Of Love & Hidden Charms

It’s another over-nighter at the office for rookie xinmsn journalist Christel. She has just completed her piece on Singapore’s hidden gems and is about to face her Anna-Wintour-esque dragon of an editor, Janet. All’s not well as Janet skims her pieces and shreds it, figuratively. Christel is given an ultimatum of coming up with something good or it’s the boots and the door.

Meanwhile, we realize that Christel has a beef with her surly cameraman Ming and a crush on the sports editor Marcus. She cries on the shoulder of Benny, the motherly, scarfs-loving feature editor whose her best friend at work.

Janet tells Christel to come up with 10 more similarly good pieces as Carpenters and Cook's.

Christel gets a tip about Stand-Up Paddling in Sentosa from the mysterious Robbin Hood. Stand-up paddling or SUP, a famous sport in Hawaii, but relatively unknown to Singaporeans. She takes the opportunity to ask Marcus for help. Much to Ming’s consternation, Marcus tags along. Marcus is great at it, and as Christel fumbles, he’s there to catch her. This is a romantic episode where Marcus goes all out to flirt with Christel. Christel is in seventh heaven – but why is she so irritated with Ming? Ming behaves badly with Christel, their relationship becomes more frictious.

Christel picks up her courage and asks Marcus out for dinner that night. Marcus declines and asks for a raincheck.

Marcus tells Christel about a high-end restaurant that could be Janet’s idea of a hidden gem. He takes the opportunity to ask her out for dinner. When Ming finds her researching on the high-end restaurants, he taunts her about being shallow and only catering to the wealthy elite much to her chagrin. Christel protests that she has lots of depth and Ming challenges her to go to cover a secret place, He brings her to Dialogues in the Dark where Christel learns a side to Ming she never knew about – a softer, compassionate and humane side. Christel decides to base her next piece on Dialogues in the Dark rather than the high-end restaurant, much to Marcus’s chagrin. When Christel works late again, Marcus packs desserts from the high-end restaurant for her... Christel is moved.

Christel is confused and heart broken when Marcus acts all cold towards her, tells her it’s not her it’s him etc. Ming almost feels sorry for her. But Marcus can’t stop thinking about Christel, is it love or is it just a foiled conquest, he asks himself. Does he have the guts to break up with Janet?

Christel gets another curious Hidden Gem tip: Floating Yoga.

Ming and Christel gets to know each other. Ming opens up a little to Christel and she shares with him about her late father. They realized that they both like old houses – windows and tiles.

Robbin Hood saves the day again when he links Christel up with famous fashion blogger Rana Wehbe-Flinter of Bonjour Singapore (www.bonjoursingapore.com). Ming, Christel and Rana spend a fun day at some of Singapore’s off-beat and intriguing fashion hideaways. The audience realizes that Ming actually is friends with Rana... Could he be Robbin Hood after all...

Marcus tries to comfort Christel. Ming is itching to send info about Marcus and Janet, but decides not to. It’s not his place.

We learn more about Ming’s past.

But Christel sees Janet and Marcus snogging in her car. She realizes that people like Marcus and Janet deserve each other and might never change.

Zara tells Janet the truth about Ming’s criminal record, that he did it for a friend.

Christel apologizes to Ming, but he’s closed up, brought his mask up. Wants to focus on being that loner he’s always wanted to be. Christel gets the courage to tell Ming how she feels, but she sees Ming in an embrace with Zara and misunderstands the situation.