This review may contain spoilers
When I started watching this series, I was convinced it would be good. I wasn’t wrong — it was fucking amazing and addictive. But I also thought it would be very sweet and “calm,” considering the author’s other works. Turns out, not quite. The series tackles heavy topics that are definitely not for everyone, but they’re handled extremely well — there’s really nothing to nitpick here.
Let’s start with the positives, namely the male lead — Sang Yan. I already loved him in Hidden Love, and here my love only grew stronger. A wonderful man and a massive green flag. I wish every good person could meet someone like him in their life. His unconditional love and immense support for the female lead were beautiful to watch — and at the same time heartbreaking. For two reasons. First, the positive one: he was the only person (aside from her dad) who was always there for her and truly showed her genuine love. Second, the negative one: he suffered a lot because of that love — and he absolutely did not deserve it. Honestly, neither of them did. They both truly fell in love back in high school, and their feelings remained strong even after their paths split. Their reunion showed that clearly, as the emotions slowly resurfaced. This wasn’t just about obvious on-screen chemistry (though it was definitely there, and the kisses were H O T), but about a deep, emotional bond. They were the most important people in each other’s lives, and both wanted what was best for the other.
That led to one moment where I was completely torn: Wen Yi Fan’s second escape to Hong Kong. At that point, two wolves were fighting inside me. One wanted to tear her apart for hurting Sang Yan yet again — a man who was nothing but wonderful to her. That wolf wished them both happiness apart, just so they could finally stop suffering. But the other wolf understood her. She had been through hell — the kind that’s hard to talk about and even harder to forget. She never received the support she deserved, and the people closest to her convinced her it was something shameful and that she should stay silent. Then Che Xing De reappeared in her life. She wanted to protect the male lead by disappearing from his life. That wolf knew that their true happiness existed only with each other — and that they truly shined only together.
As for Wen Yi Fan herself — the female lead — she was a tragic character. The actress played her brilliantly, and I felt her pain in every single episode (I cried in almost all of them). For me, it’s unimaginable how much hell the people closest to you can create in your life — and that was exactly her case. The strongest disgust and resentment I felt was toward her mother, Zhao Yuan Dong. Of course, I’m not defending that piece of trash (Che Xing De), who ended up exactly where he belonged — but it was her mother who allowed this to happen. She could have protected her and didn’t. She didn’t believe her own daughter when she said he tried to take advantage of her. She still wanted her to stay near him, claiming he was a good man. SICK. Years later, she acted like nothing had happened and wanted to fix their relationship (mainly because her new partner left her). I’m glad she didn’t get forgiveness from her daughter, and that the female lead cut her out of her life — she absolutely didn’t deserve to stay in it. Honestly, she deserved even harsher consequences. To make things worse, she let that trash live with her younger daughter, as if she wanted to put another child through the same hell.
Coming back to the female lead — I’m glad she met someone like Sang Yan. She deserved happiness. She was a good person, and her parent gave her the kind of fate no child should ever have. I’m happy that, thanks to him, she slowly started reclaiming happiness in her life. Thanks to him and his family — and we already knew from Hidden Love that his family is wonderful.
Still talking about the main couple — the proposal at the very end was beautiful. That kind of ending is pretty cliché, but here it really worked for me — especially with a small complication added. And one tiny BUT: it was sweet and at the same time slightly terrifying that he followed her around Yihe for six years despite having no contact, simply because he promised her back in high school that he would always be by her side :D
As for any love rivals — we only had admirers for the female lead (which is honestly weird, considering Sang Yan’s looks and personality — how was no one interested in him except me and Wen Yi Fan? :D). Still, both of them were decent guys and not overly annoying.
Now, the secondary couple: Su Hao An and Zhong Si Qiao. In their case, I feel a slight sense of dissatisfaction, though it’s hard for me to fully pinpoint why. Their relationship had huge potential, but somewhere along the way it feels like it wasn’t fully used (though, like I said, I can’t clearly define where it went wrong). What irritated me was that at some point I completely lost track of their dynamic. I thought they were together when they weren’t — or they were together, but she wasn’t sure if he loved her? I honestly got confused myself. On the positive side, both of them had wonderful families. Especially his grandparents — watching them together was a joy. They radiated a kind of happiness and love that had survived many, many years.
Let’s start with the positives, namely the male lead — Sang Yan. I already loved him in Hidden Love, and here my love only grew stronger. A wonderful man and a massive green flag. I wish every good person could meet someone like him in their life. His unconditional love and immense support for the female lead were beautiful to watch — and at the same time heartbreaking. For two reasons. First, the positive one: he was the only person (aside from her dad) who was always there for her and truly showed her genuine love. Second, the negative one: he suffered a lot because of that love — and he absolutely did not deserve it. Honestly, neither of them did. They both truly fell in love back in high school, and their feelings remained strong even after their paths split. Their reunion showed that clearly, as the emotions slowly resurfaced. This wasn’t just about obvious on-screen chemistry (though it was definitely there, and the kisses were H O T), but about a deep, emotional bond. They were the most important people in each other’s lives, and both wanted what was best for the other.
That led to one moment where I was completely torn: Wen Yi Fan’s second escape to Hong Kong. At that point, two wolves were fighting inside me. One wanted to tear her apart for hurting Sang Yan yet again — a man who was nothing but wonderful to her. That wolf wished them both happiness apart, just so they could finally stop suffering. But the other wolf understood her. She had been through hell — the kind that’s hard to talk about and even harder to forget. She never received the support she deserved, and the people closest to her convinced her it was something shameful and that she should stay silent. Then Che Xing De reappeared in her life. She wanted to protect the male lead by disappearing from his life. That wolf knew that their true happiness existed only with each other — and that they truly shined only together.
As for Wen Yi Fan herself — the female lead — she was a tragic character. The actress played her brilliantly, and I felt her pain in every single episode (I cried in almost all of them). For me, it’s unimaginable how much hell the people closest to you can create in your life — and that was exactly her case. The strongest disgust and resentment I felt was toward her mother, Zhao Yuan Dong. Of course, I’m not defending that piece of trash (Che Xing De), who ended up exactly where he belonged — but it was her mother who allowed this to happen. She could have protected her and didn’t. She didn’t believe her own daughter when she said he tried to take advantage of her. She still wanted her to stay near him, claiming he was a good man. SICK. Years later, she acted like nothing had happened and wanted to fix their relationship (mainly because her new partner left her). I’m glad she didn’t get forgiveness from her daughter, and that the female lead cut her out of her life — she absolutely didn’t deserve to stay in it. Honestly, she deserved even harsher consequences. To make things worse, she let that trash live with her younger daughter, as if she wanted to put another child through the same hell.
Coming back to the female lead — I’m glad she met someone like Sang Yan. She deserved happiness. She was a good person, and her parent gave her the kind of fate no child should ever have. I’m happy that, thanks to him, she slowly started reclaiming happiness in her life. Thanks to him and his family — and we already knew from Hidden Love that his family is wonderful.
Still talking about the main couple — the proposal at the very end was beautiful. That kind of ending is pretty cliché, but here it really worked for me — especially with a small complication added. And one tiny BUT: it was sweet and at the same time slightly terrifying that he followed her around Yihe for six years despite having no contact, simply because he promised her back in high school that he would always be by her side :D
As for any love rivals — we only had admirers for the female lead (which is honestly weird, considering Sang Yan’s looks and personality — how was no one interested in him except me and Wen Yi Fan? :D). Still, both of them were decent guys and not overly annoying.
Now, the secondary couple: Su Hao An and Zhong Si Qiao. In their case, I feel a slight sense of dissatisfaction, though it’s hard for me to fully pinpoint why. Their relationship had huge potential, but somewhere along the way it feels like it wasn’t fully used (though, like I said, I can’t clearly define where it went wrong). What irritated me was that at some point I completely lost track of their dynamic. I thought they were together when they weren’t — or they were together, but she wasn’t sure if he loved her? I honestly got confused myself. On the positive side, both of them had wonderful families. Especially his grandparents — watching them together was a joy. They radiated a kind of happiness and love that had survived many, many years.
Was this review helpful to you?
