Be Passionately in Love

more like softly in love, honestly

i was actually into it at first. the story had potential. the FL felt fun and confident at the start, which i really enjoyed.

but the second half... kinda lost me. the pacing slowed down, and not much was happening. i had to push myself to finish it, not because it was awful, just because it didn't live up to what the title promised. i felt a lot of things but "being passionately in love" ain't one of them.

wang anyu was definitely a highlight, i really liked his acting and emotional scenes. liu haocun was cute too, maybe not the perfect fit for the role but i still enjoyed her expressions and i'd watch her again... maybe not in a romance tho.

that said, her character was a bit frustrating. i get they were going for confident, but sometimes felt more arrogant or emotionally distant. and those fake kisses weren't of any help.

the ost though? gorgeous. all the songs were amazing and definitely a standout.

overall, not a fave, but not the worst. just a flully drama that started ok but kind of fizzled out.

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The Kind of Romance That Feels Like Home

Just finished watching this drama. It’s very lightweight — no toxicity at all. The chemistry, the love between them, I love everything about it. The two fathers in this drama are hilarious too, always bickering with each other 😂

You know, I honestly don’t mind at all if a drama doesn’t have kissing scenes. Because a good drama shouldn’t be judged by kissing scenes alone. Even though this is a romantic drama, you might wonder — how can it still feel romantic without any kissing scenes? How??

Because when I watch this drama, I can feel all the love between them. That butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling. Your heart feels like it’s blooming. This drama proves that even without kissing scenes, it can still be a very good drama.

I love all the relationships shown — from father and daughter, to Xu Zhi and Chen Luzhou. I especially love the trope where he fell first and fell harder. Chen Luzhou’s efforts seriously made me cry and feel so emotional 🥹

I also love how they inserted bits of comedy throughout the drama. There were unexpected moments too, which made it even more fun to watch. And the most unexpected one — the proposal scene. I actually had a feeling that the puppy keychain Luzhou gave Xu Zhi during New Year might be a hint. But I truly didn’t expect there to be a ring inside, and for Luzhou to propose to Xu Zhi at that moment.

I first got to know Wang Anyu through The Last Immortal. One thing I really love about him is his eye acting. When he acts, his eyes make you feel everything — the longing, the sadness. It really hits you.

As for Liu Haocun, I first saw her in Derailment, but I didn’t really pay much attention to her back then. But she’s so pretty, and her eyes are beautiful. I started to really love watching her in Seven Relics of Ill Omen. All I can say is, she’s a very good actress.

Overall, I’m very satisfied with this story. Even the ending — although there was no wedding scene — it still felt complete and satisfying. I’m giving it a 9/10 because I love lightweight stories that don’t feel heavy to watch, with no toxicity and lots of longing.

The OSTs are all really good too. Especially Wang Anyu’s song — I can’t remember the title, but wow, it’s so good.

I really recommend this drama to anyone who loves lightweight romance dramas. But if you think a good romantic drama must have kissing scenes, then this drama is not for you. Please stay far away and don’t bring toxic behavior here 😌

That’s all.
Will definitely rewatch it — it’s officially on my repeat list.

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The vibe was not there

I'm the type to like a script that is calm, silly, toxic, or sad, but it has to be done in a way that get my attention and to keep my attention going.

This drama was calm, but it gave irritating, bland, and just not exciting enough for me.

Everyone's talking about the no kissing thing.
What irritated me the most was the story vibe.
Like it gave nothing. Another drama where the characters just read from their script.

ML was trying but he can't even keep me watching this.

The first meet scene was so irritating? Like the girl listening from a stranger window because she believes the person talking sounds like her mother.

The story start was just so off to me I couldn't vibe with it. Being 9 episodes in and still can't is enough to give up on the drama.

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Not my cup of tea

Of course the first thing I am going to address is the kiss scenes where the FL doesn’t do it and it cuts to another thing like trees or sumn like that. I don’t know but o don’t unusually look forward to kiss scenes or whatever but this was too obvious not to notice. I think FL can consider not to choose such roles . I see the chemistry is there. Since I only reached Ep 18 I have no idea why ML sperm count (?) was mentioned? The time skip between her graduating then college was off point. Should’ve created some tension and rivalry with Jiang Yu and ML . Maybe cause I like tension but that’s just me. ML’s mother always this actress eats her role up she was in hidden love and she left an impression on me more than the ML and FL. My point is maybe I don’t like romantic youth tv drama. Like sure I did crack a smile but it isn’t something I would rewatch or even consider in my top best C-drama.

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I Liked the Cast, I Hated the Vibes—A Modern Drama Struggle Story

So I’m not a fan of deep, soul-shattering romance where everyone cries into the sunset while quoting poetry. Give me something light, fun, maybe a little flirty—but this drama? This drama said: “Let’s turn every character into a closed-off mannequin with a tragic backstory.” And I said: “Oh… okay then.”

Don’t get me wrong—the actors are top tier. I’ve seen their other works, and they ate. But here? The characters felt like they were stuck in a super serious simulation where smiling is illegal and feelings are optional. I know that’s part of the story, and no hate to the trauma arc, but I personally prefer characters who act like humans, not emotionally constipated androids.

Maybe I just picked the wrong genre for my mood. Sometimes I want a modern drama with jokes, weird misunderstandings, and people falling in love after tripping on noodles. This was not that. This was intense staring contests and subtle trauma bonding.

Anyway, if you like clean plots, serious vibes, and watching characters heal in total silence, this might be your thing. As for me? I’ll be rewatching something chaotic and goofy with side romances and way too many sound effects.

No hate—just taste ✨
And hey, respect to the fans who vibed with it! You're stronger than me 😄

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Major casting failure. The FL actress isn't right for the role and ruined it for me

Things I liked

1 The ML. he did his part. he tried hard to make it work but it was useless with the useless partner he had. I hope I see him in other series where he can shine.

Things I disliked

1 The lack of chemistry. Something was off and it never felt like they were in love. He probably was, she certainly wasn't. She gave the impression that he was lucky to have her and we were lucky to watch her destroy a love story.

Things I hated

1 The casting of the FL. The actress didn't even try to make us believe she was in love. No warmth, no humor, no tenderness and certainly not any chemistry with the ML. The people who cast her for the role should be fired. If she's not capable to convey love and warmth she has nothing to do in a romance series. Don't make me incest my hours on something you know it won't give me satisfaction because you chose a person for the role who can't act. It's an insult to the viewer. First and last time I've watched that actress.

2 The line about leave to men to take the initiative about the future. What the hack was that? Who wrote that dreadful line?

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Good Male Lead, Unconvincing Romance

Initially, I thought it was going to get better. I've learned that with certain Cdrama's, they really emphasize the slow burn love story, but this was painful. I kept pushing my way through the episodes, but once I hit 14, I couldn't do it anymore. The only reason why I gave it the few stars I did was because of the ML. I thought he did a decent job, and I appreciated him being straightforward, for the most part, about his feelings toward the FL. The FL, on the other hand, it frustratingly annoying. Her back and forth attitude with the ML gave me whiplash. The actress they chose for the FL was also unconvincing with her acting. I didn't think it could get any worse than Bella in Twilight, but I was wrong.

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cutest chemistry, beautiful love but editing/direction could've been better

this is easily one of the cutest cdramas of the year but some people aren't ready for that conversation. If fake kisses and or lack of them bothers you, may be skip this one.
i might agree with some stuff about it but one thing i won't is that the chemistry is ''bad'' nah i call bs, the chemistry here is the STRONGEST and most ADORABLE, and you can really feel it when you get past your hate for FL actress. (even though nothing is fs that no kissing was her choice or of her agency)

you can especially understand it when you realize LHC is playing XZ's role perfectly, XZ is meant to be cold,awkward and stoic. Why she is that way is explained clearly in the last few episodes, she becomes apathetic to the point she couldn't even cry. There is this entire episodes where she battles through it and finally lets her emotions out. she builds a wall around herself when she's with new people and doesn't emotionally involve herself with them, but with people she is close with, she jokes around, smiles and laugh, including after she got together with the ML.

moreover, for me personally? i see the love on her face and in her eyes. The birthday gift she set up for him, the heartfelt comments she wrote to him about the grabbing the last rose on earth for him, the letter after their break up where she said she would always love him, and before dating, when she challenged that guy to race her so he would apologize to the ML for bad mouthing him, i can go on but yeah. Her love is there, not outright loud or anything sure i agree but everyone's way of loving is different and i think how XZ does it is cute.

what i mean to say is, yes she seemed distant and stiff in the start of the show, but it gradually goes away as they get closer and closer together, duh you don't make lovely eyes and smiles at someone you jst met and dont like. LHC is a wonderful actress, with better directing during super romantic scenes and a bit more experience, she can nail it!

CLZ is an amazing male lead, cute, adorable and whipped. The ring idea was the most creative proposal scene i have seen in a cdrama yet! wang anyu did a great job in this!! i will be checking more of his work haha

I do have to say, as much as i love it, it got particularly good in the last few episodes, or well, after they started dating in university reason being the hateful comments kinda killed the fun for me in the beginning tbh, but glad i stuck around.

some things i didn't like were well,
1)the fake kisses could've been handled better
2)their romantic scenes were cute, but there was this lack of skinship, LHC only does not do kiss scenes from her previous role is ''derailment'' she has done forehead kisses, hand holding and cheek kisses, i mean some were def here but i would've loved more!
3)some things didn't make sense to me, his past, what hes doing rn yknow his terms of study and career, and why they broke up before uni.

but all in all i love this series solid, 8/10.
dont listen to the comments, go for it!!

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I'm loving Liu Haocun!

Be Passionately in Love is a great drama! I am honestly amazed how a drama could be about a passionate love without the kissing scenes, and it still gives you butterflies!
The drama is really great, you'll be hooked in the first episodes. The ML thought the FL liked him because she has her ways of getting close to him. It's so hilarious to see his reactions after realizing she wasn't actually interested about him but about his mother. Lol.

I've watched Liu Haocun's dramas for a while now and I have deep respect for her as an actress. I hope she keeps at it. Skipping kissing scenes in her dramas is really, deeply, admirable.

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