My Boss (你也有今天) is the second Oliver Chen drama that I have watched within a month. I chose to watch Our Interpreter first as I felt a romance with a more matured story would be a better bet than a typical rom-com. It is hard to compare between the 2 but a lighthearted rom-com will always generate more interest than a matured romance. Overall, My Boss is not that bad with some funny moments. I enjoyed it to a certain extent but there are also some aspects of it which will not endear you to the story. You can check out My Boss (2024) review below.
My rating: 7/10
Episodes: 36
Type: Romance
Aired: January 2024
Images Credit: Douban Movie
The Cast Of My Boss
- Oliver Chen Xing Xu as Qian Heng
- Zhang Ruo Nan as Cheng Yao
- Chen Xiao Yun as Cheng Xi
- Li Jun Xian as Wu Jun
- He Wen Jun as Bao Rui
- Li Dian Zun as Yu Fei
- Chen Hao Lan as Tan Ying
- Ye Xiao Wei as Gu Bei Qing
- Gavin Xie Shuai as Deng Ming
- Wang Zi Xuan as Dong Min
- Jiang Zhuo Jun as Li Meng Ting
- Yue Yao Li as Mr. Qian
- Yvonne Yung Hung as Mrs. Qian
- Lan Cheng as Mr. Cheng
- Liu Jie as Mrs. Cheng
- Fan Shuai Qi as Liang Yi Ran
Main Characters
Qian Heng
Qian Heng is one of the founders and a partner of a law firm called Junheng & Co. He is a top notch family lawyer but has a very impersonal character and a sharp tongue. He can be very direct and harsh with his words due to his high standards in both his personal and professional life. Qian Heng is a hard worker and suffers from insomnia. He also comes from a rich family.
Cheng Yao
Cheng Yao is a trainee family lawyer who has just been recruited by Junheng & Co. She is one of Qian Heng’s assistants. Cheng Yao is a very sweet young lady who is cheerful and positive-minded. She is prepared to learn and put in the hard work but could be a little naive due to her kind heart and lack of experience.
Supporting Characters
Cheng Xi
Cheng Xi is Cheng Yao’s elder sister. She is a legal aid lawyer and a divorcee. Cheng Xi is also Wu Jun’s and Qian Heng’s senior at college. She is a helpful lawyer towards her poor clients. However, she is besieged by self-doubt following her divorce due to her wicked ex.
Wu Jun
Wu Jun is Qian Heng’s best friend. They established Junheng & Co together and he is one of the partners at the firm. Wu Jun is a very amiable man compared to Qian Heng. He is friendly and main responsible for the firm’s PR and external relationships with business associates. Wu Jun is rumored to have many girlfriends among his rich clients. But he has been carrying a torch for Cheng Xi all along.
Bao Rui
Bao Rui is one of Qian Heng’s assistants and Cheng Yao’s colleague. He has a deep admiration for Qian Heng’s capability as a lawyer and is always imagining himself to be his boss’ favorite and best employee. Bao Rui is a nice guy but can be a little blur about things around him.
Yu Fei
Yu Fei is another one of Qian Heng’s assistants. He is more self-aware compared to Bao Rui and a capable assistant. Yu Fei has interest in Tan Ying.
Tan Ying
Tan Ying is Cheng Yao’s colleague and sits next to her in the office. She is part of Wu Jun’s team but has a close relationship with Bao Rui and Yu Fei with their own chat group.
Gu Bei Qing
Gu Bei Qing is a lawyer and Cheng Yao’s senior at college. They have a friendly relationship.
Deng Ming
Deng Ming is Cheng Xi’s ex-husband. He is also a lawyer with his own firm. He cheated on Cheng Xi to hook up with a rich woman who could help him to expand his firm’s business. Deng Ming is a manipulative man and a scumbag.
Dong Min
Dong Min is a daughter of Qian Heng’s client. She is a rich girl who is interested in Qian Heng.
Li Meng Ting
Meng Ting is Cheng Yao’s best friend. She is also a lawyer but has since quit working as she has fallen pregnant. She is married to Zhang Hao.
Mr. & Mrs. Qian
Mr. & Mrs. Qian are Qian Heng’s parents. They are a rich family with business interests. Qian Heng’s mother is a drama queen and is always trying to get her son’s attention and wanting him to date.
Mr. & Mrs. Cheng
Mr. & Mrs. Cheng are Cheng Yao’s parents. They are do not have a good impression on Qian Heng due to Cheng Yao’s lies to get them off her back about her relationship with her boss.
Liang Yi Ran
Yi Ran is Qian Heng’s and Wu Jun’s junior at law school. She is a very capable trust lawyer who is regarded as a female version of Qian Heng but with more gentleness. She has feelings for Qian Heng since their college days.
Synopsis
Cheng Yao mistaken Qian Heng as a gigolo when they first met at a restaurant. Then, they are forced to live together as flatmates when they encountered a case of double lease for the same unit. So, Cheng Yao is shocked when Qian Heng turns out to be her new boss at the law firm that has just recruited her as a trainee lawyer. As a result of their poor first impression of each other, Cheng Yao and Qian Heng don’t really have anything positive to say about one another except for the fact that he is a very good lawyer.
After working and living with Qian Heng for a while, Cheng Yao begins to see the better side of him beneath the harsh words and cold exterior. As for Qian Heng, Cheng Yao has also started to stir something in him that makes him care about her. However, Cheng Yao doesn’t want to think of Qian Heng as anything more than a boss due to their unequal status while he doesn’t know how to process his feelings for her. Thus, they have to slowly learn to admit their feelings and open up to each other.
My Boss Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
My Boss has a happy ending. Qian Heng debates with Deng Ming in a TV program on a divorce case and wins the viewers’ support. This is after Deng Ming spread negative news about Cheng Xi and rumors about Qian Heng. At the same time, Cheng Xi summons her courage to expose Deng Ming’s dirty tricks and assault online with Wu Jun by her side. After the program, Qian Heng tells Cheng Yao about his feelings and asks her to be his partner for life. She kisses him in response.
In the epilogue after the ending theme song, Cheng Xi and Wu Jun have a kindergarten-aged son who is already able to recite the law. Cheng Yao and Qian Heng are at the kindergarten to pick the boy up. During the car ride, Cheng Yao asks Qian Heng to stop by a park whereby a wedding party with their colleagues and family in attendance has been arranged. He is surprised that Cheng Yao has arranged for them to get married. She tells him since her nephew has kept asking why they aren’t married, why not they just do it. Qian Heng takes up her suggestion and says okay to end the drama.
When Did The Leads Start Dating?
Qian Heng and Cheng Yao start dating in Episode 23. This is after Cheng Yao gave Qian Heng a gift box with a love confession inside for his birthday in Episode 20. But the gift company had mixed up their orders which Cheng Yao wasn’t aware of. So, Qian Heng thinks Cheng Yao was confessing her love for him and his actions thereafter leaves her perplexed. Her suspicion is confirmed in Episode 21 when she goes to check the gift box that she has given Qian Heng. This forces her to explain to him that the gift box was a mistake by the gift company when he tells her that he could accept her confession.
In Episode 22, Qian Heng is hostile towards Cheng Yao’s blind date and scares him away. She is unsure of what to think of Qian Heng’s behavior and doesn’t believe that he could like her since he is so outstanding compared to her. They quarrel over his actions and he resorts to bullying tactics to monopolize her time and attention. Cheng Yao gets upset and threatens to quit her job as a result. This forces Qian Heng to admit that he likes her but she is shocked by his confession.
Qian Heng asks Cheng Yao for an answer to his confession to Episode 23. She voices her concern that he may be toying with her but he assures her that he really likes her. He also insists that he wouldn’t use his position to threaten her or give up on her. Qian Heng asks Cheng Yao to give him a chance. She gives him a peck to signal her acceptance and they get together as a couple.
Is There Any Breakup?
Qian Heng and Cheng Yao did not officially break up with each other but there is a cooling off period between them in Episode 34. Their problem started in Episode 30 after their relationship is exposed. Colleagues keep seeing her as the boss’ girlfriend. Things escalated when Yi Ran framed her for losing a client’s documentary evidence for a divorce case in Episode 31 which led her to resign in Episode 32.
After Yi Ran’s action was discovered, Qian Heng asked Cheng Yao to return to Junheng & Co. He just wanted to help her but she felt being looked down upon as if she has nowhere to go without him. Cheng Yao joins another firm in Episode 33 and has an aim to be a partner. She wants to achieve things on her own and get recognition based on her own efforts and not to be seen as just Qian Heng’s girlfriend. In Episode 34, Cheng Yao walks away from Qian Heng when he doesn’t seem to get it that he is imposing his thoughts and actions on her with his help.
While Cheng Yao knows Qian Heng loves her, she also feels pressured to prove herself worthy of him. She hangs on to her ambition to be a good lawyer and refuses to withdraw from a case when Qian Heng asks her to since they will be in opposing camps. She feels that he still doesn’t see her as a mature and independent lawyer. They reconcile in Episode 35 after the case when Cheng Yao uses her compassion to seek a win-win resolution for both parties. This makes Qian Heng realized that he too has things to learn from her. This is because Cheng Yao has a more compassionate way of handling cases.
Is There Any Love Triangle?
Yi Ran is also interested in Qian Heng and has been in love with him since their law school days. Wu Jun mistakenly thought Qian Heng’s love issues stem from his interest in Yi Ran. Hence, he recruited her to join Junheng & Co. in Episode 29. But once Yi Ran discovers that Qian Heng and Cheng Yao are dating, she exposes their relationship. This makes Cheng Yao feels compelled to switch out from Qian Heng’s team to work under her instead.
Thus, this gives Yi Ran the chance to mess with Cheng Yao at work. Her jealousy propels her to destroy the evidence for a divorce case Cheng Yao is working on in Episode 31. This causes Cheng Yao’s reputation to suffer and the talk of her special position as the boss’ girlfriend makes people to question her capability. Since Qian Heng trusts Cheng Yao wouldn’t lose such an important document as a responsible lawyer, he checks the surveillance camera and finds out Yi Ran is the culprit in Episode 32. He confronts her and wants the matter reported to the police but is stopped by Wu Jun who is kind-hearted enough not to ruin her life.
In Episode 33, Wu Jun reminds Yi Ran of their old days at law school and her idealism. He lets her go but advises her to apologize to Cheng Yao. Yi Ran does so and informs Cheng Yao that she will leave for further studies abroad. She also bumps into Qian Heng at a dinner function and apologizes to him in Episode 34. He is curt towards Yi Ran and tells her that he hasn’t forgiven her although Cheng Yao has done so before walking away.
Second Couple
Wu Jun has been trying to pursue Cheng Xi all along. But she rejects him and and asks him not to look for her anymore in Episode 12 as she is afraid that he will be dragged into her mess due to her acrimonious relationship with her ex-husband, Deng Ming. She also feels that she is not worthy of Wu Jun as she is a divorcee due to Deng Ming’s mind poisoning.
However, Wu Jun refuses to give up which prompts Cheng Xi to repeat her insistence for him to stay away from her in Episode 15 and 17. In Episode 20, Cheng Xi moves out to avoid her ex-husband. Wu Jun mistakenly thinks Cheng Xi did so because of his persistence instead. She allows him to think that way as she feels it is better to put an end to their association with each other.
In Episode 21, Wu Jun twisted his ankle in his hurry to save Cheng Xi from being assaulted by Deng Ming. Cheng Xi is touched but tells Wu Ju that she feels burdened by his care for her as she has nothing to offer him in return. Wu Jun replies that he has always liked her and wants to be with her a lifetime in Episode 22. Loving her is a pleasure to him and he asks her to give themselves a chance. He will also respect her decision and it is up to her to leave if she feels uncomfortable at any time.
Cheng Xi is touched that Wu Jun is always by her side when he fears for her safety again in Episode 25. She decides to give themselves a chance as he suggested and regards him as her boyfriend then. She also joins Wu Jun’s firm in Episode 33.
My Boss Review – The Usual Cold Boss Trope
My Boss has its funny moments and this is why I find it kind of entertaining despite the cold boss trope. Some of the characters like one of the female lead’s colleagues and the male lead’s mother provide the necessary laughs. So, they enliven the drama to a certain extent. Otherwise, this is really a very tropey rom-com that features a rich, smart, but low EQ lawyer boss falling in love with a timid and inexperienced trainee.
Just like Only For Love, 36 episodes is indeed longer than necessary to tell such a simple story. It is quite a long wait for them to get together which may stretch your patience as you watch. The problem is compounded by the harsh male lead who could be pretty mean towards the female lead in the beginning. There is an element of bullying there at times as he takes advantage of his position as her boss and the fact that she owed him money to order her to do this and that for him. So, you really have to see this as just another romantic escapism type of drama and not take it too seriously if you want to enjoy it.
Besides, some of the subplots just aren’t satisfying to watch. The story about the second female lead’s ex-husband has a strong build-up but the ending is kind of anti-climatic. There is not much satisfaction to his conclusion after all the bad deeds done. Similarly, the presence of a third party in the main couple’s relationship is also annoying to watch.
Toxic Third Wheeler
You can’t run away from a jealous third party subplot in My Boss. The good thing is she appears pretty late in the drama and her story is told within 3 episodes or so. Thus, the annoyance is short and that makes it bearable. But the bad thing is the subplot, or at least her ending, is not well-presented. For a smart lawyer to commit such a stupid crime just to frame the female lead and think that she can get away with it is just baffling. It is also mind-boggling that they have to wait for the male lead to return from a trip abroad to discover her crime which he did by just checking the surveillance camera.
Therefore, this jealous love rival subplot is very much simplified storytelling. It doesn’t add a lot of value to the watching experience although it might be the catalyst needed to pave the way for character growth for the female lead. This character growth will also lead to coldness on the part of the female protagonist which some might like and others don’t.
Not The Best Written Female Character
The female protagonist, Cheng Yao, starts off as a timid and naive subordinate. So, if you like female characters who are smart, strong and knows how to stand up for herself like the one in She And Her Perfect Husband, then Cheng Yao will seem a little weak and immature. But she has her redeeming qualities as she is a very optimistic girl who likes to see the positive side of things. So, the hard work she has to do for her boss including cooking for him is taken in stride.
Moreover, she will grow as the story progresses. She is not going to sacrifice her goals and what she wants for love. She will stand her ground at the critical moment. But this standing her ground is also what makes it a double-edged sword. On one hand, she is not reduced to a mere doormat and just listens to what her boyfriend says. On the other, it makes her cold and unappreciative simply because he wanted to help but couldn’t understand her point of view.
So, I think the way Cheng Yao has been written is a hit-or-miss type of character. If you love her sweetness, cheerfulness, and compassion, she will worm her way into your heart. But if you can’t stand her weakness and the unequal relationship for the most part, then the rom-com will not be able to weave its magic on you.
Acting & Chemistry
Oliver Chen got his fame through Goodbye, My Princess and his dramas will garner a certain amount of interest due to that previous success. He is a very experienced actor and I remember that he also appeared in The Legend Of The Condor Heroes 2017. So, there is nothing much to complain about when it comes to his acting in My Boss. After all, his role as Qian Heng isn’t a very challenging one. Playing a superior isn’t new to him either. He has the same role in Our Interpreter as well as Fall In Love. Good looks, bossy vibes, and self-confident body language are all there in My Boss to give the role a classy touch.
As for Zhang Ruo Nan, she has the right appearance for that sweet and pretty character that she has to take on in the drama. Her character may not be perfectly written, but I do think she has done what she can with it to make her lovable. Her acting has matured over the last few years from the first time I saw her in Everyone Wants To Meet You. She has a more challenging role in Love Is Panacea which she did reasonably well too.
However, chemistry-wise, Oliver Chen and Zhang Ruo Nan don’t have what it takes to elevate a romance drama to the top of the charts. They are okay as an onscreen couple with a reasonable amount of chemistry to make it watchable. But it stops short of being electrifying that you don’t feel the craving for more. They can’t beat the chemistry of the couple in Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love for example, although both are pretty simple stories.
My Verdict – For Office Romance Fans Only
My Boss is basically an office romance drama with a low EQ and domineering boss. He has a handsome face but devoid of compassion when handling the cases that come his way. The female lead is on the receiving end of his harshness and sharp tongue as his subordinate. Then, she slowly notices his caring side and the romance takes root. The plot is nothing complicated nor worth watching. It also doesn’t delve too much into the legal cases the protagonists have to handle. All of them are very quickly dispensed with. So, romance is always at the centerstage throughout the 36 episodes.
The protagonists’ relationship also has a power imbalance to it for more than half the drama. This is not only about the inequality between a boss and an employee. It is also about career and social status as well as work experience. Hence, that imbalance makes the girl weak and timid and she has to do what the guy says. If you see this as bullying, then the romance will not get off on a good start. But the guy will eventually turn sappy and jealous once he falls for her. Again, if you like seeing a low EQ boss turning mushy, this will be enjoyable. Otherwise, the transition will just make you roll your eyes at his personality change.
For this My Boss review, I would just rate it 7/10. If you absolutely love office romance dramas, then this should be watchable. At the very least, there are no toxic parents and it can get pretty funny with the supporting characters. But I do think the leads don’t have that blazing chemistry to make it into a great rom-com. It is also missing great kisses to go with it.
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