Timing and Subtitles by The 1/2 Heart Team @ Viki
The First Half of My Life
I, at age 33, am a housewife with no worries about lack of clothes or food.
My child is 8 years old.
His transportation and meals are handled by the nanny Ya Qin.
The only battles remaining for me to fight are against my daily loosening skin,
and the gorgeous girls surrounding my husband.
At that time, I thought I was the luckiest person
because Junsheng is an honest person.
His only route is from his workplace to home, and vice versa.
He said that his lifetime wish
is to give me and Ping'er a happy and complete family.
However, the seemingly luckiest and easiest paths
always lead to difficulties.
How I wish, at that time,
I had been prepared.
The First Half of My Life
Episode 1
[ Shanghai, Shin Kong Place Department Store ]
Do you remember the Rick who came to our house last time?
A few days ago, he eloped with a new secretary at the company.
Don't you think that's stupid?
He even left his wife a notification,
saying that many famous people, of both ancient and modern times, eloped.
- It hurts a little. It's too tight! - I'm sorry.
Also, young lady, you should keep your fingernails shorter. You will hurt the customers.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I got it.
Forget it. Junsheng is always around somebody like that.
I'm so worried.
If they ever find him, they should execute both the male and the female!
Then, they won't dare to do it anymore.
Zijun, he and Junsheng are different.
Master is honest and cares about the family. He won't do that.
Little girls nowadays don't care if you're honest.
If you have money, they just leap into your arms. Right?
That's not it. Actually, most people are rather honest.
What are you talking about? Don't think I don't know.
Little girls nowadays don't care about honesty.
I was also once a young girl...
- Mrs. Chen! Where are you going?- Zijun!
- Zijun?- Mrs. Chen, where are you going?
Teach Chen, I think this one is pretty,
but it's a little expensive.
It's fine if it's expensive. I'll take this one. Go wrap it.
Wait. Let me see it.
Zijun?
Who is this?
My wife.
This is my company's new intern.
We're picking a necklace for our client, and I don't understand jewelry,
so I asked her to help me.
Sister-in-Law, hello.
Are you here to buy shoes?
Jewelry? I'm the expert at picking jewelry!
Why didn't you ask me?
Girls who graduated from university only know how to accept gifts.
They won't know which ones are good.
Remember to come home early tonight, okay?
Ping'er's school assigned a family homework. The whole family needs to complete it together.
Sister-in-Law, I think these gold shoes are pretty. They make you look young.
Let me see.
You should pick this one. It looks more mature.
This one is too gaudy. It's only good for tricking little girls.
I'll listen to you, Sister-in-Law. You are right.
- What's your name? - My name is Sandra.
Sandra what? Many people are called Sandra.
Sandra Dong.
Sandra Dong? Okay, you two keep shopping.
Come home early tonight. I'll wait for you.
Sister-in-Law, goodbye!
- Then, wrap up this one.- Okay.
Why are you standing by the door?
As if I would steal your shoes. Seriously...
Mrs. Chen.
- Wrap up all these shoes. I'll take them all.- Okay.
Also, the ones I'm wearing right now...
The purple one. It's more charismatic.
Little girls don't know anything.
Then, I'll help you get the purple one.
[ Hong Kong, Liv Company ]
Everyone, Tang Jing previously proposed an estimated market share growth of 2%
based on past experiences,
but I think if we can attract more resource inputs,
and attract more market expenses,
I think a growth of 5% to 7% is plausible.
I'm currently in a meeting! It's a situation of life and death!
Tang Jing, hurry and help me investigate a new intern at Junsheng's company.
Her name is Sandra Dong.
Yes, yes, help me look into her background.
Chen Junsheng's intern?
I'm not from the C.I.A..
I just ran into those two buying jewelry together!
Don't you think that's stupid?
Hurry and help me investigate! Otherwise, I won't even have appetite for dinner tonight.
Wait, wait.
I think I should buy the gold one.
The gold one looks younger, right?
- Yes. You look good in anything.- They're all pretty, Mrs. Chen.
Okay, okay. Continue with your meeting. After you finish, help me search!
- Help me take these off first.- Okay.
Okay, I'll wait for your reply.
Okay, I got it. Goodbye.
Let's make a specific proposal based on this standard.
Bi'anti really is sharp and efficient.
Good work, young man. We're very impressed.
I'm sorry. There's a problem with this number.
There are no problems. It should be this way.
Let's take a break.
So is it 2% or 7%?
Starting now, find somebody else to work on the Liv project with you. I quit!
Starting today, I also won't participate in any projects you take on.
I pulled so many all-nighters to get those results.
While I was out making a phone call, you casually changed it!
7%? You really dare to say that?
How will they believe that we'll reach so much growth?
Why do you still not understand?
What do they want us for?
They want a result that's higher than 3%,
so that they can request resources and investment budget from their company.
If you give them a 2%, what do you expect them to do?
If their company can't give them the budget, our upcoming work will not exist.
I am a consultant.
All these years, I worked so hard to study and practice
because I hope to use many methods to calculate objective and fair numerical data conclusions.
Technically speaking,
you should use your knowledge
to calculate a numerical conclusion that they want.
Data are inflexible,
but using data permutations to form a conclusion is flexible.
If you earn money from somebody, you must work for them.
We need to be constantly connected to our clients,
experience their happy and sad emotions,
and stand on the same battlefront as they.
You can continue with your illogical and fallacious ideas;
you can also continue taking these shortcuts.
You are you; I am me. I don't approve of your ways, and I will not follow you.
Tang Jing!
No matter if it's Liv or any other company,
we are not angels. We are not here to save all of humankind.
Our only interest should be their wallets.
Use the shortest time to earn the most money. That's efficiency!
And the truth is the job of the police.
Let's go.
- Mrs. Chen, take care. Be careful of the stairs.- Okay.
Don't need to escort me anymore.
- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
Her husband isn't Chairman Jack Ma. He's still working under people.
A woman like her wears custom made, ¥80,000 shoes.
If her husband is having an affair, he will.
That's right.
- My knees hurt so much from kneeling on the ground.- Are you okay?
Does she really think she's an empress?
[ Jiangzi ]
[ In Preparation ]
Identification card.
When did your father pass away?
Last year.
Why didn't you come find me earlier?
I'm sorry.
Your first time in Shanghai?
Luo Luo, remember:
since your father left you in my care,
starting today, I will be your guardian.
I will take responsibility for everything about you.
No matter how lazy or greedy you are,
I will make sure you have food to eat.
If you find a better job, I won't stop you,
but for each day you're here, I need to watch over you.
Can you accept this?
These are the staff regulations for my shop.
Memorize it. Work starts at 6AM everyday.
Your living place is a little far from here.
In the future, if possible, I will take you in my car.
No need. Thank you, though.
What did I just say?
I said that for each day you're here, I will watch over you. Correct?
Good.
Let's go familiarize you with the shop.
Sir, ma'am, excuse me.
- Please enjoy your champagne. - Thank you.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
To our future 2-year contract with Liv.
To our complementation of each other, good teamwork, and uninterrupted success.
Junsheng just called, saying that
he'll return two hours late.
Where do you think he went?
Working overtime? He's on a date!
He gave her a necklace in the morning, so he'll surely
have a romantic dinner with her.
Why is your TV so loud? Are you unable to hear it?
I didn't turn it on. It was you.
What are you looking at?
I'm dead. Even Ya Qin dares to be rude to me now.
She even rolled her eyes at me.
Is something wrong with her?
It's true that she's the one helping me and Junsheng,
but I'm the master, and she's just a nanny!
This is all wrong!
Okay, stop being so busy with work.
Tonight, let's go eat at Old Zhuo's place.
This afternoon, they specially ordered
fresh sea urchins and lobster sashimi from Hokkaido.
I can't go.
Zijun called me so many times, saying that her husband is eloping with a young girl.
If I go eat lobster sashimi, I'm afraid she'll hang herself and become sashimi herself.
She's a housewife, who has nothing better to do after eating.
You, on the other hand, have not eaten a single bite yet.
Why do you care about her nonsensical issues so much?
To a housewife, a cheating husband is equivalent to the sky collapsing.
But sea urchin's shelf life is only half a day.
You really don't want any?
Eat more for me.
You're finally back!
You scared me to death.
Didn't I promise to go find you after putting down my luggage?
I really regret giving you my house keys.
I can't wait anymore! I need to see you immediately!
I need to immediately know who that Sandra Dong is!
Maybe he really is working overtime.
If He Han gives you a necklace in the morning, would he be in the mood to work overtime at night?
He's never given me a necklace before.
Then, your car, your new BMW.
That's a result of my work.
Only because He Han gave it to you.
I can't be bothered with you.
Hurry and help me search!
Wait. Let me drink water.
Here, have a taste of instant sea urchins. Hey, hey, hey.
Working while eating is bad for your stomach. Hurry.
- You're right.- Try it!- Especially in front of delicious food.
Fresh!
Old Zhuo.
Who's that little girl?
I've never seen her before.
The child of my former friend.
My friend passed,
and his wife also ran off with somebody else.
At his deathbed, he wrote a letter, and left her in my care.
How could I reject?
She's quite pretty.
You better behave.
Delicious.
I'll also take the rest,
but please help me cook them. I'll take them away.
For who?
Guess.
For which girl?
I'm not a playboy like you.
For Tang Jing, right?
That's right.
No problem.
Thank you.
So slow.
Twenty-four years old, graduated from Fudan University, a native of Shanghai.
In the latter half of this year, she's going to Princeton for postgraduate studies.
The comments state that she has no abnormal relationships with Chen Junsheng.
You're overreacting.
It's very normal to buy necklaces for female clients.
The comments say that she just broke up with her boyfriend!
If there really are any problems,
they wouldn't dare to openly go buy things during work.
Really?
When will you come back?
Don't work overtime everyday.
It's been two hours. Are you almost finished?
[ Hydrotalcite Tablets ]
Thank you.
Then, I'll go now.
Wait a little for me.
Fifteen minutes. I'll take you home.
Okay.
Consultant women are all evil.
You are each as fierce as wolves or tigers. You won't get married yourself,
but you steal other women's husbands like you are stealing clients.
There are so many men in the office, but you insist on picking the married ones.
Does committing this sin really help relieve stress?
Hey, don't include me in your insults, okay? Mosquitoes won't go after faultless eggs.
Do you dare to say you've never done anything of the sort?
Nonsense! Go home right now, and go wait for your husband and take care of your son.
Fine, fine. You haven't.
You only care about an arrogant peacock called He Han.
Tang Jing and I are completely different women.
She believes that love and marriage are easily perishable.
Thus, she works day and night to pursue the independence of substance and spirit.
She says that I'm a frog stuck at the bottom of a well,
but I say that she's only finding hardship for herself.
♫ cause you thought that I know ♫
Just drop me off here at the subway entrance.
Otherwise, you'll be too late returning home. Your wife will be upset.
I just want to spend more time with you,
even if we just sit here.
Actually, going home either 30 minutes earlier
or 30 minutes later
can't help me avoid her interrogation.
Doesn't need to work, doesn't need to worry for money,
and has a nanny to care for her child.
These are things unimaginable to people like me, who is constantly sleep-deprived.
She has her worries.
I understand.
Actually, I'm always reminding myself to tolerate it.
I need to make her feel secure, but nobody is a saint.
How about you find a job for her?
If she has something to do, she won't overthink.
She doesn't want to do anything.
She won't do very well, either.
You two have been together for ten years. With her company and care,
the current Chen Junsheng exists.
If, just as a hypothetical example,
Chen Junsheng is having an affair, what will you do?
Die for him to see.
He already said he won't.
He promised! If he has an affair, he'll be killed by lightning.
Wake up, okay?
If you die, his wish will be granted.
That way, he doesn't even have to deal with divorce papers.
There's also Ping'er.
Could you bear for him to call somebody else his mother?
Then, what do you think I should do?
Have you calculated how much money you spend in a year?
At least, you should ensure you're capable of supporting you and Ping'er.
I can't. I've never calculated it before.
I can't ensure anything.
Anyway, in this lifetime, I'm determined to cling onto Chen Junsheng.
He's the one who said that after our marriage, I don't need to work,
and he'll support me for a lifetime.
But just in case!
Knock on wood! If you keep talking, I'll curse that you'll never get married,
and you won't receive a diamond ring from Peacock Man!
You lazy and incompetent decorative pillow!
I'm lazy; so what? I have a husband who supports, loves, and spends money on me.
You have time to earn money, but no time to spend them. You're envious of me!
I'm so angry!
Who is it?
It's me.
He Han?
Didn't you two just see each other?
Does he already miss you?
Sea urchin. I didn't finish them, so I'm delivering it to you.
How could you not have finished all the sea urchins? Was there a truckload?
Old Zhuo personally fried them. He told me to give them to you.
Mrs. Chen, you're also here.
Is Mr. Chen not here?
Just in time! Delicious food should be shared.
Come on, Zijun. Delicious food solves all problems.
I'm afraid food from a small shop won't be good enough for Mrs. Chen.
Delivered here from Hokkaido just this afternoon. Let's go try them.
Hurry, missy!
How is it?
Old Zhuo's cooking is wonderful, of course.
What do you think?
I think it's alright.
Compared to the food that Junsheng and I ate at in No.6 Bund, it's a little lacking.
Small shops all say that their foods were delivered from Japan,
but in reality, it was probably sitting for a long time in the fridge.
Thus, under normal circumstances, Junsheng and I don't eat at those places.
Tang Jing, if you like them, eat more.
She doesn't like them, anyway.
I'll go now. You and your best friend can continue chatting about high class Bund.
Hello? Ya Qin?
Junsheng is coming back? Okay, I'll be right back.
Take your time eating. I'm going back now.
So what if he comes home? Why are you so excited?
So many things happened today. I need to ask him!
When you go home, don't say nonsense.
Without evidence, don't say nonsense.
I got it. I'll carefully consider my words.
Peacock-- He Han!
He Han! Wait!
You drove here, right? You didn't drink alcohol. Give me a ride.
Actually, if I think back to the sea urchins you brought, they were quite delicious.
Two different directions. Going to your house is too inconvenient.
Just make a detour. It won't take too long.
I have a telephone conference at home.
I won't watch TV, use facial masks, or sleep.
Thus, I'm truly sorry.
Time is gold.
The elevator's here. I'll give you a ride next time.
Peacock Man...
Open the door!
- Thank you, Mr. Peacock. - What Mr. Peacock?
- My surname is He! - Oh, Mr. He. I'm sorry, Brother He.
I already said it's inconvenient!
Just make a detour. It's raining outside.
The rain already stopped, okay?
The ground is wet!
My shoes cost ¥6,000. The bottom is made of sheepskin. It can't touch water.
It'll be ruined if it touches water.
You clearly knew it would rain.
Why, then, did you wear shoes that can't touch water?
How would I know it will rain? I didn't tell the sky to rain.
Moreover, these shoes go well with these clothes.
Understand?
Hurry and go! You talk so much.
T-Then, what if I had already driven away just now?
Then, I would ask Tang Jing to give me a ride. Let's go. Thank you.
The correct answer is for you to borrow a pair of slippers from Tang Jing and leave.
- Right turn, correct?- Correct.
Who told you to turn right?
You said it was correct!
I was saying, it's correct to borrow slippers from Tang Jing!
Hurry and turn around. Sir, slow down!
Luo Luo, change your clothes. I'll take you home.
Okay.
Put this on.
Okay.
[ Jiangzi ]
[ One Sino Park ]
Here.
Drive inside.
I already said my shoes can't touch water. My purse, too.
You and Tang Jing, all these years, seriously...
Will you two get married or not?
You want to play? You'll die from playing too long!
Enough, stop talking. Which building?
Didn't I tell you? Building 12!
We're here. Please get off.
Thank you for taking me home.
And your sea urchins.
See you tomorrow.
I'll come pick you up at 8:30AM tomorrow.
I'll go up now. My son is already home.
Are you sure Luo Zijun is mentally sound?
Who does she think she is? The sun?
Does she really think everyone's lives revolve around her?
Seriously.
It'll be a miracle that her husband doesn't have an affair.
She's a very good and pure person. She says whatever's on her mind.
Look at her in a different light.
You and Zijun are people from different plants.
You two won't have fate for at least eight lifetimes,
but can you two please stop acting like landmines whenever you meet each other?
Can you be polite? Don't make things difficult for me.
Hey, the sales of Liv's carbonated juices have been declining for two years.
Two years of no growth, and it began to decline this year.
But the performance of diet and sugarless products are quite steady,
so it's time we push out the small package.
No need to write it down.
While I was wasting my breath with your boring best friend,
I sent the mail to you already.
[ Liv's Carbonated Juices' Market Sales Strategy ]
[ Table of Contents ]
Weren't you eating sea urchins the whole time?
I do more than eating sea urchins and talking nonsense,
so you should believe that I am your most helpful teacher,
and not that Luo Zijun.
You're home? Have you had dinner yet?
Should I make wontons for you?
No, not hungry.
Did he finish his homework before playing video games?
I only let him play after he finished homework.
Enough, stop playing.
Don't you want your eyes anymore?
Enough.
Didn't I ask you to read ten pages of a book before sleeping each night?
I also asked you not to come home so late.
Mom is unhappy again today.
I heard that you bought a necklace for a female classmate.
Who told you that?
Mom told Ya Qin.
If only you were this attentive in class.
Will you two get a divorce?
What divorce? Don't say nonsense.
My classmates said that if you divorce, I have to choose between you and mom.
I really need to think about my decision.
Come to me.
Your mom and I will not get a divorce.
You don't need to think about it.
[ Pure Milk ]
Let me have a look, son.
When did you come home today? What did you eat in nightcare class?
Class finished at 8:30PM. When I walked home, it was 8:40PM.
- I ate shrimp noodles.- Do you want to eat more?
No.
Jiaqing, I just realized the door was not locked.
When you come home in the future, lock the door first, okay?
Otherwise, it is very dangerous.
Do these problems one more time after you finish drinking milk.
I'll go do the chores now, okay?
Mom,
when will Dad come?
Saturday. He will take you out to play, if you want.
I don't want to go.
Why not?
I want to be with you, mom.
Hurry and drink your milk.
After you finish these problems, we can go to sleep. Good boy.
I really was working overtime.
Also, that necklace really was for a client.
You can investigate all you want.
I'll use my life to promise
that I have no abnormal relationships with that Sandra girl.
Then, why did she break up with her boyfriend recently?
You asked Tang Jing search her again?
That's very embarrassing.
It's more embarrassing to be a mistress!
Who's the mistress?
Yes, she broke up with her boyfriend. It's because she's going to marry another man.
Who?
- How would I know?- Then, how did you know about it?
I saw it on my friend group's post!
Which friend group? Let me see.
You even liked the post.
Satisfied now?
Husband, I'm telling you,
these days, Ya Qin has been nagging again. She wants another raise.
No problem.
Where will we go for vacation on Christmas?
How about Europe?
It's a little far,
but I know that they have a great Renaissance tour route.
If Ping'er goes, he can show it to his friends when we return. What do you think?
It's a little expensive, though.
If it's helpful to Ping'er, and you like it, the cost doesn't matter.
What's wrong with you today? You're in such a good mood.
You're agreeing to everything I say. Are you hiding something?
Then, what do you want me to say?
No matter if I have a good or bad attitude, it's wrong.
Fine, then. I'll say whatever you want me to say.
I was joking! You're taking it for real again.
I was joking! Don't be angry.
Deceitful things have been all over the TV and my phone today.
Anyone who sees it would overthink.
Are those things even trustworthy?
Just focus on being Mrs. Chen.
Eat and drink as you wish.
Go shopping as you wish.
Just let the others say what they will.
Really?
Yes.
Dad, what's a "jiao mo" (meaning "cornea")?
"Jiao mo" (meaning "feet mask")? It's a facial mask for the feet.
Stop talking nonsense.
Husband, you've never been to a beauty salon. You don't understand!
Masks for the face are called facial masks.
Then, masks for the feet are called "feet masks". Understand?
Don't listen to your mom's nonsense.
"Jiao mo" (meaning "cornea") is a thin layer on your eyes.
There's also the sclera and iris. Are you reading about the eye anatomy?
Laughing?
I didn't know it was this "jiao mo".
Son, you're learning so much now.
I can't even catch up to you anymore.
Let's take a family photo with your dad's phone.
We haven't taken a picture in so long.
Come closer.
One, two, three.
This picture was liked by tens of people,
but how many of them were sincerely blessing us?
Mostly, people were just maliciously waiting for a joke to happen,
but at that time, I really thought
I was living the life envied by many.
[ Resignation Letter ]
[ Hydrotalcite Tablets ]
[ Applicant: He Han ]
You're up? So early.
There's a proposal at the company today at 10AM. I'm going to check things over again.
What will you eat for breakfast?
Ya Qin took Ping'er to school.
Should I go eat something with you downstairs?
No need. I'll just eat something outside the company.
Why the rush? It's just a proposal.
You've never cared so much before.
There's no wrong in being cautious.
Why are you up so early?
I'm going to the market,
the one by your company. I'll take your car.
What are you going to buy at my company's market? Why can't you buy it from downstairs?
Ping'er's favorite red bean cake.
Only that market sells them.
I'll bring some back for you at night.
No need. I'm already up, so I'll just make the trip.
I have nothing else to do, anyway.
Why? You won't give me a ride?
Are you hiding somebody in your car?
Who would I hide?
I'm in a rush to leave.
You're still putting on makeup.
I'm done putting on makeup!
Let's go. I'll pick your outfit. Hurry!
Listen to the teacher, okay?
- Goodbye, Mom.- Goodbye.
Behave, okay?
[ Ziwei Garden ]
Hello? Are you here?
I'm almost at the company. Where are you?
Didn't you promise to get to the company at 9AM? Why are you just now leaving your house?
You live at Ziwei Garden, right?
Just wait. I'll go pick you up.
I'll go pick you up, yes.
Okay.
Who are you picking up?
That Sandra from yesterday?
What are you saying?
A colleague from the information department.
Because of her child, she left home late and needs to take a cab,
but there are no available cabs at this hour, so we can just give her a ride.
How did you know that she lives at some Ziwei Garden?
We're colleagues. I heard.
Information department?
They don't work together with you very often. Why are you two so close?
Now, the loan policies are more lenient.
She just bought a house for a good price.
It made everyone at the company eager.
Male or female? (Chinese pronouns don't differentiate between gender)
Female. What's wrong?(Chinese pronouns don't differentiate between gender)
Age?
34 or 35.
I think. She looks older than you.
She's not young, then.
Why is this place wrinkled? Ask Ya Qin to iron it for you.
That woman?
She knows your car?
She sees it around.
Her looks and dresses average.
Yes. She's working and caring for a child everyday.
She doesn't live as well as you do.
This is my wife, Zijun.
Hello.
I am Jonathan's colleague, Ling Ling.
Oh. Hello, Ling Ling.
Mrs. Chen, you're so pretty.
Thank you.
I never took this mature woman,
who dresses and looks average, as a threat.
I thought my opponent would be those tender young girls.
I thought men abandon their wives
only for lust.
"In The Pouring Rain" by Ye Linsheng
♫ In the torrential rain, ♫
♫ among the busy cars. ♫
♫ Why is the image of your face still so clear? ♫
♫ I hold my breath, ♫
♫ watching you as you leave. ♫
♫ Why do I feel my heart slightly wavering? ♫
♫ When did I start becoming used to ♫
♫ your presence? ♫
♫ Your calls always appear at the perfect time. ♫
♫ My heart has sold me out. ♫
♫ I still have a little hope ♫
♫ that you will come back, searching for me. ♫
♫ In the torrential rain, among the busy cars. ♫
♫ Why is the image of your face still so clear? ♫
♫ I hold my breath, ♫
♫ watching you as you run towards me. ♫
♫ My heart is slightly wavering. ♫