Dounie

I'm the same, I need some good recs to move on but I bet it'll be hard to top ARRTI especially with my current mood. But I'll try "Lost" though it's still airing and there's "The Bond" another Chinese drama (which is partially set in the 90s) so maybe you can try that one if you haven't yet?
Dear Diary is definitely next in my list, need more of Wang Rui Chang ♥.
ARTTI is the exception for everything it seems ahah :p
Have you checked "Remembrance of Things Past" ? Though it's a little bit depressing, I loved it as much as ARTTI.

Yes, eventhough most of the time he was silly and playful with Xiaoju, deep inside he loved her profoundly and did all that he could to always be there during her hardest times, to make her laugh, smile and happy and like you said distract her from her one sided love which was seriously hurting her a lot. He was patient and always caring, I' m glad in the end she could feel it too and fall for him ❤.
Oh yes such a good guy :).

He also set the bar really high for me especially for a lead in youth dramas, I doubt I' ll find a character that will get me crazy as he did, but for another reference "Chen Jun He" in "I don't want to be Friends With You" is my fave second lead ever ❤. But anyway it's so rare the guy I' m rooting for ends up with the girl.
That's why I'm more than delighted with the outcome of ARRTI :).

There's also one thing I can't forget about that drama is that " Finally the interesting, playful, yet charming,funny, gentle and caring guy gets the female lead. That's why no matter how frustrating the ending can be I don't mind it because he won ♥♥♥."
Lu Shi Yi is high very high in my list of all time fave characters ♥

Definitely, for once I didn't feel like there was a single plothole regarding the 90s settings and yet it's definitely not easy to recreate decors of that decade so realistically. Only for that this drama deserves so much recognition.

I won't forget anytime soon his sublime, unforgettable and inspiring interpretation of "Lu Shi Yi" in "A River Runs Through It", he was fantastic for real, I rediscovered him ♥

I agree, I really liked the styling here as well and XiaoJu was always so gorgeous whatever she was wearing ;). Aaaw definitely, I agree with you and that's why for me it was also believable how much Shi Yi was in love with her, she definitely has such great qualities and is a beautiful person inside and out.
Ahah definitely would feel weird seeing Wan Peng and Gala Zhang in WWWY after "Love Like White Jade" (if you end up watching WWWY ).
Oh yes the 90s nostalgia, can't get enough of it .

Agree 100% ♥♥
EDIT: I hope so, I will wait for that ahah ;p

Such a well written review, I agree with most of what you said and we generally felt the same, like we discussed in the comment sections especially about Xiao Ju's character (she's so adorable that we can only root for her). I've watched about a dozen of Chinese school dramas and I can tell you "ARTTI" is definitely the best I've seen along with "When We Were Young' (another drama set in the 90s), maybe this one would suit your taste as well.
I have so much more to say about this drama that I might end up writing a review myself. Anyway that was such a pleasure reading your thoughts.

Seriously I was always giggling everytime they were together especially when they were bickering, they were bickering like any couple would do that I would instantly feel extreme joy just seeing those moments of pure bliss ;). But yeah maybe it's also because they were constantly together, playing and having fun that I didn't care at all whether they were a couple or not though I wish they would end up together sooner; I guess that must be one of the reasons why you didn't drop the drama and still ended up enjoying it :p.
I can definitely understand those who felt betrayed by the ending, we don't have the same expectations when watching a drama, I'm not a romantic person at heart (but I do enjoy my Asian romance dramas) so it didn't bother me at all that it took them 36 eps to be together, at least they ended up together that's what I told myself, because in many Chinese youth dramas it's not always the case.
In any case they had such a great chemistry, no one can deny that eheh ;p.

Ooow that's exactly what I felt, I didn't feel like Shiyi was the only one giving his all for their relationship, I also could see it from XiaoJu because she also was always there for him and like you said especially when it came to cure his blood phobia, she took so much time for him, to help him and accompany him, I still remember that scene when she wanted to stay with him in the hospital until Shen Duo appeared and kind of made XiaoJu leave. Also when she heard he was sick she immediately came to see him and stayed with him, all those scenes comforted me even more that they were a couple even if it wasn't official. I guess I forgot a lot of things she did for him but she definitely did give as much to him as he did to her, at least that's my opinion. Her infatuation toward Cheng Long was dragging until very late in the drama that's a fact but I never found her annoying nor stupid, I guess that's how it is when we have a crush, it's hard to control things. Plus compared to so many female leads from other Chinese youth dramas she was probably the sweetest and the most adorable (and relatable), I didn't find her annoying not even for a second and yet I have ton of examples of drama where I disliked of felt neutral toward the female lead and instead liked the second FL more (but anyway my comment would be too long and boring for you if I were to mention all those dramas ahah :p).
Yes like you said they knew a lot about each other, he knew about her weakness and issues with her mother while it seems no one else knew about it, at least Cheng Lang didn't know about it, it was always Shiyi who was here for her and cheering her up, that's so beautiful.
Ahah yes I guess I would have been really devastated somehow if they didn't end up together because they are so cute and natural together but I really love open ending so probably I wouldn't have been that sad, I don't know ahah. But I definitely want more of them, I haven't had enough. I would watch 100 episodes of my Shiyi/Xiaoju couple if it was possible ;).
Anyway thanks for your comment, I definitely felt the same regarding XiaoJu being caring toward LSY but forgot to write about it, but that's good I love talking with others and your comment made me happy.

Honestly I was so invested in this drama and somehow eventhough certain things did bother me, in the end all I remember about is the joy it brought me. I guess I'm a little bit too crazy about the drama, Shiyi ❤, the main couple, the friends, music and all :).
I guess you must have felt the same ?!

I guess many people might disagree with what I'm about to say but I didn't feel frustrated by the ending, I also wished they would get together sooner but I've seen so many school dramas when both leads don't end up together at all that for once I'm just totally and utterly happy that they got their happy ending though, yes it could have been handled in a better way. Honestly I really need more about Shi Yu and XiaoJu because they're too cute and comfortable with each other that all throughout the drama it definitely felt like they were a couple though they weren't so I'm not disappointed at all that they got together in the last episode. They've always been a couple for me, they already had skinship and a really amazing chemistry which is undeniable ♥♥.
Well anyway that's not the reason why I started the drama, I was only in for the 90s setting and the friendship but ended up loving the drama wholly ♥. I particularly could see myself in Xiao Ju regarding the preference for the brother rather than the girl (that's a problematic we encounter a lot in Asian countries but also in Arab countries having myself Algerian origins, so somehow I felt pain for XiaoJu regarding her mother treating her differently from her brother, though it may sound childish but this was portrayed realistically in my opinion).
I miss so much Lu Shi Yi, I'll miss his antics, playfulness and craziness, he truly made me happy when I was feeling so down and made my days a little bit more joyous and more bearable and that's what I always expect from a drama but it's rare it makes me feel so jovial, for all of that I'm so grateful toward the drama, the actors, the team behind it.♥
"A River Runs Through It' was pure sweetness ♥♥
I'll also miss my dear Lu Shi Yi with Xia Xiao Ju, and all their friends ♥.

When I started this drama I didn't expect to be so in love with it but somehow it's not a surprise considering how much I enjoy dramas set in the 90s but this one is really well done and the decors/settings/props and all are so realistic. Honestly I have to admit I'm really obsessed, it's been such long time I haven't spoiled myself about the ending of a drama (reached ep 27 but already know how it ends :p), plus Lu Shi Yi is such a sweatheart, he makes this drama even more memorable in my eyes ♥♥♥♥. One of the best Chinese school dramas I've ever watched.

Lu Shiyi is definitely one of the best male leads of 2021 ♥♥.

I don't really know what got me curious about this drama, maybe the fact that it deals with everyday people and particularly the unusual relationship between a daughter and her father. It might sound plain but honestly this drama has a lot to offer and often I could relate to their relationship and somehow eventhough they don't seem to be on the same page I really felt envious because I've never been close to my father and certain things that Tokiko said reminded of my own experience with my father/family. All their encounters were always full of warmth, memories and teachings.
I also really liked the dialogues in this drama and especially Tokiko's words and tips to her audience, and for the first time I felt like the dialogues in a drama weren't rubbish but pure truth and how a friend or someone close to you should/would advise you with pure sincerity and care.
"There is no such thing as an ordinary family" that's heartbreakingly true.
An absolute gem ♥♥♥

She's a queen ❤❤❤. Love so much her music, a true talent but so underrated.
❤❤❤❤

Tang Ming Xuan's mother must probably be one of the worst characters I've seen in my whole drama history and I've seen quite a lot. She has such stupid views about women and social status, it's disgusting!!! That's the thing I'll remember the most about this drama, this ruined the whole story for me!!!: Anyway it's not like the main couple could save the drama.

Really outstanding in Tokyo Story and with that movie alone she became one of my all time fave actresses ♥.

Thanks for your wonderful review ;).
I'm currently watching the drama and just finished ep 9 (I got goosebumps all throughout this episode); which made me relate to what you said "Every cast member was flawless in their depiction of their characters and how they collaborated with one another to depict intensely real relationships. Qin Hao ... the way that he balanced the good and evil of his character so naturally gave me chills.", after that episode I'm starting to see the teacher differently!

He is too such a reliable and lovable guy ❤️