pretend the last 15 minutes doesn't exist
LIN! SHI! GE!!!!!!!!!10/10 story but let's all pretend the story ended at the proposal.
First time watching Chen Jingke and goddamn have I been missing out. This man is fineeeeee. Sun Zhenni has improved tremendously with each new series released. The casting and acting was perfect.
This drama hits all the sweet spots. Would definitely recommend this series for people looking for a fluffy high school love story.
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Brainrot. I wish I could get my time and life wasted. Fuck it return my wasted time back !!
Trust me, I never had a MDL account. But this drama or god knows what, forced me to make one to write this review.If u have not watched it yet, I WARN U DON'T.
There is zero story. And at the end entire drama of 23 episodes will be revealed as just a "dream". Making entire drama, whatever happened, all character developments, all changes, every single thing, go down the drain.
At this point I hate myself. 23x45 precious mins of my life have now got wasted. I want to sue that scriptwriter, director and all those who were involved in this shit. They took my time, a portion of my life that I could have used for studying. It would be nothing less than emotional and mental harm for which I would need damages.
WORST DRAMA. TRUST ME, THIS ISN'T EVEN A DRAMA.
THIS IS FUCKING MOCKERY OF THE VIEWERS AND THEIR VALUABLE TIME !!!
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"take a chance with me, it's never too late"
despite what many feel about the ending, i actually still quite liked it. i admit, it may not be the most satisfying for everyone but with what they had, i still think that the execution and message was still done well.before i dive into what i love about this show like the crazed fool i am right now, i'll clear my not-so-positive points. well first, if you're seeking a healing, stress-relief romcom, definitely follow everyone's advance and stop at the 33 mins mark of the last episode. secondly, at least personally, i did not care as much for the other couples. i have especially mixed feelings about mingze and shiyun due to the setting, dynamic, and with that ending. to me, while i was definitely not in love with their characters nor the cp, i found their settings interesting with mingze's unconditional love and shiyun's more complex and gray character. in the rewritten timeline, while i am not invested in their story, it was acceptable and i was glad for them after they grew up. BIG FAT HOWEVER, i feel icky with the ending that hints towards their love line in the original timeline...because shiyun in this timeline remains toxic and led xuejiao astray and it really feels off for mingze to love someone who was so terrible to his sister. thirdly, i dearly love the ost but it is quite a limited line up, i wish there was more T-T
NOW, why i loveeee this show. i think many who enjoyed this drama can relate to the desire of wanting to go back in time and right all your wrongs, all the stupid mistakes, all the missed opportunities because of how we were when we were young. the pressure to do good, social class gaps, the desire for excellence yet how easy it is to fall behind, and the relationships that bind us from unstable families, expectations, to toxic friends, and stagnant relationships. for a good half of it, summit of our youth is a feel good show of getting a second chance to start over and acing it all. who wouldn't want to go back in time, do a better job for better achievements, and a good understanding of trends and economy to help your family and friends lead a better life?
gu xuejiao's mid-life crisis may not necessarily apply to everyone but it is not difficult to empathise or understand. she chose love over herself over and over again, making mistakes and feeling like it's almost too late when she realises it and wants to bring her life back on track. she puts in effort to make up for the missed opportunities but it's almost not enough: because she can't change the pages in ink of the chances she's missed and the person she did not become, because her efforts are not enough against the power of connections, wealth and capitalism. on the other hand, lin zhihua is slightly more subtle in his thoughts and perhaps more open to interpretations (this is my opinion of what he may feel). lin zhihua is the model student, the envy and role model of many, he excels in his studies perhaps even easier than others. he flipped and aced all because he chose to. he has the ability, the talent, the effort, the mindset, he knows what to do to get what he wants and needs. that's why in his younger years it almost felt a bore to him. despite all these areas of excellence, he has a pretentious and dysfunctional family, there is money, there is love for him, but there is also arguments and fake harmony. he's not unfeeling, and especially in the latter episodes we can see clearly that he is not stoic. in fact, he smiles a lot, can get clingy, expresses his emotions, and is impacted by the people he cares about such as his best friend, gao rui's passing in the original timeline. xuejiao caught his eye and attention when he sat on the edge of that bridge, perhaps not necessarily contemplating to jump but nevertheless encouraged by her words. yet over the next few times they meet, he sees her potential wasted on a relationship that she's sacrificing her life and career for, it frustrates him yet he can do nothing but watch. i feel where they align is this: they're two people who have experienced so much and yet also feel like they've become stagnant in their life and growth, finding the chance for change when they go back in time.
i know some are unhappy with yi tianyu's development in the later half and i very much understand it. in fact, i even thought at first that he would change and perhaps end up with tiantian (im still very much okay and happy that it didnt happen). while i understand why people disagree with the development, i also had an alternative thought that it may be in character and even purposeful. the reason why tianyu and xuejiao didn't work out (at least imo) was that they were both love-brained people who did not help each other grow, xuejiao chose love and tianyu remained immature and perhaps even spoiled. sometimes just loving each other is not enough in life. in summit of our youth, i find the characters are consistent across timelines especially so for mingze, shiyun and yi tianyu. if shiyun never stood up for herself and left in this timeline, if xuejiao never avoided her, she may still be the same (hence my unhappiness with the ending for her and mingze). in the same way, i feel yi tianyu was the same across both timelines: immature. i do think its unfair that he has to lose his crush because of his actions in another life but despite what he says or thinks, even in this life, he is the same, even with different circumstances he is still the same. which is why even if cliche and a little frustrating, i didn't find his development difficult to accept. in fact, i think the drama does relatively well in character writing, some more subtle than others.
at its core, summit of our youth is about second chances. if we want healing and happiness, it allows us to dream of happy endings and a better written past for ourselves and the people we hold dear. at the same time, for those who acknowledge the ending, it leaves a taste of bittersweetness with the truth of the inability to change the past and yet leaving us with the hope to still rewrite the future. we cannot reverse the chances we lose, we only have the present and the future to try and change it. and maybe it took that trigger of rewriting their past for huahua and jiaojiao to realise that it may never be too late to do what we want, to become a better person, to love ourselves and others better. what is important is us: do we have the courage to change? how far will we go for that change? how many chances will we take or lose? this enables their growth and on top of that is sprinkled with a dash of the love we deserve, one that challenges and grows with us, one that values trust and companionship no matter what happens. the fiery passion of youth that not all of us may have experienced, the regrets that haunt the time and people we've lost, do we have to courage to confront them and move forward? perhaps youth, passion, and chances aren't limited even if time may feel so, so long as we live. and perhaps at the end of the arduous journey of successes and failures towards our dreams and desires, better versions of ourselves and our loved ones await for us at the summit of our youth.
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the misunderstand
im gonna be honest i very like this drama it was very wholesome rollercoaster feeling especially the hate when it coming to character and i very love how the villian change. the acting of the ml and fl lead is very good, at first i thought it gonna be cringe when both of them start dating but no it very cute fl lead is very cute . it mainly about highschool life not repeating the same mistake but the thing that bother me is that why gaorui and zhiyue dont end up tgt nor when on a date but the most that bother me and left me thinking is the ending im not even sure that is it sad ending or happy ending but on my pov it a open ending with no happy or sad but the thing i want to see the most is when they got married at the end when the last ep ending but it clearly a no it really different from what i thought but overall it was a very good drama i really recommended to someone who js started watching cdrama and i would rewatch it AGAIN AND AGAIN i definitely fall for jingke and zhenni they're so cuteWas this review helpful to you?
The acting of main leads especially FL is very amazing or engaging. You can give a try to this drama if you want to watch something romantic.
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A Moving Train That Crashed Without Warning
The story began with grace and promise. It felt like watching two people not only rediscover themselves but also positively impact the lives around them. Their journey was heartfelt, and the pacing in the beginning was smooth and engaging. It gave the impression of a second chance—hopeful, transformative, and emotionally resonant.But as the drama progressed, that momentum was lost. Toward the end, everything fell apart. The narrative derailed so abruptly it felt like a moving train screeching to a halt with no destination in sight. The final episodes lacked cohesion and emotional payoff, leaving the plot fractured and the viewer unsatisfied. What started as a compelling and uplifting story turned into a confusing and disheartening mess.
The ending didn’t just disappoint—it dismantled everything the drama had built. A show with genuine potential that, sadly, blew it when it mattered most.
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Could be 10 episodes instead of 23
Skipped many episodes towards the middle and end. Plot was good at first but then it felt like i was watching ads. Not much wow going on, same troubles, different places.Romance? hmmm if you like an 8 year difference then sure. if not? no. I found the male a bit too narcissistic, toxic if youd like. Thats what happens in pretty much all chinese dramas i have watched.
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i don’t get the hate, it’s actually really good!
wow i just finished the drama and didn’t expect all the hate! i think in general people were making really unnecessary comments and hating on it. it is actually a really great drama! i’m stuck on finding exactly this type of romantic dramas. not too cheeky and a great storyline to it. you can compare it to hidden love it’s that good!i loved the main couple! they have a great chemistry and a beautiful relationship. i prefer exactly this type of romance! it wasn’t rushed and not too slow. we got a lot of great scenes together!!
i loved that they both had genuine regrets and wanted to change things in their life. everyone has different difficulties to deal with. every decision makes a difference in the pad you take in life. it’s actually beautiful to see how they made a great use and wanted to make a difference for real. it inspired me in many ways.
SPOILER!!!
i totally agree to all the hate on her highschool bully! i can’t understand how her brother is after her like are you insane? after all the things she did? it’s really unnecessary to make her look good and the FL’s ex boyfriend making a villain. i think these topics were my critic points but you can just skip their parts it’s not that deep
END SPOILER!!!
and the hate towards the other side characters were a bit unnecessary. the side characters aren’t that important or that annoying? i don’t get why people are pointing this out so much
the storyline was very good and it hooked me on!!! i was looking for a drama that was addicting, i wanted to binge watch but couldn’t find anything interesting. glad this drama saved me!! i don’t get why people are saying it got boring fr😭 i binged 16 episodes in two days while watching another drama along!!!
the ending is also very interesting and made the drama not a cliche romance. it added a twist that i think personally makes sense. it added a depth and i loved how it can makes you think deeply about it. people are in general making a fuss about unnecessary things. if it’s that deep, just forget the last 10 minutes and you have a beautiful drama. i hope people will change their minds and watch this cause the ending is not that bad, i promise. i really hope people will discover this drama cause i know a lot of people are looking for these kind of dramas!!
i hope some people will give it a try🫶
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Unusual Ending But Still Worth The Watch
There’s been a lot of disappointed comments about this drama because of the way it ended. Contrary to being disappointed, I actually liked the ending of this story.I enjoyed the development of their characters during their mutual dream, it was preparing them for what should have been from the beginning, rather than making the wrong choice from their youth on. Their shared dream gave them hope to fight back when things got difficult instead of surrendering to the problems that arose. The dream cleared their minds of the nonsense and put them on the right path.
I enjoy the ML’s acting. He is quite talented and needs more roles like this. Support characters are fine, but he is capable of so much more, and I Hope he is able to get better roles after this.
The FL was equally talented and she is absolutely beautiful. Her character switch from a young girl with her head in cotton candy colored heart shaped clouds of love into the confident, intelligent woman who tackled things head on and with her partner actually is more inspiring than being pampered and treated like a canary in a guilded cage like many C-dramas portray women. She embodied what a strong woman’s character looks like.
The development of the leads relationship in the dream was also very well done. It wasn’t all fluff and acquiescing of the male to make the FL happy. He was a leader by example, he had strong morals, was patient and let the people on his team develop and use their strengths to do amazing things in their field.
I think people were disappointed that it really wasn’t a fantasy come true because it was a dream as they were stuck in the dream itself. And, when they woke up from the dream it was a shock, and were bound by analysis paralysis trying to figure out why it happened, yet ignored the last few minutes of the final episode.
The elevator they originally got on was closed down - meaning what happened in the past would not be happening again. The dream was a set up for the dream to become reality.
When the FL was able to get on the elevator they both knew what would be happening from that moment forward, and when the elevator bounced they both reached for each others hand, and that act let each of them know that they remembered what happpened during their dream.
Rather than continuing down their separate paths, they would face difficulties together and the life they shared in the dream was real, not a actually a dream that would vanish.
I personally found the ending quite satisfactory because it was the start of their shared dreamscape coming to life.
It was disappointing to see the FL’s brother so destitute at the end, but also gave hope that the relationship he was so invested in still had a chance. Even though he was not comatose with his sister, his trajectory was changed for the better because the leads had changed.
The only thing that they didn’t give away at the end was the outcome of the 2ML. But after thinking about it, maybe that’s because he never should have been there in the first place.
So if you are wondering whether or not to watch this drama because of the comments and disappointed ending reviews, I suggest you watch it. It’s good - acting, story, cast, directing, script, OST. All those elements combined were beautifully wrapped up in hands united in love and mutual respect.
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Summit of Our Youth – A Second Chance at Love and Ambition
🔹 What if you could go back to high school with all the lessons you learned as an adult?📖 Overview
🔹 This is a 23-episode romance and fantasy drama adapted from the novel Tan Lian Ai Bu Ru Shang Qing Hua by Shi Wei Tu.
🔹 Sun Zhen Ni plays Gu Xue Jiao, a woman who failed her college exams in her past life and spent years struggling in the workplace.
🔹 Chen Jing Ke plays Lin Zhi Hua, the boss who targeted her for layoffs, but in her second chance, he appears in her high school life.
🔹 Their story begins when Xue Jiao wakes up back in her third year of high school, determined to focus on her studies, face her regrets, and protect the people in her life.
✍️ Storyline & Tone
🔹 For me, this drama felt like a mix of regret, hope, and courage.
🔹 Xue Jiao’s journey isn’t just about passing exams, but about finding her strength and making new choices.
🔹 I liked how the story showed her shift from being “love-obsessed” to “education-focused,” while still leaving space for new friendships and romance.
🔹 It’s less about big plot twists and more about watching someone grow with every step she takes.
🎭 Cast & Performances
🔹 Sun Zhen Ni makes Xue Jiao feel real, showing both her regrets and her new determination.
🔹 Chen Jing Ke plays Lin Zhi Hua as the steady person, pushing her forward but also standing by her when it matters.
🔹 The supporting cast adds humor, loyalty, and family moments that keep the story grounded.
🎵 OST
🔹 “Hot Tempo” by Duan Ao Juan
🔹 “I Will Find You” by Yi Sheng
🔹 “Ineffective” by Sun Lang Lang
🔹 “I Will Wait For You at the Summit” by Yang Yu Qing
🔹 “Listener” by Chen Zhuo Xuan & Yi Sheng
🔹 The songs carry both energy and reflection, following the characters’ growth.
🎨 Visuals & Production
🔹 School uniforms, classrooms, and family homes give the drama a familiar and believable setting.
🔹 I liked how the direction contrasted her past struggles with her new path, making her second chance feel clear and meaningful.
🔹 It all felt relatable, like stepping back into a memory.
🏆 Final Thoughts
🔹 I gave this drama 10/10 because it captures the feeling of wanting to start over, and shows how love and ambition can grow side by side.
🔹 It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and worth watching if you like second-chance stories.
⭐ Final Rating: 10/10
💭 As SpillTheDramaTea ☕, this one felt like pouring a fresh cup after a long day, warm, steady, and just what I needed. Yes, I would rewatch it.
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from happy mood to ruined your mood
Nice plot and story but not satisfying endingthey just give a story ten days dream they both their life in their dream after wake up they both in the real time and nothing change
i think they should give us more episode after returning their own world..... but they just complete this drama where both again meet in the elevator just standing side by side
Both leads has good chemistry
In previous life fl was just want love and that's why she always drop her promotion opportunities
But after rebirth she start again and don't want to do previous she learned from her mistakes and start study and try build strong career in her life with help of ml
And avoid her fake friends teach to the audience also
Both leads try their best to protect their love ones in new life that's amazing 👏 and after sometime they starting love each other
I appreciate all the crew members for their amazing work and personally I like to see sun zhenni in modern drama as a main role I like her from tteotm little fox
Everyone did great work 👏 👍
edit this story begin has amazing but in last new life finish and wake from their dreams i don't know but director ruined our mood by giving different ending and everything return to its previous part
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It had potential unfortunately.
I really enjoyed this series. Some aspects of repetition worked well but on the whole I felt there was too much repetition. Too much going back to their school days and reliving the exact same thing over and over. The love story was very nice, their chemistry was good. But family life was not portrayed in a good light at all. No forgiveness, no real understanding of each other. One scene annoyed me and didn't seem necessary - when on the same day he was being checked in hospital for a wound and he'd had 8 stitches in his hand - she asked him to carry her and he did so without a problem... that seemed a bit odd. On the good side - it was about the possibility of healing and sharing the truth with people around you for support.Was this review helpful to you?
