The paper analyzes the drama through the lens of the "Contract Marriage" trope and its execution in the 17-episode format (or the standard 20-episode run).

Note for the user: If "ICU" in your prompt referred to a specific medical drama or a specific subplot within a different show, please clarify, as "Once We Get Married" is a romance drama. However, if you are looking for the drama reviewed above, this draft covers the necessary academic analysis.

. In a reversal of his typical workaholic persona, Yin Sichen chooses to stay home to care for her rather than attending to his corporate duties. This domestic setting strips away the power dynamics of the boardroom and the "president-contractee" relationship. The act of Sichen personally ensuring Xixi takes her medicine and rests highlights a shift in his priorities; his concern is no longer about maintaining the public image of their marriage, but about her well-being. Authentic Dating vs. Contractual Obligations

This 4-minute scene is the emotional core of Episode 17.

The cinematography shifts to close-ups. Sichen, for the first time, stutters. He says (paraphrased): “At first? No. But now? I cannot imagine waking up without you.” It is raw, vulnerable, and completely devoid of the drama’s usual comedic beats.