Close to You

When "Youth C-drama" Director and Writer wake up and decide to do something differently good

CLOSE TO YOU (2025) | CN DRAMA
Cast: Liu Xiao Bei, Zhu Lin Yu
Rating: 8.5(Ignore the current 7.4 rating and make your own judgement)

Hear me out...

Yes, I know. I said very loudly and confidently that I wasn’t watching another high school drama again. I’ve seen enough of those rinse-and-repeat arcs, carbon copy characters, where the writers repeat after themselves “we are not trying to be Lighter and Princess (2022) but we low-key are” setup like Forever Love (2020) or When I fly Towards You(Yes I skipped WIFTY,the same way I skipped Lovely Runner) that’s a rant for another review.

Yet here I am. Again. Why? Because I belong to that very niche group of people who can commit to 24 episodes based on a single 1-minute clip floating on the cursed but irresistible streets of social media. I even left a comment on the post: “If this drama flops, I’ll be back kicking and screaming.” Spoiler: I did not kick or scream. In fact, I quietly binged the whole thing.

So what made Close to You different from every other coming-of-age drama we’ve seen?

For starters,it’s not set in high school. (Pause for applause.) The writers actually upped their game and placed the story in a private college. Now, I don't fully understand the Chinese education system,maybe this is the A-Levels equivalent? Who knows. All I know is: we left behind the tired old tracksuits and stressful university entrance exam trope that make you hate every parent in C-dramas and upgraded to blazers, sports festivals, swimming pools, and fancy tuition fees.

Jiang Cai College is the setting of an elite private school where students are handpicked from upper-class families. There are music clubs, sports teams, and yes, a basketball squad that serves as the beating heart of the story. Our ML, Jiang Bo Han, is the team captain. Tall. Calm. Respected. Leadership unlocked.

Enter Yu Ming Xi, our FL. She’s not rich. She didn’t get in because of her bank account, but because of Plot Reasons and a mysterious backstory linked to the school. She’s backed by a bubbly and ride-or-die bestie Wang Chu Nian (SFL),who got plenty of spark but let’s be honest she's mostly in this school for one reason: the basketball boys. And I don’t blame her. At all.
Together, these two form a surprisingly balanced pair in a school full of pressure, privilege, and plot-relevant bullies. It’s like they live in their own little pocket universe inside Jiang Cai’s perfectly landscaped gates.

Our Leads' first meeting? No fireworks. No dreamy background music. Just a street brawl and one girl who refuses to mind her business. She jumps in to help, standing at maybe 5’5” and ready to throw hands. And folks..that’s how Jiang Bo Han met Yu Ming Xi. From that moment on, his world does a full 180 and begins to orbit around her.
He becomes her protector, not that she needs one, because sis can defend herself just fine but he fills in the cracks she can’t always seal up alone. Especially when a certain villain (yes, we have those, obviously) starts stirring the pot.

One thing I really appreciated about this drama: the leads broke out of the usual mold. Jiang Bo Han is not your average rich boy who folds every time his parents show up. No. This one argues back, stands firm, and will absolutely defy his mother for the girl he loves. And Yu Ming Xi? She’s no helpless kitten. She fights, speaks up, and works her tiny frame to the bone to stay afloat.
The side characters? Surprisingly useful. They actually did what they were meant to do: support the main storyline without hijacking it. Even the villains served a purpose and didn’t just exist for chaos points.

And don’t be fooled by the private school aesthetic and ¥1200 blazer(which is a story on its own)—these kids aren’t just walking Hedge Funds spoiled brats. They carry pain, trauma, and secrets. Each of them is fighting their own painful past and as they stand at the messy intersection between adolescence and adulthood, they’re forced to make choices that hurt more than they should.
If I could describe Close to You with one analogy, it’s an onion. The more layers you peel, the more it hits you in the feels. You’ll cry a little, not because it’s sad all the time, but because of how deeply some of their emotions are buried under all that schoolwork and basketball practice. (Also, none of these kids are visiting the school counselor, and it shows.)

OST:
Let me talk about the music. Whew. Someone in production got a blank check and used it wisely. The soundtrack? A banger. I haven’t made a playlist for a drama since… ever. And I’ve watched over a hundred. But this one? Had me in a chokehold. RIP my replay button. I’ll drop the link somewhere below. You’re welcome.

What could’ve been better?

– Each episode is just 18 minutes, which is cute until you realize some scenes were clearly cut short. Like we blink and suddenly we’re in a whole different vibe with zero transition.
– That twist near the end? Blame the writer for giving us a slap that we didn't see coming and also blame me for believing youth equals peace.
– The time skip... kinda flopped. Characters looked the same. Their future selves were just vaguely mentioned in passing. Not a single grown-up makeover or career montage in sight.
– The final 10 minutes? Unhinged. Old characters randomly reappeared for no reason, and the “ending” felt more like a deleted scene they threw in last minute.

Final Thoughts:
I went in expecting fluff, maybe a height difference and a few cute moments from two lesser-known leads. I came out emotionally invested, unexpectedly teary-eyed, and with a whole playlist. This was more than just another youth drama. Think Always Home, sprinkle in Hierarchy, and season with a dash of Weak Hero Class 2 energy.
Highly recommended if you’re stuck in a drama slump, craving something new, or just in the mood for an emotional but sweet ride through growing pains, love, and a whole lotta basketball.

EDIT:
As promised,It took me a second to put the playlist together but here it is.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iKhX935lp2UYb9RNLIWJ1?si=bNC28tq7TMGvy8GjISdK4w&pi=qFbEFqnaTp-N2

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Fair but could be better..

The series is good, and it's nice to see the FL again. I love the height difference between the FL and ML—they somehow have great chemistry and portray their characters well. The ML did justice to his role and executed it impressively. His small, subtle smiles were also adorable.

However, the storyline became a little strange in the middle of the series, particularly in Episode 15. It didn't clearly explain the relationship between the ML and FL—were they just friends, developing mutual feelings, or something else? After a brief infatuation, some scenes felt odd and lacked proper explanation. Their relationship felt like a whirlwind. The ML and FL didn’t have enough time to get to know each other or spend moments together to establish what they truly had. They also didn’t have time to clear things up or express their emotions fully. Perhaps the writers had different ideas regarding that aspect.

Additionally, there were moments when the characters' secrets weren’t explained well. Overall, the series is enjoyable for today's era, but I feel it lacks a stronger storyline that could have clarified important details and made it even more compelling. I could rewatch it at some point, but it wouldn't be one of those series I'd revisit often.

Lastly, I didn’t like the ending. It felt rushed and disconnected from the rest of the story. The last two episodes were fast-forwarded, and the series concluded without properly showing how the ML and FL officially became a couple, no clear development. They talked and kissed, but there was no deeper progression. It was quite disappointing. The part where the ML goes abroad also felt a bit odd.

Watch it for yourself, and you’ll understand what I mean! I just wish the ending had been better.

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