When last we left our useless rich guy and tall caretaker, our caretaker attacked his rich guy with intense kisses.
Sex delayed is not sex denied
But it is delayed because Shao Peng’s parents expect them to come out for fruit.
Sometime later, Zi Xiang is at a work celebration about good work. Everyone is there, including an actor from the divisive HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count. He looks good.
Zi Xiang’s cousin ties his shoes in front of all the business people. Shao Peng arrives, and Jessica intercepts him to tell him he doesn’t deserve Zi Xiang. But Shao Peng sees Zi Xiang getting his shoes tied and then hugged and doesn’t give AF about Jessica. In front of everyone, he drags Zi Xiang away.
Zi Xiang explains that was his cousin and Shao Peng is embarrassed. He distracts Zi Xiang by kissing him. They go to Zi Xiang’s for that delayed sex. In the shower!
Our secondary characters are busy too
Jessica enlists Shu He to help her break the men up. Shu He is unimpressed with Jessica’s tactics. Jessica suggests Shu He get pregnant. Shu He realizes Jessica lives a life divorced from reality and doesn’t even like Zi Xiang. The two women aren’t a dream team. Yet.
In the morning, Feng Jie keeps Xin Jia from knocking on Zi Xiang’s door. He knows. Besides, he wants to flirt with Xin Jia and offer him a job as his secretary.
Feng Jie is a true gentleman and uses a tissue to wipe food off Xin Jia’s face. Not that Xin Jia is impressed. At work, everyone loves Feng Jie except him. Feng Jie has a little of Shao Peng’s need to be perfect, except when he’s a naughty flirt with Xin Jia.
Jessica meets up with Shu He again to learn lessons about life and unwrapping store-bought onigiri. Shu He tries to get her to understand that marriage is more than just a contract, love is involved. Jessica is unconvinced.
Don’t forget that Zi Xiang’s cousin is trying to kill him
Zi Xiang tells his cousin he’s breaking his engagement and staying in Taiwan with the person he loves. He still doesn’t want the company.
Cousin shoves him against the wall by his throat. That escalated fast.
Shao Peng finds Zi Xiang on their bench and asks why he’s crying. Zi Xiang tries to deny his feelings, but Shao Peng won’t let him do that either.
When they were young, Zi Xiang fell into the sea and almost drowned his cousin. Yes, it’s vague. Because of that and the family money, things are awkward. Sometimes he’s nice. Sometimes he tries to kill him. Poor Zi Xiang.
He likes Shao Peng’s family, and how they treat each other makes him happy. Shao Peng kneels and signs that his family is also Zi Xiang’s. That might as well be a proposal. Zi Xiang is overwhelmed and they kiss.
Zi Xiang finishes up work and prepares to return to America
He’s enjoying ordinary life and ordinary days, made meaningful by love. He texts Shao Peng, has dinner with his parents, is interrupted making out, and invites Shao Peng to his place.
Zi Xiang continues to prove he isn’t useless and makes them breakfast. Both our guys have a thing for Adam’s apples, and this time it’s Shao Peng distracted by Zi Xiang’s. LINK He puts his hand against Zi Xiang’s throat and tells him to keep talking. Zi Xiang repeats Shao Peng’s name and they cry. This feels so intimate and special.
Shu He is an MVP for dealing with these clueless rich people
She pulls Zi Xiang outside to confront him. She wants to be sure he knows Shao Peng will never hear, and he has to accept him and not hurt him the way she did.
He tells her he loves Shao Peng as he is and would never ask him to speak or hear. Shu He looks relieved but ends on a threat of retribution if he hurts Shao Peng.
After she leaves, Shao Peng finds Zi Xiang and tells him about Shu He being attacked. Zi Xiang is relieved that Shu He and Shao Peng never got together.
Shao Peng worries he could become a burden, but Zi Xiang points out he could be the one to become a burden. Not being able to hear or speak is not a flaw, it’s part of who he is, and he loves him. Shao Peng loves Zi Xiang as he is too. Squish.
Shao Peng’s father realizes what’s going on
He challenges Zi Xiang to a taekwondo match, but hurts his back and nothing comes of it. Zi Xiang swears he’ll take care of Shao Peng and them. The dad points out they don’t need him to take care of them, Zi Xiang agrees but still promises.
At work Zi Xiang talks to Feng Jie about marrying Shao Peng, because they can in Taiwan. Xin Jia gets jealous of them, and angry when he discovers he’s being underpaid. Feng Jie really loves messing with him. Flirting turns to pushing him onto the couch. Xin Jia pushes him away.
Shu He finally tells Jessica she has no intention of breaking the guys up, and only agreed to keep an eye on her. Jessica mocks Shu He’s for letting love bring her pain. Shu He is tough, and happy to see Shao Peng happy. She also threatens Jessica if she does anything to Shao Peng.
Jessica is kinda impressed and wants coffee as an apology for lying. Shu He offers dinner if Jessica breaks free of her parents on her own.
We can’t end here, instead we end with Shao Peng being ushered into a room by a man with a gun. Zi Xiang’s cousin is there.
Those are some lovely, healthy relationship dynamics
From our leads anyway. They are supportive and encouraging without pushing the other person to change. It really feels like they love the other person as is, and only want to grow together.
One minor complaint about this show is the women. A mom and two women scorned, they don’t pass the Bechdel test. They feel like they have real personalities and feelings, but I’m disappointed they aren’t given more to do. Jessica and Shu He are charming together, Jessica needs Shu He in her life. I ship them. Shu He and Zi Xiang’s miniature relationship arc, with him changing and her coming to accept him as a future family member is also sweet.
It’s always a backward compliment to complain that I want more.
The work stuff is similarly weak, but I see the arc. Zi Xiang comes to Taiwan planning to fail at his job for his cousin. He meets Shao Peng and decides to prove himself, succeeding at the project. He reassures his cousin he still doesn’t want the business, but the cousin doesn’t trust him because the family is terrible.
I noticed that Shao Peng is never asked to use his voice or why he doesn’t. There are shows (Silent and Moonlight Chicken) where it comes up and the deaf characters speak a little. I’m not saying that’s bad, but there’s something powerful about how it doesn’t come up here. We get the opposite when Shao Peng enjoys Zi Xiang’s voice by touching his Adam’s apple.
Okay, one episode left to go!
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