Watch if: You need something light-hearted and relatable playing in the background as you have your dinner.
Skip if: You are expecting lots of romance or prefer to avoid scenes that remind you of work.
Thoughts
I dipped my toes in this one, wanting a glimpse of the investment market world. I consider this a slice-of-life drama (not particularly romance driven) set against a backdrop of venture capitalists and expanding start-ups. The initial angst that Ning Meng (played by Seven Tan 谭松韵) has towards her work and her boss, Lu Ji Ming (played by Lin Geng Xin 林更新), is highly relatable and sometimes hilarious, providing some comic relief to the otherwise seriousness of her professional life.
Even though the show is supposedly centred around Ning Meng’s journey to achieve her career goals, I find the character arc and growth of Ji Ming to be the highlight and more satisfying to watch. I also love that people are dressed like real office workers and everyone’s original voices were used!
I liked that Ji Ming feels like a real person
Ji Ming is not your typical swoony CEO 霸总 (think Business Proposal, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?) who captivates with his presence and power. As the owner of an investment firm, he bears the weight of keeping the company afloat on his shoulders. Initially, we see him being abrasive, cutting, and harsh when responding to his employees or whatever seems like bull to him. I find this to be a realistic portrayal of what many directors and CEOs are like at work.
However, it’s easier to understand why he’s constantly grumpy when we meet his father and realise Ji Ming’s simply a chip off the old block. His father tends to interpret Ji Ming’s best intentions in the worst ways possible and their interactions often escalate into a war of words. The scenes between Ji Ming and Dad are always emotionally charged and showcase the acting chops of both men. They remind me of how our family of origin and childhood interactions can shape our speech patterns and mannerisms well into adulthood.
In Ep 11, some people had issues with a scene where Ji Ming asserts his authority over Ning Meng, despite not being her boss anymore. We see later on that he was genuinely oblivious to how his actions came across as rude or even misogynistic (or tone deaf). It’s nice to see him ask a friend and learn that his behaviour was not acceptable at all.
There is a turning point that serves as a catalyst for Ji Ming’s growth. We then observe his restraint and patience as he learns to communicate better with his father. He also realises that his feelings for Ning Meng run deeper than he thinks.
What I didn’t like so much
1. Oversimplified corporate situations
Although the premise of the show is that hard work, perseverance, and determination pay off, none of the corporate situations that Ning Meng had to navigate were particularly thrilling to watch. The way corporate fraud was being addressed, business deals were cut and even Ning Meng’s rise to position of CEO were a tad simplistic. #girlboss Shi Ying is written as that nurturing and empowering mentor we wish we had in the corporate world, but she comes across as one-dimensional after a while. 🙁
For dramas with more realistic workplace situations, try these.
2. Awkward romance(s)
I’m a fan of Seven Tan’s acting and find that she has a knack for selecting quality projects. But she often looks unwilling in romantic scenes. I felt this way in Go Ahead too. Have there been exceptions?
Many shows try to weave romance into the plot to appeal to a bigger audience and frankly, I feel like this one could do without the love triangle. Su Wei Ran’s attraction to Ning Meng is unconvincing, and the sneaky tactics he employed felt unnecessary. How he came around to do the “right thing” after a short conversation with Ning Meng, also felt really forced.
Synopsis
Ning Meng (played by Seven Tan) is the secretary to Lu Ji Ming (played by Lin Geng Xin ) who runs an investment firm called Joint Capital. Three years ago, she applied for an analyst position at the firm but was persuaded to start off as a secretary, until the position can be filled by someone else.
Three years in, Ning Meng is great at her job but still wishes to pursue her dream of being an investment analyst and requests for a transfer to the investing department. Ji Ming tries to get her to see that she’s better off as his secretary and repeatedly denies her request. Frustrated, she quits and learns the ropes under a new boss.