Pleasantly Surprised

Synopsis

Du Kai Qi is an aspiring young chef, her only interests are cooking and reading manga comics. She doesn't have many friends and doesn't want anymore. After enjoying her most delicious full course meal prepared by a chef named Louis, she snaps a picture of his signature from the plate and request to meet him. However, a family emergency forces her to leave before meeting Louis. She looks to Louis's signature as strength and inspiration for her upcoming sous chef promotion test. On the day of her test the new restaurant intern Ah Jie, who has to decide the winner, chooses Kai Qi's rival dish over hers. Losing out on her promotion, Kai Qi makes instant enemies with Ah Jie. What she doesn't know is Ah Jie is her boss's son, her new next door neighbor, the chef Louis that she admires so much and her long lost childhood friend Fu Zi Jie who she had a close bond with.

Plot summary

The once cheerful and happy Du Kai Qi has grown up to be a cold, fierce and isolated person due to her harsh upbringing. Her father is a money asking, alcoholic and abusive person. Even though both of her parents have been separated for many years, her father still harasses and abuses her mother for money. With so many difficulties in her life, it has made her liked to be left alone. Kai Qi works as an assistant chef at "Figaro Cuisine", a fancy French restaurant owned by her mother's former employer. At Figaro's, it brings her pleasant memories of her childhood when both she and her mother had their most delicious meal there. Knowing how happy that meal made her mother feel, it drives her to become an accomplished chef hoping to provide a better life for her and her mother. Already struggling financially, she is forced to take in her young nephew when his father abandons him to get remarried.

Fu Zi Jie has just returned home for the first time after many years living abroad in France. A highly skilled French chef, he has never risen pass an intern position because of a promise he made to his brother. During dinner with his parents, his mother begs him to take a position as an intern for one month at one of his father's restaurants, hoping it will change his mind to stay in Taiwan and take over his father's business. Seeing his mother's persistence, he agrees, but asks that his real identity be concealed from the restaurant staff and that he moves out on his own. He arrives at "Figaro Cuisine" and instantly remembers the happy times he had as a child with his nanny and her daughter who became his best friend. He tells the restaurant staff to call him Ah Jie. On his first day at the restaurant, he is asked by the executive chef to judge the sous chef promotion test between Kai Qi and her rival Cheng Le Xuan. Not happy with the outcome of the sous chef promotion test, Kai Qi instantly makes enemies with Ah Jie, but also finds out her dish has been sabotaged by the executive chef because she rejected his advances to be his girlfriend earlier.

Ah Jie finds out by accident that Kai Qi besides being a fierce new co-worker is also his childhood friend and his nanny's daughter. He becomes intrigue to find out why she has become a total opposite of how he had remembered her to be. Stalking her after work he finds out from a drunk shouting Kai Qi how much that work promotion meant to her as the salary increase would have made her able to provide for her mother. While taking her home he discovers that they are also next door neighbors and mistakes her nephew to be her son when her nephew accidentally calls her mom. Curious of Kai Qi's current life he becomes extra kind and nice to her at work to get closer to her, even though she keeps pushing him away. Le Xuan notices Ah Jie over helping Kai Qi, so she forces them to participate in a cooking competition and win a title or else both will be fired, hesitant to compete but with their jobs on the line he breaks one of his promises to his brother for Kai Qi's sake. He uses this opportunity to let Kai Qi mentor him in cooking, even though he is more skilled than her, as an excuse to become closer to her.

Cast

Main cast

Puff Guo 郭雪芙 as Du Kai Qi 杜凱琪 - Age 28

Aspiring French chef who has worked at "Figaro Cuisine" for 6 years. When her chance for a promotion to the Sous Chef position is dashed because of the Executive Chef and the new intern Ah Jie, she becomes enemies with Ah Jie. But through his extra kindness to her she starts to open up to him. Growing up in a difficult family has made her cold and isolate from others. Her guilty pleasures are reading manga comics because it help takes her mind away from reality. A mysteries chef named Louis enters her life when she tastes his food. When she finds out that Ah Jie is her childhood friend and Louis he becomes the only person she can depend on. Their friendship soon turns to love when each other misunderstands that the other might like someone but not knowing that someone is each other. Her and Ah Jie's happiness is short lived when her father is part of a gang that kidnaps Ah Jie's brother. Unable to face Ah Jie or his family she breaks up with him and later quits her job at the restaurant. Her university senior and friend Hao Wei, opens a restaurant according to her dreams in hopes she will accept him one day but in the end when all hers and Ah Jie's problems are settle it is still Ah Jie that she loves and chooses. In the end she is no longer alone and is in a loving stable relationship cohabiting with Ah Jie.

Jasper Liu 劉以豪 as Louis Fu Zi Jie (Ah Jie) 傅子杰 - Age 28

A skilled French chef who has never risen past an interning position. He has been living alone in France for the pass 10 years due to guilt and a promise he made to his older brother who holds a grudge against him. He suffers from fear of the dark due to his brother locking him in the closet when he was younger. Not intending to stay in Taiwan long his mother pleads with him to take up an interning position at one of his father's restaurant for 1 month, he agrees but his identity as the boss's son must be concealed and he has to move out on his own. On his first day at work he is surprised to find his childhood friend Kai Qi has grown up to be a cold, stern, fierce person. Curious to find out why she turned out this way he becomes extra nice to her even though she pushes him away. While getting to know her and becoming closer to her, he realizes he has fallen in love with Kai Qi and becomes jealous when her college friend Cheng Hao Wei comes back into her life. Kai Qi and him become a couple but due to her father's consequences they break up, not wanting to give up on his happiness he works hard to win Kai Qi back. He agrees to Hao Wei's bet on a cooking competition with Kai Qi in hopes that she will put the burden her father has given her aside and reunite with him. In the end even with Hao Wei finally confessing his feelings to Kai Qi, it is still Ah Jie that Kai Qi chooses to be with and loves.

Supporting cast

Sean Lee 邵翔 as Ji Yong Qian 紀永謙 - Age 34

The executive chef at "Figaro Cuisine". A shallow person who is not respected by the restaurant staff due to his superficial attitude. He sabotages Kai Qi's dish during the sous chef promotion test because she had rejected his advances earlier. With no hope on Kai Qi's liking him he moves his focus on Le Xuan who becomes his next target for a love interest. He shows that his heart is true to Le Xuan when he comes to her aid time after time. He and Le Xuan eventually become a couple and later get engaged.

Ba Yu 巴鈺 as Lin Bao Zhu 林寶珠 - Age 35

Restaurant manager and head waitress at "Figaro Cuisine". Kai Qi's best and only friend, she was the only person Kai Qi opened up to until Ah Jie came along. When her ex-husband shows up at the restaurant as a customer he causes her trouble. Like Kai Qi, she doesn't like to gossip about other peoples personal life. Even though she says she doesn't want anything to do with men she would rather have someone by her side then be alone. Through learning more about Da Zhi's past the two later develop an attraction for one another. The two began a relationship and later are expecting a child together.

Yorke Sun 孫沁岳 as Wang Da Zhi 王大智 - Age 28

A former triad gangster who served prison time for his triad boss's crime. He works as an assistant cook at "Figaro Cuisine". He likes Kai Qi, but doesn't dare to pursue her, because she was the only one that took a chance on him by helping him get his job at the restaurant when he couldn't find employment anywhere. Once married, his Japanese wife divorces him while he was in prison to marry his triad boss. After being helped by Bao Zhu the two become close and start a May December relationship. At the end both are expecting a child together.

Verna Lin 林欣蓓 as Wen Xiao Li 溫小莉 - Age 26

A waitress at "Figaro Cuisine" with a bubbly personality. She desperately wants to find a companion and easily falls in love with each new male staff that arrives at the restaurant. All the male staff are afraid of her persistent pursuing of each one of them since she has confessed to each one of them. Ah Jie becomes her new target when he arrives at the restaurant. She pretends it is her birthday every time she wants to confess to a male staff. Though still single she happily still searches for a boyfriend by asking guys she encounters if they are single.

Guest role

Jacko Chiang 蔣偉文 as Enzo

Fu Zi Jie's friend and owner of the French restaurant that he had subbed as a chef under the name of Louis.

Patrick Lee 李沛旭 as Food critic 美食雜誌主編

A food magazine writer that dined at "Figaro Cuisine". He is extremely nitpicking of his food.

Lin Yi Xun 林奕勳 as Zhen Zhi Qiang 甄志強

A "Figaro Cuisine" customer who decides to cause trouble once he finds his ex-wife Lin Bao Zhu working as a waitress there.

Sophia Lu 呂馥伶 as Kiki

Zhen Zhi Qiang's current wife who was his mistress and accountant whom he cheated with during his marriage to Bao Zhu.

JR 紀言愷 as David Bu Da Wei 卜大衛

Judge at the cooking competition Du Kai Qi, Fu Zi Jie, Cheng Le Xuan and Ji Yong Qian complete in.

Liu Xing 劉行 as Mr. Shun 順伯

Owner of the duck farm that Du Kai Qi and Fu Zi Jie go to get their duck for a cooking competition.

Ralf Chiu 邱彥翔 as Bao Ge 豹哥

Wang Da Zhi's former triad boss who his ex-wife had left him for.

Reina Ikehata 池端玲名 as Aiko 愛子

Wang Da Zhi's ex-wife who ask him for help when her current husband triad boss Bao Ge physically abuses her.

Soundtrack

Nobody And Princess 小人物大公主 by Ian Chen 陳彥允

I’ll Always be here 隨時都在 by Victor Wong 品冠

World Of Two People 兩人世界 by Alan Ko 柯有倫 & Huang Yali 黃雅莉

Just Because 就因為 by Koala Liu 劉思涵

Gene Says I Love You 基因決定我愛你 by Ian Chen 陳彥允

Sleepless Happiness 幸福夜未眠 by Ian Chen 陳彥允

The Glimmer In My Heart 心口的微光 by Sawmah Chen 陳詩妤

Silently 默默 by Victor Wong 品冠

Set You Free 還你自由 by Victor Wong 品冠

Publications

28 Aug 2014 : Pleasantly Surprised Original Novel (喜歡一個人原創小說) - ISBN 9789863661115 - Author: Sanlih E-Television 三立電視監製 & Li Wan Rong 李婉榕 - Publisher: Taiwan Kadokawa 台灣角川

A novel based on the drama was published detailing the entire story line of the drama. Spoilers are revealed in the novel before the drama finished airing.

4 July 2014 : S-Pop Vol. 18 July 2014 (華流 7月號/2014) - barcode 4717095576124 - Author: Sanlih E-Television 三立電視監製

For the July 2014 issue of S-Pop magazine, two different covers were published with the lead actors of "Pleasantly Surprised" on the cover. Both covers has Jasper Liu and Puff Kuo in couple poses with different outfits. One is the regular newsstand edition and the other is a limited special edition that includes one out of four random poly folders with drama promotional images. The limited special edition also contains additional images not published in the regular version.

8 August 2014 : S-Pop Vol. 19 July 2014 (華流 8月號/2014) - barcode 4717095582248 - Author: Sanlih E-Television 三立電視監製

For the August 2014 issue of S-Pop magazine, three different covers were published with the lead actors and co-star Jolin Jian of "Pleasantly Surprised" on the cover. For the regular edition one cover featured Jasper Liu and the other Puff Kuo, for the limited special edition it features Liu, Kuo and Jian on the cover. The limited special edition also includes a one of two random cover notebooks with illustration artwork of the main leads on the front and back cover of the book.

24 July 2014 : Iwalker No.4 July/Aug 2014 (愛玩客 第4期/2014) - barcode 4717095572690 Sanlih 三立電視 - Author: Sanlih E-Television 三立電視監製

For the July/August 2014 issue of iwalker magazine, "Pleasantly Surprised" lead actors Jasper Liu and Puff Kuo are featured on the cover. The issue comes with one out of four heart shaped coasters with images of Liu or Kuo.

DVD release

25 December 2014 : Love Myself or You (DVD) (Taiwan Version) - DVD Region 3 - Disc: 6 (Ep.1-22) - Publisher: Cai Chang International Multimedia Inc. (TW)

Official Taiwan version of the drama DVD set comes in original Mandarin language and Chinese subtitles only.

13 February 2015 : Love Myself or You (DVD) (Malaysia Version) - DVD All Region - Disc: 7 (Ep.1-22) - Publisher: Multimedia Entertainment SDN. BHD. (MLY)

Malaysia version of the drama DVD set comes in original Mandarin language with English and simplified Chinese subtitles.

2 July 2015 : Love Myself or You (恋する、おひとり様) (Set 1 DVD) (Japan Version) - DVD Region 2 - Disc: 4 (Ep.1-7) - Publisher: NBC Universal Entertainment Japan (JP)

Japan version of the drama DVD set 1 comes in original Mandarin language with Japanese subtitles. Addition bonus feature includes Japanese trailer of the drama and cast interview of Jasper Liu and Jolin Chien. A 4 page leaflet detailing drama information is also inserted with the DVD set.

5 August 2015 : Love Myself or You (恋する、おひとり様) (Set 2 DVD) (Japan Version) - DVD Region 2 - Disc: 4 (Ep.8-14) - Publisher: NBC Universal Entertainment Japan (JP)

Japan version of the drama DVD set 2 comes in original Mandarin language with Japanese subtitles. Addition bonus feature includes cast interview of Puff Kuo and the 2014 Sanlih Drama Awards presentation. A 4 page leaflet detailing drama information is also inserted with the DVD set.

2 September 2015 : Love Myself or You (恋する、おひとり様) (Set 3 DVD) (Japan Version) - DVD Region 2 - Disc: 4 (Ep.15-22) - Publisher: NBC Universal Entertainment Japan (JP)

Japan version of the drama DVD set 3 comes in original Mandarin language with Japanese subtitles. Addition bonus feature includes Japan exclusive behind the scenes and cast makings of drama photage. A 4 page leaflet detailing drama information is also inserted with the DVD set.

Filming locations

Pleasantly Surprised was filmed entirely in Taiwan. The French restaurant "Figaro Cuisine" depicted in the drama is an actual Italian restaurant named "Buono Bella", located in Hsinchu City, Taiwan. During filming of the drama the restaurant would close on Monday's for the cast and crew to film without disturbance. The residence of where both main characters reside at is an actual newly built condo tower located in Hsinchu City, Taiwan near Zhiping Rd, East District called Hsinchu Infinity 新竹大無限. The opening and closing sequence of the drama was filmed at Nanliao Port and outside of the Glass Museum of Hsinchu City.

Development and casting

Annie Chen was offered the lead actress role in February 2014 during early developments of the drama, but turned it down to concentrate on modeling and advertisement work instead. Also, to let her contract with Sanlih expire without renewing it.

This is Jasper Liu's first collaboration with Sanlih. Rumors that he will be starring in a future Sanlih drama first started circulating when he appeared on the cover of Sanlih's self-published S-Pop magazine October 2013 issue.

Jasper Liu cropped off his famous curly locks, which had made him a popular male model, in order to go for a more mature look in the drama.

Puff Kuo had turned down the lead actress role in Fall in Love with Me (which eventually went to her bandmate Tia Lee) in order to participate in We Got Married Global Edition which was filmed in South Korea, however a month after turning down the lead role in Fall in Love with Me she agreed to take on the lead actress role of "Du Kai Qi" in Pleasantly Surprised when offered to her. Kuo would travel back and forth between South Korea and Taiwan until late June 2014 when the reality show finished filming since both the reality show and drama was filmed at the same time.

Jasper Liu and Puff Kuo first met and collaborated in a short comic skit at the 2013 Golden Bell Awards, ironically playing a romantic idol couple.

The opening lens and blessing ceremony was held at SETTV headquarters main entrance on April 22, 2014.

A press conference was held on April 23, 2014, at SETTV headquarters lobby in Neihu District, Taipei introducing the main leads of the drama.

On May 21, 2014, another press conference was held at SETTV headquarters auditorium introducing the extended cast of the drama.

The drama wrap up party was held at Yun Fu Lou Restaurant 永福樓 located in Daan District, Taipei on the evening of October 13, 2014.

Events

*Date: 10 May 2014 - Location: Zhongzheng District, Taipei - Attendees: Jasper Liu, In a Good Way cast

Jasper Liu attended the goodbye fan meeting for exiting drama In a Good Way outside of the Siyuan Street 7-11 to promote Pleasantly Surprised taking over the timeslot of the exiting drama.

*Date: 22 May 2014 - Location: Neihu District, Taipei - Attendees: Jasper Liu, Puff Kuo, Jolin Chien, Lene Lai

The main leads and main supporting leads attended a live filming of entertainment news show New Show Biz located at Sanlih's headquarters. The cast members played interactive games with the show hosts and randomly picked audience members.

*Date: 4 June 2014 - Location: Neihu District, Taipei - Attendees: Jasper Liu, Puff Kuo, Jolin Chien, Lene Lai, Sean Lee, Yorke Sun, Stanley Mei, Deyn Li, Mason Zeng

The male cast members exposed their upper bodies in keeping with Jasper Liu's promise to go topless if the drama surpasses the 2.00 rating average. The event was held at Sanlih headquarters rooftop garden. A water gun fight was held between the male cast and the two main female cast members before all the male cast took off their shirts.

*Date: 10 July 2014 - Location: Neihu District, Taipei - Attendees: Jasper Liu, Jolin Chien, Sean Lee, Yorke Sun

A fan meet and great was held at Sanlih's headquarters auditorium attended by four of the male cast members. Besides meeting and greeting the attended cast members also played interactive games with randomly chosen audience members.

*Date: 13 July 2014 - Location: Neihu District, Taipei - Attendees: Jasper Liu, Puff Kuo

A fan signing for the July 2014 issues of S-Pop magazine was held at Sanlih's headquarters auditorium. The two main leads posed for pictures and interacted with randomly chosen audience members.