The Building Blocks of Life

Infobox Television
show_name = The Building Blocks of Life"'
建築有情天


caption =
genre = Modern Drama
format =
runtime = 45 minutes (approx.)
creator =
director =
producer =
writer =
starring = Alex Fong
Tavia Yeung
Christine Ng
opentheme = "深情" by
David Lui
endtheme =
country = HKG
language = Cantonese
network = TVB
first_aired = December 03, 2007
last_aired =
December 28,2007
num_episodes = 20
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://tvcity.tvb.com/drama/the_building_blocks_of_life
imbd_id =

"The Building Blocks of Life" (Traditional Chinese: 建築有情天) is a TVB modern drama series broadcasted in December 2007.

The plot revolves around an architecture theme.

ynopsis

The story begins with Isaac (Alex Fong), a rising architect in a construction company. At the time he was about to marry Winnie (Christine Ng). Right before they get married Isaac would fall in love with a fellow architect employee named Freeda (Tavia Yeung). Winnie was angry at Freeda for interrupting their marriage and relationship. She would become a psycho and suspect Isaac of all types of cheating and wrong-doings. Soon Isaac's architectural job would be disturbed by all the unnecessary trauma and chaos caused by her paranoid future wife. Another rising architect named Brian (Power Chan) would try to move up in the company. Isaac, however, remained one of the top talent.

As a new tactic, Brian then resorted to bribing SY (Chung King Fai), the CEO of the construction company. SY's daughter, On-Kiu (Natalie Tong) was a beautiful but extremely naive girl. Her father had initially set high expectations for her to graduation in a few major universities in the United Kingdom. Though On-Kiu was never good enough as a student. She faked her college diploma, and kept it as a secret. Brian would later discover this secret and blackmailed SY. He threatened to publicize the damaging diploma info and ruin SY's business and credibility. At the time SY was one of the most well-respected member in the construction business. His company had a solid reputation.

Meanwhile Winnie continue to mistrust Isaac and is convinced he is really in some relationship with Freeda. One day Isaac and Freeda did get drunk together, while away in a mainland China construction assignment. Isaac did end up having an affair with Freeda while intoxicated. Winnie finally was able to prove the affair was real, and not imaginary. She became angry and harassed Freeda daily. Eventually Winnie would cause a hit-and-run driving accident, sending Freeda to the hospital. Freeda would be in a short coma. After waking up, she eventually left Hong Kong due to the love triangle mess. Isaac would discontinue his marriage plans with Winnie anyways.

The story continues with Brian now in full control of the company with his bribes and blackmails. He makes it all very public, and forces SY to fire Isaac, the top architect. Brian now commanded all corporate decisions, including payroll, bonuses, and all human resource issues. He also tricked On-Kiu, the CEO's daughter, into marriage. SY was highly displeased, but there was little he could do. As On-Kiu was actually happy to be in a relationship with Brian. On-Kiu would later have a child with Brian.

By this time the company was already in poor financial shape, Brian was forcefully making too many poor decisions. In a major new construction deal, Brian was supposed to win a 10-year contract and be financially saved. There was supposed to be no competition. Isaac, who was previously fired, now returned with his own start-up company to compete for this 10-year contract. Brian physically attacked Isaac's hand with a wooden bat so he could no longer draw. Freeda, the former architect who had an affair with Isaac before, coincidentally returned to Hong Kong. She would help him complete the construction drawing designs.

While Isaac had a new design, his chance was still slim. He had to compete with SY, who had an excellent reputation in the industry. Though he was still Brian's blackmail puppet. One day On-Kiu discovered that her father has been protecting the company and family reputation by putting up with endless manipulation and financial abuses due to her fake diploma. She gave in, and SY was sick of putting up with the manipulation. In a surprising move, SY assisted the opposing company owned by Isaac instead of Brian. He essentially helped a competitor, and caused his own company to lose the 10-year contract. Brian was furious that his puppet CEO sold him out. Before Brian publicized the fake diploma info to the media, SY had already figured out ways to tie all the blackmailing to Brian as the main person responsible. Brian eventually lost control of everything, including his health. As he had developed intestinal cancer with zero chance survival rate. He would die while regretting taking advantage of On-Kiu who actually stood by him to the end.

Under the new start-up company and contract, Isaac would help build a new shoreline on the beaches. Freeda, the former architect who assisted him with the winning design, suddenly discontinue their renewed friendship. It turns out the hit-and-run car accident from earlier had created an brain tumor. She was constantly suffering from memory loss, and things were getting worse...

Cast

Viewership ratings

Award nominations

41st TVB Anniversary Awards (2008)
* "Best Drama"

References

External links

* [http://tvcity.tvb.com/drama/the_building_blocks_of_life/frontpage/index.html TVB.com] "The Building Blocks of Life" - Official Website zh icon

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