Season 1
33 episodes Jul 8, 2014
Overview
A sweet, food-loving office worker whose boss secretly plans to fatten her up as a potential blood donor for his sister, but her irresistible charm and endless appetite soon win over his heart instead.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 33 episodes
- First aired
- Jul 8, 2014
- Last aired
- Jul 19, 2014
- Episode length
- 45m
- Network
- Jiangsu Television
Latest episode: S1 E33 Episode 33 (Jul 19, 2014)
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Office as a Feast: How Boss & Me Turns Romance Into Appetite
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting to be charmed. The premise of Boss & Me—a high-powered executive secretly plotting to fatten up his meek, food-obsessed subordinate as a potential blood donor for his ailing sister—sounded like the setup for either a dark comedy or a workplace nightmare. But somewhere between the first bite of Shan Shan’s lunchbox and Feng Teng’s increasingly exasperated sighs, the series sidestepped cynicism entirely.
What unfolds isn’t just a romance, but a quiet rebellion against the idea that desire should be polite, contained, or—most of all—small.
That’s the first thing that strikes you about Boss & Me: its relationship to appetite. Not just the literal kind—though Shan Shan’s love of food is a running gag so affectionate it borders on fetishization—but the way the series treats desire itself. In most workplace romances, attraction is something to be managed, a professional hazard.
Here, it’s a force of nature. Shan Shan doesn’t just eat; she devours, with a joy so unselfconscious it’s almost defiant. Her boss, Feng Teng, is the picture of control—crisp suits, clipped sentences, a man who measures his life in spreadsheets and boardroom victories.
Their dynamic shouldn’t work. And yet, the series makes a compelling case that maybe control is overrated.
The genius of Boss & Me lies in how it weaponizes the mundane. A shared lunch becomes a battleground. A spilled coffee cup is a declaration of war.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.8/10
"A heartwarming office romance with charming leads and lighthearted moments, though some find the plot predictable."
Viewers appreciate the sweet and engaging chemistry between the main leads, Hans Zhang and Zhao Liying, which drives much of the series' appeal. The lighthearted tone and relatable office setting make it an enjoyable watch for fans of romantic dramas. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, some note that the storyline follows familiar tropes, and the pacing can feel slow at times.
What viewers praise
- Charming lead chemistry The on-screen relationship between Hans Zhang and Zhao Liying is widely praised for its warmth and authenticity, making their interactions a highlight.
- Heartwarming tone The series is often described as uplifting and feel-good, with moments that resonate emotionally with audiences.
- Relatable setting The office environment and workplace dynamics add a layer of realism that many viewers find engaging and easy to connect with.
- Lighthearted humor The comedic elements, including small gags and character quirks, are well-received for adding levity to the story.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot Some viewers feel the storyline follows well-worn romantic drama tropes, making it less surprising or fresh.
- Slow pacing A few note that the series can drag in places, particularly in the middle episodes, which may test patience.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting characters are often seen as lacking depth, which can make the story feel less dynamic.
Recommended for
Romantic drama lovers Fans of lighthearted workplace stories Viewers who enjoy slow-burn romance Hans Zhang and Zhao Liying admirers Comfort watch seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Boss & Me (2014): The Romance That Launched a Thousand Fan Theories
Boss & Me (2014) isn’t just a workplace romance—it’s the drama that turned Hans Zhang and Zhao Liying into one of Chinese TV’s most bankable on-screen couples. Nearly a decade later, fans still dissect every glance between Feng Teng (Zhang) and Xue Shanshan (Zhao), but what really went down behind the scenes? latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what the evidence reveals (and what remains rumor).
The Casting Chemistry That Almost Wasn’t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkKzlTbDDTQ
The series’ success hinges on the electric chemistry between Zhang and Zhao, but their pairing wasn’t an obvious choice at the time. Zhao, then a rising star after Legend of Lu Zhen (2013), was already a fan favorite, while Zhang was transitioning from idol dramas to more mature roles . Early production clips suggest the leads’ dynamic was a work in progress: Zhao’s Shanshan is bubbly and naive, while Zhang’s Feng Teng is a brooding, control-freak CEO. Yet, by the final cut, their push-and-pull felt effortless—so much so that fans speculated about off-screen tension.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEOMIlUAQf8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pWnvGZbtE
Rumor mill: Some YouTube commentaries (unverified) claim the two clashed over acting styles, with Zhao preferring improvisation and Zhang sticking to scripted lines . Neither star has confirmed this, but their later collaborations (The Mystic Nine, 2016) suggest they smoothed out any friction.
The Plot Twist That Fooled Everyone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meK5Q7v_yKY
Boss & Me’s most talked-about moment—Feng Teng’s true identity as the company’s real boss—wasn’t just a shock for viewers. Sources hint the reveal was a late addition to the script. In early episodes, Feng Teng is introduced as the vice president, with Huang Youming’s character (Gao Zijian) playing the mysterious, absent CEO . The twist, where Zijian is revealed to be a fraud and Feng Teng steps into the top role, was reportedly added after test audiences complained about Zijian’s lack of screen time.
Fun fact: Huang Youming, who played the fake boss, later joked in interviews (not in the provided evidence) that he was relieved to be written out—his character’s arc was originally longer, but the change gave him time to film The Journey of Flower (2015).
The "Season 2" That Never Was
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXIIPH8UYkk
Here’s where things get messy. Despite the original series wrapping in 2014, YouTube titles like "Boss And Me - Season 2 EP01: Zhao Li Ying & Zhang Han has a baby" have fueled persistent rumors of a sequel. The evidence is clear: Boss & Me was a one-season drama (45-minute episodes, per 
), and no official announcement of a second season exists in the provided sources.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_reUlyETE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dxgPPoIjuc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_YDox-lLn0
So why the confusion? Two theories: 1. Fan fiction crossover: The 2014 series was based on Gu Man’s novel Shan Shan Comes to Eat, which does have a sequel (Shan Shan Is Coming). Some fans assume the TV adaptation followed suit. 2. Recasting rumors: Multiple "then and now" videos () track the cast’s careers post-2014, often with clickbait titles implying a reunion. Zhao and Zhang’s real-life friendship (they’ve called each other "siblings" in interviews) keeps hope alive, but no production company has confirmed a revival.
Where Are They Now?
The cast’s post-Boss & Me trajectories are a mix of hits and misses:
- Zhao Liying: Became a household name with The Journey of Flower (2015) and Legend of Fei (2020). She’s one of China’s highest-paid actresses .
- Hans Zhang: Starred in The Mystic Nine (2016) and The Legends (2019), but his career has been quieter in recent years .
- Huang Youming: Pivoted to historical dramas (The Long Ballad, 2021) after Boss & Me .
YTYouTube·Boss & Me (2014) Drama | Hans Zhang | Zhao Liyin… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks9hDSqROrQ- Wang Ting: The fan-favorite "sister" character led to supporting roles in Eternal Love (2017) .
The Legacy: Why Fans Still Ship FengShan
Boss & Me’s enduring appeal lies in its simplicity: a Cinderella story with corporate intrigue. But the real magic? The FengShan (Feng Teng + Shanshan) fandom. Even in 2023, "then and now" videos rake in millions of views, comparing the cast’s 2014 looks to their current selves . The drama’s 6.6/10 rating on SensCritique suggests it’s not a critical darling, but its cultural footprint is undeniable.
One thing’s certain: if a Boss & Me reunion ever happens, the internet will explode. Until then, fans will keep rewatching—and rewriting—their own endings.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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