The Early Spring

50 shades of Luan Nian... or not?

After finishing the drama, I can confidently say that this has been one of my favorite Chinese dramas of 2026.

The synopsis and trailers initially give off the typical “dominant ML, nice FL” kind of vibe, but is that really what the drama is? Not quite.

The story moves surprisingly fast. From the very first episode, it gets straight to the point, and the leads continue developing almost every episode. Yes, this is a workplace romance, but it does not feel like the usual workplace-romance formula. The leads have a somewhat peculiar dynamic, and watching that dynamic gradually change is one of the most interesting parts of the drama.

Overall, I think the drama is very well made. The production, lighting, script, OST, atmosphere, and even the opening credits all contribute to its charm. But what caught my attention much more than the aesthetics was the development of the leads and, especially, their relationship.

Their relationship is constantly evolving. They misunderstand each other, learn about each other, change their views, become more vulnerable, and gradually grow closer. You can actually see how and why they fall in love instead of simply being told that they do.

And now to what is probably my favorite part of the entire drama: the chemistry, romance, and intimacy.

My God.

This is genuinely one of the very few dramas I have watched where the intimacy between the leads feels this natural and palpable. Their chemistry is amazing. The hugs, kisses, touching, hand-holding, physical closeness, eye contact, and all those small affectionate gestures make them feel like an actual couple rather than two actors performing a romance.

The romance does not feel sanitized or distant. There is warmth, desire, affection, awkwardness, tenderness, and physical attraction between them. You can actually feel that these two people want to be close to each other.

Jing Boran and Sun Qian both did wonderfully. Their performances complement each other so well, and their chemistry is honestly one of the drama's greatest strengths. So many romantic dramas claim to have chemistry between their leads, but here it is actually visible on screen. The intimacy feels effortless rather than staged.

Another thing I really appreciated was how focused the writing remained on the main couple. There are no unnecessary love triangles dragging the story down, no second leads constantly interfering just to create artificial drama, and no excessive amount of screen time wasted on minor characters whose stories have little connection to the main plot. The drama knows who its central characters are and allows us to actually spend time with them.

That does not mean the drama was completely without flaws. There were some minor issues. Apparently, episodes had to be cut down because of Youku's budget-related decisions, and I think you can occasionally feel the consequences of that. The timeline becomes a little blurry at certain points, and some transitions could have been clearer.

But these issues were relatively minor for me. The overall writing remained coherent, the emotional progression of the leads made sense, and the story never completely lost its focus.

I have also noticed that because the drama became popular, some people from other fandoms seem to have decided to target it or dismiss it simply because of the attention it is receiving. I think that is unfortunate and unfair. Of course, everyone is free to dislike a drama, but there is a difference between genuine criticism and attacking something merely because it has become popular.

If anything, attracting that much attention—including negative attention—shows just how much impact the drama managed to have. The hype did not appear out of nowhere. People became invested because the romance works, the leads have excellent chemistry, and the drama gives viewers something that has become surprisingly difficult to find: an adult romantic relationship that actually feels romantic.

And I honestly think we may have to wait quite a while before another drama with this particular combination of chemistry, intimacy, character development, and focus on the main couple comes along.

So, if you are reading this because you are wondering whether the hype is deserved, for me the answer is absolutely yes.

And if you are craving a romantic drama with plenty of hugs, kisses, hand-holding, physical affection, emotional intimacy, and two leads who genuinely look like they are falling in love with each other, definitely give this one a try.

The chemistry alone is top-notch, but thankfully, there is also a genuinely good drama around it.

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They love each other but they just didn't know how ♥️

I genuinely don't know how to put into words how much I LOVE The Early Spring. 😭❤️

As someone who read the novel before watching the drama, I went into this adaptation with a very complicated mix of excitement and anxiety. When you love a novel this much, there is always that fear that the drama won't capture what made the story special in the first place. And while The Early Spring definitely made some changes—some of which I wish had been handled differently—I still came out of this drama completely in love with Luke and Flora.
I think one thing that is really important when discussing Flora is the difference between the novel and the drama.
If you only watched the drama, I can completely understand why some people might think Flora is a red flag or question why she was so distant from Luke. But if you've actually read the novel, you would understand her so much more.

Because novel Luke is a red flag. 😭

And I don't mean that as an insult to his character—I actually think those flaws are an important part of understanding their relationship. Novel Luke is rude, cold, possessive, jealous and emotionally complicated. There are moments where his behaviour towards Flora is absolutely questionable. He isn't the perfect, emotionally mature male lead that the drama sometimes makes him appear to be.

That's actually one of the things I found so interesting about him in the novel. He loves Flora deeply, but he doesn't necessarily express that love in the healthiest or most straightforward way. There's an emotional distance to him, and at times he can be intimidating and controlling.

So when Flora distances herself or struggles to completely open up to him, it makes sense.

Her behaviour isn't happening in isolation.

The drama toned Luke down quite significantly, and while I understand why they did it, I think it changes the audience's perception of Flora.

Drama Luke can come across as much softer, warmer and more emotionally available. He is easier to understand, easier to sympathise with and, honestly, much closer to a green flag.😂

But when you remove some of novel Luke's coldness and more problematic traits, Flora suddenly looks like the one constantly creating distance in the relationship.

And I'm like... you guys, READ THE NOVEL. 😭

Because once you understand what Luke was actually like, Flora's actions make so much more sense.

And that's why I really don't agree with reducing Flora to simply being a "red flag."

She's complicated.

She's grieving.

She's guarded.

She's flawed.

And she's someone who has been carrying so much emotionally that loving someone doesn't automatically mean she knows how to love them perfectly.

I especially loved the way her friendship with SYZ was portrayed in the novel. It was a genuinely deep friendship, and his death affected Flora tremendously. Her grief wasn't something that could simply disappear because Luke was there. That loss became part of her emotional journey, and I think it explains a lot about why she struggled to open herself up completely.

So when people say, "Why didn't Flora just love Luke properly?" I'm like... did we read the same story? 😭
Her character isn't about not loving Luke.

It's about loving him while simultaneously being afraid of everything that comes with that love.
And that's what makes their relationship so heartbreaking.

She was complicated. Luke was complicated. Their relationship was complicated.

At the same time, I also appreciate that the drama made Luke easier to love. 😂 Because let's be honest, drama Luke is significantly more green-flag compared to his novel counterpart. The drama really said, Let's take this man and remove some of his crimes. 😭

And somehow it worked. 😭

But I do wish the drama had retained more of his coldness because I think it would have added another layer to their relationship. Novel Luke's coldness is not just a personality trait—it affects the way Flora interacts with him and helps explain why she is so cautious.

But despite the changes, I still think JBR did such a beautiful job portraying him.
What I love most about his performance is the yearning.

There are so many moments where Luke doesn't even need to say anything. You can see it in his eyes, his expressions, the way he looks at Flora, the hesitation in his movements. There is so much emotion underneath the surface.
And THAT is what made some of the scenes hit me so hard.

The Aurora scene, especially. 😭

That was one of my favourite scenes in the novel, so I was honestly terrified that the drama wouldn't be able to recreate the emotional impact I felt while reading it.

But JBR DELIVERED.

The tears.

The body language.

The longing.

The vulnerability.

Everything.

I cried when I read the novel's version, but watching JBR actually portray it had me bawling my eyes out. There is something completely different about seeing an actor embody a scene you've already imagined in your head.
And somehow, he gave me the exact emotional devastation I wanted. 😭

The same goes for so many of Luke and Flora's quieter scenes. I didn't necessarily need grand romantic gestures every five minutes. Sometimes it was just the way they looked at each other, the way one of them hesitated before speaking, or the way they stood next to each other while clearly having a million things going through their minds.

Those little moments were everything.

And I have to talk about the proposal scene because THAT SCENE WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. 🥹

It was one of my favourite scenes in the novel, and I had been hoping the drama would keep it because it carried so much emotional significance. Thankfully, it did not disappoint me.

There are certain scenes where, as a novel reader, you're sitting there watching with your hands clasped together thinking: Please don't ruin this. Please don't ruin this. Please don't ruin this.

And then they actually deliver.

The emotional payoff was worth it. 🥹

I also really loved their reconciliation and the way their relationship continued to evolve after all the misunderstandings and emotional distance.

Because for me, their story isn't simply about falling in love.

It's about learning how to love each other.

They already love each other. The problem is that love doesn't magically erase their flaws.

Luke still has his possessiveness and insecurities.

Flora still has her walls and emotional distance.

They still misunderstand each other.

They still hurt each other.

But eventually, they begin to understand each other better.

And that's what makes their happy moments feel so satisfying.

Of course, I have things I wish the drama had done differently.

I wish Luke had retained more of his novel personality, especially his coldness. I wish we had been allowed to see more

of the complicated, intimidating side of him because I think that would have made Flora's character easier for drama-only viewers to understand.

By making Luke softer, the drama sometimes unintentionally makes Flora look worse.

And I don't think that's entirely fair to her character.

I also wish some of the novel's emotional depth had been preserved because there are certain things that make much more sense when you understand the characters' internal thoughts. That's always one of the hardest things about adapting a novel—you can have the same events on screen, but without the internal monologue, the audience may interpret a character completely differently.

Still, despite all my complaints, I can't bring myself to be harsh on this drama because I genuinely had so much fun watching it.

I laughed.

I screamed.

I cried.

I got angry at them.

I defended Flora.

I defended Luke.

I complained about Luke.

Then immediately went back to loving Luke. 😭

And that's how I know a drama has successfully gotten me emotionally invested.

And I love that Luke isn't some perfect prince who comes along and magically fixes everything.

They're messy.

They're frustrating.

They're complicated.

And somehow, they're still completely meant for each other. 😭❤️

For me, The Early Spring isn't a story about two perfect people having a perfect romance.

It's about two complicated people who love each other deeply but don't always know how to express that love in the
healthiest way.

It's about distance and yearning.

It's about grief.

It's about misunderstandings.

It's about wanting someone desperately while being afraid of what that vulnerability means.

And ultimately, it's about finding your way back to the person you never truly stopped loving.

I came into The Early Spring as someone who already loved the novel, so obviously I have my complaints about the adaptation. There are scenes I wish they had kept, character traits I wish they hadn't toned down, and moments I wish had been given more depth.

But even with all of that...

I LOVE THIS DRAMA. 😭❤️

I love Luke and Flora.

I love their chemistry.

I love their complicated relationship.

I love the yearning.

I love the angst.

I love the little domestic moments.

I love watching them slowly find their way back to each other.

And most importantly, I love that after everything, they still choose each other.

Maybe the adaptation isn't exactly the The Early Spring I imagined while reading the novel, but it became its own version of the story—and somehow, I still fell completely in love with it.

So thank you, The Early Spring, for the emotional damage. 😭🫶🏻

You gave me some of my favourite scenes, some of my favourite performances, and way too many feelings.

And now that it's ending...

what the hell am I supposed to watch after this? 😭

Anyway, it has been a ride.

10/10. Would emotionally suffer over Luke and Flora again. 🫶🏻❤️

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A bittersweet realistic love story

I’m bad at writing reviews, because every time i feel the need to make one after i finish a drama i really enjoyed my thoughts become a mess. So i’ll make this as short as possible .
I think The early spring is the most realistic romantic show i’ve ever watched: both partners were flawed, both of them got hurt during their relationship and they both changed a lot. Luan Nian overcame his pride and Zhitao her insecurities. I cried a lot while i was watching it, especially in the last 4 episodes. But it was so worth it. I’m gonna be rewatching it a lot and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s not afraid to witness how a toxic, raw and intense relationship filled with lots of love evolves in these 24 episodes. Prepare tissues, a strong drink (only if you’re not underage obviously) and also prepare yourself mentally to go on this emotional adventure. The early spring has risen to my numer 1 favourite modern drama, i’ll need something really good to top it.

*The 0.5 i took from the story is because we needed more than 24 episodes. Only 4 episodes for their breakup and reconciliation were absolutely not enough and we could’ve seen much more. A 10/10 for me nonetheless.

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BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WORTHY OF LOVE

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.Chemistry was on another level just out of this world even they didn’t have to be overly physical for you to see it it was just there.I really love when a drama is like that it just shows how perfect the casting is just effortless synergy with each other truly remarkable

Luan Nian was not an easy/perfect person to love he was blunt and cutting with his words but his actions were contradictory to his words.He was a caring and soft person with a hard exterior lol.He realised his own shortcomings and changed for the better for the one he loved

Flora was young,a bit naive,strong and just so full of love..she gave their relationship multiple chances even though deep down she knew he was flawed in the way he handled relationships she grew in Beijing,met friends that she cherished made memories and found love.

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Another drama with a LAZY ending

Another drama that built up well in the beginning, only for the pacing to completely fall apart toward the end. It became so draggy, then suddenly everything was rushed in the final episodes.

The pacing was a mess. So much potential, so much buildup, and yet we got another rushed ending that didn’t feel nearly as satisfying as it should’ve been. I hate when a drama starts strong enough to make you emotionally invested, only to fumble the execution in the second half.

The adaptation really did Zhitao’s character dirty. One of my biggest frustrations is how much of her complexity, independence, and emotional depth from the novel got lost in the adaptation. She had so much agency as a character—she knew what she wanted, had her own principles, career, friendships, and boundaries. But the drama sometimes reduces her to simply being the person reacting to Luan Nian and their relationship.

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Beautiful Chemistry, But Far Too Rushed

I really enjoyed this drama, even though I have to admit that the pacing became one of my biggest problems. The story had so much potential, especially because the characters and their relationship were what kept me watching, but towards the end everything felt extremely rushed. I often found myself thinking, “Wait, that happened already?!” 😭
What I loved most was the chemistry between the leads. Jing Bo Ran really impressed me in this role. His acting, expressions, styling, and especially the way he portrayed Luke’s softer and more playful side made the character so memorable. He completely understood the charm of the character, and honestly… Luke became one of my favorite parts of the drama. 😭❤️
Sun Qian also did a great job. I already knew her from another drama, but I really enjoyed seeing her in this role. Her acting and styling suited the character very well, and I thought she had great chemistry with Jing Bo Ran.
The monologues and dialogue were another highlight for me. Some of the emotional scenes were genuinely beautiful, and the OST added a lot to the atmosphere. The scenery was also gorgeous, especially the travel scenes. Everything could have been even more impactful if the drama had simply slowed down and given the characters more time.
My biggest disappointment was the ending. I really wanted more of their future together instead of everything being wrapped up so quickly. There were also side characters and relationships that I would have loved to see developed more. It sometimes felt like the production had to rush to finish the story, and that prevented some emotional moments from reaching their full potential.
Even with those problems, I still loved watching it. The characters, chemistry, acting, OST, and emotional moments made the drama worth it for me. I just wish the production had given the story more room to breathe instead of rushing through so much towards the end.
Overall, not perfect, but definitely a drama I enjoyed and will remember. ❤️ I would happily watch more of these characters if we ever got the chance!

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WOW! So Real, So Warm, So Amazing: Dominant CEO Romance Turned to GOLD!!!!!!!!

I am insanely IN LOVE with this show. I also loved the Korean version of "Nevertheless" for the same reasons that I love this show. They both have:
--Incredible, vulnerable actors giving it their all in every performance.
--A very realistic love story with fallible people.
--Crying scenes where the tears actually come out of the leads' tear ducts.
--Excellent and realistic sets and locations and beautiful cinematography across the board.
--Heart warming secondary characters who are also wonderful actors acting like adults.
--An exciting, logical script within a fairly average plot that doesn't try to do too much, so we can focus on the relationship.
--A GREAT OST.
--Beautiful warm, modern, normal, adult, SENSUAL love scenes (no nudity of course) in bed and other places where people actually get sexy and the leads actually rumple their pajamas.
--The sexy scenes are sprinkled throughout, so you don't have to wait until the very end for any romance.
--Off the map chemistry and cinematography that doesn't rely on pretend kissing.
--Proactive ML who is dominant, but respects the FL's boundaries and asks permission.
--Realistic chemistry that gives hugs, hand holding, and snuggling their rightful place and doesn't just go for one sexy kiss as the single symbol of the close relationship.

In the story, neither party shares their insecurities or concerns fully, which is very much like real life. (Yes, IRL after so much time together, you would have thought that they would have shared more sooner. That said, I was in a similar relationship and really, you have less time together than one would think, so you maximize happiness and don't spend time revisiting old wounds.)

The story also shows each character's personal insecurities and pressures equally. Many people in reviews call this a toxic relationship, but I disagree. The FL was the one who rightly wanted to keep the relationship secret. In such a situation, this is the right thing to do, but men IRL and in this show don't like it, so they were both put in difficult situations. The ML was verbally cynical, non-trusting, and not gentle (not abusive) when he was hurt and angry, not at any other time, and he was rarely hurt and angry. I know many people who lash out when hurt, especially those who need to learn how to communicate. The FL also did not do enough to assure the ML that she loved him, but this is NOT my definition of true abuse and toxicity, just an opportunity for characters to grow. (Maybe other viewers would rather the ML's problem to overcome be lack of hygiene or alcoholism and the FL's problem be kleptomania and lying.) I think that the problem issues to overcome here are appropriate because they can be overcome by honesty and more expressive love.

The female lead has very low-key facial responses, but still emotes like crazy. She is a WONDERFUL actress and a perfect foil for the ML's character who is also hiding behind a shell, but doing so in a somewhat more expressive manner. I am not familiar with Jing Bo Ran's prior work, but I looked him up on MDL and I now see how prolific he is in both dramas and movies. I can see why. He is PHENOMENAL, my new favorite.

Even with a few episodes devoted to mandatory State-sponsored tourism advertisements and social issues (here, workplace harassment), the rewatch factor is OFF THE CHARTS. I want to see these two leads together in other shows.

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You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love. But....

Luan Nian, you deserve to be loved. Always.
I’m glad you eventually learned to fight for that love, communicate, and say the things that needed to be said. Some of your words cost you someone precious, but you grew, earned her love again, and found your forever. Novel Luke was hard for me to accept at first, but Drama Luke felt warm and protective from the very beginning. You express love through actions, but sometimes we need words too—we need to hear the reassurance, not just feel it. Thank you for learning that and showing us your growth.

Shang Zhitao, you were young, innocent, and carrying a bag full of dreams. You worked hard for every little thing on your bucket list and built a beautiful life for yourself. Your insecurities made you hold back a part of yourself during those six years, and while I wish the drama had portrayed your feelings with more depth, novel readers understand why you made the choices you did. I only wish the drama had given us a better version of you, the way it did with Luke.

Perhaps that’s why I understood you. Sometimes we don’t hold back because we don’t love enough—we hold back because we’re afraid. Afraid of being vulnerable, losing ourselves, or giving someone that much of our heart. But you grew. You built a life of your own, achieved everything you dreamed of, and eventually chose him again—not blindly, but with certainty and the willingness to communicate, compromise, and make it work.

Sun Yu, you were an amazing friend and an even more lovable person.
You showed us a kind of love without expectations. Your pure love for Yuan zhu and your willingness to travel just to see him broke my heart in the gentlest way. Though we lost him, that angel truly appreciated your love and presence through his most difficult days.

Sun Yuan Zhu, you really were an angel.
I loved you in the novel and desperately wished the drama had changed your story. But you still longed for the clouds. Sometimes giving 99% still isn’t enough, and I’m sorry that the missing 1% cost you everything. You were a wonderful friend, roommate, and person. You were truly loved in this lifetime.

Lumi, you are the coolest person ever.
You never hold back and always give your all to the people around you. You never let anyone suffer alone, and your presence itself feels like a blessing. I only wish we could have seen more of your story.

And Luke—the dog.
My baby who suffered so much because of his stubborn parents. You were my favourite in the novel, and although you had much less screen time in the drama, you were still ridiculously adorable. 🥹

Thank you for adapting this novel. The casting was amazing, and Luke’s character truly shined with the changes made for the drama. My only complaint is that Flora deserved the same thoughtful adaptation and growth.

You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love.

But you do have to be willing to grow for the love you want to keep. ❤️

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The Heart Wants What it Wants.

I didn't know who Sun Qian was when I first saw her in one of "The Early Spring" reels. But I think I fell in love with her at first sight. She was the reason I started watching this drama.

I don't usually write reviews because, honestly, I'm too lazy to do it. 😂 But after watching the episodes and reading the novel multiple times, I was drawn in, obsessed, and honestly in a trance every day waiting for the next episode to drop. This is my first Cdrama, and it has affected me this much.

I've seen Luke and Flora's weaknesses in myself and in people around me. They make mistakes. Pride and fear drive their refusal to communicate with each other, and they sometimes say spiteful things to inflict the pain back when they get hurt. But I don't see the drama as romanticizing their toxicity. To me, it's a reminder that love alone doesn't make a relationship healthy. Miscommunication happens in all kinds of relationships, and this story reminded me to ask, clarify, and communicate rather than assume.

I also think Flora was right to pursue her career and maintain a life outside her relationship. Loving someone doesn't mean making them the center of your universe.

I loved that the story also gave so much importance to friendships. They added warmth, humor, and perspective, and made Luke and Flora feel like complete people with lives beyond each other. And even when I knew they were making mistakes, I couldn't stop watching. I wasn't rooting for every decision they made; I was rooting for them to learn, grow, and become better partners to each other. My heart simply loved this story.

Jing Boran and Sun Qian were a huge part of that. It wouldn't have worked for me if either of the leads had been replaced. Their chemistry was phenomenal, skyrocketing.

I have peculiar taste in dramas and romance is not my normal genre. I am more of a thriller and action type. But hey, the Heart wants what it wants. And my heart love this.

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Lacking but addictive

I never expected that JBR would do this type of romance idol drama so this was on my must check list.
I also read the novel so I can get a better idea of the story, and I have to say it's definitely not my cup of tea. I really hate LN character and I don't really like ZT either, so I was prepared to not like the drama at all... but I ended up buying the express eps because I can't wait. I was invested in their mess! 🤣🤣

Pros:

1. Jing Boran!!!
I knew he will be good, but he exceeded all my expectations. I think LN (Luke) is a hard character to play because he's such a bastard... you need something to make viewers tolerate him. This kind of role can also appear too greasy if the actor mess up.

Somehow Jing Boran was able to fulfil all plausibility, like LN is still a bastard but he's an extremely charming one in the drama. I still can't get over JBR puppy eyes, I got bewitched when that scene came up.
I also really really like LN styling, all his outfits are so pretty and imo added another fun aspect to the drama.

I think JBR kind of carry this drama to a certain extent (for me at least), because LN is just not a great character to begin with. The fact that he makes LN looks compelling enough to me is amazing.

2. Romantic and intimate scenes done right.
I'm usually a bit uncomfortable watching intimate scenes, but in this drama they were shot so beautifully. It's such a genius move to hire an intimacy coordinator and I think it should become the standard.
There are so many heart fluttering moments especially in the first half, and I would happily rewatch just for those scenes🥺

3. Combination of JBR and SQ.
Their visual combination is so harmonious and their chemistry just works so well. One of the best chemistry I've seen in a romance drama, and it's definitely the main reason why I got invested.

I also have to give Sun Qian appreciation for playing ZT pretty well. Tbh her acting get overshadowed by JBR, but she did get better as the story progresses, and I especially like her acting during the last breakup scene.
I've seen some comments comparing them but I feel like it's not a fair comparison at all because SQ doesn't have the same amount of experience as JBR. I think she did a pretty convincing job overall.

4. So many great side characters. I really adore Lumi, Tracy, and the roommates.

5. I like the overall aesthetic of the drama.
I think this director have a good sense in regards to visual translation, but unfortunately they fail at organising them.

That's all the part that I like from the drama.

Cons:

1. Lack of pacing.
The pacing was so bad that you can't even tell the passage of time throughout the whole series. It's very choppy and the transition is not smooth at all. I think if you don't read the novel, you will get very confused.

I'm not sure if this is due to lack of skills or censorship, because I heard the episodes were reduced from 32 to 24, so this might also contribute to it as well.

2. Story / plot is just not good.
This drama was adapted from a webnovel. For me, the source material itself is quite problematic, very wattpad coded, and feels a bit outdated. LN in novel is so much worse and ZT is also such a frustrating character to read... so for me I don't really see the appeal. It's just a very typical romance fiction where the author just want them together no matter how incompatible or toxic they are together.

I was hoping the drama will present the story better somehow, but it doesn't really happen. I think this is also due to pacing issue because they spend way too much time showing the 6 years period and so they run out of time to show the rest. They have so many subplots / event that they try to fit in, but since they don't have enough time, everything is kind of just shown on very superficial level.

3. Rushed resolution.
So really the first 2 issues kind of lead to the 3rd issue, which is the rushed resolution. It's not the worst, but it feels very underwhelming to me.

You really can't do anything about the episodes being cut by censorship, but I wish they allocate less episodes to show the 6 years period so they will have more than 3 episodes to build the reconciliation arc.
It was just too short and I just don't think LN & ZT have enough growth to get back together at the end.

4. Lack of budget.
The overall production is still ok, but some parts feels cheap and you can definitely tell they just don't have enough budget for it.


Agree to disagree, but I don't think this drama romanticize the toxic relationship, except for the final ending which is pure wish fulfilment. Even then, it was shown that they are only together at the end because both FL and ML have some personal growth and the boss-subordinate relationship ceased to exist.

As I watch more episodes, I felt really suffocated seeing their interaction. You can see how ZT slowly get worn down by LN. The drama did not shy away from depicting that, so depending on how you take it, this drama can serve as a cautionary tale to avoid this kind of relationship.

Overall this drama is a very interesting case because on paper I would have dropped and hate it, but I ended up really enjoying it instead. I think it really shows the importance of chemistry, visuals, and great acting for this genre (romance), and this drama just happen to really excel at those imo. It's also interesting how this drama manage to open discussion about power imbalance and toxic relationship, as you can see from the discourse online.

Will I recommend this drama?
If you're very story driven or you don't like seeing frustrating or problematic characters, then I don't think this is the right drama to watch.

For me, I watch drama for entertainment, and I think there are a lot of entertainment value in this drama that I got from other aspect (aside from the story). Overall it's very lacking in so many things, but it's still a very fun watch.

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Absolutely divine!

My absolute favorite drama of the year!

Loved everything about this drama. Casting, OST, storyline, pacing.....

The story, while nothing different from typical love stories, shone because of the great acting of the leads. You can really feel every emotion during their interaction. Sun Qian was definitely the right choice for the role. From the innocent newbie to the confident office worker handling projects, her growth during the span of 6 years was well portrayed. Jing Boran, epitomized that cold, arrogant executive who was so full of himself. Yet love took him down a peg or two. Swoony........

I would have wanted additional episodes that focused on their renewed relationship but, sadly, there was none :(

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