Original subtitles

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

ADAPTED FROM THE EARLY SPRING ON JJWXC.NET AUTHOR: GU NIANG BIE KU

LOVE BEGINS ON A BITTERSWEET NOTE

Why the long face? It's longer than the filefish we serve here.

Anyone who saw you would think I'd served you fake liquor.

- Save it. - Drink with me.

Trouble in love?

As if.

I guessed it, didn't I? So you're dating?

We are,

but we're keeping it secret.

A secret relationship?

It feels strange.

Ms. Shang is a great girl.

She's kind, hardworking, and dependable.

And she looks at you

like an adoring little fawn.

What's not to like?

You should at least make it official.

You think I wanted to keep it secret?

Whenever she sees me in public, she avoids me like the plague,

terrified someone might notice.

And the two of us can only see each other on weekends.

Is that a normal relationship?

It is a little unusual,

but I can understand why.

Ms. Shang has a strong sense of pride.

She's afraid you'll look down on her

and that your relationship won't survive once it comes to light.

In a way, she's protecting you.

Besides, shouldn't you be pleased that she knows

how to conduct herself at work? Why are you so bothered?

She made a mistake at work.

I criticized her,

and she still won't talk to me.

There it is.

You took the scenic route

to get to the point.

Did you make it up to her afterward?

Other big-shot bosses protect their girlfriends.

But you?

All stick and no carrot.

What's she getting out of this relationship?

You don't get it.

If she wants to grow quickly at work,

she has to solve problems herself.

She understands that this is how she'll learn.

And this time,

she handled it pretty well.

But she was too naive.

She thought being loyal at work would earn her loyalty in return.

Foolish.

You just said yourself

that she did some things well.

Everyone makes mistakes. Just soften a little.

How about this?

Forget the gifts.

But starting tomorrow, send her flowers to show you're sorry.

I did nothing wrong.

Why should I send flowers?

It's not like anything serious happened between you two.

Why does it matter who's right or wrong?

If you want this relationship to work,

send her flowers and smooth things over.

Will flowers really work?

Of course.

Women go weak at the knees for flowers.

I'll arrange it.

Starting tomorrow, she'll get flowers

until she's no longer mad.

- Hello. I'm here to see Mr. Luan. - Just go straight ahead.

Please sign here.

I've got some gossip.

Boss has quietly set up a love nest.

Huh?

With whom?

Her. Look.

Luan Nian!

Boss rented my grandmother's courtyard house in the hutong.

When I went to hand over the keys,

this gorgeous woman was staying there.

Her name is Zang Yao. She's Luke's childhood friend.

The classic childhood sweetheart.

Hold on.

Look how elegant she is.

You can tell at a glance she and Luke move in the same circles.

Look.

Look at this huge cake.

She ordered it from Paris

for Luke's birthday three years ago.

I picked it up.

Back then, she was still studying abroad.

This time, Boss specifically said

the house had to be nice and quiet, and he didn't even haggle over the rent.

Do you think they're really dating?

If they are, that's quite something for him.

Can you imagine what a man like him will be like

when he's in love?

That's nice.

I still have a report to finish.

I'd better get back to it.

Look at that cake.

Lumi, these flowers are for Mr. Luan.

Something's definitely up.

Weren't we meeting at Tan Mian's restaurant?

I'm almost off work. Why did you come here?

To pick you up.

And let you ride in my new car.

You just got back. Where did you get a car?

You rented me the house,

and Song and the others arranged the car.

Come in.

Mr. Luan, your flowers.

Is this the surprise you prepared for me tonight?

They're beautiful.

Lumi.

Should I close the door, Mr. Luan?

Thanks.

LUAN NIAN

Have you left?

Tao.

Get in. I'm driving everyone home.

FATED FOR YOU

Sun Yu,

your company's so stingy.

Such a big matchmaking event,

and this beat-up little van delivers the flowers.

No wonder they say poverty makes marriage miserable.

If your members see flowers arriving in this wreck,

their dates won't stand a chance.

I did my best to uphold the company's image.

Can't you see how nicely I decorated it?

I'm just a beggar here, and beggars can't be choosers.

It's fine. I think it's perfectly fine.

You know what? I bought those flowers wholesale.

I'll pick out some nice ones and put them in our place.

Sun Yu.

Could you give me a bouquet?

Of course. We've got plenty.

Cheer up. It's just a bouquet. I'll give you one.

Tell me what kind you want.

I'll send it to your office tomorrow.

You'll see a huge bouquet

right in the middle of your desk.

- How's that? - Great.

What are you two doing?

Am I invisible?

You're sending her flowers? I'll do it.

A different bouquet every day for a week.

I'll outdo everyone at your office.

With me around, you'll get flowers every day.

Homegrown and hand-delivered.

- What are you talking about? - A wise man once told me

that if no one sends a girl flowers, it means she has a special quality.

What's that?

She's naturally fragrant.

Take a good sniff. What do you smell?

What?

- Flowers? - Wrong!

Peaches!

- Right, peaches, Tao's fragrance. - Keep your eyes on the road.

FATED FOR YOU

Flora, these are for you.

- Thank you. - No problem.

Flora,

- are you seeing someone? - No.

White lisianthus symbolizes everlasting love.

Your boyfriend is quite a romantic.

Congratulations.

- I don't have one. - Who sent them?

- Morning, Mr. Luan. - Morning, Mr. Luan.

HOPE THIS BRIGHTENS YOUR DAY

I got the flowers.

Thanks, Lei.

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

I haven't sent anything yet.

You haven't given me your address.

I didn't send them either.

Was it Yuanzhu?

Not me either.

Looks like Tao has plenty of admirers.

We should look into it.

Love is in the air.

Here. Your flowers.

Five days in a row.

Will this ever end?

I just went through a breakup.

What happened?

He's always flirting around. I caught him red-handed.

He sent the exact same gift to two women.

Of course,

I dumped him.

And now I have to watch you get flowers every day. I can't take it.

Lumi.

Does the copy you submitted today even make sense?

Go fix it.

The client needs it tomorrow.

It's still early. Sneaking out already?

No.

I cleared it with Alex and Lumi.

I'm leaving early.

Where are you going?

Hiking with some friends.

Today's Friday.

I know.

We won't be back until Sunday.

Have fun.

Nice flowers.

But they don't suit you.

Then what flowers do you think suit me?

Green foxtail.

Let's go.

What's wrong? You got flowers, but you still seem down.

- You can have them. - Me?

Watch your step, everyone.

Keep up.

- Let's hit the restroom. - All right.

Want water? I'll get several bottles.

- Yes. - OK.

Hurry. I can't hold it much longer.

Could the flowers be from Luan Nian?

No way.

He doesn't think I deserve flowers.

Don't put yourself down like that.

How many times have I told you?

I wanted flowers because he gave someone else flowers, and I got jealous.

But I feel so silly, comparing myself to her

over a bouquet.

You're not silly.

Love makes you possessive.

If you stopped feeling that way, it'd mean you didn't love him anymore.

Water. Here.

Water. Here.

Where did you buy it?

- Let's go. - Thanks.

Aren't you two using the restroom?

- Lei. - No.

- Let's start climbing. - Come on.

There won't be any restrooms up there.

It's cold out here.

Let me grab your backpack. I'm getting tired.

- You OK? - Yes.

It looks easier up there.

Come on.

Then what flowers do you think suit me?

Green foxtail.

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

Once the designers finalize the proposal,

I'll be at the office overseeing

the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day ad launches.

Do you have a passport and a snowboard?

No.

What's wrong? Getting tired?

I just wanted a break.

How do you have so much stamina?

I grew up in the mountains.

Climbing was the best entertainment we had as kids.

No wonder.

MOM

When I was little, I only got to go hiking on school trips,

but before every trip, my dad would worry

that I'd fall and keep telling me to be careful.

I can tell you grew up in a happy family.

You can tell?

You're innocent and cheerful.

It's obvious your parents doted on you.

They did.

I don't think I've ever had much to complain about.

The man who drove you home last time...

Is he your boyfriend?

Sort of.

Why aren't you dating anyone?

I'd rather not make some poor girl suffer.

What? Why would she suffer?

I think anyone who dated you would be very happy.

Dating isn't important.

Being together is what matters.

What are you two talking about?

Tao, come on. Keep up.

- We're almost there. - Coming!

- Let's go. - All right.

Here.

I'll pull you along.

- It's all right. - Come on.

I've already talked to Song, Tan Mian, and the others.

How about we go snowboarding in Northern Europe

for our annual trip this year?

BEIJING TO ZURICH

FLIGHT BOOKING PAGE

The view was worth the wait.

It's breathtaking.

I could jump into this sea of clouds right now.

You like clouds?

Let's go up there and make a wish.

I hope all my clients find their match.

God of Wealth, God of Marriage,

please work your magic! Please!

Make me rich.

What did you wish for?

I just wished for my career

to keep getting better!

Great!

Let my house go up in value!

- Go up! - Go up!

Yuanzhu, what did you wish for?

I'll be traveling a lot for work after New Year's.

I hope my autonomous driving tests succeed.

They definitely will.

We worked so hard to get up here.

How about a group photo?

- Sure. - Sounds good.

- Come on. - Come.

- Move closer. - Tao.

Move closer.

One, two.

Done.

Let me be rich, please.

It's getting pretty cold.

Why don't we head down and find something to eat?

- Sure. - I looked it up.

The best food around here is wood-fired chicken.

- I've heard of it. - Let's go.

- Come on. - Let's go.

Yuanzhu's paying.

- I'm freezing. - Is it this way?

Today is New Year's Eve.

Beijing's evening rush hour is expected to begin as early as 3 p.m.

Please plan ahead if you're heading out.

Public transportation is recommended.

- Lumi, I'm leaving. Bye. - I'm leaving as well.

- Happy New Year. - Happy New Year.

Bye, Lumi.

Take it easy. Don't drink too much.

Flora,

what are your plans for tonight?

I want to sleep all night. I've been exhausted lately.

Boring.

I'm heading out, then.

Traffic will be gridlocked everywhere. Get home early.

I'll leave once the client replies.

LUAN NIAN: EVERYONE CAN LEAVE EARLY TODAY

No need to wait.

Luke's already celebrating New Year's in Switzerland.

Let's go. No one's here to keep tabs on us.

Happy New Year.

- Happy New Year. - Go on. Get going.

SWITZERLAND

I'm exhausted.

The snow's really good this year.

- The snow's good. - I love my new board.

But I wasn't at my best today.

It's amazing.

You need to practice your carving next year. Seriously.

I'm scared to go too fast. You know?

It requires too much speed.

And when you're going downhill, you need to crouch lower.

Come over here. Stop talking.

Let's take a group photo.

When we're old and gray, we can look back on it.

- I'll never grow old. - Old and gray?

I'll never...

- Luan Nian, what are you doing? - Luan Nian.

- Luke, photo! - Look at the camera.

Hurry.

- Come on. - Let's take it.

One, two, three.

- Let me see. - Let me see.

- I'm so handsome. - We didn't get him in it.

- You blocked him. - Let's go.

What are you looking at? You weren't even in the photo.

Come on.

One, two, three.

- Come on. - Let's drink.

Cheers.

Drink up, everyone.

What's on your mind?

You keep sitting here alone.

I haven't snowboarded much these past two years,

so I was really off today.

Want anything? I'll get it for you.

No, thanks. You guys eat.

- Honestly... - Don't drink alone. Come join us.

You always have to butt in.

Luke,

why don't you two finally make it official on this trip?

Have any of your relationships ever worked out?

Sure.

Just... a few too many times.

With disastrous results.

That's why I'm worried about you.

Yao.

I've always felt like you've been hiding something these past few years.

How about I drink with you tonight,

and you tell me what's really on your mind?

Cheers.

Any secrets between us stay between us.

Why would I tell you?

All I know is

that we've always been really close friends.

But at the beginning,

I don't think either of us wanted to be just friends.

Come on.

Let's drink.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

I have a girlfriend.

What?

Wait. You have a girlfriend?

Since when?

Are you serious?

And you didn't even tell me?

Do we know her?

What's there to announce about my love life?

That's a pretty feeble excuse for turning me down.

Come on.

Don't be upset.

You know what Luan Nian's like.

That's just how he talks.

SIMPLY DELICIOUS

What's wrong? What happened?

I ran into my ex.

He was spending New Year's Eve with his girlfriend.

And to make things worse,

a coworker's event went wrong,

and my boss tried to make me take the blame.

I refused,

so he called me into his office and chewed me out.

There goes my year-end bonus.

Don't cry, OK?

Don't punish yourself for other people's mistakes.

Just ignore them.

Don't you always take things in stride?

But Tao,

why is every step here so hard?

We chose this path ourselves.

You know what they say.

Part of your salary is for putting up with unfair treatment.

And there's an old saying,

if the road feels hard, it's because we're going uphill.

That means we're making progress,

right?

Right.

Here.

New Year's gifts for you.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

Oh my gosh. You even got us gifts.

Thank you, Yuanzhu.

The world would be a better place with more people like you.

No more bad work.

No more bad men.

Well...

There are always a few truly awful men in the world,

of truly awful men in the world,

and you just happened to meet one of them.

I... I'm not good at comforting people.

How about I treat you to a movie later?

OK.

A midnight movie?

I've never been to one.

Neither have I.

That's a shame.

When I was in school, I was always broke.

So during the holidays,

my classmates and I would always go to midnight movies.

Great. Let's go after dinner.

- OK. - Great.

It's New Year's Eve.

I should cheer up.

Pull it together.

Let's take a group photo and send it to Lei.

It'll commemorate our first New Year's Eve together.

- OK. - Hold on.

I brought some props.

You brought props?

We need to get into the New Year's spirit.

This one's for you.

- OK. - And this one's for you.

- Do we put them on? - I'll show you.

Put it on,

like this.

So childish. So childish.

Why did you say that? When did you get a girlfriend?

Go check on her.

How was I supposed to know he had a girlfriend?

Zang Yao, let's talk outside.

Do we have to talk about this on New Year's Eve?

You know,

this could ruin every New Year's Eve for me.

I don't remember ever expressing any special feelings for you.

I only wanted us to be family

and best friends.

I got the wrong idea.

I'm sorry if I hurt you.

You don't have to apologize.

You're Luan Nian, after all. Luan Nian never admits he's wrong.

Do you really have a girlfriend?

Yes.

All right.

Then I'm happy for you.

I hope I haven't ruined your New Year's Eve.

You haven't.

I don't know why she isn't here with you today,

but since we're here, we should enjoy ourselves.

I'm going inside.

Is it almost midnight?

Time for the countdown.

Time for the countdown.

SHANG ZHITAO

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six. Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One!

Happy New Year!

Are you out?

I'm celebrating New Year's with my friends.

Happy New Year.

I hope you and your friends have a great time.

If you're free tomorrow, go to my place and check on my fish.

You know the door code.

Sure.

- Happy New Year. - Cheers.

Happy New Year.

I'm glad I have you guys. Thank you.

Feeling better now?

To the New Year!

Do you think

Switzerland is cold?

Switzerland?

It's not too bad.

It has a temperate monsoon climate.

Compared with Harbin, Switzerland is just cool.

Right.

Then I must be a fake Harbin native.

I'm really sensitive to the cold.

Every winter, I wear layer after layer.

That's good.

You know how to keep warm.

Come on.

Happy New Year.

BAR

Verified. Please open the door.

Luke, how should I take care of your fish?

Listen carefully and do exactly as I say.

Replace the filter pad in the fish tank.

The pads are in the cabinet under the staghorn fern.

There are gloves in the box.

LUAN NIAN

Open the cabinet under the tank and find the filter first.

Take out the old filter pad,

then put the new one in.

Check the thermometer beside it.

Make sure the water temperature is right, then add a little fish food.

Luan Nian, come.

Just follow my instructions.

I'm hanging up.

Verified. Please open the door.

I hope you and the fish

get everything you wish for in the new year.

TAN MIAN

Hello?

Seriously?

We woke up and were told you'd checked out.

You're back in Beijing?

Yeah.

Did you go to see Ms. Shang?

None of your business.

POSTS ABOUT SWITZERLAND

ZANG YAO: VISIT SWITZERLAND WITH THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE AT LEAST ONCE

GET A LITTLE TIPSY, LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER AND SAY, "LET'S STAY TOGETHER FOREVER."

I...

I'm in a relationship

that isn't right.

I always thought I didn't care how it'd end

or that I never expected a happy ending.

But that isn't true.

I'm...

I'm awful.

You're not awful.

You're still young.

Being young means you have the chance to make mistakes.

Never settle for less than you deserve.

I believe you have the courage to break out of your shell.

Even if you don't yet,

you will someday.

Shang Zhitao, I'm coming to see you now.

The classic childhood sweetheart.

You can tell at a glance she and Luke move in the same circles.

Do you think they're really dating?

Aren't you cold dressed like this?

This is from the ski resort.

I don't know how to snowboard.

You can learn.

I've realized...

we're from completely different worlds.

I don't know how to snowboard,

and I don't want to learn for now

because the ski passes are expensive.

And I certainly wouldn't go to Switzerland just to snowboard.

Sorry to let such an expensive gift go to waste.

Are you still upset about what happened at work?

Didn't you say we should keep things strictly professional at work?

If you're unhappy with the way I handled it, you can talk to me.

Why bring it into our relationship?

This isn't about work.

You said before

that if either of us stopped liking the other,

we could end things.

Is there someone else?

No.

Then what do you mean? Just say it.

I mean,

if you start seeing someone else, you have to tell me.

You must be delusional.

Do you think I sleep with someone everywhere I go?

Do you think every woman I meet is after me?

Are you all right?

Let me see.

Good grief. Your forehead's hot enough to fry an egg.

You have a fever.

I do feel a little warm.

Go home right now. Why are you still working?

- Go. - I haven't filed for sick leave yet.

Don't worry about it.

I've got a stack of sick leave forms in my drawer. Go home.

LUAN NIAN

Lumi says you have a fever.

Is it bad?

Have you been to the hospital?

Do you want me to come over now?

Answer me.

LUAN NIAN

Open the door.

Don't take pictures.

These aren't for you.

I don't care who they're for.

First come, first served.

There isn't a love letter in here, is there?

Buy your own if you like them.

You're no fun.

It's just a bouquet.

If I take it, you can just buy another one.

And here I was planning to invite you over for a housewarming dinner tonight.

I just learned on my phone

how to make egg fried rice.

I was going to show off my skills.

Go to Tan Mian's restaurant if you want something to eat.

If you burn down the courtyard house, I can't afford to pay for it.

You'd even cover the damages for me?

That alone proves

all these years of friendship weren't for nothing.

By the way,

I've talked to Song, Tan Mian, and the others.

How about we take our annual trip over New Year's

and go snowboarding in Northern Europe?

I've already set the dates. You can't miss it.

You won't have that much work over New Year's, will you?

We'll see.

No. You have to come.

It's almost time.

Get ready. We should go.

I'm going to the restroom.

TO SHANG ZHITAO: HAVE YOU LEFT?