was reduced to tears the night before. Xin Yi denies any deviance in attitude. Grannie jumps out, gives the couple the auction invitation and convinces them to go. Hearing that the money from the auction will go to charity, Xin Yi hesitantly agrees to go. Cun Xi on the other hand, irked by Xin Yi's obvious attempt to keep a distance, rebelliously determines to bring Xin Yi to the auction to show the world that Chen Xin Yi is Ji Cun Xi's wife. :D Cun Xi arranges for Anson to retrieve a jewelry set called Whisper and decides to donate it for auction using Xin Yi's name.

Anna returns to Taiwan but fails to get a hold of Cun Xi.

At the action, Xin Yi's old employer's law firm is asked to help out. One of Xin Yi's ex-fellow employee Mary dresses up to lure the rich bachelor into her ehh "love's trap". Her co-worker's response is classic:

What's better, when her boss, Lawyer Chen sees her, he hurries her away to change back into "human clothes" and wipe clean her Mercury-poison-looking makeup.

On their way to the auction, whenever Cun Xi shifts in his seat, Xin Yi edges closer to the door. Irritated, Cun Xi asks, "What's wrong with you? Am I contagious or something? Why are you constantly running away from me?" Xin Yi asks back, "Didn't you say you don't want other people to know of our relation? Why bring me to the auction?" Checkmate.

Xin Yi walks into the exhibition by herself while Cun Xi stays behind to take the necklace set from Anson. She attempts to enter the exhibition but is stopped at the door by Mary (now dressed normally). Mary scolds Xin Yi loudly for lying and trying to fish out a rich bachelor and manages to humiliate Xin Yi by making a scene asking for Cun Xi. Finally Mary rudely pushes Xin Yi out of the door. Dylan, who is the art executive of the exhibition, happens to walk in. He catches Xin Yi and sends Mary to the end storage room. Karma.

Before Dylan has a chance to explain to Xin Yi that he's not a priest, Xin Yi drags him away for a one minute confession. Cun Xi witness it and follows along in a distance but is dragged away by Lawyer Chen to register the donation item.

Xin Yi and Dylan sits down Xin Yi tells Dylan the remainder of her birthday after Father Dylan left Ritz with a smile on her face.

That's great. That means you have a place in his heart.

No, it's not good at all. I don't want to break the negotiation between him and I. " What I don't know is why I would fall so deep for a person.

Why do you have to suppress your feelings?

(Cun Xi and Lawyer Chen passes by)

Knowing Cun Xi is like stepping into an unfamiliar amusement park one day and riding a roller coaster. He treats me well, I fly high; he neglects me, I drop to the bottom. My heart follows him up and down, like it will stop beating any minute. But when the time comes, I have to leave. No matter how much I long for it, he will never have a place for me in his heart.

Have you thought of the possibility that he might want to save up a place for you?

(Xin Yi shakes her head) What I want to do now is to leave Cun Xi before I give in to my urges.

Cun Xi who has been standing above Dylan and Xin Yi shouts out, "Why do you have to leave me?" Xin Yi jumps to her feet in a reflex. Uh Oh. Cun Xi walks down, drags Xin Yi away and starts to yell at Dylan for seducing his wife. Lawyer Chen jumps in to introduce to two and reveals Dylan's true identification. Xin Yi is shocked that she has told all of her private experiences to a man that's not a priest. Dylan comforts Xin Yi that it's alright. After all there is nothing embarrassing or wrong about telling your friend how you feel. Engulfed in jealousy, Cun Xi pulls Xin Yi away from Dylan for the second time and demands an explanation for repeatedly approaching Xin Yi. Dylan snaps back that Cun Xi has never tried to understand Xin Yi. Cun Xi scolds that maybe "understanding" other people's wife is what artists like Dylan love to do.

To me, Chen Xin Yi has never been your wife because you've never treated her as one. Then why should I keep a distance from her?

Whether she is my wife or not, it's stated clearly on the marriage certificate. As to you, at once glance I can tell you are dissolute and immoral. There are plenty of butterflies in the world. As for ordinary girls like Xin Yi, please don't harass her.

Unfortunate, I was born rebellious. In this circle, most of the executives love to chase after the already famous artwork. I on the contrary, tend to go after the uncut jade. Chen Xin Yi is a wonderful jade. Or is she a world renowned piece of art to you? I don't mind, if she's that important to you then"

She's not important! She's nothing to me!

Xin Yi goes to donate her self made cement wish box. Mary takes Whisper off the auction list and places the wish box instead, intending to humiliate Xin Yi on the auction to appease her own jealousy.

Anna calls Cun Xi's office and gets the information that Cun Xi is at the art gallery. She departs to the same gallery to "surprise" Cun Xi.

Xin Yi walks late into the auction room. In a hast, she trips over. Dylan catches her. Xin Yi smiles at Dylan in appreciation. Dylan smiles back. :) Cun Xi stands up in silent protest. Xin Yi obediently walks next to Cun Xi and sits down. The auction begins.

The first item of the auction is a bracelet donated by the chairman of E.Shine. It's designed by Xia Zhi Xin during her honeymoon with Chairman Zhong. The idea behind the bracelet is to believe that everyday is filled with happiness. The final price is 1.5 million. The second item on the list is Xin Yi's wish box, starting from 100 TWD. Just when Xin Yi realizes her act out of kindness is a mistake, Dylan shouts out a hundred thousand, saving the day. Of course now that Cun Xi and Dylan are love rivals, Cun Xi isn't willing to lose to Dylan so easily. He shouts, "a hundred fifty thousand." "Three hundred thousand." "Three hundred fifty thousand." The mood of the auction room intensifies. Price keeps rising. Cun Xi yells out, "A million." The room breaks into a suppressed whispers, wondering the artist of the wish box who has the charm to make Dylan promote her work. Then someone yells, "A million and five thousand." Someone else, "A million and ten thousand." Dylan adds, "A million and fifty thousand." Xin Yi is about to explode. Cun Xi shouts out, "Two million." Xin Yi turns to Dylan and waves no for him to stop bidding on the wish box. But Dylan only adds fifty thousand to the already high price. Cun Xi calls out, "Three million." Dylan, "Three million fifty thousand." Xin Yi is about to gag. "Four million!" Dylan again, "Four million and fifty thousand." Xin Yi turns to Cun Xi for him to stop bidding, saying it’s not worth that price. Cun Xi replies, "If I say you are worth that much then you are." He turns around, "Five million." Lawyer Chen who repeats after the amount is about to choke from the shock. Finally, Cun Xi wins the bid with five million. He stands up, giving the wish box to Xin Yi.

During the finalization of the bidding amount, all the memories of Cun Xi's tenderness flash across Xin Yi's head. She runs out of the auction room. Cun Xi chases out. Xin Yi is already crying.

The better you treat me, the more I'm afraid that I will want more. I'm a gullible person. If you tell me the coffee I bought tastes good, I will buy you coffee every day; if you tell me I'm efficient at making photo copies, I will make photo copies for you from then on. Gucci praises me, I believe that's love. You, you treat me so well, it has exceeded my endurance a hundred times over. Don't treat me so nicely, will you?

Unable to repress the impulse, Cun Xi kisses Xin Yi.

What do you want me to do? Treat you badly? Sorry, I can't.

As long as you..

Seeing Xin Yi cry, Cun Xi feels worse himself.

As long as what?

I don't know!

I wish I can just put you aside and not care about you. But I don't know why I just can't!

I know you want to eat Jiang Jun bun, I can't help but to make your wish come true. I see other people bully you, my sense of justice somehow manifests itself. I notice you are ignoring me, my first instinct is to make you look glamorous to prove to you my existence. How about you tell me WHAT I SHOULD DO!

I don't know why I would meet you on the ship, I don't know why you would get pregnant, I don't know why we would get married. Maybe, maybe this is fate. " Maybe, perhaps, it's fated that I should develop feels towards you.

But isn't it you who told me not to fall in love with you? If I fall in love with you, then our relationship is over?

I said you are not allowed to fall in love with me, but I never said I'm not permitted to fall in love with you!

shock.

What I mean is that if I treat you well then you should accept it openly. Don't act like you will have a heart attack whenever I treat you a little nicer. After all, you are not acting out a script from an idol drama. (irony appreciated.)

Cun Xi wipes away Xin Yi's tears, holds her hand and together, they walk away.

-

This is got be the longest recap I've written. Hopefully that'll make up for not recapping episode 8. :P

I'm sure the apparent allusion to My Lucky Star, Xia Zhi Xin, and E.Shine is not missed. After all both dramas are airing/aired on SETTV and both are sponsored by Mont Blanc (the necklace Xin Yi wears to the auction and the pen she bought for Cun Xi). It really would be wonderful to see Zhong Tian Qi and Xian Zhi Xin making a gust appearance in this particular episode however impossible. :)

Episode 10: Happiness, Like Treading on Ice

End of the auction, Dylan confronts Cun Xi in an advice-giving manner.

In the realm of art, there isn't a set of criterion. As long as that piece of art is meaningful to you, then it's unique in its own sense. Have you asked yourself why you bid on Xin Yi's wish box? Is it really out of a spur of the moment? Or is it out of your true appreciation of it?

If you really want her well, then treat her like your bride from the bottom of your heart. Don't let her feel that she should pack up and leave any minute; don't let her countdown the time to leave you every moment of her life.

I've never had a family. Do you know how much I wish for a family member as warm as Xin Yi? Cun Xi, you have her right now, cherish it.

Xin Yi walks towards the car by herself and is stopped by Mary who, seizes her last opportunity to put down Xin Yi. "Chen Xin Yi! What if your little worthless box won the auction with 5 million? All of the female guests at the auction are registered as either wives or girlfriends. Only you, you are registered as female companion. Ha Ha Ha! Oh how funny!" "Then is wife good enough for you?", Cun Xi arrives in time, "I donated a jewelry set and you switched it! You work at a law firm yet you are dishonest. I will tell Douglas and have him fire you." Ha.

Cun Xi and Xin Yi drive away, Anna gets off the taxi. She encounters Mary who informs her that Cun Xi has just left with Mrs. Ji. "Mrs. Ji?" Anna is bewildered.

Cun Xi drags Xin Yi to the clothing shop to purchase the casual set of clothing Xin Yi fell in love with last time. Puzzled, Xin Yi asks, "But I only have seven months left before I have to leave. I won't be able to wear it.. "What if, I want you to stay?" Cun Xi asks.

Having missed Cun Xi at the exhibition, Anna arrives at Cun Xi's office. Anson who is well reacquainted with the entire story, smoothly suggests for Anna to leave. She insists that it's alright, she will stay to give Cun Xi a first handed surprise. While talking to Anson, Anna asks about Mrs. Ji. Anson cleverly dogged answering by telling Anna that he doesn't know But, he suspects Mrs. Ji refers to grandma. Anna is dubious.

In the store, Xin Yi and Cun Xi walk out of the fitting room wearing the matching clothes. They fit perfectly. Of course, it's Fated right? Cun Xi suggests to take a pictures together so they lean towards each other for the picture. Looking at Xin Yi's smiling face, he gets an idea. He asks Xin Yi to look close at the side of his face to see if there's anything on there. She leans close to look while Cun Xi takes a pictures. Hearing the sound of picture taking, Xin Yi turns to look. Cun Xi uses the opportunity to tease Xin Yi for kissing him off guard. Ha camera angles. Cun Xi sends the pictures to his own cell phone, which is sitting quietly on his office desk.

The phone vibrates, Anson reaches out to snatch it but is a second too late. Anna has already gotten it. She opens the text message, a window pops up, prompting her to enter the password.

Cun Xi and Xin Yi return to Cun Xi's office. Anson comes out to stop Cun Xi from entering but fails. Cun Xi walks in and sees Anna, the smile from his face fades. Xin Yi walks in, and, she sees Anna. In that instant, the past roams around in Xin Yi's head, she is immobilized in shock. Anna walks towards Cun Xi, Cun Xi turns to glance at an overwhelmed Xin Yi. "Why isn't your cell phone password no longer my birthday?" Anna questions, but soon lightly dismisses it and hugs Cun Xi, telling him how much she's missed him. All the while, Cun Xi and Xin Yi are in shock, trying to let reality sink in. Cun Xi turns to observe Xin Yi's reaction out of worry and guilt. Anna takes notice of Xin Yi for the first time and asks, "Who, is she?" Two pairs of eyes fall on Xin Yi.

"You are..? "Baby Ji.. the dog's babysitter. This is Baby Ji's cloth." Anna walks towards Xin Yi to take the bag from her, Xin Yi grabs tight onto the bag as if her entire life is in the bag. Finally and reluctantly, she lets it go. Anna puts in a few toys she bought for Baby Ji and asks Xin Yi to bring it to Baby Ji, because she and Cun Xi will spend a romantic night together for his belated birthday celebration. Cun Xi, still dumbstruck, can't move his gaze from Xin Yi. Xin Yi looks back, helplessly. They look at each other, as if nothing else matters. Images of Cun Xi's tenderness flashes back and forth.

Finally, Xin Yi breaks the eye contact. "Goodbye", she says and storms away from the supposed-to-be-together couple.

Watching Xin Yi running away from him further and further, Cun Xi breaks off Anna's arm and follows after Xin Yi, leaving Anna at loss.

Anson chases after Cun Xi and stops him. He reminds Cun Xi the reason Xin Yi claims to be Baby Ji's babysitter and tells Cun Xi to go back upstairs to deal with Anna. He will find Xin Yi. "Isn't Miss Anna the one you love?" Anson reminds Cun Xi. Unable to think, Cun Xi only repeats, "You have to find Chen Xin Yi" You have to find Chen Xin Yi..

Returning to the office, Cun Xi sternly asks Anna, "Why did you come back all of a sudden?" "Are you not glad that I'm back?" "Glad?! How can I be glad? You leave whenever you want to, you come back whenever you want to. Have you thought about how it feels to be left alone?!" "Cun Xi.. what's with you?" tear starts to well up in Anna's eyes. "You chose to stand me up on my birthday. I'm a human, I can be hurt, I can feel that I need to quit. Don't think just because I don't say anything about it, I don't feel it either." "Cun Xi" on your birthday I.. (got into a fate-determining accident.) "No need to explain! I'm sorry, no matter what your excuse is this time, I don't want to forgive you!" Anna sadly leaves, half limping.

"What happened to your leg?" Cun Xi notices. Anna looks at him, says nothing and continues to walk towards the door. "What happened?!" He stops her, and rolls up her pant leg and reveals the wounded leg, still wrapped in bandages. "What happened?" Now tear stream down Anna's face. "I can't be the odette anymore". The day of your birthday, while I was running to catch a plane, I fell from the stairs. I lost the opportunity to perform, I lost the goal I've been working towards all my life! All lost..!" A sense of guilt and shame of misunderstanding Anna takes over, Cun Xi embraces Anna.

Anson finds Xin Yi and advises her not to get her hopes up.

Meanwhile Cun Xi takes Anna to the supermarket for grocery shopping, because Anna wants to make Cun Xi a table full of delicious dinner for his belated birthday at Anna's apartment. But the key is on Baby Ji.

Xin Yi returns home, tears finally wash down her face. She buries her face in the newly bought clothes and cries.

Cun Xi and Anna returns to Cun Xi's house to take Baby Ji. To not be discovered by Grandma, Cun Xi calls Xin Yi to bring out Baby Ji. He explains to her that he has to take care of Anna for a few days and it's best that Xin Yi returns to Jiang Mu Island as well in case Grandma gets suspicious. Then he walks away without turning his head. Only Baby Ji turns back to look at Xin Yi unwillingly.

Back in the car, Anna playfully jokes that Baby Ji doesn't love her as much as he used to. Maybe he likes the babysitter more. Cun Xi replies that after living together for so long, it's natural to develop feelings for each other. Anna agrees, "But that baby sitter girl, she looks like a very kind person." "Yes, one of the best I've seen.." Cun Xi says thoughtfully, as if talking to himself, as if replying to Anna.

Anna and Cun Xi return to Anna's apartment for the fantastic dinner, but Xin Yi's shadow pervades every aspect of their interaction. Cun Xi tenderly takes Anna to the sofa to rest while he bends down to groom Baby Ji. Anna jokingly says, "Come on, I only have injury on my leg, I'm not pregnant, you don't need to be so careful with me." As casual as it sounds, the word pregnant is especially piercing to Cun Xi. Later at the dinner table, Anna marvels at the wonderful taste of ginger and intestines. Cun Xi tries it and agrees that it tastes good. Anna is surprised that Cun Xi started to eat ginger .. something he used to stay away from, and something Jiang Mu Island is known for.

Xin Yi decides to build the wooden horse for her baby so when she leaves, which is soon, there will be something from her.

The next day Xin Yi leaves to go back to Jiang Mu Island. Before she leaves, she goes to the church to say goodbye to Dylan just in time to hear that Dylan is about to leave for Shanghai. Perfect timing. Don't you guys think it's all Fate? xD Dylan encourages Xin Yi to live her own life for her own sake. He says, "Did you remember that one time you wore that chicken costume for Cun Xi? That's a display of courage. If there is a girl that would do that for me, I would be touched to tears. Let me tell you a secret, if it weren't for the fact that you have a husband, I would want to ask you out." (Please do.) Xin Yi reveals that Anna came back. Dylan notices her luggage and deduces that Cun Xi kicked Xin Yi out because Anna came back. He is determined to find Cun Xi. Xin Yi tries to stop him and then her lower abdomen starts to hurt.

Dylan sends Xin Yi to the hospital and calls Grandma. He tells her everything. Xin Yi's condition has been stabilized. Grandma enters. "Grandma is angry." "Sorry grandma, I didn't take care of the baby." "You not only didn't take care of the baby, you didn't take care of yourself either! Cun Xi didn't treat you right, why didn't you tell me?!" Grandma bursts into tears. Xin Yi reverses roles and comforts Grandma that it's all ok. Grandma confirms that Xin Yi loves Cun Xi. She runs out of the hospital, intending to drag Cun Xi back. Xin Yi calls Anson for help.

Cun Xi decides to tell Anna the truth. Before he could start, Grandma rings the door bell, looking for Cun Xi. Xin Yi follows after, trying to prevent Grandma. Cun Xi's intuition is to blame Xin Yi for leaking out his secret. Grandma yells back at him for Xin Yi. Anna is puzzled.

Xin Yi tries to drag Grandma away. Grandma wouldn't budge and tells Anna the truth. Now it's Anna's term to be shocked witless.

Wife..? Cun Xi you got married?

When you said you could turn to someone else out of loneliness on the phone, it's true. The Mrs. Ji at the exhibition is her, isn't it?

Because I suddenly came back, you didn't know what to do so you lied and said she's the babysitter for the dog in the office, right?

So I am the outsider here!

The world crashed down on Anna. Poor Anna.

-

This week's episode is considerably short and it's not that exciting for me. I think one of the reasons why I don't find myself invested in the drama is that there's a good episode that gets you interested (like the first episode) then they show a bunch of bland episodes. Right when you think you are going to give up watching, boom, they show an exciting episode again. *Shrugs* at least it's better than most of the Taiwanese dramas currently broadcasting, though not all that much better.

Episode 11: Ji Cun Xi's Dilemma

"Anna, sorry to let you know the truth at this condition.", Grandma takes a step closer to Anna, busting out her chest, determined to defeat Anna for Xin Yi, "but Cun Xi is responsible for Xin Yi!"

"Grandma! Don't press me with responsibility. What more do you want than a child to carry on the lineage? Have you considered my feelings? I have a right to choose, too!" Cun Xi turns to Anna, "Anna, don't listen to my grandma. Even though Xin Yi and I are married, but we agreed that once she gives birth, she will leave. Our relationship isn't build on any emotional attachment!" (That's an excellent lie for you.)

Anna crumbles onto the couch, "I have a headache, I need some time alone to think things through." Grandma seizes the opportunity and attacks again. Cun Xi sets up a defense against grandma. Grandma yells, "All I wanted is to protect my baby!" "So DO I!", Cun Xi barks back. The detriment is done. Xin Yi itches a step closer to the door.

Anna storms out. Before Cun Xi follows after, he roars at Grandma, "Are you happy to see me always chasing Anna around? I've always wanted Anna to be back, now that she is, you have to ruin it all. Right now, I only wish for the child to disappear; Chen Xin Yi to disappear, so everything can return to the way they were. Anna injured her leg. If anything happens to her, you will lose your only grandson!"

But if Cun Xi does die early, then doesn't that redeem the predictability of the family curse? Ok, not funny.

Anna limps away crying. Cun Xi tries to calm her down, no use. She lets out all her frustration accumulated since her injury, then without turning back, she limbs to the street and catches herself a cab. I guess she has money to pay for the taxi.

Cun Xi stops Anna from getting into the cab and snarls (something he also excels at):

It's not your fault, it's not her fault, it's MY fault. My fault is that I was too confident. I was confident that you will get on the boat! My fault is that I didn't turn on the light, I mistook Chen Xin Yi for you! My fault is that I would rather hurt the pregnant mother and my grandma, as long as I am with You. My fault is there are so many women in the world but I only want You. @#%* why didn't you get on the boat that day!?

Every word of the accusation grinds into Anna's heart. She steps into the cab firmly in defiance.

You want to leave? Alright! I will show you that I only want to be with you!

Cun Xi runs away, disappearing in seconds, leaving Anna washing her face with tears of sorrow and self-blame.

Cun Xi returns home to pack. Xin Yi helplessly watches Cun Xi packing in a fury.

Is Miss Anna really angry? Then I can go explain everything to her..

No need.

Or, I can return to Jiang Mu Island right now..

No need.

Then.. let me help you pack.

No need. After this morning, I will never believe you again. Chen Xin Yi, our contract ends Now. I don't want to see you at all. We are getting a divorce.

Even when she fell on the stage and had to withstand the scold by the audience; even when she didn't bring home the first place metal and got locked out by her mother as punishment, I've never seen her cry like this. Chen Xin Yi, congratulations you've achieved more than that on her first day back.

Cun Xi picks up his luggage, ready to go. Xin Yi tries to persuade him to stay, reasoning that she should be the one to leave. Cun Xi snaps at her, believing all the talk is Xin Yi's act, "If you wanted to leave, you would've left. I did, it's just that yesterday... Grandma comes in, giving Xin Yi no chance to explain her near miscarriage only the day before. blah blah blah more deafening yelling back and forth, until Cun Xi finally leaves and Grandma decides to "celebrate" her 80th birthday in Advance to formally proclaim Xin Yi's status to the relatives in spite of Cun Xi's stubbornness. Isn't grandma fully equipped.

Throwing his luggage into the car, Cun Xi starts to feel guilty for his impulsive action that inadvertently scars Xin Yi. "Ji Cun Xi, you are such a loser!", he then drives away in frustration.

Anna drinks by herself in Ritz. The restaurant owner sits down next to her and guides her out of her bleak self-desertion so she wouldn't wither away on the bar table. The restaurant owner points that if Cun Xi has forgiven Anna 12 times for standing him up, then why couldn't she forgive him once for his misconduct. The restaurant owner's words enlightens Anna, she rushes to find Cun Xi in the rainy night, giving the two of them another chance.

She finds Cun Xi sitting on the street holding Baby Ji, soaked through and through. Cun Xi hugs back, murmuring to himself, "Sorry, Anna. Sorry, snail (Xin Yi). Sorry.. snail.."

Time fast forwards to a week before Grandma's 80th birthday.

Grandma is busy printing invitation; Xin Yi is paying her periodic visit to the doctor to ensure the best maternity care for the baby; Anna is facing trouble going back to stage; Cun Xi is resuming his work while avoiding Xin Yi and suppressing his love for the upcoming baby and Xin Yi; Anson takes up Cun Xi's job to accompany Xin Yi to the hospital and occasionally tries to bridge the gap Cun Xi and Xin Yi.

"Quack quack quack", Cun Xi squeezes a yellow duck and sways it back and forth in front of Anson's eyes, "Give this to Chen Xin Yi okay?" Anson raises an eye brow and gives Cun Xi a what-are-you-smoking look and asks, "What, is .. this?" Cun Xi starts to explain enthusiastically, "This is a duck! You see, this is a new product, when you put it in a pot of hot water, if the temperature is high enough, the duck will start to quack. Quack quack quack. So when you put the baby down for bath, the water wouldn't burn his little butt! Understand? Quack quack!" (head shakes) Anson presses his lips and unwillingly squeezes out two quacks to humor his boss. Not picking up on Anson's obvious ridicule, Cun Xi puts the duck on his desk, murmuring to himself, "You won't understand." Then, he suddenly makes a 180 degree turn and tells Anson to take the day off to buy Jiang Jun bun for Xin Yi. "Eh, Director has already order for people to buy Jiang Jun bun", Anson replies in a matter of fact manner. Anson continues after a pause, "The one week that you've left home, my duty has reduced to one .. that is to report to you, everyday, what Chen Xin Yi ate, drank, dreamed, oh and I don't have to work, just go buy a Jiang Jun bun or two. If you really care about her, then why don't you just call her?" Cun Xi shakes his head and squints his eyes, "Now that Anna has just forgiven me. I'm only trying to find the balancing point between everything. Whether it's for me, for Xin Yi, or for Anna, this is the best condition!" "Oh, I understand, Best Condition. Which means, Miss Anna doesn't trust you at all; Chen Xin Yi that little snail, lives like a zombie; as for you, it's even simpler. You offend both and cause resentment in both, that is the so-called Best Condition." Speechless, Cun Xi reproaches Anson for discussing personal matters during work. Anson turns around and talks back in a small voice, "Who is the one talking about Chen Xin Yi with me!"

Remembering the next day is Grandma's birthday celebration, Anson reminds Cun Xi to bring Xin Yi along to the celebration. "According to Director, she has a rebellious grandson like you, she's worried that before her 80th birthday, she will be frustrated to death by you. Consequently, she decided to celebrate first. Director emphasized that she will proclaim Chen Xin Yi to be the Ji Family's only legal granddaughter-in-law and announce that she is three months into pregnancy on the celebration." Cun Xi stands up and dogmatically insists that he will now show up on the day. Unhurried, Anson takes out a post-it grandma has given him and reads aloud in a slightly squeaky voice: Anson, if Ji Cun Xi didn't bring Chen Xin Yi to the celebration, I will immediately gulp down our newly developed bathroom cleaner and commit suicide. You can then turn my 80th birthday to a mourning hall for all the guests. " Grandma's last words. Having read the entire post-it, Anson advices Cun Xi to sit down and talk to grandma and hand the duck to Xin Yi in person again. He gently, and respectably puts the post-it on the desk, reminding Cun Xi, this is grandma's "last words" and tells him to save it as a Souvenir before exiting out of the office.

Returning home, Cun Xi couldn't face Anna's uneasiness over his feeling towards Xin Yi. He excuses himself for a walk and realizes that he has no where to turn to. He calls Anson to accompany him at an indoor baseball court. While batting to release stress, Cun Xi laments his mistake for allowing Xin Yi climb higher and higher into his heart. He points out the irony that when he is with Xin Yi, he keeps wishing Anna could be there. Now that Anna is here, he keeps thinking about Xin Yi. Anson defends Xin Yi and tells Cun Xi to be objective, don't always blame everything on Xin Yi and accidentally slips the fact that Xin Yi almost had a miscarriage. Perked up at the mentioning of Xin Yi's accident, Cun Xi presses for the whole story.

Realizing he has slipped, Anson quickly makes an excuse, "Sorry, I need to go to the bath."

"Stop. What really happened? Tell me. Is (s)he ok?"

"Who? Is who ok? Ji Nian Pin or Chen Xin Yi?"

"Of course Chen Xin Yi!"

"Wow, am I mistaken? You are cared about Chen Xin Yi, not Ji Nian Pin?"

Cun Xi decides to pay Xin Yi a visit at home, without Grandma knowing. So he climbs across the wall and sneaks into his own house with the yellow duck, like a burglar.

Cun Xi snuck into his own garden and plans to squeeze throw the kitchen window to get to the house. The light flickers on. Grandma enters into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of milk. She finds a glass on the desk, without a second thought, she pours the content of the glass outside of the window, instead of the sink inches away, and leaves the kitchen. The now soaked Cun Xi pops his head up from under the window and successfully enters his own house. He wanders at his bedroom doorway and tries out 93243287 introductions to explain his sudden appearance without coming off as being too caring. He enters his bedroom only to find out his attempts are wasted, because Xin Yi is not there.

Worried where she might have been, Cun Xi starts to look for Xin Yi in the house. He finds her in Ji Nian Pin's room, fast asleep on the floor. Glad that she hasn't left, he gently puts a blanket over her.

Moving away from her, Cun Xi glances around the room, noticing that Xin Yi has been investing her time into decorating the baby's room. He picks up Xin Yi's Mother's Diary and starts to read her entries. Tears start to well up in his eyes. He flips to the last page of the diary, Xin Yi has glued Cun Xi's picture under father. Under mother, Xin Yi pasted a picture of Anna. Cun Xi looks at the page for a long, long time before finally flipping it shut, a frown on his face. He leans over to touch Xin Yi's face. She shuffles in her sleep. Cun Xi sits down to put together the wooden horse. Little does he know, Grandma sees it all.

Cun Xi leaves after completing the horse. He comes back to Anna's apartment, Anna has been waiting for him in the living room. Anna tells Cun Xi that she decided to accept the baby. Cun Xi is taken aback by the twist. Anna assures him she will treat the child wholeheartedly. Cun Xi avoids a direct answer and urges Anna to go to sleep. She cries alone in the darkness.

In the morning, when Xin Yi wakes up, she finds the wooden horse completed. By her foot are the cupid and the duck. She hastily runs down the stairs to share her happy discovery with grandma, deducing Cun Xi might be back. Grandma smiles at Xin Yi without answering her yet. She claps her hands and brings out a line of maids each holding a gown. While letting Xin Yi to pick out her dress for her ball, Grandma tells Xin Yi there is a little stealthy rat who did all of Cinderella's chores for her before the ball.

Xin Yi couldn't decide, so she tells Grandma she will dress in the cheapest gown. Grandma claps her hand and says, "Alright, it's decided. You will dress in all five dress. You will change every half an hour!"

Cun Xi stands in the balcony, staring at the divorce contract in hand. Anna accidentally finds Cun Xi's wedding band while she is emptying his pocket for laundry. Cun Xi turns in time to see Anna holding the ring. He walks in, frankly tells her that he went to see Xin Yi the night before. Anna's heart sinks. "What do you plan to do?", she asks. Cun Xi tells her that he decides to attend his grandma's birthday celebration and return everything to its original state .. the state without Anna. Then, after seven months when Xin Yi gives birth, he will return to Anna and start over.

He promises.

-

Oh uh, Xin Yi's mother and sisters are coming to town next episode, prepare for major earsplitting yelling and jabbering! Shies away to buy ear plugs.

This episode is just so, so, soooo slow. Looks like we will have to wait for another two weeks before the story develops in Shanghai. Hopefully it will start to pick up with Dylan adding more dynamics to the story and all.

A note on the few trivial things I've observed: Anna's apartment is the same one Xu Le lived in in Wish to See You Again. Chen Qiao En has also been given a make over at the pivotal point of her last drama (Yin Ye 3+1), where her hair changed from side bangs to straight bangs. Same hair stylistc?

Episode 12: Back to the Beginning

Anna lets Cun Xi go. To the birthday celebration.

She picks up Cun Xi's phone lying on the table and sees the pictures he's taken with Xin Yi. Hurt and desperate, she decides. To end everything today.

She calls Xin Yi, who is squeezing the duck, happily thinking to herself that a sneaky rat paid her a visit last night.

They meet up. Anna expresses her Genuine kindness and Utmost concern for Xin Yi's near miscarriage, that She urged Cun Xi to pay Xin Yi a visit last night. Sly. Xin Yi lowers her head and murmurs that no wonder Cun Xi likes Anna because she's both beautiful and considerate. Anna gives Xin Yi a duh-of-course-he-can't-escape-from-my-palm look and tells Xin Yi it's all changed because Xin Yi has a baby and she doesn't. It's allllll about the baby.

Anna continues to remind Xin Yi that Cun Xi has simply mistook Xin Yi for herself. "Because You accidentally walked into the wrong room, Cun Xi has to carry the burden of the responsibility. As to me, I have to live with the fact that my boyfriend impregnated another woman. I thought we would start a family and have our own kids, now everything has changed." Ouch. Xin Yi apologizes. Anna hands Xin Yi a brown envelop, telling her that Cun Xi intended for Xin Yi to sign, but forgot to bring it with him in a morning's rush. Xin Yi takes it. Anna continues, "Even if you don't say what it is, I could've guessed. It's probably an expired divorce document. When he left this morning, he looks determent. I know he is going to have to hurt one of us. From how much he cares for grandma and the baby, I think I probably don't stand a chance." Xin Yi opens the envelope. It's an Abortion Agreement. Now, that, is low.

Cun Xi is in the lawyer's office, adding benefits to the divorce document. "Provide a makeover fund every three months..? That's because Chen Xin Yi doesn't know how to take care of her looks. Add it... Ok" "Ask publishers to send their new romance novels every month..?" "Even though I don't read those, Chen Xin Yi seems to like them a lot. Add it.. " "But rather than adding these trivial conditions, why don't you set up something more realistic and elaborate? Like money, houses, cars, etc." "Oh it's right there." "Provide 20 million, two houses, and "a car with a chauffeur!"

Cun Xi calls Xin Yi. Xin Yi picks it up with a shaky hand and asks, "Do you have a document for me to sign?" "How did you know?" Xin Yi's tears start to well up, "Do you really want me to sign? Is this what you wanted?" Not knowing what exactly Xin Yi is referring to, Cun Xi answers, "I didn't want this to happen either, but the way things are going, this is the only way." Xin Yi turns off the phone. "Miss Anna", Xin Yi turns to Anna, "Can you do me a favor..?"

Sorry Chen Xin Yi. I've already lost the stage. I can't lose Cun Xi, the only thing I have left.

Of course, the desire to keep your "loved" one as a result of the inability to let go is understandable, but does the script writer absolutely have to create more angst by making Anna so incredibly unethical?

Cun Xi arrives at the birthday celebration site. He enters the resting room, only to find Anna sitting in Xin Yi's place.

Why are you here?

Chen Xin Yi asked me to come.

Anna lies about Xin Yi's decision to leave Anna and Cun Xi. Cun Xi couldn't understand Xin Yi's sudden change of mind. Frustrated, at Cun Xi's perseverance over Xin Yi, Anna throws herself at Cun Xi, causing him to drop the divorce documents onto the floor, its heading visibly protruding the opening of the envelope.

Xin Yi's family arrives. The rowdy bunch make their way to see Xin Yi in the guest resting room, chattering incessantly. Finally, Anson's high pitched, "I'm sorry" temporarily stops their endless yacking.

They enter, Cun Xi and Anna are standing motionlessly, their lips glued together. Very romantic isn't it? The three loud women retreat out of the room, laughing at their novel experience of barging onto a kissing scene. Then, they realize, the one Cun Xi is kissing isn't Xin Yi. Chen Lin Xi Shi screams and charges in.

A competition of who's louder than the other takes place. Notably, the irony of Feng Jiao's comment that Anna should be a model rather than ruining other people's relationships, is appreciated.

Cun Xi stands up for Anna, introducing her as his real girlfriend. Grandma comes in with Dylan only to find the situation out of hand. Anna's eyes are already turning red. At the critical time, Feng Jiao spots the divorce papers on the floor, exacerbating the situation into a theatrically loud mixture of humiliation, accusation, and misunderstanding. In a series of pulling and tugging, the three Chen women grabbed Cun Xi's Mont Blanc pen. Cun Xi demands them to return the pen, "That pen is from Anna!" "Is it so?" Dylan speaks for the first time, "Are you Sure that pen is given to you by Anna?" Dylan takes the pen from Chen Lin Xi Shi's hand and puts it back into Cun Xi's palm, "She ponds her gold necklace just so she can purchase a birthday present for you with her own money." The room fell quiet. Cun Xi is speechless. Dylan continues, "that's because she saw your disappointment, so she purposely wrote Anna's name on it. Because she said, "It's ok. To Cun Xi, the best present is Anna's wish for him. I don't want to see him disappointed.

Chen Lin Xi Shi takes a step forward and tells Cun Xi, "That necklace is given to her from her long deceased father as her wedding gift. If it weren't for important reasons, she would not pond it. Ponding it is no big deal, but being treated like trash is." Right when I start to get ready to allow my feelings to run along, Xi Shi turns around starts to wail. -_- What's in place of the supposedly sympathy turns into a cold eye-rolling reflex.

Dylan walks towards Cun Xi and reminds him, for the nth time:

When your dog got lost, she found it for you. When your girl friend stood you up, she stayed by your side. Every time, when you are lonely and sad, she is always the one that stays by your side. " But you, forsakes her each time. Letting a pregnant woman wandering the street aimlessly by herself, picking her up only when you finally thinks of her. She almost lost her baby a couple days ago. Ji Cun Xi, Do You Still Remember?"

Cun Xi murmurs to himself, "I won't let it happen again." and walks out. Anna chases after him, "Cun Xi, where are you going? You promised that you won't leave me." Cun Xi turns and replies solemnly, "My promise is worthless now. No matter who I've promised, I've never fulfilled any of the promises." See, never believe a man's promise.

Xin Yi doesn't want to abort the baby, nor does she want the baby to grow up in a family without love. So she decides to take Ji Nian Ping with her and go as far from Cun Xi as possible.

Cun Xi runs around looking for Xin Yi. She has thrown away her phone.

Xin Yi wanders to a park, where a little girl was building the ginger man in the sand. Xin Yi stops to watch and nostalgically remembers when she was young, she would build a little sand man and pretend it's her baby. The girl's father takes the girl home for dinner. Xin Yi walks towards the ginger man and touches it lovely, as if it's her Ji Nian Ping in the womb. It starts to rain. Desperate to preserve the sand-made figure " the baby " Xin Yi starts to pile sand onto it. And then, she lets her bottled up emotion get the best of her. She starts to cry in the pouring rain.

Cun Xi finds her. He calls out to her, but only made her slip away faster. She runs towards the street..

"Chen Xin Yi, STOP!" She stops. "Chen Xin Yi, Turn Around!" She turns. "Without my permission, don't you dare to move." She looks at him like a scared child. "Why did you pond your wedding gift to buy me this pen? Why didn't you give it to me using your own name? It wasn't my first time being stood up. What did you do that for!? Are you scared that I'd be disappointed? Or are you afraid that I'd cry?! Chen Xin Yi, Are You In Love With Me? Because you didn't want to leave, that's why you didn't want to sign right?" Oh no. He was doing well so far, until the last sentence. "TELL ME! I really need an answer right now." "Stop lying to me. If you want me to leave, it's fine. I won't sign it." "Chen Xin Yi, are you mistaken? Asking you sign it is for Your benefit!" "I won't let you hurt my baby. I'm going to leave you RIGHT NOW." She turns away and runs towards the street. Cun Xi follows after her. A car approaches...

She gets hit. Hard. The months of pregnancy flashes past her, from the moment she finds out about her pregnancy, the moment Cun Xi decides to keep the child, the first time they go out together for baby supply shopping, the first time seeing the ultra sound of the baby Black. Then, they are all gone. The baby, is gone too.

Xin Yi is sent to the hospital. Dr. Hao needs Cun Xi's consent to take out the baby in order to save the mother. Not much of a choice, the baby is only three months old. Xin Yi wakes up in time. She begs and pleas for him to keep the baby. He turns away from her, signs the form with a shaking hand, and tells Dr. Hao he Must save Xin Yi.

Anna receives the news that Xin Yi has lost the child. She crumbles on the spot, wishing the rain could wash away her sins.

Xin Yi wakes up from the anesthesia, the first thing she asks is to see the baby, breaking her mommy and sisters' hearts. "Where is my baby?" Xin Yi asks again. Cun Xi is outside of the hospital room, eager to see Xin Yi. She hears him, and grabs onto her mother, whimpering, "Don't let him come, don't! I don't want to see him!! My baby, my baby.. Mom, my baby is lost.. it's lost! .. It escalates into a scream, as Xin Yi weeps and grieves for her lost baby.. Cun Xi begs to see Xin Yi, even if it's just one glance.

Cun Xi finally leaves when Anson comes to inform him of his own grandmother's grave condition as a result of the shock. Cun Xi blames himself for not noticing the changes in Xin Yi's condition, for causing the miscarriage. But it's too late. It's back to the beginning. Except nothing is the same again.

Xin Yi returns to her home in Jiang Mu Island. She often stars into space, holding the rubber ducking, thinking. Thinking about her lost baby.

One day, Dylan visits her. They go on a walk. He tells her what's important is how to live, not how to die. Ji Nian Ping is already dead. "But did you know," Dylan takes off his suit jacket and puts it around Xin Yi, "If you are sad, your mother will be sad as well. When your mother is sad, your sisters will not be happy either. Do you want to leave? Leave here, forget about everything that happened here. Transform into a new Chen Xin Yi. Let's go to Shanghai."

With Xin Yi's leave, the remainder of her things are packed into a box, waiting for its owner to come back to them some time in the future. Cun Xi sees the wish box and opens it. In it are the post-its of Xin Yi's wishes. The last of which says, "I, fell in love with Ji Cun Xi. I wish that he will never learn of this."

Grandma urges Cun Xi to go after Xin Yi. Cun Xi catches the last boat to go to Jiang Mu Island. Xin Yi and Dylan take the last boat leaving Jiang Mu Island. They miss each other.

-

I have exams and some major papers to write, so next week's recap will come After all those. (I promise they will come before next, next week's episode airs). But doesn't a good episode deserve more anticipation?  :D

Episode 13: Rebirth

Xin Yi throws away the chip Ji Cun Xi had given her, officially and unwillingly, bidding goodbye to her past and waving hello to Shanghai. (A visa? What's that?)

In Shanghai, Fresh Of the Boat (literally, and colloquially), Xin Yi stands in Wai Tan overlooking the Yellow River, giving the viewers a chance to admire the scenery from all angles. (This is the time you go "ooh" and "wow" while the poor camera men, running in circles with the camera set, trying not to slip in the midst of the bumping and pushing while maintaining a good quality shoot.)

Dylan brings Xin Yi to the gallery " Hei Chi Gallery " where he is the creative director and Xin Yi's future employer. The awe-inspiring perfectionism in the gallery renders Xin Yi speechless and a little intimidated. Dylan introduces Xin Yi as the new agent. Before Cun Xi's colleagues even had the chance to object, which they are too accustomed to Dylan's habit to bother, Xin Yi retreats behind Dylan and whispers that she is ill qualified for the position. Dylan assures her that she has the potential but she needs to get her rear moving and catch up. Then he turns away from Xin Yi and casually mentions that by the way, master ZhongShan Long is one of the artists the gallery works with. In other words Xin Yi will have a chance to get to know the master. Or even be the master's apprentice. Having convinced Xin Yi to work in the gallery, Dylan proceeds to take her to her apartment. (What? You just gave her a job, an unthinkable opportunity, and now an apartment?! Those and a ship named after your newly deceased fetus, is there a need to pick between the two?)

Once Dylan left, Xin Yi wanders around the empty room and picks up a book on the coffee table. She read two sentences when her gaze falls on her luggage. She remembers the first day moving into Cun Xi's room when he scolds her for putting her belongings on the rug Anna bought in Milan, and later when Cun Xi empties a shelf for Xin Yi. She signs and walks towards the bed. Lying in bed on her side, Xin Yi wonders if she is capable of managing on her own.

She does manage, but in the post-it girl way she knows best. Xin Yi is back to buying coffee and making photo copies for everyone and anyone who asks. Dylan watches Xin Yi reverting to her old self and listens to his employees.. discussion of Xin Yi's lack of personality, when Xin Yi comes back, he calls her to his desk. He chastises Xin Yi for not putting up an effort to change. Why come to Shanghai if she doesn't plan to take control of her life for once? "Return to Taiwan if you don't plan to change" Dylan tells her. Xin Yi starts to cry and runs out of the gallery. Frustrated by both Xin Yi's lack of motivation and his own a-little-too-harsh criticism that made Xin Yi cry, Dylan runs out to find her.

Cun Xi doesn't give up, he pays Xin Yi's family visits everyday to find out Xin Yi's whereabouts. Each time, the three pigs in the house lock the door when the big bad wolf approaches near the door. Cun Xi asks Anson to check the out of border record to find out where his Chen Xin Yi went. Anson reports over a thousand exists filed under the same name and reminds Cun Xi that Chen Xin Yi is no longer his. Cun Xi laments his inability to protect Xin Yi and Ji Nian Ping and regrets for not keeping Xin Yi when he is already in love with her. More than he imagined. He just wants to find Xin Yi to tell her sorry personally.

Xin Yi's mother finally lets Cun Xi in the house for a one on one talk. At the end of the talk, the mother tells Cun Xi Xin Yi doesn't want him to look for her. She never wants to see him again. Dumbstruck, Cun Xi hands out an ipod that records the words he wants to tell her. Unfortunately, the ipod never found its way to Xin Yi.

Xin Yi wanders across Wai Tan and somehow ends up in Su Zhou (which is only about 100 miles away). She comes up to a group of old men trying to name a sketch one of them drew. She joins the discussion and names it "The Only One". "A cup holder, a cup, and a cup lid belong together, " she explains, "yet, the three things are not suitable for each other." (An artist's aesthetic interpretation is not to be questioned.)

Cun Xi decides to find Xin Yi at all cost, at the same time, he decides to be honest with Anna about his feelings towards another woman.

He returns to his office, Anna has just hung up from a call regarding the ship he bought for Xin Yi. She asks him if buying the ship is for easier transportation to see Chen Xin Yi at Jiang Mu Island. Cun Xi nods. "Because you feel you owe her? Because of guilt? Or is it because of love?" Cun Xi only stares back Anna. "It's love.", Anna murmurs to herself, "After being stood up 12 times, finally, Ji Cun Xi gives up Anna Shi." "I didn't fall in love with Chen Xin Yi because you stood me up. I didn't fall in love with her as a result of being used to her presence. I fell in love with her silliness. I'm afraid that if I don't protect her, she will be bullied by others. (Oh no, if you don't protect her, Dylan will.)" Anna looks down in defeat, when she looks up again, she puts a smile on her face and playfully tells Cun Xi, "Don't be so sentimental. Although I may come off as being strong, I'm easily hurt! You should understand that each time when I had to leave you, I have to muster up a lot of courage to not turn around. Only this time, it's harder than ever. Watching you over protectiveness during Xin Yi's pregnancy, I'm thinking that what if we have a child of our own who inherits your eyebrow and my eyes? We can take walks in the park together, hand in hand.." Cun Xi is a little surprised, he tells Anna she has changed. Anna continues, "Cun Xi, I'm sorry about what happened on Grandma's 80th birthday. If I didn't show up, you and Xin Yi's child would never been killed. I'm very sorry." She hands the dog to Cun Xi and wishes for him to find Xin Yi soon. She turns to leave. "Anna, are you going back to NY?" Anna turns around, pretend to dismiss the matter lightly, "I can't go back to NY. Just like how I can't return to your side." Cun Xi doesn't understand. Anna explains to him that she has lost the stage forever with a helpless smile on her face. "Even if my leg heal, no other dance group would want me after the incident."

Xin Yi wanders off to the bridge. Overlooking the peaceful river, she takes out her cell phone and looks at her picture with Cun Xi long and hard. The old man approaches her. "Your boyfriend?" the man asks. "No, he was my husband. What I said about the sketch earlier actually reflects my current state of being." "The one and only yet not meant to be you talked about?" "Yes. Even though my ex-husband and I both tried everything, we weren't meant to be because his heart already belongs to someone else. To escape from the unhappiness, I came to Shanghai under a friend's encouragement. Unfortunately, I disappointed that friend as well. That's me, clumsy and useless." "I beg to differ. Your interpretation of my sketch is very intriguing. It's somewhat representative of what I intended for it to be. " Finding someone who she can connect with, Xin Yi asks the man why he would juxtapose things that aren't meant to be. "The sharp edged cup is me. That cup lid is the woman I love the most. Sometimes, even though I knew two things may not be compatible, but I just want to try to see if it's possible to find a delicate balance between the two. Because.." "Because happiness is as far fetched as snow flake." Xin Yi completes his sentence for him. "Right, because happiness is far fetched. Even though I can't be with the woman I love, but everything between us can become my inspiration. Did you know, only those with a story can create the most brilliant work. If you can't forget the past, then force yourself. Keep it, as part of your life's story. Let it be your nutrition to walk ahead." Xin Yi is enlightened. She deletes the picture from her phone.

You could be the father and I could be the mother. We were once fortunate enough to have a child of our own. Except, the three of us were never meant to be together.

Xin Yi walks with the old man back downtown. Dylan finally finds Xin Yi. He runs over, hugs her and apologizes for being to harsh over and over again. "Sorry," Xin Yi says, teary eyed, "This will be my last time saying sorry. What you said was right. I let you down. Please give me another chance. I will prove myself. Please." "Chance, has always been waiting for you." "THANK YOU!" Xin Yi jumps up and hugs Dylan. The man watches the entire exchange and smiles.

Still hugging Dylan tightly, Xin Yi asks jokingly, "Hey, if I work hard enough, will you introduce me to master ZhongShan Long?" The old man walks towards Dylan and pats his on the back, "I've known you for so long, but I've never seen this tender and encouraging side of you. Ho Ho Ho." Without turning, Dylan tells Xin Yi, "Seems like you already know him." "WHAT? He?!?! He is ZhongShan Long?" Xin Yi is utterly shocked that the man she just spilled her guts to turns out to be the very man she admires. What's more shocking is that ZhongShan Long asks her to work with him. Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?

After a long day of work, Cun Xi walks into the nursery to reminiscent the anxiousness of an impending fatherhood that's already lost.

I once had a dream. In it, there is a father, a mother, and a loved toddler. We could've been happy. But I messed up.

Anna calls Cun Xi, uncertain whether grandma would be willing to accept her in place of Xin Yi. One of the few times to see Anna without the glorious halo of confidence. He assures her and hangs up.

Cun Xi gets up, he takes off his wedding band and puts it on the wooden horse. "Goodbye Ji Nian Ping, goodbye Chen Xin Yi." Cun Xi is ready to start anew. Wise choice.

So does Chen Xin Yi.

A lot of things changed.

Xin Yi now Elaine learns to make pottery; Anna opens a dance class; Cun Xi uses work to numb his feelings.

But deep down, nothing changed.

Every single time when Cun Xi sees the new post-it girl in the office, he is reminded of Xin Yi. Whenever someone calls out Xin Yi, Cun Xi would turn to look.

Two years past.

One day Dylan enters Elaine's classroom and knocks on the door asking if the teacher still takes any more students. Elaine looks up and smiles. One of the kids sees Dylan and blurs out, "Teacher's boyfriend is here!" "Ah, this girl has got a sharp eye!" Dylan remarks. :) He picks Elaine up after class and brings her back to the gallery. In the display is Elaine's first work. Dylan plans to sell it and introduce Elaine to the world. Utterly thankful, Elaine tells Dylan that he's been so patient and kind to her, she doesn't know how to respond. Dylan answers, "Have you considered that I'm so kind to you because you simply deserve the kindness?" Elaine shakes her head, "No, I just don't know how I can ever repay you." "There's something that's been troubling me recently," Dylan starts, "after the past two years, Elaine doesn't need anything anymore. If she wants anything, she has the ability to get it herself. Except for one thing." "What is it?" "Love." Dylan confesses to Elaine. She stares at him for a long time, then burst into laughter. "This is good. This is the funniest thing I've heard in two years."

Dylan lets out a sigh of incredulity, "What the? The first time I'm serious about liking a girl, she treats it like it's just a joke?!" He follows her to Wai Tan, "Why? Is the flower I sent uglier or the wine I offer poisonous? " "Don't joke with me, you know all about my past. Divorced, lost a child, clumsily beyond belief. If it weren't for you, I'd still be living the same old chaotic life. You deserve someone better."

Maybe I like you because you are Chen Xin Yi.

To that, Elaine lightly says, "I'm not Chen Xin Yi anymore. I want to forget about Chen Xin Yi." "Elaine!" Dylan calls after her and tosses a coin into the air then catches with ease. "Head or tail?" Elaine smiles and asks, "Is there a prize for guessing right?" "Certainly. That is, Master Dylan will take you home personally." Elaine chuckles and asks, "What if I guessed it wrong?" "If you are wrong, then, share a secret with me." "Then, head." Dylan opens his palm slowly, revealing the shiny coin with the tail side facing upward. "Uh oh, I gotta go home by myself." "Your reaction isn't right. You should say, "Uh oh, I gotta share a secret with you." "Alright, what secret do you want to hear?" Dylan takes away the smile and asks, "Still in your heart? Ji Cun Xi." "Still in my heart." Dylan nods. "But", Xin Yi continues, "He has become my nutrients, the story in my life." "Can I confess?" "Sure, what do you want to confess about?" Dylan starts "Two years ago, I made a mistake. If I knew you would be hurt so badly, I wouldn't try to push you towards Ji Cun Xi. When I decided to go to Grandma's birthday party, I thought I would see you as the happiest person on earth. Who knew it would end up like that." Xin Yi looks away. Dylan continues, "If joining your past is God's plan, then I sincerely wish our encounter is meaningful." "If, my art sells tomorrow, then I will eat dinner with you." "Dinner? That's it?" Elaine smiles and adds, "What about showing up as your girlfriend?" "You really think that way? Hey only say it if you mean it! If you want to thank me by offering yourself to me, I refuse in advance." Dylan wiggles his finger to emphasize the "no". Elaine only smiles wider, "What? There are times even You would doubt your own charms?" Dylan childishly answers, "I'm not God. When facing Love, I doubt myself once in awhile."

Cun Xi faces problems at work. A sponsor suddenly decides to use Cun Xi company's rival's product. Cun Xi decides to pay the CEO a personal visit to convince him otherwise, in Shanghai. Anson enters to report to Cun Xi that Anna's wedding gown has been custom made, tailored, and promptly arrived. The 348325th time Cun Xi has been informed of the matter. After Anson leaves, Cun Xi receives a phone call from grandma telling him to hurry home because "she" is about to give birth.

-

Been so busy today with packing and rendez-vous (no, not in the romantic sense) that this recap took a Long time to write. Not entirely satisfied with it, but, it's done at last!

Episode 14: Love in Shanghai

Mistake, mistake! I saw her grasping the carpet with her two front pawns while whimpering on and off, I though she's giving birth soon. heh heh, mistake.

Anna takes time out of her busy preparation work for the grand opening of her new dance class to see to Baby Ji's labor and brings with her a dog owners' handbook from the vet as well as a new birthday present for grandma. Because, she wants to erase the selfish image of her former self and become the glittery perfect daughter-in-law. (*shines spotlight on her*)

Then her phone rings, informing her that something is amiss at the dance class. She rushes to solve the problem and bidding goodnight to Cun Xi. Watching the silhouette of Anna's departing figure, Cun Xi sighs.

Coming out from behind the door, grandma speaks out Cun Xi's mind, "If you love her, you wouldn't feel so exhausted." "Waiting for someone who won't come back, it must be more tiring for you Grandma." Cun Xi optimistically tells grandma, "Since we've decided to let go of the past, we must appreciate what we have now." Grandma nods sadly, "Right, we need to forget the past. Sever it." The young helps the old back into the house slowly.

"I'm going to Shanghai on a business trip tomorrow.

"Alright. I wonder how Xin Yi is doing.."

"Grandma! I'm taking about my business trip. Didn't we agree to sever the connection to the past?"

"Oh, right. Moving on."

"She is probably doing well by now.."

"Hey! Let go of the past! Let go!"

The two figures slowly enter the house after repeatedly reminding each other to let go, to forget about the past, and Chen Xin Yi.

Sitting alone in his room packing for next day's business trip, Cun Xi picks up the Mont Blanc pen Xin Yi had given him two years ago on his birthday, his thoughts wander uncontrollable back to the old days when her familiar presence still pervades every corner of the room. "Chen Xin Yi, where are you?" he thought while gazing lovely at the pen, "How are you? Are you doing well? Hopefully someone who knows how to treat you right is taking good care of you, wherever you are."

Returning home, Elaine pours herself a glass of milk, she sits down and starts to think about Dylan's proposal of a possible date that may potentially upgrade their relationship status to being couples in the near future. She thinks to herself, "If saying yes can make Dylan happy, then why say no? Plus, he's been so kind to me throughout, I don't have a reason to reject him." (Her bangs bug me. They're shorter than her last appearance in the previous episode.)

After taking Elaine home, Dylan is in no hast to head back home. He stays down stairs, watching the window of Elaine's apartment. Then he calls to remind her not to stay up too late and jokingly asks her to prepare for tomorrow night's dinner/celebration for selling her first piece. "It takes an average of one to two years for a new artist to sell his/her work. I'm afraid that our dinner is going to be prosponed for quite awhile."

"Really? I think you forgot the fact that decreasing the waiting period for a given artist is what I excel at." On cue, Dylan looks up just in time to catch the tail of a shooting star, "Look! Shooting star! I bet tomorrow is going to be your lucky day. "Souvenir" is definitely going to meet its "soul mate" tomorrow." Indeed.

Xin Yi jokes that hopefully Dylan doesn't ask his assistant to buy the piece tomorrow. He jokes back saying he was just thinking about it. Before hanging up, Xin Yi tells Dylan she will consider dating him. Satisfied, Dylan drives away.

Cun Xi jumps straight to business the moment he arrives in Shanghai. He explains to his business partner who decides to switch over to Cun Xi's rival company's new perfume shower gel for the novelty it may bring to the market. Calm and resilient, Cun Xi pushes forward a meticulously bounded document. "Before you make your decision, I would like to provide you with a little bit of information. This is a list of ingredients of the perfume shower gel I gathered through anonymous means. Regarding the preservatives contained in the product, it's a legalized preservative, paraben. Although innocuous as it seems, according to a study conducted by British researchers that paraben has estrogenic effects to developing infants and adolescence that may also cause damage to the liver. You are a father as well. I'm sure you understand the feeling of wanting to give the best to your child." (Appealing to authority is the way to go, even if there is no real scientific basis.)

"Would consumers understand all that?"

"I am sponsoring a convention at the end of this month in Washington that targets the use of paraben. As a result, the product consumption rate is bound to decline." To exert more pressure, Cun Xi makes it clear that he has also contacted other companies to discuss the contract. Without wasting another minute, Cun Xi's business partner signs the contract. I wish settling business in the real world is as simple.

The natural progression after successfully signing a contract is an appropriate amount of socialization, at least, according to other dramas. Cun Xi's business partner volunteers to give Cun Xi a tour of Shanghai. He promptly refuses, explaining that he is expected to return to TW the very night to participate in his fiance's dance class opening and bring back a souvenir during his extreme short stay. To that, Cun Xi's business partner refers a famous art gallery to Cun Xi, promising him to find exquisite works from there.

At the gallery, Dylan eagerly waits for Elaine's arrival, she has expressed the wish to explain her work personally. It's almost noon, Elaine is still no where to be seen. Dylan dials her number to find out that she experienced a small tire leakage on the way and is now stranded on the side of the road trying to figure out how to change tire by herself. Dylan leaves the gallery to pick up Elaine. The second Dylan drives off, Ji Cun Xi's car stops at the front door of the gallery.

Cun Xi enters the gallery and glances across the various art pieces in exhibition. He stops at a purple swan that is gracefully titling its elegant head down as if vainly rearranging its feathers, oblivious of the gazes of its admirers. Without a second thought, he purchases the swan. He continues upstairs. Elaine's horse immediately catches Cun Xi's attention. He bends down to take a closer look at the horse and its description tag, which reads "Souvenir". A sense of nostalgia sweeps across Cun Xi as he allows himself to be engulfed in memories of the past. Of naming the never born baby, of purchasing the wooden horse, of the miscarriage, and of leaving the ring on the horse and letting go.

Cun Xi decides to buy "Souvenir". Ryan, Elaine's coworker calls her to announce the good news. Incredulous, she turns to eye Dylan suspiciously. "Don't give me that look. I didn't do anything!" Dylan replies innocently. Ryan assures her it's not of Dylan's doing, he then tells her the buyer claims that a piece of art that holds a story is worth buying. Hearing that the buyer is still besides Ryan, Elaine requests to speak to him.

She thanks him for purchasing her work and asks whether he could wait for her so she can thank him in person. He agrees but only giving her five precious minutes to return to the gallery. Cun Xi lingers long enough but five minutes is five minutes, he had to rush back to catch the plane back to Taiwan. He walks out of the gallery to leave when Xin Yi steps down Dylan's car. Unfortunately, fate intervenes, as always. Elaine runs into another customer in a moment of haste, rendering her a second too late from spotting Ji Cun Xi. He rides away in the car while she wanders on the street, trying to get a glimpse of her first customer.

Dylan runs out of the gallery to find Xin Yi. He hands her an envelope left by the buyer, arranging to meet her at 5 pm in the hotel he's staying at. Before returning to the gallery, he remind her about having dinner with him. :)

It must be the work of hypoactive amygdala, not illogical plot. Because how else would a stranger of the opposite sex and a hotel room after day time not incur a sense of danger fishy enough to keep our loving and trusting Chen Xin Yi from going? So she goes. Yet, fate tempers with the lovers' game again, Cun Xi is in the shower when Elaine comes knocking at the door. After hearing no response, she leaves the Thank You card and a certificate of the art piece at the front desk before returning home to get ready for the night of celebration with Dylan.

Cun Xi checks out and receives the letter from the front desk. In the taxi, on his way to the airport, he opens the card to briefly read over it. When he opens the certificate, the name of the creator catches his eye. It reads: Chen Xin Yi. He commands the driver to turn around to go back to the gallery. He meets Ryan who is getting off work. From Ryan, Cun Xi is redirected to the address of Elaine and Dylan's celebration dinner party.

Entering the bar, Cun Xi is given a mask since the theme of the particular night is a masquerade ball. (Trying a little too hard there. As if the ambient lighting of the scene isn't enough to create the atmosphere.)

Cun Xi enters and looks everywhere for Xin Yi. Finally, seated by herself in the back room, looking down at something, he spots her. The Chen Xin Yi he's been dreaming to see over the past two years. Tears of utter happiness creep up the corner of his eye.

He smiles at Xin Yi, the world is reduced to just the two of them. Stars start to sparkle around Xin Yi. (Ho thy corniness!) Then, sensing his presence, she smiles under the soft white light that frames her face and brings out the color of her cheeks, and, she waves at him. He smiles back and starts to walk toward her when' a chord of cacophony shatters his daydream into pieces and drags him back, forcibly into reality. Dylan, dressed in immaculate white, walks past Cun Xi with the ease of a prince and takes a seat next to Xin Yi.

He watches as Dylan hands Elaine a bouquet of flowers (which disappears here onward) and whispers something into her ears. Then gently, he kisses her forehead. Cun Xi's face starts to lose color. "So it was him who took Xin Yi away two years ago." he realizes. Immediately taking a seat in the cubicle next to them, Cun Xi starts to stalk his ex-wife. :P

Meal is brought up, Elaine takes off her shawl, revealing an exquisite neckline and alluring shoulders. Cun Xi, next door, watches and grudgingly thinks to himself, "It's just a dinner, is there a need to dress so formally and revealing?" He snaps. A waiter comes. He half covers his mouth and takes out a one thousand dollar bill (which doesn't exist in Shanghai) and tells the waiter to turning down the AC. The sly waiter takes one look at Xin Yi's bosom and asks for two more one thousand dollar bills to direct the flow of the air towards Xin Yi. Deal.

Cun Xi monitors stealthily. Xin Yi sneezes. Dylan helps her with her shawl and holds both of her hands in his palms to provide her warmth. Cun Xi falls back into his cubicle and bangs his head against the wall for coming up with such a silly scheme that (sort of) backfires on him.

"Before, no matter how hard I try, no one notices me. But one man reminds me of the confidence I lack. He keeps encouraging me." Xin Yi starts to express her feeling of successfully selling her first piece, "and then, the auction from two years ago made me realize how wonderful it feels to be noticed." Listening intently, Cun Xi, on the other side of the divider, lets out a look of satisfaction, as if proudly boasting "yup, that's me". Xin Yi continues, "I remember everything you've done for me. All that I have today is due to you, Dylan." Cun Xi perks up at the sound of Dylan's name and twitches his neck in disbelief. "Thank you. Elaine's existence is all because of you. You liberated me from the life of a loser.

So, from now on, can you take care of Elaine as her boyfriend?"

Not quite convinced that Elaine agrees to become his girlfriend out of affection, Dylan decides to announce the happy news to all the gusts in the restaurant. He brings her up to the stage and announces the news, inviting everyone for a drink. The crowd cheers. "There are two people I must thank for giving me the opportunity to be with Elaine. The first is the idiot who didn't know how to cherish her." An invisible arrow hits Cun Xi on the shoulder. " The second is the buyer who purchased her work today"." A second arrow penetrates Cun Xis chest. Ouch. Holding Elaine's hand, Dylan continues, "Because of him, you earned the courage to chase after your own happiness. Of course, that happiness is me." (Don't you just love his confidence? ;) ) Handing the microphone to her, Dylan asks the critical question, putting Elaine on the spot, "Elaine, tell me, you agreed to date me because you like me in return, right?"

She stares up at him, "I.." A waiter walks by, not wanting to hear the "yes" Cun Xi is convinced of hearing, he trips the waiter. The sound of crashing cups interrupts the confession. Everyone turn to look at the source of the sound. Xin Yi lets out of sigh of relief, which isn't missed by Dylan. He says softly, "Your answer, I already know." Worried, Xin Yi opens her mouth in a gasp and hastily cuts him off, "No, I haven't said anything yet!"

Dylan stops her. He leans over, concern written all over his face, "Every time you cry, whether it's out of loneness or fragility; each time you smile, whether it's out of pretense or happiness, I understand it clearer than anyone else. Your answer, I've already seen. It's just as I thought." He kisses Xin Yi on the forehead. The crowd cheers in blissful ignorance, as if mocking Dylan's unrequited love. Dylan sadly thanks the audience and walks down the stage.

Back into the cubicle, Dylan refrains Xin Yi from saying sorry. He tells her that one day, he will make her accept her truthfully. Until that day arrives, he will wait. She looks back into his eyes in gratitude.

Dylan's phone rings, informing him of a burglar alarm at the gallery. All thanks to Ji Cun Xi.

Dylan leaves; Cun Xi enters.

He fakes an accidental wine spill and makes up a bunch of lame reasons. He tells her the Caucasian, who is sitting in a distance looking into the computer, is his client. They are in the midst of a discussion about a big, important investment plan. The only draw back is, the man is gay, consequently extra picky with attires. If the gay man sees the stain, he is not going to want to continue with the business. (In that case, just take off your shirt and flex your muscles. I'm sure the "gay" guy will sign whatever contract you offer him while trying to suck the saliva from drooling down uncontrollably over your hot, masculine, well built, body. :D ) Elaine offers to explain to the man, Cun Xi stops her, reasoning that a gay man wouldn't like girls. (I don't know what world he's living in, but my gay friends tend to have A LOT to identify with girls.) So to save him and his business, all Elaine needs to do is waltz with him. What?!?! Exactly. They start to waltz. Cun Xi insinuates her past, to which she curtly categorizes as a terrible experience, so bad she never wants to be reminded of it again.

"If you don't like the sweet waltz, then let's try a rebellious tango." The music magically changes. Magic, I tell you. They tango. Cun Xi pulls her close, so close they are within kissing distance. She swims away from him, asking, "Who are you?" He pulls her back, tighter than before, "Who do you want me to be?" Remembering Ji Cun Xi, she pushes him away. Staring at him for a second, trying to recall the familiar voice, Xin Yi hastily finds an excuse. She walks away. When she passes the "gay" man, she pauses and sees that the man is playing solitaire on the computer. So much for talking business.

Cun Xi follows stalks Elaine all the way home. She reaches her apartment and starts to back up into the parking slot. A navy blue van cuts into the remainder of the spot before she can complete her parallel parking. The man gets off the van and knocks on her window, asking her to find a different spot because he is in a hurry. She rolls down the window and looks at him contemptuously, "You are the one in a hurry, not me." and rolls the window back up. The man gets mad and knocks on her window again, "You little brat, do you think I don't dare to call my friends and smash your car?" She rolls down the window again, looks him in the eye and says, "Fine, call your friends. While I call the police." Then she takes out her phone and starts to dial. "Ugh, fine." The man walks back to his car and pulls away.

Elaine gets off the car to walk into the building. She trips on a rock protruding the street, her heel falls off. She tries to move the rock, it wouldn't budge. Xin Yi takes out from her purse a bundle of post-it notes and writes a warning note to stick onto the rock. Chen Xin Yi is Chen Xin Yi after all. :)

Cun Xi continues to follow Elaine. Sensing the stalker, she turns around and smacks him silly with her purse. Finally, she sends him on his way with a broom.

-

Longest post up-to-date.

Ji Cun Xi's decisiveness always evaporates in the face of "love". Maybe the hot weather is getting to him, can someone dump a bucket of ice cold water on him so that wimp can come to his senses and Finally make a decision?

Can someone also find Dylan a new stylist?

Episode 15: To Cut or Not to Cut, That is the Question

Looking at the family photo on his phone, taken two years ago, Ji Cun Xi decides to see Xin Yi once more. That, he decides, will be the last time he crosses path with Xin Yi. Cun Xi calls to arrange a meeting with Elaine, the artist of the horse he purchased, the next day in front of the Church in Xu Jia Hui.

Elaine is in an extremely good mood the next day, anticipating the meeting with the buyer of her first publicized art piece. So full of expectancy, Elaine entrusts the success of the upcoming meeting on a Tarot reading. She asks the fan of meticulously spread out Tarot cards whether nor not she will successfully meet her prince the buyer and rubs her hands together. After much consideration, and picks out a card .. the devil card.

Elaine's colleague's explanation for the seemingly menacing card is that there is a mysterious power drawing the two together, therefore they are destined, or fated to meet. Elaine is dubious, "If that were the case, we would've met already. When I returned to the gallery yesterday, he's already left. When I went to the hotel he's staying at, he wasn't there. It's like one of those typical scenes from a drama." Is it irony that I smell? As if remembering something, Elaine tells her colleague, "On the other hand, I danced with a stalker last night!" "Hmm, maybe you guys have seen each other, it's just that you didn't know. Tarot readings are very accurate! This card says that you both yearn to see each other, but are also afraid of seeing each other. Seems like, there is a little obstacle between your meetings as well." Wow, talking about accuracy.

Dylan walks in to delivery the (good) news of the meeting to Elaine. She runs out for the date happily.

Standing in front of the church, looking at the steeple, Cun Xi wonders to himself whether Xin Yi would want to see him. He feels more and more discouraged as the unrested past memories haunt him and surround him with sorrow.

Xin Yi is stuck in traffic. She repeatedly urges the taxi driver to drive faster, afraid to miss the buyer a third time. (But, three times is a charm!)

An old flower-selling lady passes by Cun Xi and asks him to buy a flower. The flowers are said to be bathed under the blessing of the sun, absorbing the nutrients of the Heaven's energy. (the fantasy-loving side of me is definitely kicking in) Cun Xi laments over the misery he has brought upon the woman he is awaiting. The flower lady provides guidance to Cun Xi that what he can do now is to offer the woman a sincere apology because it's God's will that the two fated love birds were to meeting in front of the pure sanction of the holy Church. She proceeds to offer a flower from her basket to Cun Xi, whose particular meaning is "courage". Before leaving, the kind woman wishes Cun Xi luck, "No matter what your decision is, God's blessing will be with you." (This unbelievable woman must be an angle descended from the heavens to send God's message to Ji Cun Xi. Now, where is the angle that watches over me? Where? :-( Clarification: I'm not mocking the piety of the woman. It's just that, how likely are you to meet some flower lady who gives you flowers for free without demanding money in return?)

Elaine does arrive late. While she is frantically looking for the buyer, the angel flower lady approaches Elaine, handing her the flower and a card. She opens the card, the buyer had left early due to certain circumstances and had reconciles his departure by telling Elaine that sometimes, keeping a safe distance may preserve the beauty of mystery. He signs it "Z" (for Zorro?)

Cun Xi watches in a distance while Elaine reads the card. Silently bidding her farewell, he walks away.

Unable to find the mysterious Mr. "Z", Xin Yi walks back towards the street to catch a cab. Cun Xi is walking across the street, calling Anson. Elaine watches the familiar back of the man a few feet away from her and recalls him as the creepy stalker of the previous night. Her face fell.

Hey! You creepy stalker, why are you following me? Stop walking!

Cun Xi stops and turns. Xin Yi sees him and freezes. Immobilized by shock, standing in the middle of the street .. a djvu. Xin Yi gets hit, again.

Waking up from the accident, Xin Yi overhears an over protective Cun Xi's stern chastising the driver for hitting his wife and nurse for not arranging a full scale check up of the patient. Hearing the noise from the room, Cun Xi rushes in to see Xin Yi. What faces him is a series of ranting and complaining that accuses Cun Xi for being a dispicable control freak plus stalker. After unleashing her wrath, Xin Yi buries her head in the blankets and turns her back onto Cun Xi. (lol how cute)

Watching the yelling back and forth between Xin Yi and Cun Xi that's not about to end any minute soon, the driver interjects loudly, "Miss!" Taking notice of the poor guy, Xin Yi turns to him to apologize for not watching her way. Cun Xi yells back at Xin Yi, "After two years, why are you still like this? Why are you apologizing to him? He hit you!" "What are you yelling at me for? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be hit!" Xin Yi yells back and turns towards the driver and softly apologizes again. The poor driver accepts her apology and timidly appeases Xin Yi to stop yelling at her "husband". She nicely nods and explains that Cun Xi is not her husband. Once she turns to Cun Xi, the yelling resumes, "I am not your wife anymore! Who told you to claim to be my husband?" "If I'm not your husband now, I was once! Why are you in such a hurry to clarify our relationship?" "Because I don't want other people to think we have some weird thing going on between us!" The meek driver and the mellow nurse both interrupts, "You two do seem to be in an unusual relationship.." "THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP!" haha :)

Out of the hospital, Xin Yi stops a cab and hops on. Cun Xi force entries the cab and sits next to Xin Yi. Frustrated, she orders to cab driver to make Cun Xi get off. Cun Xi insists that once he sees Xin Yi safely back in her apartment, he will leave and urges the taxi driver to drive. The driver turns around and yells at them both, "Have you two decided?!"

Off the cab, the two bicker over whether Cun Xi should leave first or Xin Yi should enter first. Finally, Cun Xi throws out a "If you won't enter, I will" and enters the front door. Helpless, Xin Yi could only follow. Inside the front door is a lavish, grand stairway to heaven. Xin Yi accidentally leaks out that she lives on the third floor, Cun Xi picks her up to go up the stairs. Yelling and kicking, Xin Yi demands Cun Xi to put her down, "Put me down! Otherwise, I'm going to scream!" "Go ahead, a man always has his way to hush up a woman." He bends down and protruding his lips in a I'm-going-to-kiss-you posture.

He carries her to the third floor and distinguishes Xin Yi's apartment from the rests. How? Because he remembers that Xin Yi likes to make pottery, there is a porcelain decor hanging in front of Xin Yi's door. Astonished at the fact Cun Xi still remembers her hobby, she softens but immediately masks herself with the distant demeanor. But her slip of the tongue gives her up, "Put me down, I need to fetch the door to open the key!" Submissively, Cun Xi puts her down and corrects her, "You mean you need to fetch the key to open the door?" She defensively covers it up, Cun Xi chuckles to himself. Once the door is open, Cun Xi steps in before Xin Yi.

"What are you doing?" "I'm waiting for the hostess to offer me a cup of tea." "Who said I will pour you a cup of tea? Did I even invite you in?" Elaine tries to shoot Cun Xi out, he blatantly ignores it and sits down and starts to catch up with Xin Yi like an old friend. He tells her Baby Ji is impending labor, the kids at the orphanage misses Xin Yi, and the lady who sells Jiang Jun Bun is remarried. Xin Yi reveals a corner of her true self and starts to ask more about the lady's marriage when she remembers the reason why she came to Shanghai. She moves further from Cun Xi and asks him to leave the second time. He begs to stay a little longer. She gets impatient and stands up. He stands up to confess, she cuts him off and pushes him out. Right then, she loses balance and starts to fall, Cun Xi takes a step foreward and extends a hand out to catch her. Thud. They both fall on the floor together.

Looking down at Xin Yi, tucking her hair behind her ear, Cun Xi continues with the confession.

"I wasn't sorry that I couldn't fall in love with you in the end. Maybe you didn't know this yourself, but you are someone that can easily make people care for you. The day when I mistakenly went to with you, I thought I was the unluckiest person on earth. But as you save the dog for me, worry about Anna for me, I start to be affected by you. Each time I see you being hurt, I would despise myself for making you feel that way. I wanted to be nicer to you. I thought, just a little nicer. " I just wanted to tell you how I feel. Chen Xin Yi "

Cun Xi lowers his lips, "I..", lower and lower, "I.. truly love you.." "STOP!" A policeman breaks into the scene, interrupting the kiss-to-be. A neighbor of Elaine on the side, telling the police what she had witnessed, "It's him! He told her he would do Anything in a threatening tone of voice!" The police man lets out a ridiculously stupid expression of what should be interpreted to be rage. Ji Cun Xi gets arrested. While he's being dragged away, Xin Yi makes a face at him. Hah, Karma with the capital K.

Cun Xi ends up with a record and gets to spend a night at the prison. (That severe of a punishment?) Fortunately, Cun Xi finds himself a little friend in the prison. What comes with it is the realization that he hasn't officially divorced with Xin Yi. (Bigamy.) Dylan bails Cun Xi out of jail, Cun Xi swings Dylan with a fist. The two fight (and we get a better view of Dylan's hair. You would think a man of art would have some aesthetic appreciation. No.) The ugly fight is stopped by Xin Yi. Thank Goodness.

Xin Yi confronts Cun Xi. She asks Dylan to stay, making it clear that there is no secret between Dylan and herself. Cun Xi starts.

Chen Xin Yi, I've seen your wish box. I know you fell in love with me. If you didn't leave me two years ago, I was going to ask you to stay. I don't mind about what happened to Ji Nian Ping. Chen Xi Yi, I love you.

Don't use the car accident as your excuses. Even without the car accident, you didn't want the child. Of course you don't care about Ji Nian Ping. Why would you care?

I had no other choice! That car accident, I could only save one.

What did I do to make you so angry whenever you see me? Ever since I started falling for you, all I wanted to do is to treat you right.

Treat me right. Is telling me to abort the baby your way of treating me right? True, I did like you. But the me now don't feel anything towards you. Whether you dislike me or think I've changed, you have no idea how hard I've tried to get away from the useless self from two years ago. Whether I'm good or not is none of your business. I like the me now. Consequently your appearing in front of me is a nightmare for me. She clenches her hand and continues,

I just want the two of us to be strangers. If you want the best of me, please stay away from me. If your work in Shanghai is complete, please return to Taiwan where your loved ones are at. Take it as my bidding for you to leave my life.

She sheds a tear as she asks for Cun Xi to leave her life for once and for all.

Then Ji Cun Xi leaves, after a final encouraging, "Jia You Chen Xin Yi."

Fragments of memories comes back towards Xin Yi at once. She starts to cry uncontrollably. Dylan watches.

Dylan decides to make Xin Yi his girlfriend. But she, only thinks about Cun Xi.

Right when Cun Xi decides to leave, his business partner asks him to stay a bit longer to advertise the product. Moreover, he wants Cun Xi to find a popular artist to help promote the soap. (Why would pottery be used for soap advertisement? Can someone enlighten me?)

To help sooth Elaine's rippling emotions, Dylan arranges for a trip together to Paris. Everything is dealt with, all he needs is Elaine's one nod. He surprises Xin Yi with the news of the trip when they are out exercising together. She feels obligated to give him a peck on the cheek to repay his kindness, which, by the way, is plain awkward. (I'm just glad to know that Dylan has something else in his Shanghai wardrobe " the sports gear on him now " than the same old, ugly flowery slack he's been wearing for the past nth episodes.) They try to kiss, but the phone rings just in time for Elaine to jump back. They return to Master ZhongShan Long's residence, Elaine has received a pot of flowers from the mysterious Mr. "Z". She finds her teacher to inquire about the reason he asked her to take a couple days out, only to find Cun Xi standing before her. He had gone to ask the Master to create a piece for his company.

They are introduced. Cun Xi extends out a hand as greeting, like he has never known Elaine. ZhongShan Long expresses his willingness to help Cun Xi and his company because he is well acquainted with Cun Xi's grandma. "You were well acquainted with my grandma?" "Right. That was 50 years ago." "I have never hear her mention you before." The old man lets out a look of utter disappointment. Cun Xi continues, "But she really likes your work. Every time she sees something from you, she would always purchase it and stare at it for a long time." The old man smiles widely, "So she has been secretly supporting me, just as I have been secretly wishing her well." (awww..)

Elaine attempts to dissuade ZhongShan Long from taking the project from Cun Xi, listing his busy schedule with a devious smile and squeezes out an emphasized "no time at all" underneath her still smiling teeth at Cun Xi. Unfortunately, Master ZhongShan Long quickly finds an alternative, "It's ok. If I can't do it, you can." Now Elaine is put on the spot with the project and is forced to accept. Oops.

Dylan comes in time to see Cun Xi. He insinuates Cun Xi's blindness at Xin Yi's wonderfulness and purposes brags about his relationship with Elaine in front of Cun Xi. Cun Xi says nothing, but an unseen fire is aflame. He agrees that Elaine's design for his company would turn out to be just what the company needs, emphasizing each word.

She chases after him once Cun Xi gets out of ZhongShan Long's sight, demanding an explanation for his two-faced action. He coldly clarifies the situation and adds,

If you don't want to be Chen Xin Yi, then take back the fear that belongs to Chen Xin Yi. If it's Elaine, then she can deal with it professionally, no? Or, even Elaine can't work with me?

She agrees.

The length of the case is in your control. If you work harder, it will end sooner; if you don't work hard enough, it will take longer. I await your master piece in three days.

Cun Xi coolly walks out.

To cut or not to cut the tie with Ji Cun Xi? Elaine doesn't have a choice.

-

Now that Dylan has officially claimed his boyfriend-ship, there is direct friction between him and Cun Xi. *leans back and crosses fingers, awaiting a good fight* On the other hand, Cun Xi's cool headedness towards Elaine's accusation at the end of the episode (ie no barking no yelling) projects a more mature side of Cun Xi that is rare but nice to see.

Episode 16: Courage

Not being able to return to Taiwan, Cun Xi mails back the two pieces he bought at the gallery, one to Anna, one to Anson. Anson opens the box and takes out the purple swan. He holds it under the light and stares at it, "This? Is a horse?? The designer mustn't be very good.. It, doesn't look like one." Well, because it isn't. Then it hits Anson, he turns away from the swan, "It's all over."

After the dance class is over (I wish the teachers in a real dance class is that gentle), Anna walks towards the table to open the package she had received from Cun Xi. *Dramatic music playing* She approaches it, casually opens the lid and takes out a card on the very top. Cun Xi had briefly explained his reason to stay in Shanghai, well half of the reason, and had wished she'll be happy when she sees the present. Happy indeed. Anna removes the papers, certificates, protective layers atop and takes out the horse. She blinks once, not understanding the intention of sending her a horse. Finding it strange, she opens the certificate of the horse, there it is, in broad daylight, big and black, the three detrimental words ... Chen. Xin. Yi.

Chen Xin Yi sits in front of a desk, burying her head into her hands. Her thoughts takes her back to Ji Cun Xi, enthusiastically expressing his realization after helping giving birth to Feng Jiao's baby, then forward to Ji Cun Xi deciding to abort the baby but save Xin Yi's life, then back again to the Abortion Agreement documents, and then forward again to Ji Cun Xi's doubt that even Elaine can't work alongside with him. Amidst this convoluted flashbacks, Xin Yi finally throws away her pencil in despair. She can't concentrate.

Taking notice of Xin Yi's frustration, Dylan inquires the source of her vexation. (hey that rhymes!) She reveals her inability to ignore the evasive thoughts concerning Ji Cun Xi and decides to give up the case. Dylan patiently encourages Elaine to be courageous, mentioning the reason the buyer of her horse gave her a pot of borage is because the flower represents courage (on top of it's assuaging effects on PMS and/or men-o-pause symptoms). Still unsure how the case is going to, she asks Dylan if he minds that she's working with her ex-husband. Dylan admits that he does mind, but in order for Chen Xin Yi to become Elaine, she has to overcome her feelings towards Cun Xi, whether it be fear, uneasiness, or residual sentiment of affection. Alas, Dylan's Paris trip is going to be put on hold indefinitely.

doesn't this guy look sad? Later in a walk with ZhongShang Long, Dylan reveals his intention to see whether Elaine will revert back to being with Ji Cun Xi or not. After all, if she does then he mustn't mean as much to her, there's no point in pressing. If she doesn't, then he must walk her through it as a boyfriend. After Dylan leaves, ZhongShang Long thought to himself, "So Xin Yi used to be her daughter-in-law.."

The three days period of soap case design starts:

Day 1

Xin Yi sketches something then crumbles the paper and throws it away. Sinking into frustration again, she thought to herself, "No matter how I try, I just can't draw it right."

Ji Cun Xi sits in front of the laptop, tending to his company's business. He occasionally looks up at the borage, thinking of Xin Yi.

Anna wanders around holding Baby Ji. She passes by a wedding gown shop, dreamily looking at the model in the display window, dressed in a white wedding gown. She asks herself, "Cun Xi hasn't returned. Is my happiness really going to befall?"

Day 2

Cun Xi continues to be busy over the promotion of his soap to China; Xin Yi with the sketch of the soap box. Dylan watches over Elaine in a distance.

Day 3

Elaine's soap box has a rough outline now. She looks upon the borage from time to time, thanking Mr. Z for giving her courage.

Anna looks at Xin Yi's horse occasionally, sighing to herself, hesitating whether to take action or not.

In the midst of all the promotion work, Cun Xi wonders to himself how Chen Xin Yi is doing with the design.

Elaine has started to morph the shape of the soap box.

On the fourth day, Elaine has finished her draft and Anna has decided to go to Shanghai.

To minimize the embarrassment of having to confront Ji Cun Xi, Elaine asks her two assistants to hand the sketch to Ji Cun Xi. Cun Xi is sitting in his hotel room expectantly, when he sees the two assistants, his face fell.

The assistants return to Elaine, handing back the sketch and recount to her the experience of meeting with Ji Cun Xi:

When they see Ji Cun Xi in his room, they are afraid the hotel room isn't exactly the best place to talk about business. Instead, they politely go to the cafe to discuss the sketch. Once they are at the cafe, one of the assistants ordered carrot juice for Ji Cun Xi, afraid he'll be thirsty. This is when Ji Cun Xi's face turned sour again. (Who in their right mind orders carrot juice for someone else at a cafe?) Afraid that their client is hungry, the same assistant who ordered the carrot juice orders Ji Cun Xi a meat rice with ginger sauce.

After hearing the entire story, Elaine tells them Ji Cun Xi's least favorite food is carrot and the smell he detests the most is the smell of ginger, no wonder he wouldn't discuss the sketch with the two of them.

After teasing Elaine for knowing Cun Xi so well, they tell her Cun Xi said he will only discuss the sketch with Elaine, no one else.

Knowing Cun Xi did it on purpose but having no way to get back at him, she promptly arrives at his hotel door and bangs at it. Cun Xi's assistant opens the door for her, leading her into the inner compartment of the hotel room because our busy Mr. Ji is holding a meeting through webcam and talking on the phone with two other people at the same time. Elaine sits by herself, waiting for Mr. Busy to finally turn around and listen to her explanation of the sketch quickly so she can get out of there.

Unfortunately, Mr. Busy never turned his busy head because he is too busy engrossed in his busy schedule that he can't take a minute out of his busy life for Elaine to explain the idea behind the draft. (Ok you get the idea.) So Elaine starts to cough loudly to draw Cun Xi's attention. Cun Xi only continues to talk to the webcam. She starts to drop the magazines laying around to create some noise, he doesn't even twitch a muscle. (Some way to treat your business partner.)

Noon rolls around, Ji Cun Xi finally calls a break and turns to Xin Yi. He walks towards her, looking at his watch, apologizes half heartedly for making her wait for a quite a while. "A LONG time" she corrects him. "Since it's noon time, why don't you eat lunch with me? Is there any restaurant you are familiar with?" "Sorry Mr. Ji, I'm here to discuss the sketch with you, not to eat lunch with you." "But if I don't eat, I won't be in the mood to discuss business matters." Elaine sits down and crosses her arms. Cun Xi leans in closer, Elaine turns away, he smiles at her and says, "then you would have to wait for me again. The view is quite nice up here." He leaves. :D Frustrated to nth degree, Elaine walks out after him. :-D x 10

At lunch, Cun Xi tries to make conversation, Elaine sharply antagonizes him. He shakes his head and smiles, diving into business. "Have you considered how heavy the soap box is?" "If it's going to be a ceramic soap box, it's going to weight a certain amount, yes." "Have you taken into account the amount of transportation fee I have to pay for every 100 gram? We are not talking about some unique piece of art going into exhibition, we are discussing something that can be mass produced, easily packaged, and transported. Something that combines usefulness and aesthetic into one. Your design now isn't going to cut it." Trying hard to maintain a smile, Xin Yi tells him, "Sorry, this is not something I can do as a mere assistant to Master ZhongShan Long. Please find someone else." She gets up to leave.

Elaine. Are you defeated already? All your changes during the past two years is to get rid of the image of a post-it girl. Is this all you can do? If you think what I suggested earlier is aimed to pick fault in you, then alright, you can go back to ZhongShang Long and tell him you don't want to continue with this case. Or, you can sit down and listen to my suggestion, then come up with a new design. Maybe after the lunch, you can have a better idea. How is this? Are you up for it?

Xin Yi tells herself to contain her feelings and sits down, "I don't need to prove myself. I just don't want my teacher to go back on his words for helping your company." The waitress brings up the lunch Cun Xi had ordered. He starts to eat while praising the tastiness of the food and Elaine's improved taste in recommending the restaurant. Elaine tries to talk over him with the technicality of the design, no avail. She ends up watching this guy devouring the past hungrily.

Once out of the restaurant, Elaine tries to get Cun Xi to talk about the sketch, but he keeps brushing it aside and making Xin Yi take an after meal walk with him. She objects. He ignores and suggests that she goes with him for a suite shopping. She gets angry and stops, "Ji Cun Xi, I'm not your assistant nor your slave!" He walks towards her and right then a strong wind blows towards them, taking Elaine's sketch with it.

"My sketch!" Elaine yells out. Cun Xi runs towards the streets to catch it, a car screeches towards Cun Xi. Xin Yi pulls him towards her. They stand face to face. Cun Xi whispers, "You still care about me." Xin Yi pushes him away immediately, stuttering, "I, I was worried about the sketch. I don't have any copies. Ah! It's flying again." "Then let us catch it together", Cun Xi reaches out his hand and grabs Xin Yi's, they start running after the sketch together. (That's a heck of a STRONG, consistent wind.) A happy smile creeps onto Xin Yi's face, replacing her initial shock at Cun Xi's impulse of holding her hand to chase after the sketch. They run and they run (and run and run and run), finally, they stop in front of a fountain, where the sketch rests quietly on something protruding in the middle of the fountain. "Never mind, I will just sketch another one." Cun Xi ignores her, he sits down on the side of the fountain and starts to take of his shoes and socks. "What are you doing? I will just draw another one. Don't go down!" "Don't bother. I will retrieve it for you." He edges towards the center of the fountain, slowly and carefully, leaving Xin Yi worrying for him on the other side.

He snatches the sketch and falls butt first onto the mossy floor of the fountain. Xin Yi covers her eyes from seeing his embarrassing fall. She smiles when he tells her he did it for her and her sketch. Unable to pretend anymore. After the fountain incident, Xin Yi willingly goes to suite shopping with Cun Xi.

They are at the man's clothing store, Xin Yi picks out a suite for Cun Xi, verbally confirming his size. He smiles and says, "Wow, you still remember my size." Her face changes immediately. He enters the fitting room to try out the suite, when he walks out, Xin Yi walks over to help him adjust it. He tells her, "Your sense of style improved since two years ago." Her face falls. "Now it's your turn" Cun Xi says. "Me? I'm not planning to cloth shop." "But the way your dress would affect my mood." "What?!" (How many make over must this drama cram in? But then again, those are always entertaining to watch.)

After the cloth shopping, the two go back to the company for a presentation of the soap box. The various partners of Cun Xi's company are skeptical of Elaine's ability since she is neither as well known nor as experienced.

Elaine presents her sketch, it's a morph between a "Z" and an "N". (It looks more like a sideways "J" or a lower case "h" to me.)The inspiration comes from Elaine's first buyer, the mysterious Mr. Z, but the actual meaning behind the soap box is the idea that the soap contains all natural ingredient, consequently the "N" stands for "Natural". Moreover, the shape of the soap box resembles that of a mother's embrace. To let a life extend in the environment of love is the meaning behind the design. Cun Xin continues her presentation with a personal lament of the loss of a fragile life and genuinely makes it clear that if he has a second chance he would trade everything for what he had lost. Xin Yi is touched listening to his confession.

Anna arrives at the gallery to confirm the Chen Xin Yi who created the horse that Cun Xi bought isn't the same Chen Xin Yi she's thinking of. When Dylan asks her if she needs any help, all her doubts and questions lifted, what replaced them is an overwhelming sense of dread.

Dylan and Anna settle at a outside cafe, Anna orders a strawberry cake, without the strawberry. Hearing this strange order, Dylan eyes her suspiciously. Anna reveals that strawberry cake without strawberry is her favorite dessert. She jumps right into business and carefully asks Dylan if Cun Xi and Xin Yi have met with each other. Dylan sees through it and sharply points out what Anna is really interested in is not whether the two have met, it's whether something of an unusual nature had occurred between them two. Who she should be concerned about is how Ji Cun Xi thinks, not how Chen Xin Yi reacts. Yet she comes looking for Chen Xin Yi. Anna insists that she believes Cun Xi, Dylan reasons that if she truly believes him, she would not have come. She informs Dylan that Cun Xi is the true buyer of Xin Yi's horse.

Dylan is surprised, not by the fact that Cun Xi is the purchaser, but the fact that he bought it because he, too, is deeply affected by the story behind the art piece. Dylan recalls Xin Yi's prediction that Cun Xi never cared about the aborted baby, yet it doesn't make sense for him to buy the horse if he doesn't miss the dead baby. Anna feels uneasy under Dylan's knee observation and precise deduction. She shifts her gaze left to right, afraid Dylan can see through her. Uncomfortable with Dylan's criticism to Cun Xi and his dig for the truth, Anna gets up to leave. The waitress comes over asking if she wants to take the cake away with her. Dylan calmly answers for her, "Seems like this lady is not in the mood to enjoy her cake anymore." To antagonize him, Anna decides to take the cake with her. The waitress hurries off the put it in a to-go box. While waiting for the waitress, Anna angrily tells Dylan not to butt in other people's business, "Do you think you can see through other people? Why don't you switch to become a psychologist? (Honey, psychologists can't see through people, you need someone who knows how to use telepathy. You know, like Jean Grey in X-Men.) You don't understand Cun Xi, nor me. The cause of Chen Xin Yi's abortion is not Cun Xi nor me, it's the accident!" Dylan looks up at her, "I never said the abortion has anything to do with you. I thought you were just an innocent third party." Baffled by her accidental slip, she walks away angrily after telling Dylan the manner in which he converses in is despicable.

The waitress comes back with the cake, Anna is long gone. Dylan tells her he will take the cake, because he too, likes strawberry cakes without strawberry.

In a flashback, Dylan's sister also likes strawberry cakes without strawberries. "What a coincidences. It can't be." Dylan thought to himself.

In the restroom by herself, Elaine wonders whether what Cun Xi said earlier was genuine or it's all for business. She returns to the room only to hear Cun Xi tell his business partner that the Mont Blanc pen Xin Yi bought him two years ago has been with him to countless business meetings, because it's from a "very, very important friend".

Walking out, Cun Xi and Xin Yi are left alone again. Cun Xi thanks Xin Yi for her help and extends out a hand. She takes his hand, they shake hands, then he tells her she has fulfilled her job and is permitted to leave. Chen Xin Yi has been trying everything she can to leave, now the chance comes, she finds herself glued to the floor, unwilling to leave just yet. She offers to accompany Cun Xi out of the building. They take a long walk.

They wander before Cun Xi's hotel, Cun Xi asks Xin Yi to call him "Cun Xi" again. She does. The sharp antagonizing demeanor no where to be seen. Not quite wanting to part with him, she tells him she will contact him for any other design related issues. He replies that if that happens, he will not be able to see to it personally. She is obviously disappointed. Before leaving, she brings up the promise again.

When we see each other on the streets.. I know, we are strangers.

If you really want to say hi to me.. I know, we won't greet each other. Pretend we don't know each other.

Disappointed but not quite thick skinned to tell him other wise, she bids him goodbye.

"Chen Xin Yi?" Cun Xi calls after her. "Yes?" she turns around immediately, eyes wide open, waiting. "Have you ever missed me in these two years?" "I.." she prepares to answer, Cun Xi cuts her off, "It's ok. You don't have to reply. Goodbye." She walks away, without turning around.

Walking away slowly, she thought to herself, "Ji Cun Xi, I've always wanted to ask you why you've made that decision years ago and why do you feel a strong sense of sorrow and regret to Ji Nian Ping now. But I'm afraid your answer will hurt me more." Suddenly, noticing his suite jacket around her shoulder, she runs back towards where Ji Cun Xi was standing, to return the jacket.

-

Here is the Preview of the next episode that encompasses the highly anticipated bed scene AND marks the end of the Shanghai interlude.

Here is the BTS of the perhaps even more highly anticipated, Ethan's fulfillment of the promise to swim naked when the viewing rate surpasses 10. So Ethan did swim naked, but not really. And, he isn't the one who made the promise. Who did? Watch the BTS to find out. :)

And yeah, you can totally tell I got lazy with pictures toward the latter half of the recap. :P

Episode 17: Lose Control

If Chen Xin Yi had realized that she has Ji Cun Xi's jacket earlier, she might've returned it on the spot, they would most likely bid each other a final farewell and head separate ways. If Xin Yi ran to the hotel a bit faster, she might've caught Ji Cun Xi in the lobby, returned the jacket and waved au revoir then. If Elaine had noticed the jacket on her shoulder a little later, she might give up the thought of returning it right away, dry clean it before shipping back to Cun Xi in a package. But none of these happened. By the time she made her way to the hotel, Ji Cun Xi has already went up the stairs. To follow him further and ride up in the elevator would mean she'll be left in the private sanction of the hotel room hallway, where an infinite possibility is on its way to conception.

Yet people in love often forsakes the existence of even the slightest rationality, the impulse to rush to the one they are romantically linked automatically rises above all else. Elaine is no different.

She finds Ji Cun Xi in the hallway, pale, despondent, and even a little edgy. He brushes her away, begging her not to come any closer, the temptation is like a big black hole, sucking him towards her, against all resistance. (Anna? Who's that? Dylan? Never heard of.) But when the timing, the atmosphere, and the people are right, it's hard to say no and walk away. Xin Yi assures him that she's Elaine now, he can't scare her. She won't be scared.

He grabs her in a snap and pins her to the wall. Studying her hard, Cun Xi asks again, "I am capable of doing anything to you. If you want to run away, do so now." She stares back at him, "I'm not afraid", tears rolling down her cheek, "I only worry about you." He leans in and starts to kiss her passionately. She struggles against him, resisting. Then, slowly, she succumbs and kisses back. They fumble into the room and drop to the floor. Xin Yi knocks something over, she apologizes and helps Cun Xi up. They walk towards the bed.

Cun Xi lies in bed, Xin Yi hovers over to wipe the sweat off his body. He has gotten a cold. She hesitates at the sight of his bare chest, then gently wipes it dry. Suddenly, he rolls over, presses her under him and starts to kiss her. She kisses back. He freezes and asks her if she means it. She blinks and stares back at him, he lets her go and rolls back beside her, an arm covering his forehead, "I mean it when I kiss you." he says. Xin Yi sits up, teary again, asks him why he was so cruel in the past. "I regretted it," he cuts her off, "I met a woman who loved me and I love her back, but I let her go. When I realize she was all I wanted, it's too late." Trying to sustain herself, Xin Yi confesses, "I've never disliked you, I, I.." She turns around to look at him, Cun Xi is already fast asleep. "I just wanted to be your Chen Xin Yi.." (Bed scene eh? PG13 and not what I imagined. Did the passion die when she knocked something over? Blew out, extinguished, and just gone?)

Cun Xi's computer lights up, Anson called to confess the little mistake he made when he shipped the pottery to Anna. "Miss Anna might be on her way to meet you in Shanghai now." Anson apologizes in his usual jest like lightness and sincerely wishes that "nothing goes wrong before your wedding with Miss Anna." Xin Yi is in bed, watching. "Wedding? You are going to be married? .. It's too late... Why is the woman next to you never me?" Well, because Fate is a naughty child that likes to play games.

Anson's little warning comes just in time for Anna to make her entrance to the hotel. She rides in the elevator, gets off, finds Cun Xi's hotel room and knocks. The door is unlocked. She gives the door a slight push and lets herself in..

Xin Yi has just left. (phew) Anna softens at the sight of Cun Xi, sick in bed, all by himself. Or so she thinks.

Xin Yi left the hotel room, but she didn't leave the hotel. She find a corner, curls up, and waits for the range of emotions to slowly precipitate. Then her phone beeps, she comes back into reality with a startle and takes the phone out. Dylan has sent his Elaine a text msg, checking up on her. She sheds more tears at Dylan's mention of "my Elaine" because she is no longer his.

Dylan calls her, Elaine doesn't pick up. Worried, but also leaves Elaine room for privacy, Dylan calls ZhongShang Long to inquire whether Elaine has returned or not. Once he hears that Elaine is back and safe, he lets out a long sigh of relief and hangs up.

ZhongShang Long calls Xin Yi for a talk. He reveals his own love story, which isn't too exciting:

When ZhongShang Long was young, he was also poor. Since script writers tend to LOVE to make poor guys fall in love with the daughter of a rich family, so does ZhongShang Long. What separated the pair of star crossed lovers is not the family, (nor the poison, nor the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt,) but the war. Before he goes, he wants to see her one last time at the bridge. Unfortunately, the army needed to depart a little early, so ZhongShang Long left without seeing the love of his life one last time. He carves a short message on the bridge, asking her to wait for him. (He had enough time to carve on the stone but not enough to wait for her. It must be his budding artistic talent that's enabling this quick carving process. Especially when Chinese letters have so many more strokes than most other languages.) When he comes back from the war, she has already been married off and moved to Taiwan.

Before giving Elaine a break back to Taiwan to think things through, ZhongShang Long tells her, "No matter what you decide in the end, remember to stay true to yourself, your friends, and your life."

The next morning, Cun Xi wakes up. He hears the water running and calls out to Xin Yi. Anna stops the water, a shadow looms over her. She puts on her pokerface and asks Cun Xi when they can return to TW.

Dylan sets out to pick up Elaine in the morning, when he gets to her apartment, it's already been emptied out. She left to see her family on Jiang Mu Island, leaving Dylan with a thousand apologies and a letter to explain everything.

Elaine's back, to Jiang Mu Island. If Xin Yi changed in the past two years, so did Jiang Mu Island. On the dock is a huge poster of Dr. Hao promoting Ji Cun Xi's soap. A resident of the island walks by, wearing a T-Shirt that reads "Everybody <3 Mo Fa Lin" (Mo Fa Lin = the name of Cun Xi's company). What's more exaggerating is the road sign, it says "East Ji Nian Ping/ East Keepsake". Elaine stops the islander to inquire about the road names, he takes out a pamphlet that outlines all the new street names corresponding to its original name. Basically every road on the island is called Keepsake something, named after Ji Nian Ping. Even the new bridge under construction.

Xin Yi returns home and there is a BIG sign on the door that says: Site of Resistance: Invader surnamed Ji - Prepare to Die.. Xin Yi's mom Xi Shi welcomes her daughter back home. When the mom asks about Dylan, Xin Yi's face sinks a little. She sits down on a nearby sofa and explains calmly that she had left him. The older sister drags the mom aside, "It must be a problem of pride, I think she's trying to say she was dumped. When she said ZhongShang Long gave her a break, I think she's trying to say that he fired her. Fired.? Xin Yi explains that she's perfectly happy, the mother doesn't believe her. Xin Yi resorts to distract her mother to stop the nonsense. Thank God.

Feng Jiao, Xin Yi's second eldest sister comes back home. At the door, she takes off her rings, necklaces, bracelets, and ear rings. She smears her lipstick on a fabric and wraps herself in a gi-normous gray cloth. The crybaby enters the house and wails about the oppression under Ji Cun Xi, her *ahem* poverty, yadayadayada. Right when Feng Jiao is superfluously describing her so called "poverty", a Mercedes Benz stops by the house gate. A well coiffured, Wu Qi Qi steps down, rings, necklaces, watches dangling all over. Qi Qi walks in to tell his wife the good news that the company has awarded him a Benz. Feng Jiao's lie pops like a bubble. *Pop*

Ji Cun Xi returns to TW. Anson accidentally slips about mistakenly sending the wrong pottery to Anna. Cun Xi realizes that Anna is aware of his encountering with Xin Yi in Shanghai but is keeping quiet. Anna calls Cun Xi to try out the wedding dress. He goes over, wanting to confront Anna about the truth with Xin Yi.

He asks Anna if Anson had accidentally sent something to her, she doesn't answer directly and asks him instead if it's that important for him to know. He nods. She asks him to go to a place with her.

She takes him to a small church. He looks at her, puzzled. She takes a few steps forward and tells him, "I want to have my wedding here. A student's parent told me that couples who got married here will stay together forever." "Isn't this too small?" "No, not at all. I only want a simple wedding. I don't need anything else, as long as I have you."

As long as I keep you in my sight, I won't fall.

I started learning ballet at seven. Because of that, I could never eat KFC. Whenever I'm half full, I would feel guilty for eating too much. Everyday after school, I had to endure five hours of practice. I didn't have time for friends.

" I thought my life will be spent in lioness and ballet. And then, you appeared.

Your appearance showed me how it feels to not feel lonely, what's a real family. I always wanted to have a real family, not to make my adopted mother's dream come true.

So, Ji Cun Xi, thank you. You are my KFC, my gold metal, my warmth. If it weren't for you, I don't know how I'll be.

Cun Xi holds Anna's hand and confesses that he did meet with Xin Yi.

Although Cun Xi has decided to marry Anna, somehow he isn't too thrilled about it. To help Cun Xi cheer up, Anson takes Cun Xi to a nightclub to regain his male ferocity. The woman that comes to welcome Cun Xi and Anson is " Xin Yi's mother with heavy makeup and a huge mole. What's this nonsense?

-

SLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOW episode. Now that Anna's need for a family is established, it'll be easier to make the transition to remove her from the love rectangle and place her in the hands of the long lost brother. I'm not sure the premise that once Anna finds her brother and establishes a real family, she won't meddle in Cun Xi's pool of indecisive love pursuits is going to fly for me. Such a crude wrap up. But then again, hasn't FTLY been hitting the jack pot of clich.. lately?

Episode 18: A Destined Meeting

If nothing else, FTLY has reached another level of senselessness for us in this episode. I don't mean a deprivation of sensory perception, but a kind of preposterous imbecility that makes you wonder whether you should laugh at its lunacy or reproach its idiocy. You be the judge.

Anson took Cun Xi to a night club so the indecisive boss entangled in a messy love rectangle can get off his poor secretary's back. The manager that came to welcome the two is an overexcited version of Xin Yi's mother with the sole distinction of a enormous mole next to the nose (apart from the overblown demeanor). Her name is Gui Fei. (Of course the use of The Four Beauties as the names of the characters played by the same actress, Gui Fei and Xi Shi, is intended for irony. Yet, whether the audience actually appreciate the irony is a different story.) Gui Fei has none of the propriety, elegance, or beauty indicated by her name or the historical figure, which means a rich and graceful dame; she is loud and pops lame jokes like pills.

Gui Fei introduces Cun Xi to the different categories of women in the night club, Cun Xi finally settles for the category called "Post-it Girl, Peal as You Wish". He and Anson sit down in a spacious cubical, surrounded by women and red wine. After a bit of wait, Gui Fei brings in two post-it girls. The two girls are dressed in post-its. How does that work? Well you see, if you are completely naked with the exception of three post-its covering the intimate parts, you would be the "post-it girl" waiting to be "pealed" at the customer's wish. Ingenious, isn't it? While Anson stares with straight eyes, Cun Xi gets angry and yells for all the girls to leave and put some decent clothes on.

Anson tries to appease Cun Xi and instructs Gui Fei to dress the girls differently. When the post-it girls reentered, they are dressed in the stereotypical office attire: a fitted blouse, a knee length check skirt, an oversized pair of glasses, a pair of flats, and a name tag for authenticity. Cun Xi's eyes glimmer with excitement. He circles around the three girls in close inspection. (Sir, if you are looking for employees, I believe you are in the wrong place.) Pleased, he tells them he wants to play a game. In the game, he is himself and the girls play the role of post-it girls. He instructs Anson to hand each of the girls a pack of post-its and a pen. If Anson is not yet the omnipotent super secretary Andy Sachs was when she obtained two copies of Harry Potter manuscript for her boss Miranda Priestly before the official publication date, he is close to becoming one. Remember how Anson bought a boat so Cun Xi can take Xin Yi to Jiang Mu Island for her birthday in the middle of the night? He has improved since because conjuring up post-its and pens out of thin air is now a piece of cake.

After each pseudo-post-it girl has a pack of post-it and a pen in hand, Cun Xi orders them to write down everything he says:

Give me a cup of cappuccino, two biscuits, 10 copies of documents in the office. Then call CEOs Chen,-Chang,-Lee,-and-Chao-for-a-meeting. Give-them-each-a-cup-of-coffee-each-but-no-desserts. CancelAllTheMeetingsAfter2pm. JustSendOverSomeBaskets. Alright. Now repeat what I just said.

This guy needs some serious help. The girls look at him like he's crazy, one of them asked, "If we're done copying down what you said, can we undress now?" Anson laughs in the background, Cun Xi hisses in dismay. While the other girls retreat to the bathroom for a break from this ridiculous customer, Cun Xi has donned the glasses and name tag from one of the girls. Now a post-it boy himself and half drunk, he yells out some unintelligible sentences now and again. Then he turns to the only girl left in the cubicle and praises her for resembling a post-it girl the most. She introduces herself as Coco and tells him that she used to work in a law firm. Perked up by the similarity between Coco and Xin Yi, Cun Xi asks, "Xin Yi, why have you let yourself go in a place like this?" (Eh, shouldn't someone ask him that question?) She replies after pushing up her glasses, "I didn't want to either, but my mom is sick, my dad is in jail, my brother got into a car accident, and my sister is cognitively impaired. I, I have no choice." Wow, that's a handful. Cun Xi gets up to spit out his own feelings to Coco, mistaken her for Xin Yi. Finally he stands up, yelling at "Xin Yi" that she needs to be happy before falling headfirst onto Anson's couch, hitting the poor guy's "bulging front". OUCH.

On Jiang Mu Island, Xi Shi has planned her daughter's schedule for her. Xin Yi is to go on a blind date before staying home the rest of the day, avoiding Cun Xi, who is set to come for the celebration of the bridge's completion. After the mother and sister's hard work, Xin Yi arrives at the restaurant for the blind date with a retro hair do and an unflattering floral dress. The guy turns out to be a mix of a benign creep and an incessant talker. Xin Yi rejects him up front, telling him she's still in love with someone else. He cuts her off and starts to praise Ji Cun Xi at the nonstop speed of 70 MPH. "I know, it's Ji Cun Xi. He's the kindest man of all, a model for all the guys. He is said to never drink, never do anything improper. I'm proud of him.

Juxtaposed is Ji Cun Xi, naked in a bed shaped like a bird cage, with Anson, naked too, from a night's heavy drinking. Ironic, isn't it?

Xin Yi and her date start to talk. She tells him that she can't forget Cun Xi. The guy asks her why doesn't she tell Cun Xi she still has feelings for him? Xin Yi shakes her head, "because Cun Xi is going to be married soon". The date brings up the news that Cun Xi is scheduled to come to Jiang Mu Island at noon for the bridge's completion. Xin Yi runs away in a haste. The clueless guy chases out, asking Xin Yi if she wants him to tell Cun Xi that she can't forget him. lol. No thanks. Xin Yi refuses the guy's kindness and flees home at top speed to avoid meeting Ji Cun Xi.

Cun Xi returns home, fakes an illness to avoid going to Jiang Mu Island. Sighing, Grandma is forced to go in place of Cun Xi.

Xin Yi changes into her usual attire and plans to visit grandma while Cun Xi is on the island for business. Nice plan, she doesn't have to be shut up in the house all day, she gets to see grandma whom she hasn't seen for two years, and she gets to avoid Ji Cun Xi. One stone that hits not just two birds, but three. Too bad, grandma is on the island while Cun Xi is sleeping off the hangover in the house.

The Ji family Mercedes is welcomed by the islanders with a poem that starts and ends with "Proprietor Ji, you came./ Proprietor Ji, you really came./ Proprietor Ji, you really, truly came." and a couple borrowed lines here and there. While the crowd is devoted to welcoming who they thought to be Cun Xi, Xin Yi covers her face with a farming hat and slips away.

When grandma steps down from the Mercedes, Feng Jiao (Xin Yi's second sister, you know, the one with the "crocodile tears"), who is also one of the representatives set to welcome Cun Xi, lets her surprise slip but quickly covers it up with loud, ceaseless appraisal and invites grandma over to her house after the event. (Is it because I'm allergic to boisterous supporting casts or is the caffeine from my doubtshot on ice wearing off? Why am I having a headache right now?) When grandma ardently accepts the invitation, Feng Jiao's face turns to a stoic disbelief and asks grandma back, "Are you serious about coming over to my house afterwards?" The grandma nods with the same enthusiasm. Oh the blissful ignorance.

After the event, Anson accompanies grandma to her daughter-in-law's little cottage. Xin Yi's oldest sister happens to return home. The moment she and Anson cast eyes on each other, a pulse of electricity serges through both of their bodies, strong enough to kill a dozen mice. Their gaze meet, for 30 seconds, they stand motionless, flirting silently Until Xi Shi drags her daughter over to the other side. Never thought Anson would be paired up with her. Xi Shi chastises her daughter for flirting in public, the daughter quickly explains that Anson asked her out to a cafe in 101. She asked him back if he's paying. He said no, she'll be paying for herself. She rejected him. He told her he's sad. Anson turns to grandma and explains to her that Xin Yi's sister just asked him out. She wanted to go fishing with him at 8. He rejected her because the sun is too big and hot at 8, he wanted to go in the afternoon instead. She is sad that he rejected her.

Xi Shi isn't too thrilled to see grandma Zheng Zhu and reminds her of the poster at the house door: anyone with the surname of Ji shall die. Zheng Zhu argues that her surname isn't Ji. She married into the Ji family, so technically, her surname is Wang, her maiden name. Once the issue of the name is clarified, the two women sit down on the bench to bond while Anson and the oldest daughter stand in the middle of the room, continuing to stare at each other and letting the electric pulse travel from one end of the room to the other.

Xin Yi comes to the Ji family door. She rings the door bell and waits. No one answers the door. Not even a maid. Not even Cun Xi's opportunistic step-mom. (Not that I wanted to see her, but where has that woman been lately?) Xin Yi rings the door bell again. Still no one. She starts to ring the door bell at the rate of once per second. Cun Xi starts to toss and turn in bed, he ignores it at first, but Xin Yi continues to press the door bell. Finally, fed up from the vigorous bell ringing, he gets up to answer the door. He swings the door open and bawls at the other end, "HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO RING THAT BLOODY BELL?" (Seriously, whoever rings a door bell like that in real life is, for the most part, either rude or asking to be yelled at.) But when Cun Xi sees Xin Yi outside the door, he quickly shuts the door and turns to arrange his shirt and hair. Xin Yi, on the other side, realizes it's Cun Xi at the house, nimbly fixing her hair and straighten her glasses. When the door is opened again, the two face each other with a staged smile. This quick appearance check has a comical effect.

When they are face to face again, Xin Yi blurs out, "Weren't you at Jiang Mu Island?" "Oh, I had a headache." "I see. Here's a present from Master ZhangShan to grandma." Xin Yi leans over to hand Cun Xi the bag for a long time. He doesn't take it. Awkwardness. Then it hits him, "Did you purposely come at this time because you knew I was supposed to be at Jiang Mu Island?" Anyone in their right mind would deny, so does Xin Yi. She asks back, "Did you know I returned to Jiang Mu Island, is that why you decided not to attend the event?" Cun Xi denies back, "I have a really bad headache." Xin Yi takes a step closer, "You have a headache? Is it because you're still sick from the cold?"

Memories of the (half) passionate kisses at the hotel come to mind at the mention of the cold. Cun Xi inquires, "You still remember I had a cold?" Realizing that she is exhibiting perhaps too much care for him, Xin Yi takes a step back and laughs nervously, "Oh no. I don't remember. I TOTALLY forgot." To also appear nonchalantly, Cun Xi slips, "I forgot you kissed me that night too." (Trust me, he wasn't sarcastic, I just don't know how to not make it come off as being sarcastic.) Now he adds embarrassment on top of the awkwardness. She lamely explains that kissing is also a form of salutation. Cun Xi thinks to himself, "I don't know anyone who salutes another with a French kiss." Xin Yi hands Cun Xi the bag of present from ZhongShan Long, he finally takes it. Once Xin Yi has delivered the present, she makes an exaggerated gesture to point at her watch, trying to convey that she really wants to stay but unfortunately, her friend is waiting for her, so she has to go. Right then the maid yells, "Oh no! Ji Bao Bei is going to give birth!" OH so HERE is the maid. Where was she when Xin Yi was ringing the 8237493825th bell?

Cun Xi drags Xin Yi in the house to help with the dog's labor. Cun Xi considerately sets up a camcorder to record the process of the dog giving birth, thinking grandma would sulk if she knows she misses the dog's birth. (Bet you anything, that camcorder is going to cause trouble.) Then together with Xin Yi, Cun Xi helps Ji Bao Bei give birth. PS: the puppies are cute!

Anna comes running in the room and sees Xin Yi with Cun Xi. Embarrassment just went up two degrees. The maid (oh NOW she's everywhere?) enters the room to tell Cun Xi the vet is waiting downstairs for someone to take the dogs down. Fight and flight tells Cun Xi instinctively that he should flee the scene ASAP. So he takes the dogs downstairs to the vet and tries to rush back up to break any quarrel between the two women. The vet is, let's say slightly awkward. (Well it's Jam Hsiao's first acting experience, and he shines in the music industry, not the acting domain. So, I'll give this shy rising star a break.) Before Cun Xi can walk back upstairs, the vet stops him to discuss the post-labor treatment. Cun Xi brushes the inquires aside and tells the vet to decide for him and heads back upstairs. But the clueless vet stops Cun Xi again to promote a few programs. Cun Xi impatiently tells the vet to decide himself and heads back upstairs. The vet stops a worried Cun Xi a third time.

Upstairs, Anna tries to make conversation. "You turned pretty" she starts. Xin Yi politely thanks Anna. Anna continues, "I'm sorry about your abortion two years ago. Believe me, it was one of my saddest, darkest days too." Xin Yi avoids the discussion of Ji Nian Ping and asks about Anna"s impending marriage instead.

Downstairs, the vet is still promoting the post-labor treatments. Cun Xi covers his eyes in despair.

Xin Yi tells Anna that the moment she took the abortion documents from Anna two years ago, she had lost all hopes for Cun Xi to accept her. She used to think Cun Xi cared about her and the baby, but she was wrong. Having said all that, Xin Yi puts down the box of tissue to leave. Anna apologizes one last time and begs for forgiveness. Cun Xi finally rids himself of the vet. But when he walks up, Xin Yi has decided to leave. He watches as Xin Yi walks down the stairs. Anna on the other hand, cheers up and suggests to Cun Xi to visit the dog at the vet, as if nothing happened.

Once Xin Yi left Cun Xi's house, she promises herself once again to stay away from Cun Xi. Then she takes the last boat to go back to Jiang Mu Island. She sets her foot on the island, sensing someone behind her, she turns happily, calling out Ji Cun Xi's name. It's Dylan, all the way from Shanghai. What a heartbreaking moment. Dylan is now fully convinced that Elaine has reverted back to Xin Yi.

Back at Xin Yi's house, Xi Shi treats Dylan coldly, and calls him "Retard". (Retard and Dylan sort of sound alike. In butchered English that is.) She thought Dylan dumped Xin Yi and is now coming back for her. He listens to the bombardment patiently and waits until the mother and sister are finished before telling them that he is the one being dumped. Once that's clear, the mother and sister turned 180 degrees and warm up to Mr. Retard immediately. They hint at Dylan serveral times that Xin Yi is still young, and hope the two can get back together. The thing is, they've never really started.

After dinner, the mother and sister lock Xin Yi up with Dylan. (Why is this scene so oddly familiar?) Once alone, Xin Yi asks Dylan if he's angry at her. "Disappointed." he answers curtly. Two years of companionship, he's still incompatible to Ji Cun Xi's two day appearance in Shanghai. How sad. Xin Yi admits it's not easy for her to forget Cun Xi, arguing the wound he had caused was too deep to be erased so quickly. Dylan turns around, "You know what hurts me the most? You don't even have the courage to tell me the truth. Am I someone you are desperately trying to avoid confronting? I've never forced you to be with me. Even to a friend, you shouldn't have to be like this." Xin Yi apologizes, Dylan calms down. He asks her what she wants him to do. She admits that no matter how hard she tries, she's still the good old Chen Xin Yi inside. Dylan assures her that whether she is Elaine or Chen Xin Yi, he likes her nonetheless. He is leaving the following morning for Paris and has brought her ticket with him. If she wants, she can leave with him tomorrow. (Poor guy, why do you have to push yourself to the brink of heart break?)

When grandma returns home at night and hears of the doggie's labor, she sits down in front of the TV with Anson and Cun Xi to watch the delivery process on tape. Unfortunately, Xin Yi's confession with Anna is also caught on tap. When Cun Xi hears the part where Xin Yi says she has lost all hope when she received the abortion papers, he rewinds it four times in disbelief. Then it hits him. If he never gave Xin Yi the abortion papers, who did?

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Longest recap to date. It doesn't help when I don't even have any pictures to break the texts apart. Not that I'm intentionally setting the record, but trying to make the recap sound less "biased" means I tend to walk a mile to get my point across (or I'm just unnecessarily wordy). The final word regarding sounding "biased" is: criticism is welcome, but pinpoint exactly what's inappropriate so I can improve and you (readers) can be happy.

Episode 19: Even the Post-It Girl Flaunts Once in a While

Why did Anna attend grandma's 80th birthday party in place of Chen Xin Yi? Why did Xin Yi wander off on her own like a lost soul two years ago? Why did this devastated woman run away from Cun Xi in the pouring rain to meet her fate? If Ji Cun Xi had indeed buried himself in sorrow the past 750 days or so, he hadn't reflected enough to ask himself those questions.

Then one day, Anna's dog ironically and inadvertently compromises her owner's secret (detail here). All of a sudden, everything is crystal clear. (I hope the dog doesn't fall into a postpartum depression from the moral dilemma between inducing its owner #2 and #3's ultimate happiness and pushing the truth that endangers its owner #1's impending marriage, which may very well turn into countless visits on a counselor's couch or multiple instances of stuffing her face with strawberry cakes with no strawberry. *shrugs*)

Ji Cun Xi storms out in rage, running fast and furious to Anna's apartment. The sound and the fury swoosh past the wind, bringing back Xin Yi's anguish plea to spare the baby. Thud thud, the rhythmic sound of Ji Cun Xi's feet striding the hard pavement cruelly reminds him of the abortion papers again and again..

Anna opens the door to a gulf of wrath, who wastes no time to demand an explanation for the sinister intention behind the abortion papers Anna handed Xin Yi two years ago. Anna quietly shuts the door behind her, avoiding Cun Xi's eyes. (Someone hand her a shovel so she can dig herself a hole Right Now.) Then she finally speaks, "Have you ever put yourself in my shoes? You told me you would go back to her Only for the remainder of her pregnancy, but how can I not be alarmed?" (Seriously, who in their right mind can tolerate that? After all, we don't live in Gabriel Garcia Marquezis Colombian novels where complaisance is common place.) Ji Cun Xi lowers his voice and sits down, "I can understand your intention to make Xin Yi leave, but I cannot forgive that your way of protecting your love made me lose Ji Nian Ping forever." "If I had known, I wouldn't have done what I did. I would let the child born, let Chen Xin Yi leave after labor.. Maybe everything will be different now.." Cun Xi shakes his head quietly, "You are wrong. From the moment you chose not to step foot on the boat, everything has changed." (Hmmm, imagine Anna does get on the boat but catches Xin Yi and Cun Xi in bed after some major love making..) Cun Xi lets the remembrance of meeting Xin Yi the first time flow back into his head, then he continues, "The moment you chose the plane ticket, our paths have changed course. You decided to fly, and I, I tried to accept Chen Xin Yi and become a father." Cun Xi walks toward the window, his back facing Anna, "I didn't want Ji Nian Ping to come into this world at first. But as time goes by, I find myself anticipating his birth more and more. With that, I also find a peculiar inclination towards Chen Xin Yi." He turns towards Anna, "I am the one who should say sorry. Every time I see a pregnant woman on the street, I can't help but worry about her; each time I hear someone call out Xin Yi, I would turn to look; whenever I see a little kid, I give in to the temptation to look a little longer. Anything and everything tells me I can't forget the feeling of falling in love with Chen Xin Yi." "I know I know I know!" Anna stands up, "I thought as long as I keep you beside me, I will be able to change you one day. But I never thought that the three years we had plus the two years now is no match to the brief three months you spent with Chen Xin Yi!" (How tragic.) Cun Xi takes a step closer, apologetically, he tells Anna, "I'm sorry, I cannot marry you." Anna clutches Cun Xi's sleeve, begging earnestly. He only pushes her hands away and walks out of the door without a second word, without a second glance. Leaving nothing behind but Anna's voice echoing through out the apartment, announcing the end of her love struggle. (Quick! Hand her a cup of water before she dehydrates herself from crying too hard.)

Once out of Anna's apartment, Cun Xi tells Anson to prepare the boat for him, he is going to Jiang Mu Island. To avoid an one on one stare down between Cun Xi and Dylan, Cun Xi sets foot on the dock right when Xin Yi and Dylan are ready to leave the island. (Isn't it a little too obvious that Xin Yi isn't going to leave with Dylan? She doesn't even have a luggage with her for show.)

Ji Cun Xi makes a run straight to Xin Yi's house. He hollers out Xin Yi's name several times, finally Xi Shi, Xin Yi's mother, comes out with a duster to chase the annoying monkey away. She points to the Large poster on the door which says "Holy Fighting Ground, Anyone Whose Name Starts with Ji Shall Die to emphasis the fact that Cun Xi isn't welcomed here. (Obviously, monkeys can't read.) Once Xi Shi reveals that Xin Yi has gone to take the boat with Dylan, Ji Cun Xi is gone in an instant.

Whenever Ji Cun Xi is in a hurry, something/someone always comes up to hinder him. EVEN THOUGH it makes no difference since he meets Chen Xin Yi on her way home from the dock anyway. This time, Cun Xi is ambushed by Feng Jiao and her husband Wu Qi Qi, who are dressed in appropriate attires to accentuate the blaring contrast of their body shapes while holding an especially salient umbrella as if their jewelries don't emit enough golden rays that scream "ALL EYES ON ME BECAUSE I AM RICH" already. Oh, it's "I AM RICH!!!"! Almost forgot the exclamation marks.

Cun Xi gets rid of the two suck ups and proceeds to cross the bridge when he sees Xin Yi walking towards him with her head down. She looks up and sees him. He walks towards her. She edges to the side, he blocks her. "I thought you went to Paris with Dylan already." Cun Xi breaks the ice first. Xin Yi says nothing. In a flash back, the apparent situation is regurgitated:

On the dock, Dylan jokes that perhaps it's fate that arranges for him to take Xin Yi away a second time. Xin Yi pauses and tells him that although he has been with her throughout the toughest times of her life, she cannot use him. Dylan lets a glimpse of disappointment sweep past his face, but when he looks up again, that daunting regretful look is replaced with a poised cheerfulness. "I knew you would say that," he says, "but I'm not a man who gives up easily. None of us are married, I still have a chance right?" She gives him a hug and sends him off with a hearty encouragement.

Cun Xi presses Xin Yi, "When you were helping me deliver the puppies, you said you are afraid of being tricked by me a third time. Is that an indication that you still have feelings for me?" "Nope." Cun Xi blocks Xin Yi again and continues, "You didn't go to Paris with Dylan, is it because of me?" "No!" He blocks her again, "Do you still love me?" "I-Don't-Like-You. Is that enough? Bye." Cun Xi blocks Xin Yi once more, "But I like you." *Gasp*

Xin Yi gives him a look, "Please. Two years and three months ago, you had no intention to marry whatsoever; two years ago you didn't want anything to do with a child. What do you want Now? Don't forget Mr. Ji, you, are about to get married." Xin Yi turns to leave. "Two years and three months ago, I had no intention to marry. But once I married you, I often thought marriage isn't so bad after all. (Hey, guys out there who aren't up for commitment, listen to this!) If you think two years ago I didn't want that child, you are mistaken. I have never given you any abortion papers. What I wanted to give you is a better, upgraded version of the divorce paper. (Like that's any better.) But at the time, I didn't even know what I wanted. Two years later, I still don't want to get married. I canceled the wedding. Because I like you." (MAN those money that went into the wedding preparation are all wasted.) "You.. You didn't give me the abortion papers?" "No, because I liked Ji Nian Ping too." Obviously soften by the confession, Xin Yi is still unwilling to let her true feelings slip.

She attempts to penetrate Cun Xi's defense again, which she had already done two years ago. (Ok, not that punny.) He extends out two arms to block her, telling her loud and clear that if he lets her go this time, he will vow to be her slave forever. (Win win situation) She simply ignores him. Finally, he says, "The only way you can leave now is if you jump off the bridge." "You think I wouldn't?" Xin Yi moves toward the edge of the bridge, Cun Xi hovers over to stop her, Xin Yi catches the opportunity and zooms past Cun Xi towards the other end of the bridge. Hah, slick. Running away from Cun Xi, Xin Yi yells back, "See you later! Oh no, I mean, never see you again!" Cun Xi replies back, "Chen Xin Yi, mark my words, you won't be able to run away from me! The divorce papers are still with me! I haven't filled out the dates! I'm going to go back and fill in the date to 2100 so you'll be my wife a lifetime!" (Hmm, married but separated. That works too.) Feng Jiao and Qi Qi who are hiding behind a block of stone overheard the entire exchange, an asinine plot is on its way.

Dylan is on the boat, still sad over the fact Xin Yi chose Cun Xi over him. His phone rings just in time to distract Dylan. Ever since his meeting with Anna in Shanghai, Dylan has cast a fair amount of suspicion on Anna's past. He hired a private detective to find out about Anna's background and is confirmed that she is indeed adopted. Her adopted mother is currently in Shanghai.

Xin Yi receives a call from her blind date, asking her if she has time the next day at eight.. .. to teach pottery to elementary kids. Xin Yi agrees to sub for two months while the original teacher is on vacation. Xin Yi's two money-crazy sisters AKA Pro gold diggers call up Cun Xi to leak the information, hoping to secure this rich brother-in-law. (Technically, if Xin Yi marries Dylan, they would also get the generous brother-in-law they wanted. Dylan should earn more points since he is a self-made man.)

Dylan returns to Shanghai, alone. He looks up Anna's personal info online. From age to least favorite food, everything seems to match. Could Anna be the Xin Yi Dlyan has been looking for? (How sad, this Xin Yi is replaced by the other Xin Yi, then this Xin Yi comes back to reclaim her place but is re-replaced by the other Xin Yi again. Confused yet?)

With a bottle of wine, Anna licks her wound in the quietude of her dance class deep into the night. (Not a good place to drink. Unless she plans to drunk drive. Or better yet, pass out on the dance floor.) She toasts herself in self-mockery, then drops on the desk to weep while casually knocking over the wine glass and letting it shatter into pieces. A student walks into the scene to retrieve her jacket only to witness it. (Guess students in TW roam freely in and out of classrooms by themselves, despite the late hour. But then again, if you plan to drink yourself to dawn, you would lock the door and make sure no one bothers you or sees you in this devastated state. Our Anna must be too aghast to even consider keeping her unhappiness a private matter.)

Xin Yi goes to her pottery class in the morning and surprisingly receives a pot of borage from her secret admirer .. Mr. Z.

As more kids flow into the classroom, Xin Yi's teacher's assistant AKA oldest sister starts to take roll. When Xin Yi hears the name Cun Xi, she jumps up and starts yelling, "JI CUN XI WHY ARE YOU HERE?" towards the door without so much as lift her eyelid. Turns out, she's yelling at a kid called Xie Cun Xi. Ever Since Ji Cun Xi's various contributions to the island, "Cun Xi" became the hottest name on the island, so popular that the name "Xin Yi" has dropped to second place. Now, that's new. Soon after, the real Ji Cun Xi arrive in the classroom. Before Xin Yi has the chance to say anything to the stalker, a hive of fans, mostly adults, crowds around Cun Xi for autographs and pictures. You would think an elementary school contains mostly children, somehow there are more adults than kids in Xin Yi's class. Worse yet, Ji Cun Xi wears white to a pottery class. White, of all colors. All's well, Cun Xi settles down after showing Xin Yi proof of registration. And class commences.

Xin Yi walks towards Cun Xi and tells him that he was late, and the punishment for a latecomer is to stand outside of the classroom. Right then, another student, mind you, an adult, walks in late. Such luck. Cun Xi stealthily hides a smile. Qing Xia, Xin Yi's sister comes to the rescue just in time to prevent a volcano from erupting. Finally, Xin Yi cools down and starts class.

Xin Yi walks around and sees Cun Xi flipping the clay with two fingers. She bends down and half mockingly tells Cun Xi to realize that this dirty world is the one she belongs to, as for him, he should return to the lavish life he resides in. Half antagonizing, half demonstrating his sincerity, Cun Xi picks up a piece of clay and rubs it on his white suite. He turns towards Xin Yi, "My world isn't complete without you. I won't give up." (How do you spell corny? C-O-R-N-Y, corny! But hey, it works on Chen Xin Yi, so wth.) During the remainder of the class, Xin Yi's gaze fall on Cun Xi from time to time, and a smile would creep onto Xin Yi's face, whether she realizes it or not.

Towards the end of the class, Xin Yi asks if anyone has questions. One of the students raises her hand to ask Xin Yi why she filed a divorce with Cun Xi, is there a misunderstanding? Cun Xi looks up at her expectantly. She clears her throat and answers, "No, there is no misunderstanding." Another hand shoots up, "If there is no misunderstanding then why don't you two get back together?' As everyone urges Xin Yi to answer, she looks around pensively, trying to come up with a plausible response. Then her eyes falls on the borage. She picks it up and explains that she has someone in mind already.

Cun Xi opens his mouth, Xin Yi stops him and tells him that this Mr. Z is different. He has been encouraging her for awhile. Even though no formal admiration has been declared, she will gladly accept it if he were to express any particular inclination. (Nice irony. Chen Xin Yi just dug a trap for herself.)

The bell rings, Xin Yi collects all the cups her students made during class, Cun Xi hands her the cup, it's an ordinary cup with a picture carved on it: a father, a mother, and their child standing together, hand in hand. Xin Yi pauses at the sight of the cup, but soon regains her normal demeanor. She assigns a 200 words report from everyone, except Cun Xi. She wants a 2,000 words report from him. If he fails to hand in the report, then he doesn't need to come to class anymore. Before leaving class, Cun Xi secretly buries a small piece of paper inside the pot of borage. Although reproach and cold shoulder are all he's been getting, Cun Xi leaves with a content smile on his face. ;)

Life continues to slip downhill for Anna. There is a little girl in Anna's class called Angel, who is practically a miniature version of Anna .. always working hard for the sake of her ambitious and overly critical mother that she no longer has a life of her own. Anna's motherly instincts take over, she assures the little girl that under the stern exterior of her demanding mother, there is a tender and loving heart that wants her own little girl to shine on the stage. Because when you are on stage, you are showered with the attention of everyone. (and your faults are magnified too.) To become that icon of grace and beauty, they must all work hard on their techniques. The little girl is encouraged and picks up her confidence again. Unfortunately, the Anna duplicate also inherits Anna's bad luck with injuries. Angel accidentally steps on a shard of glass and is sent to the hospital for three stitches. The girl's mother is furious, because her daughter will not recover in time for the dance try out.

Walking out of the hospital room, the mother overhears two fellow classmates' conversation, which reveals Anna's neglect to clean the dance floor after breaking a cup from the previous night's drinking. Anna is in deep doodoo. The mother vows to make sure Anna will not be able to teach anymore.

Xin Yi is at home reading reports. Specially, the one Cun Xi wrote. The report started as an embellished appraisal of the teacher's beauty, then it turns into an outright confession and a lengthy explanation of the reason behind the cup. Finally, Cun Xi ends it with another emo "oh you make me complete, I cannot live without you~".

While Xin Yi is engrossed in report reading, her sister Qing Xia creeps up on her and makes fun of Xin Yi. They eventually discover the little slip of paper Cun Xi buried in the pot of borage. The paper gives out Mr. Z's msn and asks for a chance to chat with Xin Yi online.

And the two chat for 94392483 hours and they each wake up with huge dark circles around their eyes. Then they get addicted to chatting online and start to wait for each other to sign up. Ok I made that up. The truth is, the two do chat. Xin Yi asks why Mr. Z didn't show up in front of the church in Shanghai, Mr. Z asks her back why she wants to see him so badly. She frankly tells him that his encouragement is her driving force. He takes the opportunity to ask whether she has a boyfriend or not. Without hesistation, she says no. (Poor Dylan.) Cun Xi waves his fist at the screen at the no, "what am I to you?" he demands the computer screen. Suppressing the surge of excitement, he asks Xin Yi if she has any admirers. Her answer is affirmative. "But", she adds, "He is a jerk." Cun Xi's nostrils flares up, he types back, "Seems like that jerk

means quite a bit to you, otherwise you would put him out of your mind completely." She admits, however, she also admits that there is still a barrier between the two of them. She explains that each time the jerk is nice to her, it only lasts three minutes. Although he's been ardent with his pursuit, who knows when he will sway to the other side of the wall again? She does feel comforted, however, when he revealed a shocking truth to her the other day. Seeing that the truth plus the confession at the bridge worked, Cun Xi yells "yes" like a little boy in front of the computer screen. Before bidding each other goodbye, Mr. Z advises Xin Yi to give "that jerk" one last chance. Xin Yi agrees to give the thought some consideration.

Dylan pays Anna's adopted mother a visit. The woman is infamous for being difficult. She has chased visitors out of the door several times in the past. Dylan decides to try anyway. He rings the doorbell several times, no one answers the door. Finally a voice behind him starts, "Who are you looking for?" Dylan turns around and sees a woman in a wheelchair. He walks towards her and introduces himself as a reporter from an art magazine, wanting an interview. She promptly refuses, he cuts her off with a display of interest in her daughter Anna. The woman stops rolling her wheel chair and looks up at Dylan with a smile that marks clear derision. "Anna? Does she have any value anymore? Ever since she was kicked out by Royal NY two years ago, she has disappeared. No one is interested in her anymore." Dylan is not offended, he asks her, "If I'm not mistaken, you were a famous dancer before. If it weren't for the stage light that accidentally fell on you, you would probably still be active." The woman looks up at Dylan with a sigh. She lets him in.

"Being able to stand on stage as the Odette has been the dream of my life. But when I knew I couldn't dance anymore, I was filled with hatred. I asked God why didn't he take away my life? Let me die instead of suffer in this state. But I also knew I am not a woman to be defeated so easily. I had to complete my dream. That was what led me to the orphanage.

"That was also how I saw Anna. Unlike all the other kids, she did not ask for candy. All she asked for was her brother. From that instant, I knew, family means everything to her. (Mistress of Manipulation, I bow to you. May your twisted ways never find its way to contaminate another.)" The woman smiles a hysterical chuckle, "Only a child like that can fulfill her mother's ambition. She knew she was an abandoned child, so she would work extra hard for my approval, even if it meant dancing till her foot bleeds. Even when I told her she is undeserving as my daughter, she would still try to achieve my goal." Dylan looks away in disgust, "Treating a child like that, has it ever crossed your mind that it might be too cruel?" The woman corrects Dylan, "I'm not the cruel one, reality is. Her family didn't want her; God took away my feet. We are only getting what we wanted from each other."

Dylan looks up and sees a picture of Anna and her morbid adopted mother, he is assured that Anna is his sister. The mad woman continues, "Ever since her injury two years ago, she has forfeited all chances of becoming the first Asian Odette. So close. I even spent a large sum of money to reinstate her, but she left for a man. A man! (Alas, that man abandoned her too.) Even if she doesn't sit in a wheelchair like me, she is no different from me. Her feet may not atrophy, but her heart has withered away."

"No. Anna only needs the love of her family. You've been using her. That's why she left you to chase after her happiness." "What do you know? Do you know being #1 is the dream of all dancers?" "THAT'S YOUR DREAM NOT ANNA'S. She tried so hard only because she wants someone to love her."

The adopted mother leans closer and shakes her head while frowning, "You are not a reporter. Who are you?"

Dylan stands up and looks down on the woman (Punny? No? Well, I tried.), "20 years ago, a single mistake separates Anna from me and pushes her into your trap. You have used up Anna. All these years, she's been working her hardest to achieve your ambition. You two don't owe each other anything anymore. From now on, you live in your own illusion while I take care of Anna." Dylan picks up his jacket, ready to leave.

"WHO ARE YOU?" the woman screams.

I, am her brother.

-

The humble post-it girl can flaunt once in awhile, but the prideful ballerina can't flounder even once.

PS: the recap just gets longer and longer. *covers eyes in horror*

Episode 20: A Confession From Two Years Ago

If you are rich and have limitless time to stick around the girl you want like a shameless (and indecisive) fly without needing to deal with anything else, you can probably try out Ji Cun Xi's tricks. Not that it will be successful. What Ji Cun Xi did was to make the supermarket he invested to hold a sale. With 90% off all produces, the students from his pottery class are attracted to do grocery shopping while he, gets to be with the teacher alone. (Good plan, but what about the kids in the class? Did they follow their mommies to the supermarket because moms all agree to buy them candy?)

Since there are no students, the teacher cancels class to leave. All it takes is Ji Cun Xi's "You still love me that's why you keep avoiding me." to make Xin Yi stay. She starts class to a room full of imaginary students to prove to Cun Xi that she can treat him with indifference.

Cun Xi asks about Xin Yi's past time, which, gives her a perfect opportunity to exercise her imagination about a few romantic dates with Mr X and Mr Y and Mr Z. They first watched the sunset together, which if it were to happen, the two might be attacked by a few headstrong flies before the last sunlight vanishes or a group of hungry mosquitoes waiting to feast on fresh blood. Then, they dined out under candle light and the bright moon, which in actuality may be so cold that the wind blows out the candles and the romantic feelings with it. After that, they went to the movies, which could very well end up in not being able to find any two people seats and having to sit right in the very first row and suffer through an hour and half with their head tilted 60 degrees up. In any case, Cun Xi listens to Xin Yi's brag with amusement. (Really, it's embarrassing.)

Mothers always know when to call, Xi Shi calls Xin Yi to ask what her daughter wants to eat for dinner. That's sweet and all, but turning off the phone or put it on silent during class is a matter of being perfectional. Since there are no students in the class, (Cun Xi doesn't count, he's supposedly invisible) Xin Yi picks up the phone, "Hello? Oh Mr. Z! (Over the phone: Who's Mr. Z? I'm your mother! Xin Yi ignores.) I was just talking about you. Dinner? Oh sure. (Over the phone: What?!?!) I'll see you then, bye. (Over the phone: ..)" Xin Yi looks triumphant, her mom is clueless, and Cun Xi smiles wider.

Mr. Z sends Xin Yi another pot of borage and a card asking her out for dinner. (She's almost received enough to open a floral shop specialized in borage.) Xin Yi is excited.

Anna returns to dance class for a new day of lessons. She is ambushed by a group of angry parents determined to ruin her career. The situation is exacerbated when the enraged parents start to tare down the classroom. Dylan enters in time to stop a mob's boycott from turning into a massacre. He records the conflict with his phone, if the parents were to continue with their destructive acts, he will use the recording to sue them for forceful entrance and causing damage. The parents are intimidated and stopped at once. Dylan argues for Anna that if her experiences on stage don't make her a good teacher, then what does? Although her neglect caused a student's injury, but she sent the child to the hospital at once and promised to pay for the medical expenses. The only people who can provide an objective judgment as to whether Anna qualifies as a teacher are the children taught by her.

Once the parents left, Anna crumbles onto the floor and starts to sob. Dylan comforts Anna that somewhere, somebody is waiting for her to return to the stage that belongs to her. *a big invisible finger points to Dylan* But the parents protest has added yet another blow to Anna's confidence, she no longer believes in her self. Dance has been the object of her entire existence, before, she danced for her domineering mother; later, she danced for the indecisive beau that eventually dumped her; now, she has no one. Dylan decides to help Anna regain her confidence, and eventually, return to the stage.

A despondent Anna calls Cun Xi. Cun Xi is taking a shower in preparation for the date with Xin Yi, he misses the call.

Xin Yi gets ready to leave for the date. Her mother hands her a condom. Seems like Xin Yi's family is more desperate than Xin Yi herself. In the Ji family, grandma and Anson are both cheering Cun Xi on, expecting the good news.

Arriving at the restaurant early, Cun Xi practices for Mr. Z and Xin Yi's first date. He calls Anna in between to return the call. Anna is sitting near a river by herself, reflecting on the series of events that renders her "worthless". Then her phone rings. She takes it out and sees the call is from Cun Xi. In a moment of ecstasy, she slips and her phone falls out of her lap and drops into the water. She hurries down to retrieve her phone .. Cun Xi's call at this bleak time of Anna's life is better than a lifesaver. Anna falls into the water and loses conscious.. (For the sake of distracting Cun Xi, I'm going to let the disbelief slide.) Dylan saves her in time and calls Cun Xi.

Xin Yi enters the restaurant and sees a man in a black suite hovering over the table. She approaches him nervously, "Are you Mr. Z? I'm Chen Xin Yi. We've finally met." The man turns to her and says, "Sorry Miss Chen Xin Yi, I'm not Mr. Z. And, are you looking for Mr. Ji?" "No, I'm looking for Mr. Z not Mr. Ji" "There's no Mr. Z, but there is a Mr. Ji." "No no, I have a date with Mr. Z, not Ji." "Tonight, the entire restaurant is reserved by Mr. Ji." "You mean Mr. Z?" Xin Yi draws a "z" with her index finger. The waiter sighs, "Then what is this Mr. Z's last name?" "His last name is .. uh.." The waiter gives her a I-told-you-so look and smiles. Xin Yi asks again, "Excuse me, Ji is a rare last name. The Mr. Ji you are talking about, is he a tall and skinny guy, with slightly curly hair and bushy eyebrows that looked like worms?" The waiter nods, "Yup, that's Mr. Ji."

Memory circle around Xin Yi's thoughts, she runs out of the restaurant to to meet Cun Xi in the hospital, holding the borage close to her bosom.

Cun Xi finds Dylan waiting outside of emergency room. (Yes, the emergency room.) Dylan briefly explains the situation, including his relation to Anna. He asks Cun Xi for a favor: to comfort Anna and promise not to leave until she recovers.

The two men wait outside until Anna is wheeled out. When Anna regains conscious, she hugs Cun Xi and begs him not to leave her. He hugs her back, gently patting her head, whispering, "I won't leave you." Xin Yi arrives and overhears the promise. After a big circle, she finds herself back in the origin. Xin Yi drops the borage and runs out. Cun Xi hears the noise and turns to look, he sees the borage lying on the floor. Upon instinct, Cun Xi turns to Anna and tells her he will come back soon. Anna looks at Cun Xi with hopeless big eyes. She hesitates and slowly, she lets him go..

Cun Xi chases out and stops Xin Yi before the elevator. "Chen Xin Yi, listen to me! What you've heard isn't true." Xin Yi is furious. "Why did you pretend to be Mr. Z to toy with my feelings? I won't trust you again." She kicks him and hops into the elevator.

Dylan watches on the side and opportunistically mocks Cun Xi. Cun Xi asks for Dylan's help to explain the situation to Xin Yi, Dylan agrees under the condition that Cun Xi helps Anna regain her confidence. The two men makes the deal not because they want the benefit, but because they both feel the need to help.

Although Xin Yi feels cheated, she still waits by the phone for Cun Xi to call and explain. Cun Xi doesn't call. He thinks that no matter how many times he calls, if Chen Xin Yi doesn't want to talk to him, she won't pick up the phone. Why even bother? (BTW, Xin Yi has hung up on him 70 times already. I wouldn't call back if someone hung up on me that many times.)

The next day, Cun Xi's step mom and half brother are reintroduced into the story. (After ages of disappearance.) Both of their attitudes have changed 180 degrees since the last time we saw them. Cun Xi in turn, decides to help his half brother. In the middle of the conversation where Zheng Ren complains about being looked down in the company, his girlfriend, the post-it girl in the nightclub Cun Xi went to not too long ago, calls him to inform him she's pregnant. Zheng Ren pretends to be in the elevator and hangs up on her. Before hanging up, she tells him if he continues to ignore her, she will make him pay. (A little foreshadow for the next episode.) Cun Xi watches as Zheng Ren wiggles his way out of his girlfriend's control and asks for advice. Zheng Ren tells him that unless a girl is allergic, otherwise, red roses and chocolate plus a genuine apology is enough to make the girl come back to you.

Cun Xi stays at home with Anna. He cooks a table full of food for Anna. She takes a look, carrots, gingers, all are things Cun Xi hates the most. When asked why, Cun Xi explains that to try the impossible for someone important makes the action more meaningful. He takes out a box of ballet shoes and makes an agreement with her, if he finishes eating all the food, she must try on this pair of shoes. (aww)

In the past five years, you stood me up at least 13 times. I was angry at you each time, but I was never able to selfishly bind you to me. Because I know, an odette belongs to the stage, not me alone. I've lost the reason to dance.

What if I'm willing to continue be your reason? Even if it's the last time, try to stand up for me, is that alright by you?

Sorry, I can't. I don't need you to stay with me out of guilt. I don't need pity. The way I am today, it's not your fault.

But I can't watch you sink without extending a hand to you. Even if you are a friend.

Anna refuses to let Cun Xi see her in this devastated state and leaves the room. Cun Xi leaves Anna's apartment and calls Dylan, who has been trying to reconcile with the mothers that came to tear down the dance class. Dylan suggests Cun Xi to buy something to lighten up Anna's mood. What's that something? The script writer decides to keep it a secret for now. (coughahemStrawberryCakeahemcough ;) )

Seeing Xin Yi sulking over Cun Xi and Anna's hug in the hospital, Xi Shi tries to comfort and encourage Xin Yi. She tells Xin Yi of the ipod Cun Xi left two years ago that recorded his confession for her, Xin Yi returns to her room at night and puts on the earphone: (Bare with the corniness.)

Chen Xin Yi, I'm sorry. I couldn't protect Ji Nian Ping. "This is the second week since you've left" Grandma and I have been spending a lot of time in the baby's room lately. The little toy that makes noises has ran out of battery. The one you chose. Everything in this room is decorated by you, with love.. Every time I stand in this room, I can feel your anticipation for Ji Nian Ping's arrival, as well as your insistence that I am the villain in the story. How could I say I only wanted the child, once you give birth, you should leave at once? There is no mother that would willingly leave their child behind. Even a second would be torturous. I over simplified everything. I can't cut a bloodline.

You once said I treated you too well. I thought about it, it wasn't enough. I didn't take good care of you, I didn't treat you well enough, I didn't have enough time to get to know you. I read your mother's diary for Ji Nian Ping. The content.. the content is very elaborate. I changed the picture under mother on the last page to a picture of you. Because in my heart, the only one that can be Ji Nian Ping's mother, is you. Sadly, when I realized, it's already too late.. I can understand why you want to leave me, but can you give me another chance? I promise I will do better this time. Chen Xin Yi, please give me one last chance. Because I finally realized that long before you left me, I've already fallen in love with you.

"He loved me! He really loved me!"

-

Sorry for the wait. When life calls for a break, I have to succumb to life's order. :)

Episode 21: When the Sun Shines Again, The End is Near

And near in this sense means there are still two three more episodes after this one.

Xin Yi is having severe emotional problems that's making her esophagus malfunction, the only cure is Ji Cun Xi's phone call. The problem is, when Cun Xi dropped his phone in front of the patisserie, he also dropped the fastest way to make Xin Yi better. No matter, he'll just have to take the longer route.

Cun Xi brings back the strawberry cake for Anna. He picks out the strawberry while murmuring to himself, "Almost forgot. You don't like strawberries on a strawberry cake." She looks up at him, "How did you know?" "I have an excellent sixth sense." Cun Xi says with a wink. After a brief pause, Cun Xi says, "You know, some feelings don't change." Anna remembers her brother for a moment. Cun Xi continues, "What about the feeling of dancing on the stage?" "I have forgotten" Anna lies. "You don't have to stay with me anymore. I don't want to bind you down with guilt. I know your heart yarns for Xin Yi, and that's where you should be. You can go." Anna tells Cun Xi. Cun Xi takes Anna's hands in his and says, "Do you think I would leave you and go after Chen Xin Yi in this state? I know you've always been insecure. You would wear your heart out for something you want. You've danced till your ties bleed for your mother's smile; you've lowered your pride to lie to Chen Xin Yi in order to keep me by your side. But did you know, some things, once you own it, it will stay with you? Me for example. Even if we are no longer boy and girlfriends, I won't pretend I didn't know you. Same with dance. You don't have to dance on the stage in NY to be the prettiest Odette, as long as you are dancing, you will radiate beauty and confidence. "Even if I stumble and fall?" "Even if you stumble and fall." "But I can't anymore. I can't dance, can't teach. I didn't like kids before, but watching them dancing with diligence makes me regret not having a baby with you when you wanted one, and, making you and Chen Xin Yi lose your baby." "If you think you owe me something, promise me one thing: dance for me."

When the dance is over, the girls from Anna's class come out from the dark and crowds around their teacher, admiring her graceful dance. (All I can tell you after watching the nth foot shot is that whoever the replacement dancer is, she is pretty darn short.) Angel's mother who's been quietly watching with the rest of the kids comes up and apologizes to Anna for her prior rudeness. Not only does the woman exhibit a foreign kindness towards Anna, she also asks Anna to reconsider being Angel's teacher. Anna regains her confidence. (The wonders of encouragement.) Dylan is the invisible hand behind the push.

Cun Xi walks a now glowing Anna out of the stage. Anna astutely observes that Cun Xi has been peaking at his watch for the seventh time, he has something, or rather, someone, more important to attend to. As to who she is, Anna doesn't need to make it any more explicit. She assures Cun Xi that she is okay now and gives him a final hug. A hug between friends. A hug that frees him from her grasp hereafter.

Before leaving Anna to pursuit his own happiness, Cun Xi tells Anna:

There is one thing I need to tell you. I am not the one who gathered everyone here. " About the strawberry cake, it's not my sixth sense either. Someone's brother told me a story about a girl who loves strawberry cake without the strawberry.

There was a poor brother who tried to snatch a piece of strawberry cake for his lovely sister. He didn't succeed in stealing the cake. Worse yet, he had to witness his little sister being driven away in a truck. Ever since then, whenever he sees a piece of strawberry cake, he has the urge to punch himself in the face. Whenever he watches a movie about someone looking for a relative, he would shed a handful of unmanly tears. Whenever he hears the name "Xin Yi" being called, he had to withhold the temptation to kiss the girl's cheek.

If you run out now, you may still catch up with him before it's too late.

Anna runs out. "BROTHER!" she yells. Dylan stops. Smiles. And turns. They walk toward each other.

Dai Jian Ren, where have you been for the past 20 years!? (WOW Dylan's name sounds like b!$&h in Chinese. Thought you might want to know, cuz eh, the first things people learn in a foreign language are the cuss words. If you don't already speak Mandarin that is.)

Shh, no one calls me that anymore. Everyone calls me Master Dylan now... Ok? Dai Xin Yi.

No one calls me that either. Everyone calls me Shi An Na.

Anna. I remember when you were little, you had a stubby nose and you were Really short. How did you grow up to be almost as tall as me? But your eyes are just as charming as your brother's.

I remember you used to be cute. Who would think you would end up being such a jerk when you grew up? It's like a game of hide and seek. 20 years later, you've finally found me. Tell me, have you ever hated me?

Honestly I have. But I detest myself more for letting you go. If I were to chose again, I rather die from hunger than to let you get down that truck. Because growing up by myself, sucks. But, having a brother now isn't too late. Even though you are 20 years late. Watching Anna's happily ever after, Cun Xi feels a strange happiness.

Anson hands Cun Xi a fixed phone and warns him to check it. Cun Xi flips up the phone and sees a handful of miss calls. 80 total. All from Chen Xin Yi. (From what I've gathered, when a cell is out of battery or turned off, it doesn't record the number of miscalls. Unless phones in TW are soo advance that it does. Cun Xi dropped his phone and broke it, it'd be on off status until he or Anson turns it on after it's fixed. Miss Chen Xin Yi must be a persistent caller to get all 80 miscalls onto Cun Xi's phone between the time Anson turns it on to when he finds Cun Xi. OR Anson just watches the phone ring and let Cun Xi miss those calls. And we've all forgot about things like text message and voice mails.) Now Cun Xi is exhilarated. First she hangs up on him 70 times, now she's calling him back 80 times. As far as I can tell, she's Really desperate. Same with Ji Cun Xi, so he's flying to see Xin Yi. Right when her phone runs out of battery. Doesn't it sound a little too pretentiously prearranged?

Xin Yi is frustrated that Cun Xi hasn't called back. She gathers all the borage Z sent over the days and decides to bury them in a cracker tin. While shoving the dirt into the hole, Xin Yi murmurs to herself, "Stupid Ji Cun Xi. Stinky Ji Cun Xi. Said he loved me. Love me but doesn't pick up when I call? Doesn't he know I'm worried about him? Won't believe you anymore. Won't believe you. Bury, bury, bury. I'll bury them all. Stupid. I cried so much listing to your ipod. Won't believe you again. You don't even care about me. Where have you been? Where?! Pretend to be Mr. Z. I thought you liked my pottery.. I won't believe you again. Won't believe you. I'll bury everything that has to do with you. Bury them all. Bury, bury bury.. I don't like you at all... (blah blah blah)

Cun Xi has been running around to find Xin Yi. He finally spots her from wayyyyyy across the river. He hollers her name, she's too engrossed in her little I-won't-believe-you-again chant to hear him.

When he creeps up on her and hugs her from behind, she's still going, "I won't believe you again. Won't believe you again." She sees him and starts to slap him around for not picking up the phone. Cun Xi jumps into a safe distance and smiles at her, "I didn't know you wanted me to come that badly." "Who wants you to come? I know I don't! I'm leaving." "You've got yourself quite a temper over the two years. I kinda miss the gentle and tame post-it girl." "If you miss her, go look for her." Cun Xi turns Xin Yi towards him, "Look Chen Xin Yi, I like you." "Liar!" "Chen Xin Yi, I can't live without you." (Give me a minute, gotta run to the bathroom to puke.) "Liar! Liar!" "See, you're hard to deceive. You don't fall for the lies." "What? You're lying to me again?!" "What you saw the other day in the hospital is a misunderstanding." Cun Xi gets a hold of Xin Yi and starts to explain.

Two men in suits approach them two, "Are you.. Mr. Ji?" Cun Xi and Xin Yi both turn at the same time, "right." and resumes their own conversation. "What misunderstanding? I've seen it all! Don't tell me you're gonna say I need to check my eyes." "You don't need to check your eyes. What you saw isn't what you think it is." The two guys are growing impatient, they repeat the same inquiry. Xin Yi turns, a little agitated, "Yes it's him." She turns back, "If what I saw wasn't the truth, then what is?!" "My feeling towards you." The two guys on the side appear to be a little irked, "Stephen Chow wants to invite you two for coffee." "We don't have the time!" Xin Yi screams in the man's face and turns back to Cun Xi. "What do you mean your feeling towards me is real? Then why are you" *Ding Dong* The name rings a bell. "Stephen Chow?" the two of them turn to face the two men for the first time, realizing the severity of the situation. Uh Oh.

The two men kidnap the bickering couple in broad daylight and dumps them in the back of a van. Xin Yi is scared, Cun Xi busts out his chest to protect her, mumbling something unintelligible under the masking tape that's securing his lips. They stop in an abandoned warehouse. (Oh Taiwanese screen writer and their obsession for warehouses.) The two of them are transported to Stephen Chow, who's idly playing mini golf.

Stephen Chow orders to have the masking tape removed from Cun Xi and asks if he had bedded his (Stephen's) god-daughter. Xin Yi couldn't contain herself. She screams and extends a leg to kick Ji Cun Xi after hearing the accusation. Cun Xi denies having slept with Coco, Stephen's god daughter. Xin Yi doesn't believe him. She charges at him like a bull and kicks whenever he's near. It takes Stephen's man to keep her under control.

Coco comes and varifies the "little misunderstanding." Yup, you guessed it, it's Cun Xi's step brother they're talking about. Just a little swap. To make up to this future brother-in-law, Stephen agrees to put on an act for Ji Cun Xi.

While Xin Yi is roped in an empty room, refrained from moving, Cun Xi and Stephen are standing with their backs turned to a wall near by, close enough for Xin Yi to hear their conversation, but far enough to hide the action. Or, inaction. The conversation entails multiple variations of "I'm gonna kill you", "Even if you kill me, I'll still only love Chen Xin Yi" coupled with Cun Xi's trademark "Ouches", "Ahhs", and whatever onomatopoeia that can be associated with pain. Not just any kind of pain but excruciating pain. On the other side of the wall, Ji Cun Xi is comfortably leaning against the concrete, letting one of Stephen's underlings do his make up and make him look patched up. (Amazing how Xin Yi couldn't tell it's just sheer makeup. The sensitivity of Any woman should be able to unmask the veil of heavy pretense. Not our thick glassed protagonist apparently.)

To push the act to a climax, Stephen Chow yells out, "What's the use of loving her? SHE DOESN'T EVEN LOVE YOU BACK!", special emphasize on the "doesn't". Finally, Xin Yi spits the cloth out and cries, "I like him. I like him! I DO!" Stephen smirks at Cun Xi, bingo mate. He grabs Cun Xi and throws him into the cage room with Xin Yi. Beauty and the Beast is on!

Stephen helps Cun Xi to feign a death wish of wanting to grant grandma's all time wish of passing the Ji family genes onto the next generation. Simply put, this lovely beastie wants to get into the beauty's pants. Stephen picks up on the cue and leaves the room to let the pair, umm, get "friendly" with each other.

Xin Yi hops onto Cun Xi and starts to kiss him. Cun Xi is both surprised and secretly gleeful with Xin Yi taking the initiative. The guard hears the noise and ducks below the window to watch. (What a horny guard!) Xin Yi jumps off Cun Xi, grabs a piece of wood, and smashes it into the guy's head. Poor guy, must've had a horn knocked out after the blow. The guy falls on the ground, unconscious. Xin Yi grabs Cun Xi to escape with her. Cun Xi fakes a leg injury to keep Xin Yi with him. She pulls him into an embrace and forgives all his misgivings. When she turns again, the guard on the floor is no longer there. Something's fishy.

Xin Yi looks out of the window to spy on the enemy only to over hear Stephen Chow's unintentional revelation of Ji Cun Xi's plan. Oh la la. The beast is as good as dead.

Xin Yi gives his supposedly broken leg a few kicks and runs out of the room. Boy is she angry. "You say you like me, but does liking me mean you can play me like a toy?" "I'm not toying with you! I did what I did because I liked you." "Then if I tell you to die, would you do it?" "Fine, I will."

Next thing you know, Ji Cun Xi has been stuffed into a blue barrel, ready to be pushed down the stairs. Xin Yi shoves his head into the barrel, closes the lid on him and pushes him down the slope. All before Stephen gets the chance to secure a rope around the barrel to prevent irreparable damage. Ji Cun Xi rolls allllll the way doooooown the slope and *boom*. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

He winds up in the ER. After waiting outside the emergency room for ages, the doc finally comes out to give the family a little info on the patient's current condition. The doctor tells them that after a gazillion tests, which, took a whole 45 seconds to name, Ji Cun Xi is’ alright. BUT, he has problems in almost every part of the body. BUT, they are not too severe. BUT because Ji Cun Xi has experienced a major concussion, his retina may be disposed to a very, Very, VERY rare condition. Note it's very, Very, VERY rare condition. In short, he might be blind.

In the hospital room, Cun Xi and Xin Yi finally sit down to clear up the misunderstandings.

Xin Yi decides to return to Cun Xi. Until his eyes recovers.

-

If Ji Cun Xi had known he needs to go this far to regain Xin Yi's acceptance, would he double check before he steps into the room on the boat? Would he defy grandma's order to marry Xin Yi and tell Anna the truth from the start? Or would he be more protective of Xin Yi in the first place so he never had to lose her? If anything, Ji Cun Xi isn't a quitter.

Episode 22: Is It the Church Bells that I Hear?

It's a pleasant day outside, warm without being searing; cool without being chilly. Nonetheless, the day left a nervous sweat on Ji Cun Xi as he wakes up from a nightmare filled with scenes of Chen Xin Yi leaving him. He looks down, Xin Yi sleeping quietly by the bedside. His brow relaxed in relief. Wait a minute, he can see! And that means.. without the moral obligation of taking care of this blind man, Chen Xin Yi can go.

When Ji Cun Xi plans to be honest with his love interest for the first time in his life, Dylan's phone call bursts the timid bubble of truth that's slowing surfacing. Cun Xi falls back into the swamp of falsehood and plays long with the idea of being blind for the sake of keeping Xin Yi by his side.

Cun Xi is enough of a business man to know that since he is playing dumb blind, he might as well indulge in the various benefits that comes with being blind. Like, groping Xin Yi, resting his head on her breasts, hugging her at he will, and asking for forgivenesses that won't be given otherwise.

Once Xi Shi hears from her daughter that her son-in-law to be is blind and her daughter will be staying in her ex-husband's house to take care of him, she brings her oldest daughter to the Ji family house to help out. Someone's forgetting ALL about the Big notice on her own front door. What holy battle field, what not permitting anyone with the surname of Ji to enter? She's running to the Ji family maison faster than a fly. Once inside the house, pass the "ahh your house is so big" and the "ooh your cars are so luxurious", Xi Shi's back to the oh-so-familiar disapproving mother-in-law persona.

Anson comes out with tea to welcome the visitors (pretty soon, Anson will be babysitting Ji Cun Xi's baby, if he were to have any.) The moment he casts his eyes on Xin Yi's oldest sister Qing Xia, oh la la, a jolt of uncontrollable electricity travels across the room, bridges the distance between himself and Qing Xia, and insulating them from the surrounding world. (Sounds almost like Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu.) They start to wiggle their eyebrows at each other, hoping to transmit their own code of flirtation through the crowd of amazed onlookers. (I can almost hear the Calcium influx and the buzzing of apoptoses from the strong surge of electric attraction.) It takes Xi Shi's flabby arms to separate the two, who in response, jump back and assume a flirtatious posture and peak at each other through their own curtains of fluttering lashes.

The family sits down upstairs around a table for their afternoon tea. Oh and by the way Cun Xi is willing to move all his properties, stock, and money under Xin Yi's name to show his total devotion. That this time, his feelings towards Xin Yi are genuine. In any case, Xin Yi's family are convinced by the extent Cun Xi is willing to go, as anti-romantic as the gesture is. (What, so she can have total control over his finance? Who wants that? She would have to worry about paying the bills, mortgages and loans, file income taxes, fend against identity thieves, and manage investments if she wants to make some extra cash. But of course, Anson can take care of all that.) Anyway, Xi Shi takes out her magical toolbox to help Cun Xi regain sight using what she knows about Chinese medicine. Let's just say you are about to witness the most chaotic and imbecilic form of corporal punishment and Cun Xi is scared witless, all that's missing is him peeing in his pants. :D *presses fast forward*

After n minutes of constant shrieking, screaming, and biting, Cun Xi is finally cracking. He collapses onto the bed and gasps, "I.. I see.. I see a.. I see a light." The crowd cheers and throws all the tools into the air to celebrate. From between the loud cacophonous noises, Cun Xi makes out Xin Yi's voice, "Then I can go back to Shanghai.." The idea of Xin Yi leaving him again is so insufferable, Cun Xi grabs onto Anson's face in desperation and fakes, "Xin Yi, Xin Yi? Why is your face so rough all of a sudden?" The crowd moans in disappointment.

It's getting late, grandma takes Xi Shi to her room so she can stay for as long as she wanted. They do a little room touring and discover the present Xin Yi brought to grandma from Zhong Shan Long. Grandma opens the box, it contains a dish, a card, and a CD. She pushes the CD into the DVD player and viola, Zhong Shan Long est la. In the TV. This hopeful old man still loves his first love. He records himself on CD in fear of stuttering on the phone. At the end of the video, he directs grandma's attention to the little cards enclosed in the box: if she wants to see him, there's a card with his address written on top. If she doesn't want to see him but wants to hear him talk, there's a card with his MSN. If she doesn't want to see him nor hear him, there's a card with his email. (Wouldn't she have his email if she has his MSN?) IF, if she doesn't want to see him nor hear him, nor correspond email with him, that's understandable ok. He will leave the options open for her. By the end of the CD, the two ladies have already wet their sleeves with tears. Grandma decides to fly to Shanghai for Zhong Shan Long the very next day, leaving Cun Xi to Xi Shi.

Cun Xi and Xin Yi are in the same room, talking. It gets hot. Thinking Cun Xi's blind, Xin Yi takes off her little jacket and safely reveals her cleavage. Cun Xi just couldn't divert his darn eyes from Xin Yi's bosom. In fact, the physical attraction is so great that his nose starts to bleed. lol That pig. Xin Yi notices his abnormal nose discharges and takes great concern. Cun Xi assures her it's just the weather, but if she wants to help him, her luscious body can bring her salvation. Before she can respond, he presses her down and blocks her words with a fierce kiss. She struggles against him and pushes him back up. She won't do it. Not when his eyes can't see. Because she wants to make sure she's the only woman he'll be seeing. Backfires a little, no? But before Cun Xi has the courage to confess his full recovery, Xi Shi storms into the room for another round of pig slaughter. *Reaches for ear plugs*

Next morning, Dylan comes over to take grandma to the airport. He sees through Cun Xi's pretense and makes fun of his silly ways of keeping Xin Yi binded by his side. But hey, whatever works. Cun Xi waves Dylan's advices away and drops a ring in a cup of milk he poured for Xin Yi. When the ladies come down the stairs to say goodbye to grandma, Cun Xi hands Xin Yi the cup of milk. She takes a sip and determines the milk's already expired, then she proceeds to pour it down the drain. Cun Xi stops her to protect the ring inside, exposing his lie to open judgment.

Xin Yi gets mad at Cun Xi. Not because he lied to her again, but because the way he attempted to propose to her isn't romantic enough. ;)

Propose preparation is underway.

Soon enough, Xin Yi receives a big bouquet of flowers (sorry, no roses hon) and a card asking her out to lunch tomorrow. At the bottom of the card, there's a line hinting at the marriage proposal.

While everybody is happy for Xin Yi's sure marriage with Cun Xi after the two year drag, Feng Jiao proposes Xin Yi to go in for a health check up. Xin Yi couldn't hold in her gleefulness of finally marrying Cun Xi, she chatters on and on with the nurse during the ultrasound. The nurse treats her with a cold shoulder, but that doesn't change the fact that Xin Yi is incandescently happy.

Right before Xin Yi leaves the house for the date with Cun Xi, she receives a call from the hospital, asking her to come in regarding the results of her ultra sound. The diagnosis is most unfortunate: Xin Yi's miscarriage from two years ago had caused enough damage to her uterus that will prevent all possibilities of conceiving. The news shook Xin Yi like lightening, suddenly, all her anticipation for a happy marriage disintegrated.

Xin Yi calls Dylan out of hopelessness.

-

Writing recap in between Olympics is tiring. If you read anything incoherent or disconnected, you know why. ;) Anyway, getting back to the gymnastics & swimming!

Episode 23: Fated, to Love You

Wiping away the tears, Chen Xin Yi lingers a little longer outside the restaurant and touches the reservation sign with the tip of her fingers. The names looked so nice and perfect together, side by side. She lets herself indulge in the absolute harmony for a moment and walks inside to face Cun Xi with an effortful smile.

Cun Xi stands up to welcome her arrival. He hurries over and pulls out the chair across from him for Xin Yi. With the same nervousness, he sits back down in his own chair and waves for the waitress to come over. The waitress brings over a covered plate and lays it on the table. She lifts the lid up, revealing a pink, delicate case. Xin Yi only forces another sad smile at the sight of the wishing box. So many memories.

"Eh.. umm, Chen Xin Yi, we've came this far. It's time to think about marriage.. Grandma has been waiting for a real long time, and.. and Heritage should change its package. You know I.. You know, I can't wait anymore.. Look! My hair's turning white.." Xin Yi only smiles. "Then.. then why don't you take a look at that? No need to be touched, I didn't spend a long time on it." Xin Yi reaches for the pale wishing box and slowly opens it. There are post-its packed inside. She takes out the top most sticky note, unfolds it quietly and starts to read: I wish Cun Xi's temper will not always be so fiery. "The back." reminds Cun Xi expectantly. Xin Yi turns the post-it. It reads: My temper's gotten better. She looks up at Cun Xi and smiles. Cun Xi smiles back. Xin Yi picks up a second post-it: I wish grandma will always be happy like now. Turning to the back: With you being here, grandma will always be happy. Xin Yi smiles again, this time with tears welling up in her eyes. A third note reads: I wish Anna can come back to celebrate Cun Xi's birthday like always. Its back says: But I to spend my birthday with you. A fourth: I fell in love with Ji Cun Xi. I wish he will never know. On the back: I fell in love with Chen Xin Yi, I want her to know immediately! (lol) Xin Yi chuckles for the first time.

"Can you give me another chance?" Cun Xi asks earnestly. He walks over to Xin Yi and takes out a heart-shaped ring. "Let's not miss each other again." Xin Yi reaches for the rolled up post-it note in the ring, remove the ribbon, and unrolls the pink sticky note. The heart shaped post-it note reads: Let's start anew. We can have our souvenir. (oh no) We can be happy. The three of us can go out for picnic. "Let us start over. I really, really want to have another souvenir with you. Maybe, maybe one isn't enough. We can have a whole soccer team of them! (mamamia) That way we can group and play sports together!" (Why must Mr. Ji hit all the jack pot of Things-Thou-Shall-Not-Mention?) ... Xin Yi says nothing. Cun Xi waits, uneasily. When Xin Yi looks up again, she asks Cun Xi, "Can I make a wish?" A second elapsed before Cun Xi fully understood what Xin Yi had asked. "Of course, anything you wish for, I will do my best to fulfill."

"Can we, just be normal friends?" Xin Yi asks. Cun Xi shakes his head in disbelief, "But, didn't you come today because you are ready to accept me?" "I've decided to go back to Shanghai with Dylan." Xin Yi answers, "I planned to leave once your eyes regain sight. Going to Shanghai is a very valuable opportunity for me.." Cun Xi tries again, "That's ok. We can get engaged before you return to Shanghai to pursuit your career and marry after you're done with.." "I won't come back once I go back." Xin Yi cuts him off. Cun Xi sinks into a deep denial, "Why wouldn't you come back? Shanghai is so close.. I know, you want me to go back to Shanghai with you. That way you can tend to your career and we can be together. That's great. Shanghai is a good place." Watching Cun Xi's desperate attempt to hold on to her, Xin Yi turns her head to hide the tears in her eyes. "I'm going back to Shanghai to be with Dylan." Xin Yi interrupts again, more curtly than before, bursting Cun Xi's final hope. "I am, going to be with Dylan." She repeats, enunciating every word.

"Sorry I'm late." Dylan walks into the restaurant. Xin Yi stands up and puts her arm around Dylan's, "During the past two days, I realized that I like Dylan more than you." Still unwilling to accept the sudden turn of tide, a devastated Cun Xi puts on a smile and inquires with all the restrain he can muster, "Did I do something wrong? Or, did something happen?" Xin Yi denies. Cun Xi turns to Dylan for explanation. "Don't look at me. I have no idea either." he turns to Xin Yi, "Do you want to enlighten me while he's here? Why did you all of a sudden call me to pretend to be your boyfriend? And, why were you so sad on the phone? Now that this idiot's eyes have recovered and he's proposing to you, why are you throwing it all away?" Xin Yi pouts her mouth and whispers to Dylan, "Didn't we reach an agreement?" "Chen Xin Yi, why do you not want to be with me?" Cun Xi asks again, holding on to the last inch of composure. "I just don't want to be with you. Don't force me." She turns and puts and end to Cun Xi's denial. Cun Xi is out of his wits. He stands up and inquires with a shaky voice, "What's wrong? Is it something I did? Is it something I said?" "No, it's nothing. You didn't do anything wrong. You are too good for me, there's too much pressure being with you. Can we just be friends?" Xin Yi raises her voice, utterly exasperated. "Don't treat you too well is that what you are asking? If you had told me earlier, I could.." "Didn't you say you will grant me any wish I dare to ask for? I just want to be friends. You should find another woman." Cun Xi walks towards Xin Yi, shaking his head in astonishment, "Are you serious? You want me to find another woman?" Xin Yi nods. Cun Xi sighs. "One last time, do you mean it?" She nods again. Taken by incredulity, disappointment, and hurt, Ji Cun Xi storms out of the restaurant, leaving Xin Yi sobbing inside.

Once the sadness washes off, a wave of anger sweeps across Cun Xi. He throws his arms in air, loudly demanding an explanation for the fact that no good ending ever comes to his proposals. First he went to bed with the wrong person, now he gets dumped, can things get any worse? As he speaks, a car drives by, splashing water all over him. Ji Cun Xi decides that he will never propose again. If someone wants to marry him, she can submit an application. He tells Anson to arrange for blind dates. If he can marry Chen Xin Yi, it doesn't matter who he marries. (how childish.)

Late at night, Dylan brings back home a drunk and unhappy Xin Yi. Needless to ask, the proposal went south. Xin Yi's family checked the health report and discovered the reason behind Xin Yi's rejection to Cun Xi " she's infertile and hence unable to fulfill grandma's wish to pass on the Ji family line. (What happened to trust? And faith?)

Super assistant, now matchmaker Anson arranges for Cun Xi to interview interrogate single, family-compatible women. Cun Xi eliminates the eligible bachelorettes by evaluating their number of affirmative responses to three of the five questions: Do you make wishes? Do you like jiang jun bun? Do you make pottery? And do you use post-its? Do you use wishing boxes?

Only one woman raised above everyone else with two affirmative answers and the mentioning of MSN. Her name is Chen-Lin Xi Shi. Right, Xin Yi's mother. She comes allllll the way from Jiang Mu Island to show Cun Xi the infertility report. (Ironic the Relieve Clinic Xin Yi went to made her anything but relieved.) At the end of the talk, Cun Xi asked Xi Shi to bring back a letter for Xin Yi. A letter arrange for her to sign the divorce paper.

Although dejected, Xin Yi appears as if nothing is unexpected to lessen the worry her family has for her. She plans to sign the divorce paper then fly back to Shanghai. Xin Yi's oldest sister Qing Xia persists to dress Xin Yi up so when Cun Xi sees her at the law firm, he'll regret letting her go.

Cun Xi didn't show up in the law firm. Xin Yi is more hurt than disappointed. The process isn't as easy as signing the name. Ji Cun Xi is not giving Xin Yi any money. Instead, because Xin Yi has not been doing what a wife should do in the past two years, Cun Xi is asking for compensation. The content of the compensation goes like this (in 4x speed):

Suppose Ji Cun Xi is A, Chen Xin Yi is B.

1. If any argument results between A and B, B must apologize first under all circumstances.

2. If A is at any time, unhappy, B must lap dance to console A. (Xin Yi looks at Douglas in disbelief.)

3. A and B must not use divorce as a bargaining chip.

4. B must love A with sincerity.

5. Every morning. (Lawyer Douglas chokes from reading too fast at this point.) every morning B must let A (Douglas chokes again) ki-kiss B.

The above mentioned.. (Douglas turns to suppress a gag. He gasps, then shivers. "Look for yourself." Douglas hands the paper to Xin Yi.)

"If there's no problem, please sign here. This is my copy. And this one is yours. Your copy is identical to the legal copy, except there's a date and it says Mr. Ji has the right to keep the contract alive for as long as he wishes. Come on, sign here." "I.. I don't understand. I'm here to sign the divorce paper.." "Ms. Chen, your question is outside my knowledge. I have another client waiting in the other room. Sign here, quick."

Among the documents, Xin Yi discovers a yellow post-it smiling at her. Tearing it off, it reads: Chen Xin Yi, you want to divorce me? Not in a hundred years! MUAHAHAH! :D

The door opens, a chicken head pops out. "AH! Chicken!" Xin Yi turns to Douglas, "CHICKEN! Cun Xi!~" she runs after the chicken outside, forgetting about the papers and the luggage.

The chicken wobbles ahead of Xin Yi, who's dragging her feet in a pair of high heels. A clown holding a board marked with "I Love You " Z" made of post-its blocks Xin Yi's way. She takes one quick look at the board and pushes the clown aside to chase after the chicken. The chicken stumbles, and falls. Xin Yi catches the opportunity to jump onto the chicken and pulls the head piece off. It's Xin Yi's second sister. Before Xin Yi has the time to ask why her sister is in the costume, another chicken appears in the corner across the street. "Ahh! Don't run!" Xin Yi leaves her sister lying on the ground and runs after the second chicken. While she's waiting for the cars to go by to j-walk the streets, a bus drives in front of Xin Yi, on the bus, ten thousand post-its arranged in the words .. I <3 You " Z". Xin Yi watches in awe as the bus drives past her.

Then she remembers the chicken and chases after the it again. The chicken runs and runs and runs into a wall. It bounces off the wall and falls flat on the floor. Xin Yi catches up to the chicken and jerks its head off. Her big sister Qing Xia. Xin Yi yells in frustration, "Big Sister! Why are you"." Before she could ask the five Was another chicken pops its head in the three o'clock direction and runs off. Dropping the chicken head, Xin Yi picks up her feet to follow after the third orange chicken.

Another "I <3 You - Z", this time, life size.

Just in case the previous two aren't big enough.

Xin Yi continues to sprint after the chicken while yelling, "stop running, stop!" This time, before Xin Yi even needs to halt the chicken, it falls on its own, the stuffy head piece rolls to the side, revealing Xin Yi's mother. Just as Xin Yi is helping her mother up, another chicken pokes its orange head at Xin Yi. "Another one?!" With a "help yourself", Xin Yi runs off the fourth chicken, leaving her mother stretched out on the pavement. This time, the chicken is swift. It runs straight to the church (mockingly, the same church Anna wanted to have her wedding with Cun Xi.) After a drag and tug, the chicken leads Xin Yi into the church, where Xin Yi finally manages to drag the head piece off the fourth chicken .. Anson.

Then realizing where she is, Xin Yi turns to face a smiling Ji Cun Xi, dressed in white, holding a bouquet of flowers, slowing approaching her.

Chen Xin Yi, did you see me as a pig? Whose sole purpose is to pass its genes to the next generation? What about love? Care? And a happy life? (Hon, it's survival of the fittest in the Darwinian notion of natural selection: Sexual selection means EVERYTHING to survival.)

Can't I have any of those?

Xin Yi pouts her lips, "Weren't you going to divorce me?" "Divorce you? I thought you were simple minded, I didn't know you were simply silly." "But.." "But there is only one Chen Xin Yi." Now all of the fatuous worries regarding infertility are wiped clean, Xi Shi tells her daughter that when Cun Xi hears about Xin Yi's infertility, he had said, "Is she an idiot (worrying about things like that)? Even if she is, I'll still marry her!" Xin Yi still hesitates (more like give the second casts a chance to spit out their lines). Dylan walks over and grabs Xin Yi's hand, "Elaine, this is the last time I'll call you by that name. For this life, you are fated to be with Ji Cun Xi. You are no longer the post-it girl, don't run away now because you are afraid. Don't miss the chance God has created for you."

Need I say more? Ji Cun Xi is skipping the proposal all together, giving Xin Yi the proper wedding he owes her, and the golden necklace she pounded to buy him the Mont Blanc ink pen.

At the end of the wedding, Dylan brings Anna's best wish and her present to the newly weds. Anna is performing in Shanghai and she is busy dating, she can't make it to their wedding. Her present for the pair of lovers is the certificate of purchase for Elaine's Souvenir, attached with a post-it, scribbled with her love: Out of the five billion people, you chose to go to bed with each other; then out of the one point five billion people, you two met again. This certification is the best evidence for your love. Wish you two live happily ever after.

Wait, the Happily-Ever-After isn't over yet.

There's still the bed scene, the sweet breakfast for the newly weds, and the painful reminder that Xin Yi cannot have baby, even though everybody else is. Even the dog.

-

Pretty good episode.

At this point, I'm willing to call it closure, but there's still episode 24 to draw the final period to the drama. So I will leave my last words and thoughts for next week. Hope y'all enjoy this recap. :)

Episode 24: Last Episode

"Oh right, Chen Xin Yi's husband's stepbrother's wife just gave birth to a healthy baby! By the way, Baby Ji the dog is pregnant again!"

Unfortunately, yesterday's good news is today's bad news. The dreadful reminder that everybody else is/can be pregnant, except for her is like a slap in the face that sends every pore of Chen Xin Yi's body ache in pain of envy. Even Ji Cun Xi's condolences and a lover's kiss can't quiet down the rippling yarning of being pregnant with her own child.

Whatever the misfortune, time keeps spinning, and life, keeps moving. So does Xin Yi. She goes to work in an art gallery and surprisingly meets her ex-co-worker Mary. Mary is pregnant. Once the two women make up for past misunderstandings, the conversation naturally falls on the pregnancy. Xin Yi gently strokes Mary's protruding belly, then sadly touches her own flat belly. She sighs.

Cun Xi comes to pick Xin Yi up for lunch when his mother-in-law calls. So Cun Xi, Xin Yi, and Anson race back to Xin Yi's home on Jiang Mu Island to deal with whatever mess that tops Xin Yi's infertility. The issue is, not surprisingly, pregnancy related.

In a daughters-kneeling-mother-sitting, one-leg-up-and-a-duster-in-hand djvu, the mother is tracing the source of her daughters' pregnancy, again. Feng Jiao is safe because she's married, but Qing Xia'? Ever since her divorce, she's been staying at home. How on earth did she get herself pregnant? "Mother, I cannot say." "If you don't tell me, I'm going to break your legs today!" The familiar dialogue plays. "STOPPPPP!" a figure dashes in to protect the pregnant woman from outside the doorway. Only difference from the last time we saw this, Anson is the man to kneel down in front of Xi Shi and admit that he is the child's father. Xi Shi ceases to hit Anson once he promises to be responsible for the consequence of his sudden burst of passion. Still angry at being ill informed, Xi Shi blurs out, "Why does the one who shouldn't get pregnant always gets pregnant but the one who should get pregnant never gets pregnant?"

To cheer Xin Yi up, Cun Xi thinks of the only way he can.

Late at night after both have showered, Cun Xi intersects Xin Yi as she goes to bed.

Xin Yi, it's so hot today. I so want to take off All my clothes. *awkwardly pulls down a piece of his own bath robe to reveal a bare shoulder*

Hot? Why don't you turn down the AC? *matter-of-factly*

*lets out a genuinely surprised, "what?" expression* But.. but I feel hot from the inside out! *puts seductive emphasis on the word "hot"*

*looks back blankly* Then, do you want to drink some ice water?

*rips open his own bath robe and reveals a (not so muscular) naked body*

*looks down, then away, appearing uninterested* Cun Xi, do you, want to find another woman?

*wraps himself in the robe again and stands up straighter* What are you talking about?

*repeats*

You say it one more time, I'll strangle you!

But..

Enough! Not a word about it. I'm off to sleep. You, turn off the lights and remember to turn down the AC. I'm so going to burst a blood vessel! *off to bed angrily*

When Cun Xi wakes up in the middle of the night and finds the other side of the bed empty, he gets out of bed to look for his beloved wife. Xin Yi is praying to Cun Xi's ancestors, perseverating on her inability to pass on the lineage. Cun Xi approaches her and hands her a white towel. "What's this for?" "So you can hang yourself." Cun Xi jokes. He comforts her again that he doesn't mind if she give him a child and they leave for bed together. After the newly weds leave the room, Cun Xi's grandpa's picture lights up. (-_-)

Next day at work, Xin Yi experiences an unpleasant sensation in the lower abdomen and is sent to the hospital. (and the hospital just happens to specialize in gynecology.) When Cun Xi and grandma arrive in the hospital, Dr. Hao storms out to chastise a confounded Cun Xi for not taking care of his wife. Turns out, Xin Yi is pregnant.

Finally, Dr. Hao clears things up: the clinic Xin Yi went to is infamous for purposely making wrong diagnosis in order to lure the patients to throw money into unnecessary testings, treatments, and medications. Xin Yi is not only fertile, she is one month pregnant.

An excited Ji Cun Xi runs to Xin Yi's hospital room to bring her the good news. Upon seeing a doleful Xin Yi who is sorrowfully looking out of the window, Cun Xi gets an idea and puts on a straight face. He sits down besides her, regretfully informs her that the doctor has discovered something strange growing inside of her. As to what it is, the doctor didn't specify. But, Dr. Hao did say that in 10 months, the strange little thing will jump out by itself. Xin Yi digests Cun Xi's news word for word and finally breaks out into a relieved smile. :]

Eight months later:

The three pregnant sisters lazily extend their bodies on a mat, waiting for their husbands to bring them refreshments. The three busy servers dads cuddle in a circle, chattering to each other while busily peeling fruits and opening bottles. "She was a post-it before marriage, who would've thought she'd be like this?" "Brother-in-law, forgot to tell you, Feng Jiao used to be like Xin Yi before she married me." "What about her body?", Anson asks. "She was so hot! But once she gave birth, she became like this." The other two men laments in unison, "What would my Xin Yi/Qing Xia turn out to be after labor?" The ladies grow impatient on the picnic cloth, "Are you guys done?"

The husbands bring the food to their wives and thus commencing a name-giving discussion for the unborn babies. Feng Jiao has decided to call her child plum juice (Wu Mei Zhi), Qing Xia settles for An Tai Sui (a tradition to appease the Gods), as for Xin Yi's baby, the sisters have some interesting suggestions. Like, calculator (Ji Suan Ji), note book (Ji Shi Bu), memory card (Ji Yi Ca), monument (Ji Nian Bei), or taxi (Ji Cheng Che). (I would hate to be their kid.) Fortunately, Cun Xi already has a name in mind. He wants to call the kid Anniversary (Ji Nian Ri). "Because", he explains while turning to Xin Yi, "everyday with you is worth celebrating." (Attention goosebumps, stand up and salutes to Ji Cun Xi!)

If you think the sisters getting pregnant around the same time is freaky but you are willing to suspend the disbelief because it's a drama, then maybe the fact that the sisters are going into labor at the same time is just as understandable. (But, for the rest of us, it may take a little convincing than just plain old "fate".)

To top the happily-ever-after with a hot pink cherry, Ji Cun Xi decides to help the ladies give birth on the spot since the ambulance has a flat tire. (Don't ask.)

After some oh-so-fake wailing, running around, and face-contortions, the babies are born.

PS: Just in case you are wondering, Anna became a top model and got married three years later; Xi Shi opened a spa on Jiang Mu Island; Grandma reunites with ZhongShang Long at last. As for Anson, after the marriage and their first child, his electric field with Qing Xia grew stronger than ever that it burned down a few buildings and cost them a couple hundred thousand dollars (or was it a couple million?) to repair all the damage. :)

-

Been half a year! It's over at last.

Before I wrap this up, I want to express my gratitude towards my recap followers out there, especially those who followed through and took the time to leave a piece of their thoughts, opinions, complains, and praises. :]

Merci et au revoir!