UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!
The story tells you that- Love is sweet. Love is bitter. Love doesn't need mighty words. Love is expressed in silence as well. Tragic yet beautiful!Kudos to Allen Ren & Bai Lu! They portrayed the emotions so genuinely. Even their eyes spoke a volume. Loved the entire cast.
Some may find the drama too heartbreaking to watch while others may complain about the slow-burn romance. YES, I agree it is a rollercoaster ride full of mixed emotions, you have to be prepared with tissues & cry your heart out, STILL it is a MUST-WATCH for C-drama fans who love wuxia & pure romance. This heart-wrenching tale of true love and life is curated so gracefully that you must give it a try!
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1This review may contain spoilers
One and Only: A Love So Quiet, Yet So Endless.
It has been four years since I finished this drama, yet the pain it left behind still feels as raw as the day it ended. The wound that One and Only carved in my heart never healed — it still bleeds quietly whenever I think of them. I’ve seen many tragic love stories, but none have ever left an ache like this one. The emotions this drama gave me, the tears I shed for them, are unlike anything I’ve felt for any other story.💔 Plot & Setting
The drama tells the story of Zhou Sheng Chen, a young prince born with an unmatched, legendary bone structure — a rare beauty so perfect it inspires awe and fear alike.
And Cui Shi Yi, the only daughter of the noble Cui clan, was constrained by her birth and status, unable to make choices for her own life. Destined from childhood to become the Crown Prince’s wife.
Because of political alliances, Shi Yi is sent to Zhou Sheng Chen’s manor to learn and live under his tutelage. In the quiet moments of their shared life, they begin to love — the warrior and the noblewoman, destined by birth to different paths.
But fate is cruel: Zhou Sheng Chen is framed, condemned, tortured to death; Shi Yi, crushed by grief and unable to bear the world without him, ends her life in sorrow.
💔 Love, Silence & Sorrow
What I loved most about One and Only was the way their love was shown — subtle, restrained, yet endlessly deep.
Without confessions or physical closeness, their emotions spoke through their eyes, through silence, through the faint tremor in their voices. Every look they shared held love, longing, and pain.
The male lead, calm, gentle, and noble in his bearing, carried the quiet sorrow of a man bound by duty. The female lead, pure, elegant, and innocent, loved him with her entire heart — yet she, too, was trapped by her status.
Neither of them did anything wrong. Yet fate punished them cruelly — not for their actions, but for their bloodlines.
She, born into a noble family, was never free to choose her own path.
He, born into the imperial family, was a prince whose life was never his own.
From childhood, he lived under constant pressure — forced to leave the palace, to survive betrayal and hardship, to build his own army, to protect the very nation that would later doubt him. His unmatched grace and loyalty became the reason for others’ jealousy and fear.
Their love was forbidden from the start — a bond born pure, yet destroyed by power and duty.
They never defied fate openly, never rebelled — they simply loved, quietly, sincerely. And for that, they suffered.
💔 Final Thoughts
One and Only tells a story of two souls who were destined to meet but never meant to stay.
A story where love blooms not in freedom, but in restraint — where devotion shines even brighter because it could never be spoken aloud.
It shows that some loves are too pure for the world, too constrained by fate, yet their beauty, like Zhou Sheng Chen’s unmatched bones, is unforgettable. Even years later, the ache of this story lingers. Their love, though silenced, lives on in memory and heartache, eternal and unmatched. 🕊️
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A love that lasts forever
I have watched hundreds of Chinese dramas and this is my all time favorite. Don’t let the bad reviews sway you. I suggest that you watch it and judge it for yourself. The love story of Zhoucheng Chen and Shiyi is unforgettable. A love that is so beautiful and strong that nobody can break what they had. A drama of true love that even death can’t separate them. I now understand the meaning of love needs no words.Shiyi’s love for ZhouCheng Chen was so great that it lasted 2 lifetimes. This drama will stab you in the heart but watch forever and ever after this for the cure. Bailu and Ren Jialun’s acting is so impressive. This series made me love them. I have always thought that bailu is a good actress. I never she was this amazing. It made her my favorite actress in all cdramas. Her range of acting is so good that when she cries, you feel it too. It’s like her feelings are your feelings. She is truly the best. I love Ren Jialun’s micro expressions. His eyes speaks for him. What an impressive actor. I had always thought him to be a mediocre actor. Till i watched this series. No wonder they call him the perfect male lead for historical dramas.Was this review helpful to you?
Pure love
I love the love between Zhou shengchen and Shi yi. Their love is just so kind and pure. No need kiss scene to prove their love. Their eyes can't lying, their face can't hide. Really amazing acting of Allen and Bai Lu!Everything feels perfect, let's not talking about the ending. Sadly the ending for the conflicts are just so fast, like they only focus on Zhou shengchen and shi yi ending, and makes the conflicts ending not really satisfying, because it seems rushed
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This review may contain spoilers
A tragic symphony of love and sacrifice, where peace blooms through heartbreak.
This drama shattered me in the most beautiful way.Zhousheng Chen—Master, His Highness, Junior Prince of Nanchen—was the definition of quiet strength and selfless love. A man who gave up everything—his home, marriage, children—just to protect peace.
He carried the weight of a kingdom with such grace, never once thinking of himself.
His bond with his 11 disciples, especially Shiyi, was pure and full of unspoken love. Their loyalty, the warmth between them—it made everything feel more tragic.
What broke me most? His aching wish for his family to live in peace, not power. And in the end, he sacrificed himself... not because he had to, but because he chose to protect everyone else.
Everyone loved him—deeply, fiercely—and yet, he still died alone. His death left a hollow in my heart I’m not sure will ever heal.
A poetic, painful masterpiece. 💔🕊🥀
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A Love That Spoke in Silence: My Heartfelt Journey with One and Only
What touched me the most was Cui Shiyi — her quiet strength, her deep love for Zhou Sheng Chen, and the way she carried her emotions with such dignity. Their love wasn’t loud. It was silent, patient, and deeply rooted — the kind that doesn't need words, only glances and gestures. It made me believe in a love that is pure, selfless, and timeless.Zhou Sheng Chen… what a man. A true hero in every sense. Brave, loyal, and kind-hearted. He lived for others and carried the weight of the world with grace. Shiyi, on the other hand, was full of ethics, elegance, and inner strength. She stood tall even in the most painful moments. Together, they made a pair that deserved happiness — but fate had other plans.
The scene that won’t leave my mind is Shiyi’s suicide. It still plays in my eyes, and it hurts. Her final act wasn’t weakness — it was love, sorrow, and the unbearable weight of loss. And Chen’s death? So noble, so undeserved. Both their endings were tragic, yet somehow… beautifully poetic.
Yes, it broke my heart. Yes, I cried. But I also felt something incredibly deep. This is not just a love story — it’s a story of soulmates who met in the wrong lifetime. I will never forget them.
One and Only is a masterpiece of emotions. If you believe in love that goes beyond life and death — watch it. But be ready. Your heart may never fully heal after. until you watch 'Forever and ever'.
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Beautiful bones are rare in this world
A tragically beautiful love story between a quite young lady from a scholarly family and her shifu, a righteous war general.Our FL, Cui Shiyi comes from a family of Literary noblemen. After an incident where her father was killed she looses her voice. Shiyi is one of the most lovely FL I've ever seen. She is considerate and kind. Despite being considerably physically weak than the people around her she never comes across as annoying.
Her Shifu, our ML Zhou Shengchen is a military general. To avoid suspicion he has vowed to never marry or have children. Let me tell you this is the nicest man you'll ever see in any drama. He just so kind, he has the biggest heart of all. He is soo good that it almost makes him look impossible to exist. Also he isn't cold unlike other MLs, he treats our Fl really well since the start.
These two people's relationship albeit tragic is filled with warmth and gentleness which goes really well with the overarching tragic tone of the drama.
Of the side characters, I love each and every single one of them. Especially the soldiers in our ML's army.
Here are the side ships:
-A hot blooded female general × ex-crown prince, currently a monk!
-A soft hearted scholar-general × hot blooded female general 2.0
-a crazy Prince who only wants power x a bratty princess
-an emperor who is imprisoned by his own mother × his pregnant empress
The drama has brilliant cinematography and amazing Osts. Definitely watch it if you want something short and beautiful
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"ONE AND ONLY YOU"
"HERE IAM COMMING TO MARRY YOU ZHOCHENSHING IF THERE IS NEXT LIFE COME TO MARRY ME FIRST" and she jumps.....One of the best among the CLASSIC C Dramas literally I was cried at the end it is also a bad ending I witnessed but I was happy to witness it because when you have not able to do anything to your enemy who killed the one who YOU LOVE only for his sulfish reasons and forces you to do things you didn't want to do. The story, music,casting,action is best U Must Watch This Before FOREVER AND EVER ITS the beginning
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Knowing this was a prequel saved my heart
This story is slow and sweet to start. Our two leads say so much with their actions alone and that carries throughout the drama. A sometimes intense ride of conflict between love, country, and family, this drama makes full use of a relatively limited cast and sets/locations. Its soft and subtle until you realize your heart is being ripped out.That said, it was beautifully crafted, carefully constructed and fantastically acted. I just needed a tiny bit more for it to hit a 10. I am not likely to watch again only for my heart's sake. Thank goodness for reviews and knowing I had more of their story to watch in "Forever and Ever."
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Awesome drama
I have watch so many Cdrama and one and only make me cry badly. Almost finish the whole tissue box.Start to cry when CSY talking to her mum where she do not want to marry the crown Prince. All the scenes make me cry non stop. ZSC last words to SY is really touching. He like SY but they cannot be together due to his vows.
Chemistry between Bailu and Allen is so good. Allen look charming in his general suits and he look so cool. The theme song sang by Allen is so nice.
Even do is a sad ending but I totally love this drama . Currently watching forever and ever
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My very first cdrama
This is my first cdrama that i watched, my mon recommended it to me. I used to have this stereotype about cdrama that the acting and transition from one scene to another would be bad, but this drama really broke the stereotype. The acting is good, the cinematography was indeed beautiful and i really ove their wardrobes, i can see that this is a high quality drama. It may be draggy at some episodes but i didn't really mind that, i love the slowburn love that 2 lead characters have.Overall i enjoyed this drama, EVEN GOT ME CRY A RIVER AT THE END, and leave me with some empty fealing Read More
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