You know that feeling when you just want a show that hugs your brain? Life is loud. Work is stressful. Sometimes, you just need a delivery girl who accidentally knocks over a corporate titan and ends up living with him. Honestly, that’s the core appeal of Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling. It’s comfort food. It’s the television equivalent of a warm blanket and a bowl of noodles on a rainy Tuesday night.
Released in 2021, this Youku original quickly became a staple for fans of the "contract relationship" or "accidental cohabitation" tropes. It stars Zhao Lusi—who is basically the queen of relatable charm—and Liu Te, who plays the cold, calculated CEO Ling Yue with just enough vulnerability to make you believe he actually has a heart. If you’ve spent any time on Viki or Netflix lately, you’ve probably seen it pop up. But why do we keep coming back to it?
The plot isn't reinventing the wheel. Gu Anxin, a delivery woman working hard to make ends meet, gets into a literal collision with Ling Yue, a hotshot heir in the middle of a cutthroat power struggle at New Way Group. He fakes amnesia. She feels guilty. Suddenly, he’s in her tiny apartment, demanding high-end service while she's just trying to pay the rent. It’s classic. It’s predictable. And yet, it works.
The Zhao Lusi Factor: Why Gu Anxin Isn't Just Another Clumsy Lead
We have to talk about Zhao Lusi. In the world of Chinese dramas, the "spunky, poor girl" is a trope that can get annoying really fast if the actress doesn't ground it. Zhao Lusi has this weird, magical ability to make Gu Anxin feel like someone you actually know. She isn't just a caricature of poverty; she’s a cartoonist who is hustling.
She brings a specific energy to Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling that balances out the melodrama. When she’s arguing with Ling Yue about how much electricity he’s using, you feel that. It’s not just a plot point; it’s a character beat that makes the stakes feel real, even when the show leans into the "long-lost heiress" subplots that eventually emerge.
Most people don't realize how much the script relies on her physical comedy. There’s a scene early on where she’s trying to manage Ling Yue’s "recovery" while maintaining her delivery routes, and the sheer exhaustion on her face is something every gig worker can relate to. It’s those small touches that elevated the show beyond its budget.
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Ling Yue and the "Iceberg CEO" Deconstruction
Liu Te had a big job here. Playing an amnesiac (or a fake one) requires a bit of a wink to the audience. You have to be "The CEO" but also "The Lost Puppy." Ling Yue is a man who was literally pushed off a cliff by his own family's corporate greed. That’s dark. But once he’s in Anxin’s apartment, he has to learn how to exist without a secretary or a black card.
The dynamic works because the power imbalance shifts. In the boardroom, he’s untouchable. In the kitchen? He’s useless.
People often compare this show to What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim or Lucky's First Love, but Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling leans harder into the "found family" aspect. Ling Yue isn't just falling for Anxin; he’s falling for the idea of a life where people don't try to kill him for his shares. It’s a bit soap-opera-heavy toward the middle—expect the usual corporate sabotage and "evil" siblings—but the central romance keeps it anchored.
The Realistic Side of the Fantasy
Okay, look. Is it realistic that a billionaire would live in a 400-square-foot apartment and eat instant ramen? No. Obviously not. But the emotional beats are surprisingly grounded.
- The struggle of the creative: Anxin’s dream of being a manhua artist isn't just a hobby. We see her deal with rejection and the pressure to give up her art for a "real" job.
- Corporate Trauma: Ling Yue’s paranoia isn't just a personality trait; it’s a response to a genuine assassination attempt. The show actually touches on how lonely it is at the top of a conglomerate like New Way.
- Sibling Rivalry: The tension between Ling Yue and his brothers, Ling Fang and Ling Sheng, moves beyond "who gets the money." It’s about parental validation, which is a massive theme in many C-dramas.
Why the "Amnesia" Trope Actually Worked This Time
A lot of viewers roll their eyes when they hear "amnesia." It’s the ultimate cliché. However, in Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling, the amnesia is a choice. It’s a survival tactic. By pretending he doesn’t know who he is, Ling Yue buys himself time to figure out who tried to kill him.
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This changes the viewer's perspective. We aren't waiting for him to "remember"; we are waiting for him to get caught. It adds a layer of tension to the romantic moments. Every time he gets close to Anxin, there’s a nagging thought: She’s going to be so mad when she finds out he's been lying this whole time. That reveal is a turning point. It shifts the show from a domestic comedy into a more standard corporate thriller/romance hybrid. Some fans felt the second half lost the "cozy" vibe of the first ten episodes, but that’s the nature of the genre. You can't hide in a studio apartment forever when you have a multi-billion dollar company to reclaim.
The Fashion and Visuals of New Way Group
Let’s be real for a second. We watch these shows for the aesthetics too.
The contrast between Anxin’s world—saturated with warm tones, cluttered spaces, and soft lighting—and the Ling family’s world—cold marble, glass skyscrapers, and sharp suits—is striking. The cinematography does a lot of heavy lifting to show us how these two people are from different universes.
Ling Yue’s wardrobe transition is also worth noting. He goes from high-fashion suits to oversized sweaters and "cheap" clothes provided by Anxin. It’s a visual shorthand for his softening. Meanwhile, Anxin’s style remains consistently practical, which keeps her character's integrity intact even as she enters the world of high society.
Common Misconceptions About the Ending
If you haven't finished the show yet, don't worry, no major spoilers here, but people often get confused about the "biological father" plotline. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it feels like it belongs in a different show.
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The biggest gripe fans usually have is how long it takes for the "evil" characters to get their comeuppance. C-dramas are notorious for letting the villains run wild until the very last episode. Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling is no exception. If you’re looking for a tight, 12-episode arc, this isn't it. This is a slow-burn journey that rewards patience.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back in, or watching for the first time, keep an eye on the side characters. The relationship between Ling Sheng and Gu Anxin’s best friend is a fan favorite for a reason. Sometimes the secondary couples provide the necessary breathing room when the main leads are caught in too much "will they/won't they" drama.
Also, pay attention to the soundtrack. The OST (Original Soundtrack) features some really evocative tracks that emphasize the "at ease" part of the title. Music is often overlooked in these mid-budget rom-coms, but the score here is genuinely top-tier for the genre.
Quick Facts for the Fandom
- Original Work: The drama is based on the web novel I Accidentally Picked Up a President by Chun Feng Yi Du.
- Episode Count: 24 episodes, which is actually quite lean for a C-drama (most go for 40+).
- Director: Cheng Liang, who has a knack for making cityscapes look incredibly romantic.
Final Thoughts for the Weary Viewer
Please Feel at Ease Mr. Ling isn't trying to be Succession. It’s not trying to be a gritty documentary on poverty. It’s a fairytale. It’s about the hope that even in the middle of a literal car wreck of a life, you might just find someone who makes it all feel a bit more manageable.
It’s about finding peace—being "at ease"—in the middle of the chaos. Whether you’re here for Zhao Lusi’s comedic timing or Liu Te’s smoldering stares, the show delivers exactly what it promises.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of C-dramas after this, your next steps are pretty clear. Start by looking into Zhao Lusi's other work like The Romance of Tiger and Rose for more comedy, or Hidden Love if you want something that leans even harder into the "comfort" vibe. For those more interested in the corporate backstabbing, Only for Love is a solid follow-up.
Go watch the first three episodes. If you aren't hooked by the time Ling Yue starts complaining about the quality of the towels, then maybe the CEO-cohabitation trope isn't for you. But for the rest of us? It’s pure gold.