This review may contain spoilers
Hu Manli and Xia Xiaozhou are honestly one of the most *soulmate-coded* couples in C-drama history. Age gaps? Completely irrelevant when two people understand each other this deeply. They don’t just look good together — they *feel right* together. You can see how much they genuinely enjoy each other’s presence, like being side by side is already enough to make life better.
What really gets me is how their story quietly builds this image of a perfect, warm, happy family. If you watch closely — especially Xia Xiaozhou’s flashback in episode 25 (around 22:00) and Ding Ding’s flashback in episode 33 (around 40:00) — it’s all there. The life they could have, the emotional connection, the comfort… it feels so real and so complete.
Hu Manli gives him warmth — the kind that heals and softens everything. And Xia Xiaozhou? He gives her security in every possible way. Not just materially, but emotionally. He gives her his attention, his presence, his *existence*. He’s always tuned into her — constantly checking her moods, her feelings, noticing even the smallest changes. That level of care is rare.
And the most beautiful part? He *delivers*. Every promise he makes, every word he says — he follows through. Everything she ever says to him, he remembers and quietly fulfills. That kind of consistency is what real love looks like.
He’s also incredibly romantic, not in a flashy way, but in the way that matters — being there at the right moment, stepping in when she needs him most, again and again without fail. It’s effortless, natural, and deeply reassuring.
Even though he’s younger, he’s more mature than his age. That maturity is exactly what makes him perfect for her. He’s someone who can truly take care of her — and her son — not just physically, but emotionally, with patience, stability, and love.
And honestly… even though the ending is open and it *looks* like she rejected him, I don’t believe it’s a true rejection. I think she loves him too — she just hasn’t fully realized it or allowed herself to accept it. By the end, she keeps saying things like “you are now more qualified than me,” which feels less like rejection and more like **she doesn’t think she deserves him**.
She cares about him enough to want him to make the best choice, even if that means stepping back. And more than anything, she needed time — time to heal, to rebuild herself, to feel worthy again.
When he said he would wait — 1, 2, 3, even 5 years — you just *know* he will. And deep down, you feel like he’ll succeed, because the drama is filled with hints that she *does* have feelings for him:
She never once rejects him by saying “I don’t love you.” Instead, she shifts to practical reasons like the age gap — which feels more like an excuse than the truth.
She tells him that because of him, she could smile again. That line alone means everything — it shows his confession stayed with her, that she thought about it, that it changed her emotionally.
And that last scene… if you’ve watched enough of Sun Li’s acting, you recognize that smile. It’s not a polite smile. It’s the kind of soft, quiet smile she gives to someone she loves.
But maybe the biggest hint of all is this: her comfort around him. The way she naturally touches him, stays close, lets her guard down — without hesitation, without discomfort. That kind of ease doesn’t happen without emotional attraction. And she doesn’t behave like that with anyone else.
They’re not just a “what could have been.”
They’re a “not yet.”
And that’s what makes them feel like true soulmates.
"love both leads "
Was this review helpful to you?
