Only for Love

Wasted potential

First of all, what is this show about?

It’s Zheng Shuyi, a journalist who comes to know Shi Yan, an entrepreneur, as the uncle of her ex-boyfriend’s mistress. She gets closer and closer to him and sparks form, yet she still hides the reason of their meeting. At the same time, there are the love stories of Shuyi’s best friend, Shi Yan’s assistant, Shuyi’s boss and Shi Yan’s niece.

What can be said that’s good about this drama?

- Amazing cast. This show reunited some of the most famous and most recognisable Chinese actors, with Dylan Wang (LBFAD) and Bailu (Arsenal Military Academy) at the helm, accompanied by Wei ZheMing (Unforgettable Love) Jiang Pei Yao (Go Go Squid! 1), Zeng Li (LLTG) and many more. These are indeed also great actors, with Dylan Wang having grown majorly from his questionable acting in Miss The Dragon, although nothing could beat his acting in Love Between Fairy and Devil.

- Additionally, there seems to be quite a lot of budget for this series, with nice camera work, lots of closeups and flattering light. There’s also some pretty decor, background and overall good composition.

Now this is where everything will turn as this is the end of the positive aspects of this series.

What is bad about this drama? Too many things honestly. But what are the most apparent things?

- Storyline and bad use of time:
In the first part of the drama, the romance is dragged way too much, and there is little time dedicated to the progression of the secondary couples. It’s only when we get to the middle that we see the secondary characters become important. Near the end, we are disappointed and annoyed at the amount of couples that they tried to fit in this story. Some seemed natural, while others were completely forced and added nothing to the already heavy storyline. There are at least 6 couples shown in this, with more than half having little to no real screen-time.

- Lack of continuity:
They give us situations, that have obviously been filmed out of order, but when information has already been given to us previously, they go back on it or don’t know this information exists, as if some later episodes were written and filmed before the earlier ones.

-Rushed ending:
Near the end, they struggled to tie up the loose ends created throughout the series, and most were still open. They introduced so many storylines but didn’t do anything more to meaningfully contribute to the story. We are left with so many questions.

-Useless Characters:
They added characters out of nowhere, only to be used for one or two situations and then never be seen again, like a disappearing act. They were also used to force the main leads to experience the famous clichés (Jealousy, cheating, miscommunication, Rich CEO boyfriend, fake rumours…etc). One character appears in the end of the story, we’ve never heard of her, we don’t know where she comes from or why she’s here, but she doesn’t serve any use other than making the FL jealous and looking innocent.

- Main Leads personalities.
The ML was pretty basic, cold CEO who doesn’t like to talk much, and Dylan’s acting makes it a tiny bit enjoyable. What’s bad is the FL’s personality. It makes no sense. She is shy, yet courageous at the same time. And immature all the time, despite being an accomplished journalist respected by many. She tries to fit the mould of the soft, submissive female lead but all of her attributes fail to build a harmonious personality.

-Useless problems/intrigue:
The whole problem with the relationship of the main leads is the total lack of communication. And that the problem is resolved immaturely from both sides, and then forgotten.

To conclude:
This story tries to be the perfect overbearing CEO with a cutesy FL series, partnered with every cliché known to the CDrama industry. With the amount of budget it had, it’s disappointing story wise and doesn’t give us a proper ending.

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I'm in love

This is an incredible story. I fell in love with the show.

Warning!!! This review contains spoilers!!

Female lead is a finance reporter who's in a committed relationship with her boyfriend since her college days.
She's confident, hardworking, and very, very good at her job. She's beginning to build a name for herself in the finance circle as a great writer with sharp insights into the industry.
One day he life takes a turn as two things happen one after the other: She gets offered an interview by the Male lead, and she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her.

The Male lead is the heir to a large conglomerate. His family is filthy rich. He shook up the financial world when he left his family's firm to start his own investment company several years ago. He's been making strides ever since, distinguishing himself in his own right. But he's very media shy and doesn't often speak with the press. Put all of these things together and you get a very hungry public. The ML reads an interview that the FL wrote and is suitably impressed. He decides to offer her an interview, which she accepts.

Right after their first meeting , the FL sees her ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend. She comes to the mistaken belief that the 'home wrecker' is the niece of the ML. Being hurt and angry, she decides to take her revenge by seducing the ML into falling for her.

I must admit that this idea of hers gave me pause. It doesn't seem in character for the FL to either want to seduce anyone, or to take advantage of an innocent person. We see her at work and with her friends and family--she is smart, kind, patient, and highly ethical. She's also not the flirty type--she's very level-headed and somewhat reserved with men. So the idea that she'd approach a man of her own initiative and play with his feelings is extremely out of character for her. I guess its excused by her heartbreak? Remember, she's been with her ex-boyfriend for many years.

The FL initiates a game of cat and mouse with the ML. She comes up with the most ridiculous ways to get his attention-- from faking a sprained ankle to making a big to-do about an earring she'd lost in his car. They also happen to run into each other in work circles and she takes full advantage of each meeting.
The ML is perfectly aware that she has an angle of some sort. He's no one's fool. Yet, he's intrigued by her so he decides to go along, in a "give her enough rope to hang herself" kind of way.

The dialogue between these two is absolutely glorious. She's trying so hard to be a seductress (she isn't one). And he just loves teasing her and getting a rise out of her. Everything they say is sharp, witty, filled with double meanings. As a viewer you can't help but laugh at loud--I know I did. Kudos to the writers (not sure if it's the script writers or manga author who gets the credit, but regardless). I have never, ever come across such hilarity before and I LOVED EACH AND EVEYRY MINUTE.

The parts where the FL goes over-the-type in a high-school-girl way in order to get closer to the ML would be cringy--if it were real. The point is that none of it is. You can see the FL's innocence by the schemes she uses--they are contrivances that teenage girls use. So it's funny to see her gritting her teeth and pushing herself to go through with the inanity. What's even funnier is that the ML sees through her each and every time. He calls her out on it, but never directly. No, he's way to sly for that. And way too witty. So I just sat back and laughed as I watched them trying to best each other. Like I said...absolutely glorious. You can cut the ML's wit with a knife.

Eventually the ML catches real feelings for the FL. And the FL realizes that she's not chasing the ML for revenge anymore--she's actually fallen for him for real.
They both admire the heck out of each other. She admires his financial acumen and his courage in risking branching out on his own. He admires her sharp intellect, looks, and overall personality.

This would be good news, except...

He knows she's hiding something from him so he won't fully commit to a relationship.
She's terrified that if he finds out why she approached him initially then she'll lose him for good. So she also can't fully commit to him.

This shaky ground of "I like you, but won't commit" is the breeding ground for a lot of misunderstandings.
Add in a niece (not the homewrecker) who's hiding her true identity, parents pushing for blind dates, and the unsolicited romantic pursuit from other parties and you get the endless back-and-forth of a relationship that's constantly wobbling this way and that.

He's desperately waiting for her to come clean, knowing in his heart that he'll give her whatever she wants if she'll only confide in him.
She's desperately afraid that she'll lose him, leading her to lie to him in big and small ways because she's insecure in their relationship.

Things are just about to get better, he's just about ready to give in completely even without knowing what she's hiding, when the truth blows up in their faces.
He finds out that she approached him for revenge, and he's devastated.

She's also devastated. In her mind it's over between them, because there's no way he'll forgive her or want to be with her. She sees her betrayal as the definite end of them.
Meanwhile, all he wants is an apology and her reassurance that her feelings are real--that despite her initial reasons, she did actually fall for him in truth.

So he's waiting for her to approach him and make amends while she's convinced that he hates her and wants nothing to do with her. So when she does approach him, and she apologizes, she doesn't explain. She doesn't reassure him that she does actually have true feelings for him. She only apologizes for the wrong she's done, and focuses on work---arranging to shift upcoming interviews between him and her publication to a different reporter, thus terminating any further contact between them.
She approaches him twice. Both times she apologizes. Both times she ends up focusing on work--not because she doesn't want him or doesn't want to reconcile, but because in her mind it's hopeless and she also feels guilty as hell--believing she doesn't deserve his forgiveness. He, of course, has no clue what's going on in her mind. So he's convinced, going off her actions, that all she cares about is work and that she never did like him for real.

They are both so sad and unhappy. It was really heart-breaking to watch. This show portrays two adults having their hearts broken by the one they love , and the way it's shown is very realistic and touching.

Eventually, the niece (I love that girl!!) encourages her uncle, the ML, to approach the FL one more time--having him be the one to reach out, rather than him continuing to wait for her to initiate contact. Once he does, the FL gains the courage to confess to him, telling him that what had started out as an act became real very quickly. She truly does like him. He forgives her immediately and they get back together.
Even at this point, he continues teasing her. He won't tell her outright that he forgives her, won't tell her outright that they're officially a couple. It's endearing to see how she takes all her courage to be with him, determined to win him over 100% so that he does give her the words, the clear commitment. At one point she tells him that she can't believe how fast he's forgiven her, that she's expecting him to take revenge on her and even the score. His response, and the love he gave her, warmed my heart. The ML truly does love her and all he asks of her is that she love him back.

And they lived happily ever after!!

(There are two additional side couples in the show. The niece and the FL's bff, but I don't really have the patience to go into detail. I don't have any issues with how they were portrayed but none of them caught my heart or interest in the way that the main couple did.)

I adore, adore, adore this show!!
The ML is portrayed as the typical "cold" CEO but you can see his smirks, his wit, his devilishness in everything he says and does. This sets him apart from the stereotypical....miles apart. I absolutely love him.

The FL is so funny and smart. Such a breath of fresh air. I've never seen a heroine quite like her in any show before.

There were no skips for me in this show. Every moment was gold, every moment counted. None of it was boring.
I've already seen it twice, so that should answer any questions about the rewatch value :)

Anyway, if I haven't made it clear yet, GO WATCH THIS SHOW!! It's absolutely amazing.

If you've made it to the end of my long ramble, I thank you for reading and wish you happy watching <3

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Waste of Time & Potential!

I did it. I finally watched every single episode without skipping. I was miserable, but I did it because I really love Bai Lu & Dylan Wang. I wanted to give them my full attention until the very end.

This drama had so much wasted potential. I even took down some notes on my phone while I watched. How could a drama with such an amazing cast be so terrible! Okay it's time to let it all out.

Negatives:
- Unnecessarily long staring/pondering scenes. LIKE SUPER unnecessarily long.
- Yi Yang was a useless character. He added nothing to this show. Pure annoyance. This guy couldn't and wouldn't take no for a damn answer.
- Lack of communication within all of the characters. Everyone pretty much knew each other but didn't know that they all knew each other mutually. Does that make sense? Like with Guan Ji and ShanShan... why didn't ShanShan tell her best friend ShuYi that she knew who he was? And even towards the end when GJ and SS got together, she didn't even tell ShuYi until she found out for herself. I actually liked this couple in the beginning, but boy oh boy were they so damn annoying later on!
- Speaking of ShanShan - she gave the WORST relationship advice to ShuYi. And it doesn't help that ShuYi is so dumb. They're basically dumb and dumber, except dumber is giving dumb advice. HAHA.
- Nobody is straightforward with their feelings except the niece, ShiYue.
- So much hesitation with talking & texting. I can't tell you how many times they typed out a decent message but decided to delete it and not send it.
- Many many missed opportunities to clear up misunderstandings. MANY!!!!
- ShuYi's Mom meeting ShiYan was SOOOOO disappointing. We didn't get to see her true reaction to him really being ShuYi's boyfriend. That scene was so boring and the Mom just left right after? What the heck was that all about?! They could have made it so much better. I wanted to see her surprised, but instead she just looked bored and annoyed the whole entire time she was at the house.
- The wedding scene with Tang Yi and her hubby was so awkward. They didn't even kiss... they just hugged it out?! LOL.
- Ending was disappointing and felt empty.

Okay that's enough negatives, now onto the positives:

- I really enjoyed ShiYue's character. She seemed to be the only one giving decent advice, had her head screwed on, spoke her mind most of the time, straightforward about her feelings, great friend and so fun!! Loved her character.
- Great kiss scenes between ShuYi and ShiYan.
- Aesthetically pleasing actors & actresses.

Overall, this was not worth the watch. 36 episodes was way too long. This definitely could have been 20 episodes or less. What a frustrating drama with wasted potential. Disappointing!

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Fantastic cast. Horrible script. Lighthearted mindless watch.

I’m only giving it a higher rating because of the actors. I don’t recommend this drama. I usually start my reviews by writing about the general plot of the drama. But the plot is non-existent here. Not only that but the main romance is so ridiculous! Adults who are in the most superficial relationships and communicate like teenagers. It saddens me to say that the script is trash as I love the actors but their talents were seriously wasted here.

POSITIVE:
- Easy to watch before you go to sleep or if you’ve had a long day of work and just want to relax.
- Fantastic cast (literally the only reason I didn’t drop this drama).

NEGATIVE:
- Superficial relationships with childish communication.
- Conflicts that could have been solved with one sentence dragged on for many episodes.
- Stupid “romance” consisting of texting 24/7 of small talk and staring at each other for no reason.
- Zero character development. Zero deep conversations. Just extremely shallow relationships.
- Non-existent plot. Literally nothing happens in this drama. Nothing! All they do is stare at each other, have small talks at dinner, text useless things and go to boring work meetings.
- Kiss scenes were cut! One in particular snowy kiss of Bai Lu and Dylan was shot for 3 hours but on screen shown for 2 seconds.
- BTS of Bai Lu and Dylan are better and cuter than the whole drama which sounds crazy to me when I write it but it’s true.
- Business talks were ridiculous filler scenes.
- Too long and draggy (it would have been better if it was only 24 episodes). I’m sure the 36 episodes were done for more money.
- Underwhelming ending. After 36 episodes you don’t even get to see the wedding of the main leads unless you watch the special episode.
- Secondary couple with the biggest commitment issues was depressing to watch most of the time.
- Weird camera angles. Horrible white filter that makes the actors look like vampires (this might have been fixed by the network later).
- Aesthetic wasn’t appealing. The outfits and the settings were not nice to look at.

COUPLES:
Main couple: their romance was just texting stupid things 24/7 and having small talks during dinner. In 36 episodes they never had even ONE deep conversation about life. This made their relationship feel extremely superficial, shallow and meaningless. Their chemistry was kind of on and off. When he was assertive I liked it but when she was chasing him, it felt forced. At some point when the female lead continued to chase him after many rejections, she looked like she had no self-respect.

Second couple: they started off as the hottest and sexiest couple in the drama but ended up being the most depressing one. Their fun cat and mouse game turned into seeing them depressed 24/7 as they both had commitment issues. Just like the first couple, their relationship had zero communication and felt very shallow.

Third couple: the niece and professor were the best couple for me. Although too repetitive at first as the girl chased him (just like the female lead chased the male lead), their relationship developed more organically. They actually TALKED like normal adults. And resolved conflicts better than the other couples. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough screen time which is a shame as they were the most likeable characters.

OVERALL: If you want to watch a lighthearted mindless drama before you go to sleep, without any character development and adults who communicate like teenagers, this is for you.

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Some of my frustrations are listed below...

It took me 2 whole months before I decided to watch this. I admit, I read reviews and summary reviews on series that I plan to watch. But do not get me wrong, I am never swayed by bad reviews of low rate, I will still watch the series as long as I like the main couple and the ending is a happy one. I cannot just watch sad endings even if the main couples are my favorites.

Now, the 7.0 overall rate is still high but I will give this score because I like the main leads, especially FL BUT I do not like them as a couple. I mean, I do not get excited when they are on screen and I do not long for them to be on screen together.

I felt that there were so many plot holes and I do not think there was much development on the FL character, the ML character development (if you can call it) was weird because it was so abrupt. Almost half or even more than half of the series, they do not know who they were talking about! I mean, is that even possible? When my friends or colleagues talk about their crush, we always want to know their names and I mean, sometimes they will not give their names but eventually, especially, if they are always together, we can create the conclusion that he/she was the one she/he was talking about! All characters are all professionals here, and we are led to presume that they are all smart! But no, they are not. and that is one of the most frustrating things about this series.

Another frustration, is the FL is perceived to be "good with words and expressing the feelings of the person she is interviewing to the public" but, OMG, why was it so hard to tell the ML about the "part" of the reason why she approached him? And why was it so hard to apologize especially when she knew that she needed to say it and that is what the ML was waiting for (and of course her explanation)? Speaking of explanation, why did she not properly explain her side? I mean, we all just assume, that since the ML is worried about her, then everything is ok!

Do not get me started with the FLs best friend and ML best friend as a couple. My frustration with them is their mouths and their beautiful brains are for display only. They do not use it to talk about the things they want to say to each other or to analyze the situation they saw or heard. They use their mouth to throw hurtful things at each other and their brain draws conclusions based on the small amount of time they see or hear.

Now the MLs niece and MLs other bestfriend. I do not have a frustration about them only how their characters are written and also the lines. I can say that they are almost the most normal couple in the drama.

Another frustration, there is no climax at all. I mean, the story was a steady line then go down then neutral again then down again.

So, you can watch this but do not expect to be excited throughout the drama or to feel any tension like what I felt in episodes 10 and 11 in the Destined series.

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This drama has nothing but Bailu's pretty face

Like honestly, I was down to see some romance but this drama doesn't know where it's going. The motivations of the main character are terribly explained and for many times I was confused if she knew certain plot points or not. The secondary couples also do not make this more enjoyable, except maybe Bi Roushan and the wealthy man she has on and offs again and again. I just watched it to see more of my girl's beautiful face and to quench my curiosity over Dylan's actual voice for the first time. But it's a whole lot of nothing plotwise and dragged out for no reason at all.

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I can't stop rewatch this drama

I really like the story, actually i watch it randomly because I am bored, but it turns out fun. I never watch drama that the FL is the antagonist, at first the story made me curious but later I am being trapped with the sweet love story and there are many quotes about life that I can relate. Again watching it again and again is not boring rather it make me wanna watch it again and again. The actress and actor is amazing too, I am type of person that focus on expression and voice of the actor, for me in this drama they did really well. I feel like I am not watching the drama but I am being there with them playing the drama because I can feel all the emotion in the drama. I think they just lack in some common sense like when the intern pour water in keyboard but the monitor is the one that shutdown, about the phone and people can hear it I still can relate with it, because nowadays phone have high volume in their load speaker. For the production at first I think its weird but as time goes by, I find it interesting because I like detail so I think its not a problem. The OST is easy listening and my favorite is Emotion Remote Control by Meng Jia. That is all, Thank you Only for love :))

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The best cdrama I've watched so far

Why is it 7.9? It needed to be 8.5 at least. The drama is so interesting and the main leads' chemistry is on another level. I've watched all at of dramas with the CEO tropes, but trust me this one is different, It will hook you up from the first episode
* ⠀⠀⠀.　　　　　　　　　　. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✦⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀☄️ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀.　　　　　　　　　　　　　.　　　ﾟ .　　　　　　　　　　　　　. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　✦ 　　　　　,　　　　　　　.
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　.⠀　　🌎⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀‍⠀,
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Don't let the haters fool you, that's the best romcom and chemistry is steamy!

"Only for Love" was basically made for me. Bai Lu and Dylan Wang — my all-time favorites — finally starring together in a romance? It was practically a public service! You better believe I was first in line to watch. I’ve seen so many of their dramas separately that having them in the same one felt long overdue. And thankfully, it delivered!!

This drama is lighthearted, funny, and packed with electric chemistry. Dylan Wang is in his element here. No one does the commanding, effortlessly cool male lead — with an air of seamless authority — quite like him. His character, Shi Yan, is the most eligible bachelor in town, a financial genius with a sharp mind and big dreams of making an impact. A prodigy with a clear vision and unwavering focus.

Dylan is as handsome as ever playing Shi Yan, stunning with striking features and an intense look that makes you feel his presence without even trying. There's a quiet power to him, a confidence that’s hard to ignore. His presence is amplified by sleek suits that make it clear he’s always in control. Shi Yan has spent years building his career with sharp precision, leaving little space for distractions — especially not romance. Practical and calculated, he handles relationships the same way he handles business: with caution and a carefully protected heart.

Bai Lu, on the other hand, is simply gorgeous as Zheng Shuyi. Her expressive eyes and natural charm make her not only beautiful but also incredibly magnetic. She’s the kind of person who draws you in without needing to say a word. Professionally, Zheng Shuyi is brilliant. Personally, she is... in a bit of a hot mess. After years of dating a man she believed was the one, she gets unceremoniously dumped. And to add insult to injury? He leaves her for a woman that both he and Shuyi mistakenly believe to be Shi Yan’s niece. Naturally, this bruises both her pride and her heart.

So when she gets the opportunity to interview Shi Yan, she sees a chance to turn the tables. A little harmless revenge? A few flirtatious games to prove she can move on just as easily? It seems like a perfect plan, until it backfires spectacularly. Because what starts as playful banter soon becomes something else entirely, and suddenly, Shi Yan isn’t just an impressive subject for an article anymore. He’s an enigma, one she can’t quite figure out, yet can’t seem to walk away from.

Shi Yan, for his part, refuses to admit he enjoys this newfound chaos in his meticulously structured life. He maintains his cold and distant façade, but with every interaction, it becomes increasingly clear: Zheng Shuyi is a distraction he can’t ignore. With her natural charisma and undeniable allure, she starts to chip away at his defenses, and though he tries to keep his distance, there’s no denying that she has already managed to capture his attention.

And then there’s Qing Shiyue, Shi Yan’s actual niece and quite possibly the most perceptive character in the entire show. She knows her uncle far too well and sees right through his act. So naturally, she takes it upon herself to give fate a little push, constantly orchestrating opportunities for Shi Yan and Shuyi to spend more time together. If anyone deserves credit for their romance, it’s her.

The series is filled with hilarious misunderstandings, romantic tension, and characters who are impossible not to root for. Bai Lu and Dylan Wang’s dynamic is electric, making their push-and-pull relationship consistently engaging. How not to mention those phones ringing at the most inconvenient moments? They were almost getting under my skin, but thankfully, when they finally kissed, it was so real, hot, and steamy, I nearly forgot all about the interruptions.

In the end, Only for Love is a delightful blend of wit, romance, and heart. It never takes itself too seriously, yet delivers a love story that feels both fun and meaningful. For fans of rom-coms with clever leads, sizzling chemistry, and a visually stunning cast, it’s an easy recommendation. And for those who, like me, have been waiting forever to see Bai Lu and Dylan Wang in the same drama? It was well worth the wait.

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