Group Watch: I Know I Love You E17-20

E17-20. The road to a happy ending sure isn't smooth, and so, this set of episodes is still not the most enjoyable ones we've had in our story.

However, what I like about it, is, our OTP demonstrates the healthier way to tackle all the rather extreme situations that come their way - thanks in no small part to Delusional Yu'an - even while they're still imperfect people themselves.

This makes them feel real, but their mature, healthy choices - as often as they can make them - makes it feel that healthy, happy relationships can be had in real life too, and not just in a drama world where characters exist in a bubble.

I like the way Xu Nuo carries herself with grace and respect, while remaining forthright and honest, in her meeting with Yu'an's father.

I'd honestly expected Dad to be more upset with Yu'an for lying to him, but the way Dad covers for Yu'an, when Xu Nuo mentions that he'd been the one who hadn't been able to make their last appointment, feels quite protective.

Also, the way Dad behaves towards Yu'an after this, is also gentler and less confrontational than I'd expected.

I'd actually expected Dad to be angrier, and ask Yu'an point-blank, why he'd lied about needing time to break up with Xu Nuo, when Xu Nuo had already broken up with him.

Honestly, this whole thing made me feel more kindly towards Dad, because he gave me the sense that he does genuinely care about Yu'an, underneath all the business strategy stuff.

Dad also seems wise, when he says that Xu Nuo is a lot more confident and capable than he'd originally thought, but still thinks that she and Yu'an are not a good fit. He's got my full agreement there. 😏

And then when the thing with Muchu comes to light, I'm overall pretty pleased, and quite impressed, at how our OTP handles it.

In a typical drama, this would've been cause for a rather dramatic scene, but not in this one.

Instead, we have Zhao Jin telling Xu Nuo about it, quietly and matter-of-factly, and then we have Xu Nuo responding to him, also pretty quietly and thoughtfully.

What impresses me is that Xu Nuo doesn't actually know how to feel about it all, but that doesn't prevent her from responding in a reasonable, honest and even-keeled sort of way, asking Zhao Jin for confirmation on some things, and then backing away to figure out how she feels, on her own.

And yes, later we do see that Xu Nuo does feel rather upset, but it's a lot more toned down than I might expect from another person in the same situation - say, Shi Ran, for example - and Xu Nuo is very reasonable about what exactly she's not happy about.

She's not focused on the fact that Muchu is trying to gain a foothold by re-appearing all over Zhao Jin's life; she's more focused on the fact that Zhao Jin hadn't told her about it.

And, I like that the sword cuts both ways.

Later on, when Xu Nuo herself doesn't tell Zhao Jin about meeting up with Yu'an, she uses that same standard to judge her own behavior, and again, Zhao Jin is calm and thoughtful, as they talk it out.

The foundation of it all, I feel, is that these two people trust each other, and that is why, even when they hear things from other people, or see things that might give them pause, they manage to navigate it without damaging their relationship.

I like that a lot.

And, I thought it was a pretty great move on Xu Nuo's part, to tell Zhao Jin to go ahead and attend Shitou's birthday party - and that she would go along too.

This enables Zhao Jin to fulfill the promise that he'd made, while also establishing clearly to Muchu, that Xu Nuo and Zhao Jin are very much Together.

This set of episodes, we even get the consummation of our OTP relationship, and I kinda love how low-key it all is.

The kisses are heartfelt and full of feeling, and there is tenderness, and at the same time, it also feels kind of.. matter-of-fact? Which somehow gives it all this very earthy, low-key sort of vibe, which I feel is perfect for this OTP.

The morning-after cuteness is also something I enjoyed very much.

In a story world where our OTP has to deal with so much outside pressure on their relationship, all the little pockets of Cute that we get these episodes, were very welcome in my books. 🥰

AND, we even get a proposal!

I was honestly pretty surprised, that the proposal would come from Xu Nuo, rather than Zhao Jin, but on hindsight, this does feel quite perfect, because Xu Nuo's always been the more outspoken one between them.

And, she's made it clear that she's gotten to the point where she doesn't want to be without him, so it makes perfect sense that she would think to do something about it.

To which I say, "You go, girl!" 🤩

As for Yu'an, it becomes abundantly clear, by the end of these episodes, that he isn't actually in love with Xu Nuo, and that's why he's badgering her to marry him.

He just can't stand the thought of losing, and to someone like Zhao Jin, at that, and everything he's doing, is in an effort to take that victory back.

Which means that yes, he does look upon Xu Nuo as an object to be lost and won, after all.

I didn't like so much, that Zhao Jin and Yu'an keep going to each other, this set of episodes, and in effect, speaking for Xu Nuo, instead of allowing Xu Nuo to speak for herself.

But, I do appreciate that Zhao Jin is facing Yu'an head-on without flinching or backing down, and I can also appreciate that Zhao Jin had given Xu Nuo a lot of space to deal with Yu'an, up to this point, and it's just that Yu'an hasn't been listening to anything Xu Nuo has said.

I can buy the idea that he felt the need to step up and protect Xu Nuo from being harassed by Yu'an.

I still didn't like it so much, though. 😅

As for Shi Ran and how she gets Xu Yang to propose to her, this set of episodes, I have to agree that she can be unreasonable and manipulative, and therefore, I can see why people might not like her, as a character.

I do think it helps me to know that she really does like Xu Yang, and that a lot of the stuff she says, is more tough bluster than anything else.

Like, I don't believe for a minute that she's still thinking about whether she wants to marry Xu Yang; why would she have wanted a proposal from him, otherwise?

And yes, she could've totally shown more appreciation for Xu Yang's efforts to surprise her with the ring in the cake, but I do believe that she's secretly pleased.

For Xu Yang's sake, I do hope that Shi Ran's behavior in her relationship with him will evolve into something more appreciative.

Honestly, Xu Yang's such a simple guy; Shi Ran being the epitome of that saying, "women are complicated," just makes it even harder for him to live. 😅

As for our would-be young couple, I'd actually thought that it would be Xiao Bai who'd be more likely to end up in the hospital first, but instead, it's Zhao Qin who gets rushed to emergency room, after she passes out after her outing with Zhao Jin and Xu Nuo.

Although I don't want either of them to be sick, the fact that Zhao Qin is hospitalized, seems to broaden their scope of communication.

Previously, it had seemed like Xiao Bai had been reluctant to talk much about his illness, and these episodes, we do see him trying to act like he's fine, in front of Zhao Qin, when he'd actually been in a great deal of discomfort.

However, by the end of the episodes, it feels like he's willing to be more open now, even as he assures Zhao Qin that it's ok for her to be weak in front of him.

This feels like a step in the right direction, as far as their communication habits go, but of course, I would like their physical health to improve.

I'm guessing that Show's reason for giving us those flashbacks to Mom leaving Zhao Jin and Zhao Qin when they'd been kids, is to prepare the way for Mom's return.

I mean, it seems like quite a likely direction that a drama would go - is what I'm thinking. And if Show does that, then we could have a way for Zhao Qin to get better, while also having an opportunity for Mom to be reunited with the children she'd left behind, when she'd run away for her own safety. 🥲

Also, that would give Dad a chance to apologize for how he'd treated Mom, which I feel would likely be an important growth milestone.

As we close out these episodes, Xu Nuo's mom seems determined to put the brakes on their relationship by any means necessary, and I'm just SO ready, for Mom to finally get to know Zhao Jin for herself, and realize that he really is the one whom Xu Nuo needs.

Also - I need Mom to realize that Dad's been lying to her about not gambling anymore, and that she's most likely making a mistake, deciding to remarry him.

Let's discuss the finale when the final review comes out on the main blog - I target to have it published on SUN, 25 Feb 2024!