Enigma05

Originally added this to my watchlist because I was interested in ZKY playing the ML only seeing him in a few support roles plus the storyline fascinated me. I have no problem with age gaps, after all we had the hit film "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" and there the woman really was 20 years older; in real life as well there was a difference and they still made it work. A few similarities but overall, good. I didn't know the FL at all but some of the supporting cast I knew like the SML and a few others. But this really was the love that transcended timelines.

Pros: ZKY delivered on all counts; all emotions of both younger and older self. I really loved the difference of the two timelines because they weren't abrupt but interwoven so the transitions were smooth as we the audience had to see both characters meeting, growth, evolution. Neither LW or CJ (our ML and FL respectively) were perfect characters. Both were flawed from the get go. That was very important to highlight. As were the other two couples. In the beginning when we meet LW and CJ reconnecting in the current timeline and she learns of his experience abroad and how sick he is basically due to her and their break up, and then we see how angry he is and we see her apologize and it just kind of seems like a flimsy apology so the audience is kind of unsure and angry as we go through the rest of the drama between the two timelines but then as we get toward the end we start to realize that LW has let go of all of that and in the current timeline he's focused now on standing in front of her and getting her back regardless of her indecisiveness, which was very annoying. But we realize that the past timeline isn't about the anger that LW feels but is instead about telling the story of them; telling how they met and all of that and how they got to where they are presently so the audience isn't angry anymore or isn't feeling like she messed with him even though it in a sense was like that, and I will talk about that in the cons. But the fact that we as an audience also evolved as well with the story is pretty awesome because that's usually not something that happens. Also as the story neared the end and they get back together and they were hiding from parents and doing all that other stuff, and though it is comedic at times, we see that she understands how much she hurt him because she admits it to her father and that's a huge step for someone like her. Yes, she was hurt in the past way before because she was divorced with a cheating spouse that was a scumbag, and still is a scumbag in the current timeline, but she was also angry at him and got over him more or less in a good manner of time. She even spoke about that when she and LW first got together in the past timeline. LW meanwhile from the get--I think for him it was love at first sight--was her protector, even if she didn't realize it he always stood in front of her to shield her from anything and everything and continued to do so in the current timeline.

There were two other couples; couple number two got together more or less quickly, though they had a few misunderstandings that were ironed out relatively in a good time matter. Couple number three were a little strange; they I guess were together the entire time but we only found out about it in the current timeline. What was also cool was the fact that as we were nearing the end of the past timeline story, it held off on showing us the current timeline so only when the past timeline ended with the break up and him going abroad and her being miserable and missing him and the way she handled the breakup I suppose, is when we smoothly transition into the current timeline and her realization of her feelings and that's when they get back together.

I like how when he ran into trouble with his business in the current timeline, this is toward the end, this time she stood by his side, no matter what she even went public with their relationship. She didn't care who said what, it was only the two of them together, and she was determined to be by his side and I thought that that was a major evolution for her and great in general. Comedy was nice here both past and current timelines, especially the current one where they were running away from her mom who was a trip all in herself even the actress with the BTS was fun as well as the absolute hysterical portion was the fact that all the BTS is of them kissing in there were a lot of kisses in this one and they were good ones. Chemistry was on point and very spicy. The fact that ZKY didn’t have that much experience, but the director was guiding him and everybody was teasing him because they had to take multiple shots and even Michelle Chen who played the FL was teasing him because his ears would get red all the time and he was very shy so this was such a great environment even during the tense times they would just be joking around and ZKY was a goofball so he would let all the tension out of the room. It was just a great show to watch altogether. She still teased him during the interviews, their livestreams, and promos now lol! Yes, it had some issues but nothing to cry home about, I don't think.

I love her parents. I love how supportive they always were of her past or current timeline so that was great. Both her best friend and his friends were great no toxicity or stupid advice whatsoever. And even the creepy third wheel because he was annoying; got a clue and bowed out gracefully, finally, it took him a while to get a clue, but he finally got it. As this was a modern, drama sets and costumes and everything obviously was fine. OST matched everything perfectly.

Cons: A lot also had to do with her indecisiveness in both past and current timelines. And the way she showed it, was her eyes would just roll around in her head like she was his age or she would just run away. It just looked really strange like you're an adult woman; stop running away from shit! It was annoying as nails, especially in the current timeline because by then she was closer to 40 and she was still acting the same and I am a woman in my early 40s and I don't run away from anything. If I don't understand my feelings or know them or know how to face them I will just say "you know something, I'm going to take a little bit of time and I'm going to think about it," let the other person know so they aren't overthinking. Set an example! But I would not act like that. Grown women, especially who have careers and are successful, don't act like that; it didn't fit.

Even though the break up wasn't as bad as everyone thought, I still thought that the way she handled everything was just weird and strange and didn't fit. For starters, all the lying was so unnecessary she could've brought up the long distance thing, sat him down like an adult instead of a few nights before he was about to leave he found those documents. I thought that was just very immature of someone her age as she was always talking about their age difference in the beginning. She started with long distance and then literally not even five minutes into it, she broke up with him; like what is even happening? I hate the "doing it for your own good" crap. He was an adult. She never consulted him. It was a huge mistake which she later admitted to but at the time I just thought it was absolutely the worst thing she could've done considering his already massive abandonment issues from his entire family, and the reason she brought him from the mountains to school in the first place and gave him a safe Haven. Now she's basically ripping it away from him so the lying and the abandonment where my biggest issues in the break up; the rest of it I get. Even he got it in the current timeline hence he didn't pursue the issue and let her apologize for not handling it well as she said after he called her out on it a few times, she understood, especially after knowing how much it affected his health and that she was basically directly responsible for that.

I'm still pretty unhappy as is everyone that they cut the daughter scene and the him teaching at a university for a class scene that should've been something like six years later from the end of the show, that should've been an extra scene because when they filmed it, there was dialogue. It wasn't like a quick five minute thing, it was like half an episode if not an entire episode. That just left a lot still not brought full circle. And ironically, it's their banner on their Weibo site the very last scene or take from what was supposed to be either part of the series or something extra. Like why leave something so important out?

Also, I wish that at the end when he had the company troubles and he knew who betrayed him I wish that they had perp walked that dude for trade secret infringement instead of LW just patting him on the shoulder and saying something along the lines of "wait for the court to contact you." I think given the fact of how it affected him, the betrayal was so great, it should've been more than just that. I feel like the ending was definitely rushed especially the last episode. It could've been done better and with that extra portion or put it into the last episode; it would've taken maybe 20-25 minutes and it would've been a great way to end. I like the way it ended nonetheless but still. Also, another reason I feel the ending was rushed was because they had the second couple proposal instead of giving us what we wanted. I understand if the FL didn't want to get married right away yet but instead of giving us that whole thing they could've given us that extra portion and the 3rd couple was also very rushed like we didn't even know that they were still together until the last few episodes.

Would I recommend it? I totally would. The pros are way greater than the cons so, go enjoy a great story. Age really is just a number especially when both are of legal age. I'm glad I watched it.