Introduction
After trying the first episode, I was interested in watching this drama. I could not stop watching this drama until the end because you are curious to know how the protagonist executed the revenge. “Revenge is a dish best served cold” is a phrase that is more effective and satisfying to plan and execute revenge carefully; essentially, waiting for the right moment to strike back when your opponent least expects it. But why is it also wet… just read the article below.
Drama Info
Drama title: Two Foxes (Native title: 玫瑰的棋局 )
Genres: Romance, Drama
Aired: Dec 17, 2024 - Dec 19, 2024
Episodes: 24 | Duration: 15 minutes
Director: Elsie Zhao ( 赵曦夕 )
Where to watch: iQiyi
Trailer:
Synopsis
Wang Xin Yan, a brilliant investment director, infiltrates the Minglan Group with a hidden agenda: to avenge the family that destroyed her life. As she seeks justice for her younger brother’s tragic death, her plans take an unexpected turn when she becomes entangled in a turbulent web of love and conflict with Jin Group’s heir, Jin Ye Lei, and his uncle, Jin Xu Yan. (Source: TMDb)
Characters
Front: Cui Yi Liang ( 崔一梁 ) as Wang Xin Yan (Female Lead)
Left: Cheng Yu Feng ( 程宇峰 ) as Jin Xu Yan (Male Lead)
Right: Guo Xing Ye as Jin Ye Lei, Jin Xu Yan's nephew
Back: Ma Li as Xie Xin Ni, Jin Ye Lei's fiancee
Review
Story
Revenge Plot
Revenge is a common theme in Chinese short dramas. Usually, a main protagonist’s revenge is aimed at or closely connected to the other main protagonist. This drama, albeit a revenge, is atypical to the usual setting above. Spoiler 🔽
Atypical setting
Wang Xin Yan took revenge on her father, stepmother, and stepsister. Her stepsister Xie Xin Ni has a marriage arrangement with Jin Xu Yan’s nephew Jin Ye Lei. Jin Xu Yan cares about his nephew, and that’s how he got himself involved with Wang Xin Yan’s plan. Jin Xu Yan is an unforeseen variable for Wang Xin Yan.
The revenge plot is straightforward with no other subplot (but romance) as fillers. Since the beginning of the first episode, viewers know whom Wang Xin Yan wanted to take revenge on.
Wang Xin Yan’s family background is interesting and atypical of a Chinese drama family background in which filial piety is upheld and parents always do good for the children’s sake. Spoiler 🔽
Wang Xin Yan’s family background
Wang Xin Yan took revenge on her biological father. He was not a good father either, he stroked her with a golf ball (but missed). Her mother is a gambler and beats her up (even as an adult). She ‘sold’ her daughter for money. Wang Xin Yan cut her ties with her mother later.
Romance Sub Plot
The dialogue is good. Many dialogues between Wang Xin Yan and Jin Xu Yan are philosophically worthy of quoting. However, in general, the English translation is a little bit off. For example, some names are translated into Korean names. If you watch a lot of Chinese short dramas, the translation of this drama is not that bad.
I wrote that romance is the (only) subplot in this drama because revenge is the main theme. The romance itself is mature, with a healthy relationship, no misunderstandings, good and open communication, and strong teamwork.
However, there is one trope that is common to many romance dramas, although I don’t think it’s too annoying. Spoiler 🔽
Romance trope
Past connection trope (although not childhood sweetheart cliche). Eight years ago, when Wang Xin Yan was in middle school, Jin Xu Yan anonymously sponsored her schooling. So when they found that connection, they became closer to each other.
Based on the synopsis below, Wang Xin Yan is entangled in a turbulent web of love and conflict with Jin Ye Lei and Jin Xu Yan. Spoiler 🔽
Is there any love triangle?
No. Initially, Wang Xin Yan purposely approached Jin Ye Lei because he is Xie Xin Ni’s fiancee, to make her jealous and thus start rolling the ball of revenge. Although Jin Ye Lei falls for Wang Xin Yan (he and Xia Xin Ni are only in a business marriage relationship, he doesn’t have feelings for her), Wang Xin Yan doesn’t have feelings for him. Later she revealed to him that she used him and apologized. Jin Xu Yan knew from the beginning that Wang Xin Yan approached Jin Ye Lei for Xie Xin Ni, so he was not jealous even when Jin Ye Lei falls for Wang Xin Yan.
Character and Acting
Our heroine Wang Xin Yan is a smart and emotionally strong woman. She has planned the revenge for many years since her little brother’s passing. She lives just for revenge, thus she dares to take risks even if they may cost her life. Actress Cui Yi Liang was able to act out a happy female lead with big smiles in one minute and sad or angry in the next minute. She mostly played supporting characters and the first time I saw her was in the swapping-faces Chinese short drama Broken the Heart as the original face/Female Lead.
Our hero Jin Xu Yan is smart, calm, and compassionate. He works for his brother, Jin Ye Lei’s father. He is carefree and modest, and lives only on a boat docked on the shore close to Jin’s family beachfront estate. His life is so lowkey that Wang Xin Yan doesn’t even know he is related to Jin Ye Lei, one of her targets. He is a variable for Wang Xin Yan. I have seen the actor Cheng Yu Feng a few times, the first one being in A Lucid Dream.
The 'two foxes' title are meant for Wang Xin Yan and Jin Xu Yan, as they acknowledge each other in a meeting:
Wang Xin Yan: "You are really smart and scary, Mr. Fox"
Jin Xu Yan: "You too. You are really a fox."
Xie Xin Ni is Wang Xin Yan’s stepsister, one of her targets. She’s spoiled and childish. Xie Xin Ni character only serves that one bitch role, that seems to be common in romance dramas. Actress Ma Li did a good job as Xie Xin Ni, not only being a bitch but when Xie Xin Ni falls into Wang Xin Yan’s trap later.
Jin Ye Lei was born on a silver spoon, a little childish and weak as a man and also as an heir to a business group. That’s why his father wants Jin Xu Yan to care for him and Jin Xu Yan does genuinely care for his nephew. Actor Guo Xing Ye as Jin Ye Lei is not a standout, even for a supposed love rival.
There are supporting characters who are intriguing and we are curious to see if they become negative or positive unforeseen variables for the heroine.
The Audio and Visuals
Background sounds/music
The background sounds/music befit the scene and situation. For example, shown in the scene below when Wang Xin Yan went to see someone on a rainy day. The eerie background music befitted her facial expression and cautious movements and the dark and strange house design, signal the audience that whoever Wang Xin Yan will meet is either a dangerous character or she will encounter a dangerous situation.
Cinematography
The mood of this drama is dark and somber for Wang Xin Yan’s character and the revenge theme, and most of the lighting and scene composition matched the mood. The below image shows the scene where Wang Xin Yan and Jin Xu Yan met and he warned her to not continue harming his nephew. The background says “No” which symbolizes his warning, and is a reflection of a company named “Beacon” painted on the wall. Also, in the above image also show camera movement with Wang Xin Yan’s feet wearing high heels walking slowly and cautiously over the stepping stones symbolizes the dangerous situation she is in.
Costumes
From the aesthetics the drama crew created in this drama, I know that the production company spent a decent amount of budget to make the drama pleasing to the eyes of the viewers. In short dramas, due to budget constraints, a lot of times leading characters wear the same clothes even though they are rich, or costumes that are not made to fit the size of the actors. The costumes are quite varied in Two Foxes, especially for Wang Xin Yan and Xie Xin Ni. The costumes befitting the setting, either classy outfits for business professionals or fancy dresses befitting rich characters.
Props
There are nice props used in this drama, notably the furniture, gadgets, and decorations in Wang Xin Yan’s house. Because of poverty, she lives in a rundown house but decorated creatively with self-made creations. For example the mirror frame as depicted in the image below.
Setting
The drama uses a lot of real locations as the filming sets. We saw Jin Xu Yan’s boat and the beautiful seashore. We saw Wang Xin Yan’s rundown house. There are also the rich people’s house, party locations including a yacht, and office buildings. Below is possibly the beach close to where Jin Xu Yan docked his boat, where he and Jin Ye Lei like to hangout.
Conclusion
This is a nice short drama with less than 6 hours total watch time, perfect for bingewatching as you are curious to see more how the heroine executes her revenge and how it will end. I will provide the spoilers of the ending after the Conclusion.
Are you still wondering why I titled this article that “revenge is a dish best served cold and wet”? Well, besides the first GIF and the fact a lot of scenes are by the seashore (because Jin Xu Yan lives on a boat) and beach, the last GIF may convince you.
Spoilers
Ending
Happy ending.
Detailed ending
Wang Xin Yan’s father died in the hospital. Her stepmother went to prison for murder. Xie Xin Ni had gone crazy after losing her baby. Jin Ye Lei divorced her. Wang Xin Yan cut ties with her biological mother. She became the sole heiress of Minglan Group, but she let the professionals run the company. In the end, she and Jin Xu Yan went sailing together.
Images credit: The images are linked to their sources; otherwise, they are taken from official posters and screenshots.
