Summit of Our Youth

CUTE and RELAXING

CONS:

1. Series feel very slow at the beginning.
2. Fake kisses with mouth moving in the emptiness, no tongue and not-so-clever use of camera angles. The KISSES SUCK. I'm sorry. I like to have good kisses when watching my ROMANCE.
3. Some very irritating characters. They get better but you do have to "suffer them" for quite a number of episodes before they turn around.
4. Shitty ending. As mentioned by everybody just skip the last 10 minutes or so if you want to forget it... Honestly I watched it and it's easily skippable. You won't be missing anything, but it's not as terrible as people have made it out to be, if you're mentally prepared.
5. Useless and unfair breakup in ep 19. FL lied as well, I still don't understand in what way exactly the ML was more at fault.
6. End of Ep 20 to beginning of episode 23. The Show is turning all dramatic for no good reason. It feels like, like in many C dramas, they don't want us to have even the slightest of slightest of second lead syndrome so they had to completely ruin Yi Tian Yu's character. SML deserved a better treatment.

PROS:

1. Adorable and easy to root for leads.
2. Lots of skinship in spite of the fake kisses.
3. Both leads bring the best out of each other, though the FL benefits more from the ML than the opposite.
4. Relaxing show. Not too much angst, but not nothing happening either.

CONCLUSION

I would say the pros count double in my book. Not extraordinary compared to other dramas in the genre... If you don't watch it you won't miss much... But if you do, it's a very relaxing show. As far as Modern drama MLs go, Lin Zhi Hua is top tier.

Best watched without binging at a leisurely pace. Watch this after a shitty day at work/school, it will bring a smile to your face.
Worth the time invested.

Suggested rating: 7.5
Personal rating: 8

Read More

Sweet and Fluffy Second Chance Until it Wasn't!

I am in two minds about this drama because there is so much to like but I also had to scratch my head and wonder what the writers were thinking towards the end. I watched this right after Road to Success for Chen Jing Ke, and fortunately I loved him in this role just as much. However, once we get to EP 20 with the six year time jump forward, the plot starts to tank. You've been warned!

What Worked
The Second-Chance Growth & Mindset: The core premise shines because the female lead actively uses her second chance to break old cycles. She stays fiercely focused on her career goals, refuses to fall into the trap of becoming boy-obsessed, and successfully achieves her ambitions. She is determined! She even helps her parents and brother make better choices. I enjoyed her character arc and acting.

The Green-Flag Romance & Context: Coming straight to this show after watching Chen Jing Ke as a green-flag man in Road to Success, his appeal carried right over. His arc in this drama transitions seamlessly from a guiding presence to a deeply devoted romantic partner who always wants what is best for her. Their dynamic is full of mutual support, strong advocacy for one another, and we get genuinely sweet & tender moments plus good kisses!

Comparing Chen Jing Ke's Green-Flag Roles:

In Summit of Our Youth (The Intellectual Protector/Mentor): His dynamic with the female lead is heavily shaped by their shared intellect and his careful boundaries. Neither is aware that the other has also been reborn after the elevator incident, so he thinks she's an 18-year-old freshman (although she is secretly carrying a 28-year-old mindset). So his energy manifests as supreme restraint and watchful mentorship at first as he helps her prepare for the college exam. They both end up attending the same college, where he studies as a Ph.D. candidate and they work in the same lab building autonomous cars using AI. He protects her future, checks her when she gets ahead of herself, and holds a strict emotional line out of respect—right up until the walls come down. Once he realizes they are on this rebirth journey together, we see their relationship continue to deepen in mutual care and respect. Being together doesn't mean she forgets her goals--she continues to strive and he is right there by her side cheering her on!

In Road to Success (The Steadfast Partner-in-Trench): Playing Wang Fa and working alongside a sharp Ph.D. student (played by Esther Yu) to rebuild a high school football/soccer program creates a different kind of trench-warfare camaraderie. Because they are working side-by-side as peers tackling a chaotic, high-pressure environment, his introverted nature turns into quiet, unwavering reliability. He doesn't need or use grand, loud gestures; instead, his romance is built on shared labor, silent understanding, and being a steady, immovable pillar when she faces setbacks.

The Core Consistency: In both roles, he avoids the toxic, reactive push-and-pull typical of drama leads. Whether he's exercising intense academic restraint or offering quiet solidarity on a sports field, his version of a boyfriend is always someone who provides absolute safety and emotional consistency.

Charming Character Dynamics & Highlights: Chen Jing Ke brings an irresistible mix of tech-nerd, highly intellectual, awkward yet sweet appeal, and masculinity—highlighted memorably when he effortlessly princess-carries her in the rain after she gets lost on their camping trip. Plus, his shower scene is an undeniable bonus!

The Supporting Cast MVP: His female cousin is the blueprint of a powerhouse career woman. Her sharp directness and practical advice are crucial in helping the male lead get his act together and navigate his feelings for the female lead.

What Didn't Work: Spoiler alert!!
The Unhinged Thriller Turn: Around episode 20, the show takes a bizarre nosedive into a nonsensical kidnapping thriller arc. Turning her relatively harmless ex-boyfriend into a cartoonish villain—complete with a coworker acting as an out-of-character accomplice just to frame the male lead—felt completely unearned and sluggish.

The "It Was All a Dream" Ending: Resetting the entire timeline right at the finish line by revealing she was just in a 10-day coma undermines the weight of the journey. The writer should have stuck to what worked from the start: focusing purely on a smart, mature, and supportive couple building their future together without resorting to lazy plot devices.

Final Verdict
Despite the baffling writing choices near the end, the strong chemistry, healthy partnership dynamics, and satisfying character growth make it an entertaining watch. Just be ready to fast-forward through the late-game narrative detours or just skip the last three episodes or the last 10 minutes of the last episode! The middle of the last episode gives us cute couple time after surviving the bizarre arc with her ex, so don't miss that. I am looking forward to watching more of Chen Jing Ke's work!

Read More

Honestly, this is probably the second-best Chinese drama I’ve watched after "The Best Thing".

*Acting & Characters:
The lead actor did an excellent job, his expressions and performance felt very natural. He convincingly portrayed both the innocence of a student and the maturity of an adult, which really enhanced the storytelling.

*Storyline:
The plot starts with the expectation that a second chance at life would allow the characters to completely turn things around. However, the twist at the end was refreshing and thought-provoking. Instead of simply erasing past mistakes, the drama highlights how those errors become part of us—baggage that shapes our future. This perspective gave the story more depth and emotional weight.

*Overall Impression:
The drama beautifully balances pure love with meaningful life lessons. It’s heartfelt, engaging, and leaves you reflecting even after it ends.

I would 100% recommend this drama—and I’ll probably rewatch it again!

Read More

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 !!!

Read More

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.

Read More

What was that ending??

The name of the final episode is ‘The World Before Being Reborn.’ Quickly after the proposal, time goes back to FL in hospital, ten days after the elevator accident. My confusion set in and I was sorely disappointed that after all that’s happened through the series, it ends like this. This drama started off strong. All the build up at each episode I was expecting a genuine happy ending for the main cast/couples. All the work they put into bettering themselves and making their own life choices without regrets to just to end up in the same life which was a struggle for them and their families. This was an awful ending.

Read More

"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.

Read More

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 cute

Read More