Speed and Love

A Perfect C-Drama to End the Year

This C-drama truly stands out as one of the best ways to end the year, offering a captivating blend of strong storytelling, emotional depth, and remarkable performances from its cast. From the very first episode, it manages to pull you into its world with a sense of warmth, sincerity, and charm that only a few dramas genuinely achieve. What makes this series so memorable is not just its plot, but the way each character feels alive, layered, and relatable. The writers have clearly put effort into crafting a story that balances romance, friendship, growth, and conflict without ever feeling overwhelming or forced.

One of the most impressive aspects of this drama is its ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout. The storyline never drags, yet it doesn’t rush important emotional moments. Each episode builds upon the last, slowly deepening the bonds between characters while revealing new layers of their personalities. The character development is beautifully handled—no one feels flat, and every action has purpose. Whether it’s the main couple’s evolving relationship or the supporting characters’ individual journeys, every thread contributes meaningfully to the larger narrative.

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From Daydream to Drama

Speed and Love follows the lives of two siblings whose paths split early and collide again years later. Jiang Mu, affectionately called Mu Mu, grows up sheltered and adored, while her brilliant older brother Jin Zhao, affectionately called Zhao Zhao, is forced to grow up fast. When Mu Mu is nine, their parents’ divorce sends Jin Zhao and their father to Thailand, effectively severing the bond between the siblings and placing them on two very different life tracks. Years later, Mu Mu learns a life-altering truth: Jin Zhao is adopted. Determined to reconnect, she travels to Thailand alone, only to discover that the elegant, gentle boy she once knew has transformed into a rough-edged young man shaped by street life, underground racing, and boxing. His world is fast, dangerous, and wildly unfamiliar to her.

Instead of backing away, Mu Mu steps forward. With her natural warmth, empathy, and quiet determination, she gradually integrates into Jin Zhao’s life and their father’s new family. As Jin Zhao’s co-pilot and emotional anchor, Mu Mu becomes his perfect navigator, both on the road and in life. Seeing him trapped in a cycle of danger and self-destruction, she resolves to pull him out and bring him home. Fate, however, has other plans. An accident separates them once more, forcing Mu Mu to shoulder responsibility for the family while carrying forward their shared aerospace dream. Years later, after graduation, Mu Mu returns to China, where destiny gives the siblings one final reunion in Nanjing—this time as changed adults, shaped by love, loss, and longing.

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: the chemistry is chemistry-ing. From the very beginning, Speed and Love thrives on its leads’ electric dynamic. The cute, heart-fluttering moments between Mu Mu and Jin Zhao were plentiful and dangerously addictive. Every smile, lingering glance, and quiet moment felt intentional, making it impossible not to root for them. Add in a surprisingly lovable ensemble cast, and the drama quickly becomes something you emotionally settle into. Visually and stylistically, the drama delivers. The fighting choreography and racing scenes were exciting and well-shot, giving Jin Zhao’s world an edge that contrasted nicely with Mu Mu’s softer presence. Costume, makeup, and hair were consistently on point, and I especially loved how the outfits subtly evolved to reflect different phases of the characters’ lives. Thailand-era Jin Zhao and China-era Jin Zhao almost feel like two different brands of masculinity, each with their own charm and appeal.

What makes this contrast even more compelling is why Jin Zhao feels so different in these two phases of his life. Growing up poor, his body was his only asset, his pride, and his means of survival. In Thailand, Jin Zhao’s sense of masculinity was rooted in physicality through racing, fighting, and endurance. When the accident took that away from him, it did not just leave him injured. It stripped him of his identity. Losing his strength meant losing the one thing he believed made him worthy, which explains both his physical and emotional withdrawal and why he chose to leave Mu Mu for six years. In his mind, he had become something broken and unfit to stand beside someone as pure and promising as her. What makes Jin Zhao’s character arc especially satisfying is how he rebuilds himself afterward. In China, he forms a new identity through intellect and stability by continuing his studies, opening a café, and creating a future that no longer relies on brute strength. His masculinity shifts from body to mind, from survival to purpose. Thailand Jin Zhao was defined by what his body could endure, while China Jin Zhao is defined by what his mind and heart can sustain. Once you see this shift, his choices feel less frustrating and far more tragic.

That said, the Thailand setting itself was… questionable. The city often looked overly staged, almost theatrical, which broke immersion at times. Supporting characters also felt oddly out of place, with an overwhelming number of Western extras when Thai or more Asian-looking characters would have made the setting feel more authentic. There were also noticeable technical hiccups, like the camera slip in episode 10 during Lin Sui and Mu Mu's drifting lesson, and unnecessary lighting movements in certain scenes (looking at you, garage scenes). The editing didn’t always help either, with obvious skips that made the story flow feel jumpy.

Story-wise, let’s be honest: this drama is basically a y/n daydream turned live-action. One of Speed and Love’s biggest strengths lies in how perfectly Esther and He Yu embody two completely contrasting vibes, bringing Mu Mu and Jin Zhao to life. Much like Mu Mu, Esther feels like a ray of sunshine, radiating purity, innocence, youth, and quiet resilience. In contrast, He Yu mirrors Jin Zhao’s aloof, bad boy, street-hardened masculinity with effortless ease. This sharp contrast is exactly what hooks viewers, especially hopeless romantics who live for the bad boy good girl dynamic. It creates that addictive tension that keeps you watching episode after episode. Their personalities clash in the most delicious way, and the slow-burn pursuit in Thailand was peak tension. Both characters yearned deeply, just in different ways, and their love felt passionate, almost combustible. I found myself cheering Mu Mu on more than once, mentally yelling, “YES, YOU GO GIRL, GET YOUR MAN.” The romantic payoff? Worth it. Episode 15 was unbearably cute, with tension so thick it practically filled the room. The kissing scenes were filled with longing, desire, and raw emotion.

That is also why, personally, the latter half of the drama did not give me the same adrenaline-pumping fangirl energy as the first half. When Jin Zhao’s personality shifted from dangerous bad boy to more golden retriever energy, some of that edge was inevitably lost. I will admit, I came for the bad boy good girl trope. Still, I stayed because beneath the change, Jin Zhao remained hungry, aloof, and devastatingly soft only for Mu Mu, which kept their romance emotionally satisfying. Episode 26, right before that moment, deserves special mention. The push-and-pull, the hunger, the barely contained passion—absolutely feral. That pre-boom-boom scene rivals some of the best in recent C-dramas (yes, even that Wei Shao and Man Man scene).

However, the drama does stumble when you look too closely. Jin Zhao being in Mu Mu’s life since before she was born makes the romance slightly uncomfortable if you overthink it. Despite not being blood-related, the fact that they’ve been in each other’s lives since day zero makes them feel like siblings—but oh well. This is definitely a “don’t dissect too hard” kind of show, though ironically, dissecting individual scenes actually deepens your understanding of the characters’ emotional states. Mixed signals, but we move. Some creative choices were simply unnecessary. The bathtub scene felt random and incomplete, likely a casualty of censorship. Instead of enhancing intimacy, it felt awkward and out of place and would have been better cut entirely. The ending also felt rushed. After reuniting following a six-year separation, Jin Zhao is shown struggling physically, only to magically recover within two months and sprint like nothing ever happened. For a modern drama, that was a glaring realism issue. And for a story filled with nonstop yearning and timeless love, we really deserved a proper wedding celebration at the end.

One thing the drama absolutely nailed was its OST usage. Every track felt purposeful and iconic. You could practically predict the emotional tone of a scene based on which OST started playing—whether it was yearning, passion, ambition, or romance. Few dramas manage to assign musical identities to emotional beats this clearly, and Speed and Love deserves credit for that.

In the end, Speed and Love knows exactly what it wants to be: a fast-paced, emotionally charged romance driven by yearning, passion, and contrast. It isn’t perfect. It’s messy in places, rushed toward the end, and occasionally indulgent in fantasy. But its strength lies in its vibe, its leads, and the way it makes you feel. Sometimes, that’s more than enough. This is an easy-to-watch, kind of cliché drama that makes you fangirl, giggle, cry, laugh, and yearn. If the pseudo-siblings angle doesn’t make you uncomfortable, this drama is definitely recommended!

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UHHHH

ALRIGHT so I don't have much to say but I didn't find it THATT interesting! TBH, i didn't complete the drama so I don't fully know but till how much I watched, I would say only the first few eps were interesting. I dropped it pretty fast, i tried to watch it later but the acting got the best of me...I DROPPED IT AGAIN. I do love He Yu's acting but Esther's threw me off. I didn't like the fact she kept on acting like a child. As a person who notices facial expressions....yeah no. The story till was pretty boring, it was a typical script. They could have made it better by maybe adding plot twists and better reasoning for He Yu to be gone for that MANY YEARS. Overall, I would recommend it to the people who enjoy romance and a lot of SMOOCH scenes!

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stepcest question mark

i tried so hard to care about this stepcest ragebait & make sense of the general plot idea but i guess #DeadDoveDoNotEat always prevails. i found the cast to be fine and i love the work qiming fei puts into his support roles ,, he's mastered the craft and his ability brought a lot of light into the episodes that i watched.

⟢ maybe i just pull out scripts that do injustice to esther yu as an actress, but i'm severely underwhelmed by her typecast tendencies. the music is cringy & the production isn't anything above average, but i really liked the filming locations and insight into the streets of thailand. . .all thai actors did great!

truly whatever ._.

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When ‘Not by Blood’ Isn’t Enough: A Deeply Uncomfortable Siblings Romance

Drama that has received surprisingly positive reviews, but for me, it was deeply uncomfortable and ultimately unwatchable.

The story centers on a “not-by-blood” siblings-to-lovers romance. The ML was adopted by the Jin family, and the FL was born later. They grew up as siblings until their parents divorced and never saw each other again. Years later, as adults, the FL learns that the ML was adopted and immediately flies to see him.

While the drama technically removes the blood relation, it completely ignores the psychological and emotional reality of the relationship. These two characters grew up as brother and sister, and that context is never meaningfully addressed. No one in the story seems to mind, nor the viewers who rated this positively. There is no internal conflict, no moral hesitation, no boundary-setting—nothing.

What disturbed me most is how the romantic and physical tension starts in episode 1, literally the day the FL lands. There is zero transition. Let's bear in mind that the FL’s entire memory of the ML is of her childhood brother, yet overnight the overly skinship didn't matter. There is no gradual shift, no self-reflection, no struggle with the idea that flirting with the person you grew up calling “brother” might be wrong or, at the very least, confusing.

The show treats this shift as if it’s the most natural thing in the world—brother one day, romantic interest the next. The FL doesn’t hold back at all. There’s no conscience, no hesitation, no acknowledgment of boundaries. It feels less like a developed romance and more like the characters were simply waiting for a technical loophole to justify their attraction.

The most repulsive aspect for me is the constant use of childhood flashbacks showing their innocent sibling bond, immediately followed by scenes of overt flirting and intense skinship in the present. The contrast is jarring and unsettling. By episode 13, when they are openly all over each other, I had to stop watching.

I’ve watched dramas with sibling-like relationships turning into romance before—Go Ahead, for example—but those stories handled the transition with care, emotional growth, and moral awareness. The characters didn’t behave as if they were itching to jump into bed the moment a non-blood-related excuse appeared. Side note: In Go Ahead, the characters were not related by blood, not adopted siblings, and not legal siblings. They were neighbors who grew up extremely close and formed a found-family dynamic, while still having their own parents and separate family identities.

Speed and Love lacks that sensitivity entirely. It romanticizes a relationship that, while legally permissible (?), is emotionally and psychologically twisted, without ever questioning itself. For me, it crossed a line on multiple levels, and no amount of chemistry or production quality could make up for that.

Final verdict:
If you’re comfortable with sibling-coded romance that skips moral reflection and emotional realism, you might enjoy this. If not, this drama will likely feel disturbing rather than romantic.

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Wasted Potential

Speed and Love could’ve been a really good drama. At first, I was really drawn in by the racing world, the Thai atmosphere, and the garage setting with its gritty, oily aesthetic. It gave the drama a strong identity right away. He Yu as Zhin Shao also stood out a lot, cold, distant, and very much the classic bad boy, he’s really magnetic and makes you want to know what’s behind his character.

The beginning is genuinely addictive, with a strong mix of racing, danger, romance, and intensity. It really felt like the drama had something special going for it.

But later on, it starts to lose its impact. The story becomes softer and more predictable, especially as the focus shifts away from racing. The darker, more intense tone fades, and it turns into something more basic and overly sweet, which is disappointing given the strong start.

Visually, it looks good, with strong cinematography and nice color grading, but the execution doesn’t fully match the aesthetics. The storytelling feels uneven and underdeveloped, which wastes a lot of the potential.

I made it to episode 20, but it also gives a very Wattpad-like feeling, with pacing issues and episodes that are too long, which makes everything feel stretched out.

I also never really felt any chemistry between the main couple. Most of their interactions felt empty, superficial, and overly cheesy, without much emotional depth or tension. Their relationship never truly felt convincing to me. Honestly, I found the FL had much better chemistry with Lin Sui, and their dynamic felt far more natural and engaging to watch.

As for the acting, especially Esther, I have mixed feelings. She clearly has talent, but her character is written in a very childish way, which limits her performance.

In the end, it has great visuals and atmosphere, but the writing doesn’t do it justice.

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High budget production with a sub-Borderline story line

Before the release of the drama, the trailer was on point, captured most of the drama's essence has a intriguing bad boy-good girl couple with a romance that tested the boundaries of brother-sister relationship vs man-woman.

However when the drama was released I realised the plot was not really what I expected, it focused more on the leads chemistry scenes, there was no solid foundation to build up their relationship, no deep reasoning for them to fall in love, no character developement or development to their relatioship. It feels like their romance happened just because its the plot and bam they just indulged in each other's lust. Once they got together there were so many lovey-dovey scenes and little storyline between the two. It feels like each time they got together was just to kiss or hug, even one kiss scene lined up after another in a different place, and then the next scene you see Mumu suddenly dancing to some song at some festival and Jin Zhao sitting with some girl with his hands over the randoms girl's shoulders. The scenes are literally so disconnected and all over the place. albeit being very well shot with the pretty colours in the background.

Perhaps because I've only watch up to ep 16, which is already about half way into the drama, I feel the storyline up to this point is quite non-existent, just Mumu going to find Jin Zhao, them reuniting, Mumu settling down in Thailand meanwhile guessing what Jin Zhao is up to, which up to this point there isn't much revealed as well. I don't know what these 16 episodes have contributed to the whole story, it feels like it could be condensed into just 6-8 episodes instead.

The scenes where Mumu cried were unconvincing as well, in my opinion the story is not troubling enough to resonate with a cry. I get that they got separated at their childhood but is this reason alone enough to cause such a yearning for each other? Perhaps the plot could thicken to add more tension in their family relationships like Mumu having a bad relationship with her mom and step father, how they would trouble her in other ways and her only good memory was when she had her brother around.

Also, the whole set up feels very staged, especially their clothes, like who goes to school wearing which pretty cute short skirts and dresses and a tiny little bag? And why is Jin Zhao always sweating?

Although I love the whole production's music, cinematography, actors and acting, It feels like a good production go to waste because of the story line. While watching this drama I felt a similar vibe to another drama "Forbidden Flower' which carried the same type of tension and chemistry between the leads, also a bad boy-young girl relationship, lots of lust, and just a bam, romance without any deep plot or development story. I checked and indeed they were written by the same screenwritter T.T

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The Noble Idiot trope needs to die!

If I'm honest, this show is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde for me. I think this is due to a mix of script and production issues. Let's break this down.

First of all, the Thailand location, fight club and street racing are largely set dressing. The show does include some nefarious plots that might not go down well with censors. Being set in Bangkok allows them to play the NIMBY game. The real A-plot is the OTP's romance.

Before we start, I have a confession. I'm not a big fan of Esther Yu. As far as I'm concerned, this show is tailor-made for her. She did good. Having said that, some of her antics can be annoying. The good outweighs the bad.

The ML is handsome with a strong bad boy vibe. He is a street fighter/boy racer hybrid. You won't see many young idols being able to pull this off convincingly. Kudos to him.

The FL calls the ML her brother, but they are not blood related. They did grow up in the same household. Their dynamics changed fairly quickly after they reconnect.

They got separated when the FL's parents divorced and the boy went to Thailand with the dad. The man remarried and had another daughter. His current wife is a kind hearted woman and the little girl is cute. Their story is perfunctory though.

In a similar vein, the fight club stuff and some of the street racing are there to add colour and grit to the ML's backstory. The races are fast and furious. However, most of them are computer generated and repetitive. It does the job. The plot moves along and the ML gets in harm's way constantly.

BTW, I'm sure most of the show is shot in China. Some B-rolls and key scenes were shot on location.

As if on cue, the dreaded mid show break-up with bonus Noble Idiocy hit us, hard. I know he loves her deeply and he always has her wellbeing at the forefront of his mind, but to break up at that juncture when she was so vulnerable is just cruel. It is the textbook definition of a Noble Idiot.

He even told the FL after they reconciled that he just wants her to be happy. The FL has the perfect comeback. She told him that she can never be happy without him. Zing!

What is worse is they were separated for SIX years. I can accept 6 months. I get that he was making long term plans and recovering from his injuries, but that will be for naught if the FL falls in love with someone else. What happens if she is seriously ill and he is not by her side?

The writer tries to explain it all away by having everything falls into place magically. She also drops us into one of the sweetest and most romantic storyline in recent memory. Yes, I have watched enough dramas to know that we need angst and dramatic tension, but I think it could have been done better. All his mates chastised him. Calling him out for pushing her away and making unilateral decisions. It is angst for angst sake.

The writer knows full well how people should behave. For instance, the partner of the FL's mother promptly married her even though she told him they should break up because of her heart condition. Good on ya, Chris. The wife of the FL's alcoholic father is a saint. She stood by him through thick and thin. So why can't the FL be trusted? To just blame the ML's stubbornness is fairly self serving. I am annoyed that the writer displays such double standards.

The only reason I can think of is so that they can stretch the show to 29 eps. Am I too cynical?

I know this review sounds negative. In fact, I actually quite enjoyed this series. My Romance Tragic half loved it. The Rational Critic side wants a quiet word with the writer in a dark alley. ;) I am frustrated that a very good show got dragged down by some questionable narratives.

I know it will sound crazy, but I would seriously suggest you watch the first few eps to get your bearings and work out who's who. Then skip to EP.22 and watch to the end. You won't miss much.

These last few eps are really the heart and soul of this drama. All the swoon worthy moments. Skinship that feels natural. Everything you need in a romance drama are lovingly curated in a neat package. The rest are fillers.

To say I'm conflicted is an understatement. When it is good, it is AMAZING. Some production issues and rehashing of old tropes did drag the show down a bit. It could have been the best drama of 2025. It was THAT close. Peace.

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He Yu’s Jin Zhao: The Heart and Soul of Speed and Love and a ML worth falling for

I really loved this drama, and I fell hard for Jin Zhao. Speed and Love is not a perfect show, but it has a soul and that soul is Jin Zhao. If you are thinking about watching this drama and like the bad boy with a heart of gold trope, do it!! Do it for He Yu/Jin Zhao and you will thank me. I rated acting as 9/10 because of the FL's lacking performance. But for the ML and He Yu's acting it would be 11/10! He really carried the show and emotional and intimate tension!!

One of the things I appreciated most is how the drama handled Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu’s early dynamic. I genuinely don’t find the “big brother” phase strange or uncomfortable at all. In fact, it makes emotional sense. Jin Zhao clearly grew up without ever feeling like he truly belonged. He knew he was adopted, he lacked consistent parental warmth, and later it becomes evident that the mother harbored resentment toward him while the father was distant and emotionally absent, especially after the move to Thailand. Jiang Mu was one of the first people who chose him purely and warmly, without conditions. His protectiveness wasn’t romantic at first, it was rooted in care, responsibility, and a quiet sense of guardianship that came from his own emotional deprivation.

What really stood out to me was how respectful Jin Zhao was when Jiang Mu was only twenty and beginning to develop feelings for him. He never crossed boundaries. He restrained himself constantly. He waited for her consent, not just verbally, but emotionally and through her making the first steps. At the same time, he never made her feel unsafe or unsure. He made it clear that he liked her, that her feelings were welcome, so when she finally did step forward, she didn’t have to fear rejection or humiliation. Their transition from estrangement to tentative closeness, and then into first love, was beautifully done. It felt exactly like a careful, young, emotionally formative first love: hesitant, intense, sincere, and deeply memorable.

I didn’t love the forced separation or the sacrificial breakup trope, and I do think that portion of the story was rushed and not fully articulated. That said, I could still empathize with Jin Zhao’s choice. The show gives enough signs that he was deeply depressed after the accident, stripped of his physical prowess, pride, and identity. His decision came from fear, guilt, and a belief that love meant letting her go rather than allowing her to suffer with him. While I didn’t love the execution, I understood the emotional logic behind it. What ultimately made me forgive him was his growth afterward. He reflects on his mistakes. He no longer hides behind silence or martyrdom. He learns to accept love instead of only giving it. Watching him transform from a reckless bad boy with a golden heart into a steady, emotionally open life partner was incredibly rewarding. Every smile he allows himself in the later episodes feels earned, and I found myself rooting for him constantly.

He Yu’s performance is honestly the backbone of this drama. His acting is nuanced, restrained, and intensely emotional. His eyes do so much of the storytelling: longing, fear, guilt, tenderness, hope. Even when the script falters, his portrayal of Jin Zhao never does. He made Jin Zhao feel real, layered, and unforgettable. I’ll absolutely be following his future projects, because this performance alone convinced me of his range and depth.

That said, the drama does have flaws. The plot is uneven and at times unclear, likely due to editing cuts. The motivations behind Jiang Mu going to Thailand at nineteen, and later the exact circumstances of their separation, deserved more emotional grounding and narrative clarity. These moments should have hit harder than they did.

Another major weakness, for me, was Esther Yu’s performance. I don’t mind an innocent or naive female lead, but her acting simply wasn’t on the same level as He Yu’s. In scenes that required deep emotional reciprocity, especially during moments of intimacy, tension, separation, longing, or reunion, she often fell short in facial expressions, micro-expressions, and physical stillness. I mean a girl can be cute but also have genuine emotional range!! But I felt all she did was focus on the naive cute big eyes look. Jin Zhao’s love feels enormous, consuming, and visceral; too often, it felt like he was carrying the emotional weight of the relationship alone. While I still cared about Jiang Mu as a character, I couldn’t help but feel that a stronger performance would have elevated the drama significantly.

Despite these issues, Speed and Love stayed with me. Jin Zhao stayed with me. The drama succeeds where it matters most: in creating a male lead who feels deeply human, loving, flawed, and worthy of devotion. If you enjoy emotionally restrained yet passionate male leads, slow-burn romance, and stories about choosing love after pain, this drama is absolutely worth watching, especially for Jin Zhao and He Yu’s remarkable performance!! Now I am off to find his other works and patiently await his future works.

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Just speaking facts

I don't want it to end at all omggg! I've never been this addicted to a drama before; I would usually wait until it's fully uploaded to the end before starting to watch, but this drama was an exception. I wait every day, checking the clock to see whether it's 6pm yet. This drama is indeed a masterpiece; it felt as if I were growing up with the characters. I watched them grow up, fall in love, break up, reconcile, and become married. The directors, the production team, and the actors, especially He Yu and Yu Shuxin, did a fantastic job in bringing Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu to life. As a novel reader, this drama didn't disappoint me at all; the cinematography was astonishing. They created a masterpiece by keeping all the important elements that existed in the novel. The amount of script that they kept the same without changing was very good; they followed every single thing in the novel. I thought that was so respectful of them. Esther's acting improved a lot; I keep on seeing the better version of her whenever I watch her new dramas. Especially the differences in the character Jiang Mu; the character development was significant, and she delivered it so well. As for He Yu, he shines so bright through the character Jin Zhao. It feels as if he was born for this character; he delivered it so naturally. I used to see him act in the Legend of Shen Li, and at that time I only thought that he was one good-looking man. I really didn't expect his acting to be this excellent. He specializes in conveying his feelings through his eyes; it's like he became one with the character. It was really nice to see. Speed and Love will always hold a special place in my heart; it will always be remembered as the first drama I looked forward to every day.

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