As an Asian drama (Taiwan), I review this against other Asian dramas. So I watched all 34 episodes, right there is a minimum 6 for me.
The male protagonist, He-Jie (
Sheng-hao Wen), lives a hedonistic lifestyle to protect himself from getting hurt. He makes money from appearing on shows, writing a blog and selling books about selfish romance. The female protagonist, Xiao-Qian (
Sonia Sui) was raised in a poor family and unable to attend a kindergarten as a child, it is her dream to make sure all children have the chance to go to kindergarten.
They actually knew each other in elementary school, where He-Jie tortured Xiao-Qian for her attention, but the connection isn't known to He-Jie until late in the series.
He-Jie is sentenced to 158 hours community service at the kindergarten where Xiao-Qian works. During his community service He-Jie and Xiao-Qian both experience positive change. He-Jie has a romantic rival - Cheng-En (
Sheng-hao Wen), first for top-model Amanda (
Bianca Bai), who is hiding a personal secret, and then for Xiao-Qian.
I had some issues with this show, mostly personal. Such as when Cheng-En beats up a paparazzi who takes a picture of Amanda. Most of the characters seemed impressed by Cheng-En being a thug. He would have been arrested in: pick any western country.
As a former manager, I was very embarrassed by the viciously autocratic management style of Cheng-En and his father, even in 2010, this would have been looked down on. Cheng-En seems to become a mostly better person by the end of the show, but we never see him treat servants or employees well, a true measure of the wealthy. He treats Xiao-Qian well, but even gangsters love their family, it doesn't mean much.
The main character, Xiao-Qian, is strong in putting the needs of others before herself, but is a coward in romantic relationships and there is really no back story to justify this.
SPOILER:
Like many Asian dramas, the show appears like someone came and told them it was canceled so they had to wrap everything up in the last three episodes. The plot moves quickly and many things were skipped in those episodes, such as the reconciliation of Amanda and her husband, she just suddenly announces, in the last episode, that they have married.
Regardless, I did enjoy watching it and it resolved to my satisfaction, although I would have enjoyed some denouement, there is none, which is common in Asian dramas.
