Shine on Me

Episode 3

Thank god the whole interview drama was fixed in the same episode, because I was ready to start hating the roommate immediately (and trust me, I still do). She didn't even apologize. She preferred to believe strangers over her own friend, and why??? Because of jealousy!!! They never told her who picked up, but she chose to blame her anyway. Honestly awful.


I also love how she’ll never use that guy’s research (sorry, I’m terrible with names).
Plus, it’s so funny to me how they’re trying to sell me on this 'attempt at a relationship' when everyone knows they won’t look good together LOL, but I still love it.
She stood her ground; she knows they both messed up. And on top of that, the guy likes her (I think?) and he did that to her right in front of the other girl??? Honestly, that’s horrible

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Shine on the Photovoltaic and Health-Tech Industries.

4 points for chronicling and marketing the breakthrough of photovoltaic (PV) tech and the advancement of neuroscience and health-tech industries in China.

1 point for the story of this drama.

Makes 5 points in total.

Why? The two industries are pursuing just purposes in their individual field of work. One is focused on environmental sustainability, while the other is on solving crucial health problems. But the story in which their work was incorporated had no real purpose beyond promoting the industries, and maybe some business management skills. The story lacked depth and substance, and the characters in it were average at best. Perhaps it is safe to say the purpose of the story was to help put the achievement of these industries out there for the world to see.

Tiny feedback for other industries doing great work and want to use the drama industry to market themselves in the future. Please try to ensure that the story you choose to embed your industry in has as much depth and substance as the work you engage in. The story should be just as meaningful and founded on a just purpose as well.

I debated within myself whether I should write this review a few episodes from the end of the drama or if I should not bother. But after learning that the drama was more of a promotional effort for the PV and health-tech industries in China and then watching how the last episode played out, I felt I should write this review.

While the drama was running, I asked myself why there was so much detail about the two industries but no depth and substance in the story. I thought, how could the writer do such excellent work researching both industries to provide so much information about them, but then had very little going for the story and the characters in it. I was like, if only the writer had put as much effort into the story as she did for the two industries, the drama would have been fantastic. But in the end, it was a letdown, even with the hook of the male and female lead's loving relationship and the happy ending. Anyways, with what I know now, it all makes sense. The promotional effort was impressive, and both industries made it out unscathed. But the story of this drama, though, did not. By the way, the product placement for the other brands was also good.

So, in the end, this really was a marketing drama for me. Because going forward, I will remember the information about China’s PV tech and neuroscience advancement, but not so much about the drama itself except that it was a letdown. In fact, I have already forgotten what happened in some episodes because they were so boring and the pacing was extremely slow that I had to speed up some scenes. Especially those overly long flashbacks and some conversations that involved unnecessary details, and too much time was spent on them.

So many things were off in this drama but the main ones for me were the lack of depth, substance, purpose, and the poor characterization of most of the characters who all had no real development. The industries promoted had more character development than the characters in the story. Also, some themes and messaging in the story were contradictory, while others were self-defeating. Like highlighting the subject of ‘principles over emotions’ and then completely ignoring moral principles.

I have always loved how many c-dramas from ancient to especially modern times have made their male leads embrace the Chinese traditional relationship approach of the man treating the woman he loves with utmost respect, as invaluable or irreplaceable to him, and doing everything in his power to protect her moral reputation. The family of the girl/woman does the same. The man will not hold her hands even when they are friends, as depicted in this modern drama. So why is it that, after the leads in the drama fall for each other, the man who supposedly has great integrity and is somewhat naive in relationships could no longer control himself. And rather than propose to the woman he loves and marry her first, he takes her into his house and sleeps with her before any commitment is made?

Next was the chemistry between the leads. They did have chemistry, but the excessive kissing and PDA scenes drowned it out and left no room for the actors to show it in a natural and compelling way. The kissing scenes did not enhance their chemistry but were a cheap ploy to pander to people's lustful desires, luring and reeling them in to continue watching a drama that had little going for it in terms of depth and substance. (Explains the high ratings). Then the kissing started to take longer and ridiculously extended that it became irritating and unbearable.

Actors can actually have great onscreen chemistry and intimacy without any kissing and excessive PDA. There are a couple of c-dramas I have watched in which the actors were given the chance to display their chemistry beautifully and compellingly, allowing the audience to feel and truly appreciate their talent.

Then what was with the character and casting of the second male lead? The only thing that was believable about the guy's character was that he came from a poor background and was brilliant. Other than this, there was nothing else. The actor probably has some good looks, but even after he had started working at the bank, he was still made to be ugly, his haircut was a mess, and his wardrobe was still appalling. His overall appearance was just shabby. C'mon. At least give the male lead a fair competition.

Saying the second male lead became an investment banker was a joke because he looked like the mail boy in the office. Even his male colleagues looked and dressed better than he did. The guy had genuine emotional issues and other struggles but the story did not explore this in-depth as it should. Rather, the qualities his character was made to project were pride, arrogance and entitlement. Anyway, he was allowed to look pretty good in the last episode so thanks for that at least.

All was not lost in this drama, though, as some characters were a delight to watch and memorable. These were Xi Guang’s cousin, his father (Xi Guang’s uncle), and Lin Yu Sen’s mum. I had hoped to see them in the last episode but they were a no-show. Not even at the wedding for crying out loud.

For the leads, Xi Guang’s character had some flesh but the actress who played the role did not have much to work with. On the other hand, Yu Sen’s character was too unreal and the actor’s delivery was rather weak. But I loved his performance in Youthful Glory.

About the last episode and the ending of the drama. The last episode was focused on the industries again and the two leads. Only a few scrapings for some of the other characters. As to the ending? I have said in one of my reviews of other c-dramas that it seems writers in the c-drama industry do not know how to write good endings. And it is not about the endings being happy or sad but about them being bad. There have been a few exceptions I have seen, though, even in the past year 2025. But sadly, Shine on Me was just another c-drama with a bad ending.

It was like people have complained so much about the sad, horrific endings of many c-dramas that this drama was designed to shove a “happy ending” down everyone’s throat so we all SHUT UP. It was such a cheesy, clichéd and boring happy ending. Nothing creative or interesting about it. Then I could not help but notice that there was no genuine bonding between the female lead and her daughter. She treated her daughter as though the little girl were another artificial intelligence (AI) like the one her husband interacted with at the brain center. Lol.

Oh, I almost forgot. Please, what was with the OST? You are still singing, “...could we ever be close, you and me…our love is going to find a way…” for the leads when they are now married, living together, and even have a lovely little girl? They are inseparable and their love has already found a way! Those English songs did not work at all.

In all, this drama bears semblance to the typical old American soap operas with their clichéd themes of old money vs new money, family-owned conglomerates, infidelity, inheritance battle, rich kids being center of attention, splurging, etc., like The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Dynasty, Dallas, etc.

Shine on Me had a lot of potential and opportunity to explore some strong, meaningful themes and messaging, but it did not take advantage of these. As a story, it lacked depth, substance, and purpose, with a weak plot and very loose subplots riddled with holes and no closure. What it had going for it were product placement, kissing and PDAs, overly lifting women, and fashion. Overall, it turned out to be another trite romantic tale, barely okay for passing the time during a holiday season.

By the way, I believe we should all be a light to one another in our relationships and in this world, rather than seek someone else's light to shine on us while we soak it all up. Seek to be a light in your own right instead.

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awesome chemistry

Honestly I've been in a C-drama slump lately, none can catch my attention. This was also my first impression of Song Weilong and he does live up to the hype. He is very handsome and has amazing chemistry with the FL. This is an office setting romance, rich FL and rich ML, CEO trope, and a little bit of a love triangle. I love how head strong the FL is but also isn't afraid to admit she is wrong. Her group of high school friends are all pretty nice except for one of them. She is very "pick me" and is toxic. This is a VERY slow burn and they don't get their first kiss until like episode 29 I think. However the chemistry is CHEMISTRYING and the kisses in the later episodes make up for it OMG. The plot is very attention catching and doesn't have any unnecesary plot holes or long dragging plots. Though the FL's dad's wife and daughter pmo a lot. but other than that i'd definetely give this drama a try, it's a good first starter c-drama too.

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Unexpectedly Hooked from the Start!!!!

I accidentally stumbled across this while watching Instagram videos. Familiar with the FL after watching 3 of her past c-dramas, I instantly looked up Shine On Me. I never thought I would be so hooked from the very beginning!

This drama had the mixture of The Best Thing's lead chemistry with the slow-burn romance of Amidst A Snowstorm of Love. Sometimes the softest stories stay with you the longest. 🥰 It has that quiet, comforting charm that slowly wraps around you without trying too hard. The pacing is gentle, the emotions feel sincere, and there’s this soft, slice-of-life warmth that makes you want to keep watching just a little longer. I’m genuinely so glad I stumbled across this one because it feels like one of those dramas that grows on you episode by episode and then suddenly has your whole heart.

The early episodes center on Nie Xi Guang, still in college, navigating her first real crush on Zhuang Xu. And honestly? This part of the drama feels painfully relatable. Xi Guang’s feelings are sincere, hopeful, and a little naïve...the kind of crush where you overthink every interaction and still convince yourself there’s a chance.

But what makes this arc hit harder is the emotional mess surrounding it. Misunderstandings pile up, jealousy creeps in, and the roommate dynamic, especially involving Ye Rong, adds layers of quiet cruelty that feel all too real. Xi Guang isn’t heartbroken because of one big betrayal, but because of many small, cutting moments where she’s misunderstood, underestimated, and made to feel “less than.”

Zhuang Xu is not a villain, but he’s emotionally rigid, bound by obligation, pride, and unspoken rules. His help always comes with distance. His care is careful, measured, and ultimately painful for someone who loves openly like Xi Guang. Their relationship becomes a lesson in unrequited effort, how love without mutual timing can still leave deep marks.

By the time graduation arrives, there’s a quiet sense of closure. Not dramatic, not explosive, just two people standing in the same place, unable to move forward together.

One of the drama’s strongest points is how it handles transition. Xi Guang doesn’t magically “get over” her feelings overnight. Instead, she travels, breathes, wanders, and slowly learns that not everything you want is meant to stay. The UK trip with her cousin Jiang Rui feels symbolic; moving forward, learning to walk without emotional baggage, discovering that life has many “views,” not just one.

This phase is about grief that doesn’t look dramatic. It’s about acceptance. And it’s beautifully done.

When Xi Guang starts working at Shuangyuan Photovoltaic, the tone shifts, but in a good way. She’s no longer defined by who she likes or who hurt her. She’s awkward, earnest, hardworking, and quietly determined to build a life on her own terms.

Enter Lin Yu Sen.

Unlike Zhuang Xu, Lin Yu Sen carries emotional weight from the start. Once a brilliant neurosurgeon, his life was rerouted by a car accident that took away his ability to operate. He’s calm, introspective, and deeply principled, but there’s a quiet grief behind his eyes. He understands loss. He understands starting over.

What makes their dynamic so satisfying is that Lin Yu Sen never diminishes Xi Guang. He challenges her, yes, but he also sees her effort, respects her choices, and allows her to grow without judgment. Their relationship is built on mutual understanding, patience, and emotional safety.

The romance here is a slow burn in the truest sense. No rush. No forcing fate. Just two people learning how to trust again.

Shine On Me isn’t loud. It doesn’t demand attention. But it lingers. It’s the kind of drama that feels better the more you think about it...the glances, the pauses, the things left unsaid.

By the end, you don’t just root for the couple, you root for the people they’ve become.

And honestly? That’s the kind of drama that stays with you long after the final episode fades out.

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Pure definition of a comfort drama :)

I didn't know I needed a slow-burn romance this much until Shine On Me. A truly heartwarming escape from reality! The healthy, supportive relationship between Lin Yu Sen and Nie Xi Guang is everything. Probably one of my comfort dramas this year.

The story was well written, and the actors did an excellent job. Chemistry between the male and female leads were topnotch too!! Would love to see Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai in another drama again.

Some find it boring but not for me. Overall, I loved it! It’s the perfect, warm watch when you just want to curl up, relax, and feel deeply.

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Bad acting galore and no plot

Things I loved

1 Yin Jie, the friend of the FL who works with her. Such a beautiful and lovely actress and her role was great as well. She shone in every scene and I wish she gets roles as the main lead. I think this is the only positive thing I have to say for this awful drama and I can't believe this has a 8.6 rating. I understand different strokes for different people, but come on. There is nothing in this drama to justify this rating and it makes the whole 8.6 ridiculous.

2 The cousin of the FL. Sweet, lovable, funny and the only one who provided with Yin Jie some lightness. I wish he had more scenes. He even was the voice of reason sometimes.

3 I loved the mother of the FL, and the parents of the ML. Decent people that also would love to see more. But at the end of the day they had no substance either.

4 I loved the little girl who played the daughter. She was cute and talented. Yet I also found she had no chemistry with the "parents."

Things I disliked

1 The FL. She has no range, her acting is mediocre at best, and her role wasn't better either. I've seen another series where the FL was the granddaughter of the owner of the company and the actress did a great job with the role. Here there was nothing for the actress to work with, but she also didn't have the talent.

Also how many times can you label her gorgeous and beautiful. I'm sorry but although we don't like all the same things, and certainly beauty is on the eye of the beholder, there's a point that it becomes ridiculous to shove this down our throat every other scene, when the actress is an average girl without anything striking or particularly special.

Let's also talk about her mannerisms. Have you ever had a friend who thinks she's cute and sexy and speaks with a baby voice and makes faces she thinks are adorable. Well, this is what the actress did. She spoke in a baby voice, without any real intonation though. Whether she talked about her morning coffee or someone dying she'd adopt the same tone. Only when she played cute with the ML she changed, but unfortunately from bad to worse.

Also her character was beyond ridiculous sometimes. She threw a tantrum because the ML didn't call her when he was in an ambulance. Her reasoning: he didn't think of her. Tell me you're entitled without telling me you're entitled.
I sympathized at first with her when she was wronged by her college roommates and I thought her character had potential, but I was so wrong., but after a while I thought she deserved it. She wasn't better than them and honestly I think she must be one of the most coldhearted heroines I've seen in a drama.

She didn't really care about anyone and the college drama wasn't that interesting. She didn't suffer anything really and yes people can be judgmental and yes people can make mistakes.
I didn't like Rong at first but I liked her in the end. Because she grew up and admitted her mistake. If you ask me the college girls were the only real characters with faults and all. The FL was mad at the "ML and she didn't even acknowledged what that happened that summer. He wasn't a perfect guy but he didn't deserve her wrath. She told him I'll wait until you love me and once she met the ML , she forgot anything she said. Fine, but not blame the other person for hoping. Seriously, one ofthe worst FL. Her character was weak and went nowhere. So disappointing.

2 The ML. No acting chops whatsoever. It's my first drama with him and maybe he's better on others, but here his acting was robotic at best and I felt nothing. Nothing about the romance, nothing about his career loss. That alone tells me that the acting is beyond awful. Also the unfitting outfits, and the fact that I don't find him handsome at all, and both he and the 2ML gave me vibes of Heathcliff made me laugh rather than fall for them. It was too much the brooding style from both of them. Now about the character arc. I didn't even get why he was suitable for the job he got after the surgeon career ended. As for being a prodigy, unfortunately even when I want to suspend any belief, the numbers don't work and the premise that he was that perfect neurosurgeon is flimsy.

Now about the romance. No chemistry at all with the FL and why on earth should we care about their relationship? We didn't see anything to justify that he fell for her. From Monday to Tuesday suddenly he let go of his resentment and started pursuing her. Just because he had see her yell at someone in a soirée. Give me a break. The resentment was for a ridiculous reason, but at least gave us something to wait. To wait for the revelation. Ridiculous character development, and it was frustrating to watch the romance. I think I liked one scene when they got together at the party at episode 27 and even this scene was underwhelming.

Also, yes, I'll mention it again. That stupid accident went nowhere and thinking that they based the whole story at that was ridiculous. Why would any sane person blame anyone else for an accident they caused? They were all so stupid blaming the FL's father or the daughter of the mistress. What the heck? How does this even make sense? The next time I go to the pharmacy for aspirin and slip while going back home I'll blame the Pharmacist. If she hadn't a pharmacy I wouldn't have gone for the aspirin there fore... You see? It makes perfect sense.

3 The 3ML. I didn't hate him like others. To be honest, I found him as bad as the rest of the cast. Another Heathcliff wannabe and an untalented and unattractive male lead. I did get why he was the way he was at first, though, and while I don't excuse him I find his arc better than the main arc. His relationship with the FL and Rong was frustrating to watch since he never had the guts to be honest with any of them. But again I didn't care enough to hate him and I get where he comes from. No excuse for listening to Rong though and don't trust the FL. That said the last scene with him broke my heart. Because let's be honest, the odds were against him from the start. He caused his pain in a way, but let's not be hypocritical. That FL would never love him.

4 The father of the FL. He was an idiot and no sympathy from me, although frankly he was at least more interesting than the main leads. Same for the mistress and her daughter. Slimy people, but still had something to make me stay with them and see where this was going. I can't say that much for the main couple.

5 The way they spoke about Switzerland and the food in Europe. This is the first time I hear such negative opinions and so unfair about Europe. He said he was skiing because there was nothing else to do abroad which is stupid and unworthy of anyone with even a little intelligence. If you can't find anything to do in Europe and in Switzerland you are just a lazy or idiotic person.
Same thing about the FL, who traveled to Europe for two months and bashed the food when she came back. Really? I like cuisines from all over the world, but it bothers me more than you know to hear someone say so inaccurate things about food in Europe. Who the hell can take seriously someone who says things like that? Have you ever heard of Greek cuisine, French, Spanish, Italian? What the hell again? I lost the little respect I had for these leads and the screenwriter. There was no reason for the bashing.

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Warm, beautiful romance

To be honest, there’s nothing special about this drama, but that’s exactly what made it stand out for me. They took the regular “boy meets girl, falls in love, chases her and they live happily ever after” and made something extraordinary out of it. The story was executed perfectly well and you could almost feel every emotion the cast was feeling. SWL as usual was phenomenal in this show as we could clearly see the battle between his head and heart when he was chasing the fl. He executed the role of a man falling in love beyond his own will perfectly. He’s supposed to hate her, he knows in his head that he’s supposed to hate her, but he can’t stop his heart from falling and that was just beautiful to see because it was as if his heart was way ahead of his head. If there’s a role ZJM knows how to play well, it’s the role of a younger, shy, innocent girlfriend. She played it well in Aasol and she did it well here again. Given that her taste in men was abysmal at first lmao, we can see how she subconsciously goes from this bright, shining light that isn’t afraid to express her feelings to becoming guarded because of her experience with her first love. Another thing I really enjoyed about this drama was the fact that they gave the fl enough time to heal and move on from her first love, and they cleared all misunderstandings between them before they started dating officially. The romance was cute, their banter was amazing and the chemistry was just everything. The side actors also did a phenomenal job at portraying their characters, (I hated the sml for real😂), I also liked how they didn’t just give up on her relationship with her father but instead tried to mend it as much as possible. Her mom was a total baddie, I want to be like her when I grow up lmao, and I think her cousin might be my favorite character on the show.
The cinematography was meh at the beginning (I legitimately cringed at the horrible green screen) but as we moved on, it became so much better. A friend of mine commented that this show should’ve been called Eat on me and I agree because they were always eating 😂.
The best thing about this drama for me was the music, all the OSTs they used were phenomenal to say the least. The sounds fit perfectly into the story without disturbing the scenes.
The only downside about this drama for me were the company scenes that felt boring and a tad too unrealistic. While I understand that her family owns a chunk of the company’s shares, it didn’t make sense to me how a young recruit that just joined the company already has so much knowledge about everything and was even taking on and heading projects on her own. She didn’t have a single superior coworker and was reporting directly to the GM(which was also her boyfriend). It felt too much like y/n and the CEO for my liking. Apart from that, everything about this drama is wonderful and it’s perfect for those who are just getting into cdramas or for anyone wanting a light watch.

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One of My Comfort Drama

Gonna be one of my comfort drama.
I anticipated this drama for long that i started reading the novel first and it did not disappointing. One thing i remember and i kinda love it that they changed in the drama is the first kiss scene. I think in the novel the kiss happened in the office with such a playfull vibe, while in the drama it happened romanticly.
Overall i’m loving everthing about this drama, my favorite part is Nie Xiguang’s wardrobe that are just soooo pretty. The ost(s) ate as well. Just Love for this drama🫶🏻 (except for those little cgi moment in changbai mountai🤣, but i read somewhere that they lost one of the camera in changbai mountain so i think it make sense)

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Good, but 10 episodes too long

I really really enjoyed this show until episode 25 or so. The chemistry is great between the too leads, and the slow burn romance is very sweet. Reminded me of Hidden Love (my all time fave) for a bit. The problem is that everything pretty much resolves by episode 25. That means we are treated to 10 extra episodes where nearly nothing
happens. Don't get me wrong, I often praise kdramas and cdramas for giving us what i call a "victory lap". That's what I call when they have 1 or 2 final episodes where everyone is happy. But 10 episodes with no drama, and lovey dovey couple just looking cute together was a bit much.

So enjoy the built up of the romance, because its really good. But I recommend a lot of fast forwarding for the last quarter.

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Who said healthy love is unrealistic?

Main relationship:
The straightforwardness of the ML and FL is what makes their relationship work. They are two individuals who can stand on their own by the time they meet, which in turn just shows them adding to one another rather than burdening each other. The moments when they were on “rocky ground” were the realistic moments of needed individual space that was accompanied by strong communication, and that was before they were dating! Some will say that their relationship is unrealistic, but I disagree. It was a very good example of how a relationship looks when two mature like like-minded people CHOOSE each other. Choosing to be together and choosing to make each other better through their relationship.

Xi Guang: The FL is my type of person. She starts the show very upfront about who she is, and it is quite refreshing. Though I am not an upbeat and bubbly person, one can only admire a person who is true to themselves, no matter what. I believe this trait is what makes her hard to digest for those who are insecure around her. The SML feels that someone of her status should not also be kind and that she should feel some shame about the opportunities afforded to her due to her background. While Ye Rong feels inferior to her not only socio-economically but also in personality. Her willingness to stand up for herself but maintain her kindness is not something we see often in shows. It's either one or the other: she’s mean but not a doormat, or she's kind but gets trampled on. After what she went through with the SML, Xi Guang is more reserved about love; she is not only afraid of pursuing, but she is also apprehensive about letting herself be pursued. However, after noticing the similarities between her past self and Lin Yuse, she realizes that she shouldn't let the one bad experience stop her from trusting that Yusen is serious about her. She is quite quick when it comes to self-reflection and correction, which is another likeable attribute about her. Though she becomes reserved in love, she remains true to her nature everywhere else, and it’s very refreshing to see.

Lin Yusen: Our ML is a breath of fresh air compared to the SML and many of those around our FL. Though he starts very conflicted about his feelings towards Xi Guang, he is consistently straightforward. When he “hated” her, he didn't make her confused if that was the case what confused her was why. Once he decided to leave it in the past, he in fact left it in the past. Quickly and honestly telling Xi Guang how he feels and his intentions of being a positive force in his life, not a burden. Much like the Xi Guang in college, he leaves his feelings at his desired partner's feet, waiting for them to choose what to do next. Apologizing when he felt he overstepped, and communicated with Xi Guang clearly. When the misunderstanding comes to an end, he is conflicted and rather than take it out on Xi Guang, like we have seen others do, he takes time for himself. To reflect on how this impacts his complicated feelings, but also how it may impact how Xi Guang sees him. His clarity stands in direct contrast to Zhuang Xu's redirection of people's feelings and intentional obtuseness regarding misconceptions and misunderstandings. He is a walking green flag and is a perfect example of a character that is not without faults and but is willing to be accountable.

Zhuang Xu: To me, he is neither a villain nor a victim. I understand his reasoning behind not wanting to be with FL, given their different backgrounds and societal positions. In this front, you could pity him for never being able to let go of this insecurity and be true with his feelings. However, being pitiful does not excuse how you speak to others, and feeling frustrated isn't an excuse to treat people however you would like. He spoke so condescendingly to Xi Guang and Ye Rong, to the point where I felt bad for Rong on some points. When Xi Guang explains how it is natural to have a change in feelings when someone treats you well and likes you, it should have been a wake-up call for him. He didn't have to confess his feelings to her to be kind; that was his major problem, he didn’t see that. Furthermore, he is drowning in self-pity and victimization. He takes no responsibility for the fact that it was his choices and unwillingness to let go of his misconceptions and insecurities to chase the one he “loves”. To the point, he blames Ye Rong, Xi Guang, and the universe for missing the timing with Xi Guang. Without taking accountability that he was fully in control of this “timing” for a long time.

Ye Rong; In my opinion, Ye Rong and Zhuang Xu are two sides of the same coin. Rong has the stereotypical insecure “friend” trope surrounding her. We are first led to believe that it is all revolving around Zhuang Xu, but it later becomes obvious, especially when speaking about careers, that Rong feels inferior to Xi Guang and must one-up her at every turn. The insecurity surrounding Xi Guang's background is what makes Rong and Xu so similar; both, in my opinion, are using each other to bring Xi Guang down a notch. Rong, to feel superior, and Xu, to bridge the gap that makes their relationship “impossible”. What makes Ye Rong a bit more villainous is that what she did was meant to ruin Xi Guang’s reputation. At the same time, Zhuang Xu put Xi Guang down to feel a little better about his situation; he holds to misconceptions he had of Xi Guang, even when they were unreliable, to make himself have a reason other than their socio-economic standing to not be together.

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