This Is Not What I Expected

This Is Not What I Expected

Year: 2017

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: Chinese

Director: Derek Hui Wang-Yu

RomanceComedy

Lu Jin, a meticulous hotel executive with a passion for exquisite food, finds fault with everything at the Rosebud hotel. His dissatisfaction shifts when he encounters Gu Shengnan, a vibrant sous chef who prepares a meal that challenges his standards. This light-hearted romantic comedy follows these rivals as they unexpectedly collaborate in the kitchen, creating a delightful blend of humor, romance, and culinary delights that appeals to food enthusiasts.

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Timeline & Setting – This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of This Is Not What I Expected (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events take place in a contemporary setting, with fast-paced city life and modern dining culture. The narrative centers on corporate maneuvering, high-end cuisine, and personal relationships in today's global metropolis.

Location

Shanghai, China, London, United Kingdom

The story unfolds primarily in Shanghai’s bustling hotel world, a setting of luxury, high-stakes deals, and culinary competition. It also features Lu Jin’s London office, underscoring the global reach of his business. The urban backdrop highlights the contrast between public success and private longing as two strangers navigate fate through food.

🏙️ Urban Shanghai 🏨 Luxury hotel ✈️ London business scene

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:41

Main Characters – This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

Meet the key characters of This Is Not What I Expected (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gu Sheng Nan (Zhou Dongyu)

A 26-year-old chef at a hotel who uses cooking as a voice to express ambition, resilience, and warmth. She is bold, impulsive, and highly skilled, capable of turning a simple dish into an emotional statement. Her growing attraction to Lu Jin is tempered by professional pride and a guarded heart.

👩‍🍳 Chef 💪 Determined 🌆 Urban 💖 Romantic

Lu Jin (Takeshi Kaneshiro)

A powerful hotel magnate whose sharp pragmatism rules the business world. He is driven by success but becomes unexpectedly drawn to Gu Sheng Nan’s artistry, blurring the line between client and confidant. His actions reveal a capacity for vulnerability beneath a commanding exterior.

💼 Businessman 🧭 Strategic 💖 Romantic 🏨 Hotel owner

Lu Jin's Personal Chef (Lin Chi-Ling)

A seasoned, discreet professional who sustains Lu Jin with precise, high-end cooking. She represents Lu Jin’s private, domestic world and the discipline behind his public persona. She is calm, expert, and a steady presence in the high-pressure hotel ecosystem.

👩‍🍳 Personal Chef 🧊 Composed ⭐ Expert

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:41

Major Themes – This Is Not What I Expected (2017)

Explore the central themes of This Is Not What I Expected (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🍽️ Love & Food

Food becomes the language that forges a connection between Lu Jin and Gu Sheng Nan. The special dish that wins him over marks a turning point where romance and culinary craft intersect with business. Their relationship deepens through shared meals, subtle gestures, and the vulnerability that great food invites. The film uses cuisine to explore desire, care, and companionship beyond ambition.

💼 Power & Ambition

Lu Jin’s hotel empire and the buyout pressure drive the narrative, showing how corporate success hinges on tough, sometimes ruthless decisions. The manager’s demand for culinary excellence becomes a test of loyalty, standards, and control. Layoffs and restructuring reveal the cost of keeping an empire intact. The story frames ambition against human relationships, challenging what constitutes true success.

🎭 Identity & Deception

Gu Sheng Nan hides her role as the secret chef who fuels Lu Jin’s appetite, while Lu Jin conceals aspects of his personal life behind his public persona. The tension arises from mistaken beliefs and the revelation of hidden motives. Trust is forged in moments of vulnerability, when two people finally see each other beyond the masks. The film uses deception and recognition to explore authentic connection.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:41

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