OMGEEE IT'S EPISODE THREE!
I haven't watched Taiwanese Dramas in a month!
This episode starts out really well and ends alright.
Yu Shu plays a pretty big role in this episode (he's actually a great child actor!). His new lover, Hao Mei, is a terrible actress. However, Xiang Qin sort of covers up for her, so it's still easy to watch.
A few notes: You'll hate this drama if you're a feminist, a down-to-earth person, or someone who appreciates a good plot. This is a character-focused drama, as in, people watch it for the two main leads. To enjoy the drama, don't think. It's actually quite pleasant and one of the easier dramas to watch (lengthy to recap though, sorry about that).
Zhi Shu continues explaining about the mysteries of DNA and how it impacts everyone. Then, he walks over to where Xiang Qin is sitting and takes her hand.
He says that in the process of figuring out whether to give birth to the next unknown generation, he and his wife will be discussing the possibility of gene mutations and heredity (like Xiang Qin can understand that lol). He says that with her, everyday was filled with miracles (awww). He explains that growing up, he was in the superior class while she was in a low class in terms of academics. He said that they're lives would have never intersected if she hadn't put in so much effort. Because of her, he got to know her, love her, and understand her value (yay!). He says that sometimes that we regard the unknown with terror, but he's learned to respect the weak and minorities (as in low IQ people?) from Xiang Qin. He says that Xiang Qin also helped him discover many great qualities that he himself did not have.
It sounds so cold on paper, but Joe's voice is really smooth and soothing, so it turns into a really sweet momento <3
Later, Xiang Qin is sitting on a bench and Zhi Shu joins her. Zhi Shu says his tie is uncomfortable and asks her if she thought the presentation was boring. She said she didn't and was listening very carefully, but couldn't understand most of it. She asks Zhi Shu if the reason why he didn't come home for a long time was because of this presentation. He says it was and lists off many other duties he had to complete during that time. Zhi Shu says he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to do well. Xiang Qin claps for him, and this brings a smile to his face.
He says that in her mind, he can do no wrong. But he says being perfect all the time is very pressuring. Xiang Qin tells him not to think that way, but he says that he wants to prove his capability, because only capable people can help others. He said that he knows that she puts him first in her life, but she can take other roles as well. He says that they should be free to explore and do other things, and that he doesn't want marriage to restrict them ("set your sights further"-like episode 2!).
At home, Xiang Qin has just finished a shower and is lying in bed. Zhi Shu puts her arm around her and says that it's his fault for making her feel insecure. He apologizes for not making things clear, and says there's still a lot for him to learn about relationships. Xiang Qin starts saying that it's her fault and that she still has lots to learn (but Zhi Shu interrupts her with a kiss).
Zhi Shu says that she has to learn how to make eggs without shells in them (lol). Xiang Qin says that she'll steadily improve to become a perfect wife. Zhi Shu replies with:
Then, Zhi Shu falls asleep on Xiang Qin (lol).
The next morning Yu Shu is studying English, and his dad praises him for being so hard-working to live up to the reputation of his brother. Xiang Qin has just woken up and she enters, saying that she'll make breakfast for everyone. Unfortunately, everyone has already eaten. She eagerly says that she'll make coffee for Zhi Shu, however, her efforts are futile. Zhi Shu comes into the kitchen to make the coffee for her while she changes, and says that they'll go to school together.
It turns out that Zhi Shu leads her to a marriage registration center instead. While sitting down, Xiang Qin has "the look" (she wants to smile really big, but she restrains herself). Zhi Shu has "the look" on his face all the time haha, like below!
Xiang Qin asks him whether she'll be Jiang Yuan Xiang Qin now, and he says that women normally don't take their husbands' names nowadays. The person in charge of their registration tells Mr. and Mrs. Jiang to sign the papers, and Xiang Qin is ecstatic that she called her Mrs. Jiang. She's so excited about legally being Zhi Shu's wife that she stops signing her name on "Qin." Zhi Shu interrupts her thoughts by telling her to hurry up. They are now officially husband and wife!
Zhi Shu says that he wasn't planning on registering their marriage until after college, but after seeing that it made her unhappy, he decided to do it early. He says goodbye and calls Xiang Qin "wife." Xiang Qin is ecstatic again.
Reflecting on Zhi Shu's words about taking on other roles, she tells her best buds that this semester, her schedule is packed. She says she doesn't want to bother Zhi Shu all the time, so she says she might become a teacher. Her best buds say that if she's teaching their children, then they might as well have no children. They tell her that she's only suitable at being Zhi Shu's wife and that she should seriously reconsider all this teacher business.
She then remembers that she forgot to give Zhi Shu his textbook and races into the medical department. She bumps into Zhou Chuan Jin and keeps pronouncing his name incorrectly. Zhi Shu comes out and she hurriedly hands him the textbook, only to realize that she brought him "The Medical Science of House," which happens to be his home-making mom's book (lol).
Chuan Jin snickers at the scene and says that he thought Zhi Shu would be more particular about his choices in women. Zhi Shu responds by saying that he IS very particular in his taste, and if Chuan Jin doesn't understand his taste, then he'll never understand him and will always be second best (oooooo).
Chuan Jin threatens him and says he'll definitely beat him on the next presentation. He then leaves, fuming. Zhi Shu then kicks Xiang Qin out of the medical room and tells her not to disrupt.
And here is when the story goes off on another tangent...to be honest this whole series is like, well, a series of tangents. There's a lot of scenes that are amusing but not very helpful to the over all plot. This may annoy a lot of people (me included, however, this happens to be an exception), so if you aren't interested in ArJoe more than the plot, this ain't for you.
Okay well I just had a tangent talking about tangents...what am I doing with my life...
The scene cuts to Zhi Shu, Xiang Qin, and the rest of the tennis club. Zhi Shu is playing tennis with a rag of his head (why the heck does he do that?) while many female admirers fawn over him. Xiang Qin is jealous as always, but I believe Zhi Shu is looking over at her while all the girls are massaging him and flirting with him. Senior starts yelling at the newbies and goes cray-cray with his tennis skills. He then starts to advertise cars (that's his day job) in a very amiable tone (bipolar much?).
At home, Xiang Qin discusses her ambition to become a teacher with Zhi Shu (which spawned out of Zhi Shu telling her to take other roles if you forgot). Zhi Shu is horrified and tells her that she can't take this responsibility lightly. Xiang Qin says she won't and she's not an idiot. Zhi Shu says that's just what she is. XQ says that he's the idiot and cookie crumbs spill out of her mouth (teehee). Zhi Shu is the one who has to clean up her mess, and Xiang Qin continues rambling on about being a teacher. She says that she'll have a test soon and she might not even get in anyway, so Zhi Shu shouldn't worry. Zhi Shu still looks dissatisfied, so the parents (Jiang Mama/Baba and Ah Cai) tell him to be optimistic about it.
It's time for the second presentation of the year. This time, Zhi Shu discusses how a patient's emotional health is equally important as physical health. Xiang Qin is drooling all over herself in pride, while her best friend (wait...I think I remember her name! Ah Mei? Ah something? I'll get it eventually) sleeps. Zhi Shu tries to be all deep about putting ourselves in people's shoes and thinking how our hearts would feel when hurt. He concludes the presentation, and Xiang Qin jumps up in the middle of the applause and says, "You're amazing Zhi Shu! Number 1!"
Later, Xiang Qin runs up to him and exclaims about how touched she was by his presentation. Zhi Shu says, "Thanks. If you'd shouted a bit softer, I would've thanked you more." Chuan Jin comes by and says that he'll get number one this time.
It's time to announce the results, and this time the top student isssss...Jiang Zhi Shu. No surprise there. Chuan Jin is once again second place. The professor explains to him it was because he used too many medical terms, and he stands by himself dejectedly.
Xiang Qin is bringing Zhi Shu coffee when she runs into Chuan Jin. She pities him because of his suffering, so she offers her coffee to him. She tries to comfort him by saying it's not his fault, and Chuan Jin says that she's so nice to not hold a grudge against him after all he's said about her. She says it's alright, and then he stands up and starts approaching her. He asks her how Zhi Shu would react if he kissed her.
He says he knows Zhi Shu will be pissed, because he's never seen Zhi Shu look at someone the way he looks at Xiang Qin. Chuan Jin goes on saying that Zhi Shu never loses his cool, but if he knew that if he kissed Xiang Qin...
Xiang Qin is flipping out and telling him not to do it. Chuan Jin says he wants to see how Zhi Shu looks when he's furious. Zhi Shu comes in and pushes Chuan Jin to the ground.
He says "It looks like this!" He then goes on to ask why Chuan Jin always does these stupid things. Chuan Jin says that he doesn't understand, because until Zhi Shu came along, he had always been number #1. His goal is to defeat Zhi Shu, and he is set on doing it. Zhi Shu says that Chuan Jin shouldn't base his goals around him, and that he should use his talents for the good of society. He says that Chuan Jin could've easily gone to Taiwan University (for the newbies, Zhi Shu goes to the equivalent of a community college because he didn't see the point of going to some prestigious school. Zi Yu (Tiffany Hsu) and Chuan Jin also goes to that community college because they are obsessed with Zhi Shu, even though they are also super smart) and says that he could become a successful surgical doctor.
Chuan Jin agrees on this new goal set by Zhi Shu and says that they'll postpone their rivalry until he becomes a successful surgeon. Xiang Qin tells him "Jia You (keep dat spirit)!" Chuan Jin, not expecting Xiang Qin's kindness, says he finally understands why Zhi Shu likes her and asks for her forgiveness. After being all sensible and logical, Zhi Shu can't hold it anymore and says, "BUT I'll still be annoying AND I'll always be ahead of you!" Chuan Jin retorts, "I'll be the #1 surgeon I tell you, #1!" Zhi Shu says, "I don't even want to be a surgeon, so our rivalry can end now in university. Good luck with your surgical career." Then, Zhi Shu and Xiang Qin leave together.
At home, Xiang Qin says that her practical teacher exam will begin very soon. Zhi Shu asks her which unlucky high school she will be teaching, and she says she'll be teaching their old high school. Yu Shu happens to be in this high school now, and he flips out. Later on, Xiang Qin begins daydreaming about all the kids idolizing her and sending her flowers.
It just so happens that she's been doing all this day dreaming in front of a mirror, with Zhi Shu witnessing the whole scene. He smirks amusedly and says she shouldn't imagine things that only happen every 800 years (btw I really like Zhi Shu's outfit today!!!!! His hairstyle and fashion improved exponentially in this sequel!)
At breakfast, Yu Shu tells her that she's stupid and despicable, and if she dares talk to him, then she's dead. Xiang Qin starts looking at him dreamily and mutters, "...despicable...why do you use the same words to talk to me as your brother? He's said the same thing to me before."
Xiang Qin races to school and hurriedly writes her name on the chalkboard. Unfortunately, she adds one extra stroke to the last letter of her name, and one of the students is quick to point this out. She erases and rewrites it in that totally awkward way of hers (which reminds you how freaking awesome Ariel Lin is at acting) and awkwardly says sorry. She's teaching Class A, so they are delving into complex Chinese idioms. She asks them to say idioms related to birds, and she writes them down on the chalkboard. Yu Shu points out that she wrote a lot of the words incorrectly, and asks her hard questions. This stumps her, and her evaluator looks at her sternly. She spends the rest of the day rehearsing what to say the next day in class.
I really appreciate this side of Xiang Qin; it's so pitiful how she works so hard but achieves so little and yet still maintains a positive attitude. She comes home late at night, and Zhi Shu says, "So teaching isn't as easy as you think, is it?"
While she is taking a bath, Zhi Shu goes to Yu Shu's room and asks him how Xiang Qin did. Yu Shu says she stuttered and mixed up idioms, and Zhi Shu pinches him (jia you! what a good husband :D).
Late into the night, Xiang Qin studies assiduously while Zhi Shu feigns sleep. Jiang Mama brings her a large midnight snack and they begin chattering loudly. Zhi Shu asks them if there's a need to build up their relationship during the night, and Jiang Mama hurriedly leaves the room. However, despite Zhi Shu's I'm-tired-and-pissed attitude, he tells Xiang Qin to keep up the good work and not to stay up too late.
The next day, Xiang Qin is teaching the class another idiom. Unfortunately, a student asks her what makes something an idiom, and Xiang Qin is stumped, but tries to give an explanation. Yu Shu continues challenging her and asking her rhetorical questions, when Jiang Mama storms into the room and tells Yu Shu to treat her sister-in-law more properly. Everyone in the class then finds out that they're related, and teases Yu Shu about it.
Xiang Qin then moves on to her next class, teaching Class F. They go over the same material, but this time she feels much more at ease (the kids struggle along just like her). She calls on Lin Hao Mei to read a paragraph, but Hao Mei is too distracted by watching Yu Shu play basketball outside. The students tell Xiang Qin that she's been secretly in love with Yu Shu since elementary school and that she really doesn't have a chance. Xiang Qin tells Hao Mei to come to her office after class and tells her the story of her and Zhi Shu. Meanwhile, a fellow teacher gives her Class A's exams for tomorrow (this will be relevant in the fourth episode).
Hao Mei, encouraged by Xiang Qin's story, goes to Class A to confess to Yu Shu. She starts getting off topic and rambling about her family, so Yu Shu tells her to get to the point. She says she wants to be friends with him, and he says he won't unless she gets into the top 100. Xiang Qin confronts him and says that his behavior is horrible, and they start sissy fighting.
Later at night, Xiang Qin and Jiang Mama start asking him all these questions about the type of girl he likes. Xiang Qin also recounts the story to Zhi Shu, and finds out that she doesn't know where Class A's exam papers are. She searches all over the house, but figures that she might have left it in her office. She puts on a black ninja suit and tries sneaking out, but Zhi Shu catches her. She makes up some BS about learning Tai Chi at night, etc. (I heard that this whole scene was improv'd...hecka good!), and gets out of Zhi Shu's grasp and leaves.
