Early Access: The Rational Life [China] E3-4

E3-4. It's tough being in Ruoxin's shoes, and the thing that makes those tough scenes even harder to watch, is that it all feels quite true to life. This really is the kind of stuff that women at the workplace - particularly women in middle management like her - have to deal with, in a male-dominated society. Plus, it's a rude wake-up call, in terms of how it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, where people are ruthless and judgmental, and won't hesitate to destroy you, if they see fit.

It was hard watching Ruoxin get attacked by those protestors, whose main agenda is to spin a story about how the company makes inferior quality cars. And, it is a bummer that Mr. Jin chooses not to clear things up, but states things in an ambiguous manner that allows the crowd to think he's supporting their claims, but at the same time, I can understand why he would do that. He's not a nice man, and he's not a philanthropist. He'd wanted to cheat the company but had failed, because Ruoxin's team had presented information that would have been detrimental to him. And now that he has a chance to bite back, why wouldn't he take it?

It was awful watching the crowd just turn on Ruoxin, though. That gave me Devil Judge vibes, and that's quite the unpleasant realization, that real life now, isn't that far from the dystopian reality that Devil Judge paints.

I'm glad that Qi Xiao appears, and stands up for Ruoxin, and provides her with support when she's most shaken.

The thing that strikes me as most poignant, is how Ruoxin has a timer setting on her phone for 5 minutes, where she allows herself to cry for just 5 minutes, alone in that cubicle in the restroom. Although we only see her use it this once, I get the impression that this timer for 5 minutes, is nothing new to her, and she's used this for a private cry, on many occasions through the years. That's sad.

However, I can understand why she would do that. It's always been the case, and it's universally true, that a display of emotions is seen as a female weakness in the workplace. In order to do well at work, Ruoxin has had to compartmentalize her emotions in such a way, that no matter what she's feeling or dealing with on the inside, she's able to maintain a completely calm and rational manner, on the outside. That is one of the things that has made her successful, at work. It feels cruel to the individual, but it's a sad truth.

It was also horrible to see Ruoxin's own boss conspire with Ruan Ye, to remove Ruoxin from the Legal Department, and have her demoted and transferred to the Admin Department. Ugh. That is really unfair, and I'm hoping that Show will turn the tables on these two, in time to come.

The way Ruoxin views the situation is spot-on, though. Even when she has evidence to prove that everything was a set-up and she is innocent, it's clear that Director Liu wants her out. And even if she claws her way back to the Legal Department now, he will just find another excuse to boot her, all over again. I have to admire Ruoxin's long-term view of things. She isn't giving up; she's just waiting for the right time, to make her comeback to the Legal team.

Qi Xiao is still coming off as quite perfect, particularly in the way he gloms onto Ruoxin and decides that where she goes, he'll follow, but I can't complain because I like the idea of Ruoxin having him in her corner, what with her new Admin colleagues trying to make things difficult for her and all. Also, based on Ruoxin's estimation, and Sijia's experience, it's true that Ruan Ye would have made it difficult for Qi Xiao to stay on, anyway.

I appreciate that we get to see Ruoxin's vulnerable side, because it's clear that she puts on a brave front for the benefit of her juniors. In front of Qi Xiao and Sijia, she brushes off any suggestion that she might be scared. But when she's alone, we see that she really is spooked by walking alone in the carpark, and needs to call her bestie Ziyan, to ask if she can sleep over. Sigh. I really feel for Ruoxin, for having to deal with so much, and needing to look so strong to everyone, all the time.

I really am appalled that the person who had been stalking her - and who had taken that video which wrongly incriminates her - turns out to be Cui Lixin. Ugh. That's terrible, considering that not so long ago, he'd been tripping over himself to please her. See, that's the scary thing about romance. It's all fun and games, until someone feels slighted and rejected - and then that's when we start to see things like violence. Thankfully, Cui Lixin's brand of violence isn't physically threatening, and I'm glad that we get that peace talk scene at the train station, where Ruoxin and he arrive at a truce.

It definitely helps that he's thoroughly regretful and ashamed of himself, and really doesn't come across as a bad person. I think Ruoxin's being gracious by letting it go and not pursuing the matter, but I do like the idea that our female lead is magnanimous enough to forgive a wrong, and wise enough to realize that it's pointless to pursue the matter with Director Liu anyway.

Although Ruoxin and Qi Xiao seem to grow closer rather fast, in terms of time, I find that Show handles it believably enough, because it's very possible to get comfortable with another person, if you're working in close proximity for hours on end. Plus, Qi Xiao himself is not afraid to ask a more personal question, if he's curious, and that does help nudge their connection into a more personal sort of space. Ordinarily, I might find personal questions like these offensive, but coming from Qi Xiao, who somehow manages to sound genuinely curious and completely disarming as he asks them, I don't mind it. I think a large part of that is also the fact that he's so clearly on Ruoxin's side.

I don't know how I feel about the moment of hyperawareness that we get, in the storeroom, where Qi Xiao watches Ruoxin take off her shoes and relax a bit, with lingering interest. I don't find the shot particularly sexy or attractive, so I'm rationalizing that this is probably just an interesting moment for Qi Xiao, where he gets a glimpse of the person behind the armor, and not a Moment of Attraction per se.

I'd kind of guessed that Qi Xiao would end up being neighbors with Ruoxin, with the move, but because I like this kind of forced proximity set-up for how it tends to foster and accelerate understanding and appreciation between a reluctant OTP, I'm here for it. And, I do like that the first time this proximity is tapped on, has to do with Ruoxin asking Qi Xiao for help, in testing the waters with Cui Lixin and the possible tracking that he's been doing. This feels organic to our story, and not try-hard.

And, the next morning, when Cui Lixin approaches Ruoxin outside her apartment building, it feels organic too, that it isn't long before Qi Xiao appears (since he needs to get to work too), and is able to intervene.

I feel for Ruoxin, particularly when it comes to dealing with her mom. Mom has a scary-fierce look about her, and when she raises her voice and uses a hard tone on Ruoxin, she's legit intimidating. The thing is, I wouldn't even call this hyperbolic, because when my mom was younger and had more fire about her, I'd been on the receiving end of this kind of fury as well. I do think this isn't that unusual, for an Asian parent, though I do think that Ruoxin's mom does land on the fiercer and scarier end of things.

On another note, it seems like there will be a bit of a loveline between Su Yang and Sijia, and I have absolutely no complaints about that. They are both so bashful and cute, and Sijia is just bold enough, amid her own awkwardness, to make her interest noticeable. It's quite adorable, so far. And I do think Show does a nicely clever job of using scenes of Su Yang and Sijia as an interspersing foil to the girl talk scene that we get, between Ruoxin and her bestie.

I finished this pair of episodes looking forward to the next one, which I definitely count as a win.

Next episode notes will be out on: Friday, 3 Sept 2021!