Linayeol

In the novel, after their separation, Jiang Mu does not truly look for Jin Zhao. She thinks about him and worries, but her concern remains passive. She follows the decisions of the adults especially her mother’s and accepts the silence surrounding Jin Zhao instead of challenging it. She builds a new, stable, and fulfilling life with her stepfather’s children and enjoys a calm, carefree university life.

Meanwhile, Jin Zhao goes through one of the most painful periods of his life: amputation, trauma, and complete loneliness.

Some lines perfectly capture his state of mind, even if they are not in chronological order:
“I’m used to being left aside.”
“People always leave when things get too heavy.”
“I can only rely on myself.”

What deeply moved me is that Jin Zhao would never want Jiang Mu to stay out of obligation or pity because of his disability. If she were to stay, he wanted it to be her own choice, not something forced by circumstances.

Later, Jin Zhao begins an extremely difficult path of reconstruction. San Lei does not erase his pain, but he reaches out to Jin Zhao at a time when he has completely lost his self-worth. With his help, Jin Zhao works relentlessly day after day to overcome depression, regain control of his body, and become physically independent. He refuses to be a burden; he wants to stand on his own.

Out of love and dignity, Jin Zhao chooses effort, discipline, and self reconstruction. Not out of pride, but out of love. He would rather suffer alone than take Jiang Mu away from the carefree life she has always known. He wants to become someone worthy of standing beside her, without her parents seeing him as a burden even though he does not yet dare to believe she might return.
This parallel is what I personally find deeply unfair: Jin Zhao suffers without a family, while the person he loves builds a stable and happy life, unaware of his pain, and only returns after he has managed to overcome his hardships and establish a stable career.

He simply doesn’t love Wan Qing. He is harsh because he absolutely doesn’t want to give her the impression that she has a chance with him. He is certainly aware of her good intentions, but she insisted so much despite his refusal that he prefers to remain firm. Jin Zhao is quite mature: he doesn’t judge people based on their parents’ mistakes. Mumu, for example, has very questionable parents, especially her mother, yet he doesn’t hold her responsible at all. He applies the same distinction with Wan Qing: he recognizes her good intentions but cannot stay friendly with her, since she loves him and he does not. With Wan Qing, he clearly prefers to draw a firm boundary.

The novel made me cry so much for him; it made me want to protect him so badly 😢

For me, Jiang Mu should have chosen Jin Zhao.
If we analyze the situation rationally, the mother’s surgery, although serious, was still a scheduled medical emergency, supervised by doctors and supported by proper hospital care under optimal conditions. She was surrounded by adults, medical staff, and institutions capable of taking over. She was not facing death alone especially since the surgery went very well and only required a period of recovery afterward. Moreover, the mother knew about Jin Zhao’s amputation.

Jin Zhao, on the other hand, comes out of an accident that destroyed his body, his future, and his sense of identity. He is not only physically injured; he is amputated, traumatized, burdened with guilt, and profoundly alone. Unlike the mother, he has no safety net, neither emotional nor financial. His father is unreliable, the adults around him fail him, and he has no voice or power to make decisions. At that precise moment, Jiang Mu is the only stable emotional presence he has left.

Jiang Mu witnessed the accident. She knows how severe it was. Jin Zhao’s disappearance afterward, without any news, could only mean one thing: the worst had most likely happened. And yet, she does not stay.
That is why Jiang Mu should have stayed with Jin Zhao. At that moment, he was the one who needed her the most, because the real emergency was not only medical it was deeply human. Leaving him alone then almost seals the idea that he will always have to endure pain by himself. Once again, Jin Zhao is abandoned.

If he says nothing to Jiang Mu, despite deeply wanting her to choose him, it is because he has internalized since childhood that he does not have the right to ask. Raised in neglect, he learned to erase himself rather than ask for love or support.
After the accident, the amputation completely destroys his self-esteem. He sees himself as a burden and believes it would be selfish to ask Jiang Mu to stay while her mother is ill. He genuinely believes that he no longer deserves to be chosen.
Out of love, he also refuses to put her in a moral conflict between him and her mother. He would rather suffer alone than make her feel guilty. His silence becomes a form of self-sacrifice.

When Jiang Mu leaves, it confirms his deepest fear: he is never anyone’s priority. He even convinces himself that if she had stayed, her love for him would eventually have faded further proof of his belief that he is unworthy of love in moments of weakness.
His emotional state deteriorates to the point where he contemplates death. During this period, San Lei is the person who helps him the most, partially filling the void left by Jiang Mu’s absence.

This behavior, perceived by many readers as maturity or even a form of masculinity, is in reality a survival mechanism. Jin Zhao does not remain silent solely for Jiang Mu’s sake, but because he loves too deeply, devalues himself too much, and has learned to endure everything alone. Some things will probably be changed, but if we refer to the novel, Jin Zhao was the priority for me.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRYy15Xg/ I was so obsessed with Jin Zhao’s handsome face that I didn’t even notice 😂😂😂

Jin Zhao’s father is not simply an imperfect or clumsy man.
He is the very example of a derelict parent, whose selfish choices and repeated negligence shaped and ultimately destroyed his son’s life. Behind the façade of an ordinary adult lies a series of serious failings: alcoholism, cowardice, financial irresponsibility, and a profound disregard for a child’s needs.

From childhood, Jin Zhao was left to fend for himself. His father did not guide him, supervise him, or protect him. He watched his child grow up without truly caring, choosing instead to escape his responsibilities through alcohol and avoidance. This alcoholism is not a mere character flaw; it is the symptom of a man who refuses to take responsibility, who has abandoned all moral authority, and leaves a child to carry the weight of adulthood alone.

This irresponsibility reaches its peak with his remarriage, while already in a precarious situation with a child to care for. This decision reveals a deep selfishness: he never considers whether he has the emotional, material, or financial capacity to manage both a child and a new family. He acts for himself, for his own comfort, without concern for the direct consequences on Jin Zhao, once again relegated to the background. One has to question whether he even truly considers Jin Zhao his son.

Worse still, this negligence is sometimes masked by deceptive gestures. Teaching Jin Zhao how to improve his car without cheating, sharing a few technical tips, creating the illusion of a connection all of this is more compensation than true parenting. These are superficial acts, offered to soothe his own conscience rather than meet his son’s real needs. Knowing a mechanical trick cannot replace constant presence, financial stability, or genuine parental commitment.
This behavior reveals a fundamental cowardice. The father always chooses the easiest path: avoiding conflict, avoiding responsibility, avoiding sacrifice. He prefers to be a tolerable absent adult rather than an engaged and responsible father.
In my opinion, you are glamorizing irresponsibility and negligence far too much, because nothing absolutely nothing in his behavior deserves to be softened or excused.

The consequences are clear. Jin Zhao develops forced hyper-independence, a capacity to endure everything alone, to ask for nothing, to rely on no one. This is not strength; it is a deep wound, born of years of emotional and material abandonment.
And yet, despite all this, Jin Zhao remains attached to his father. This emotional dependency is the most tragic aspect of their relationship. He clings to crumbs of attention, interprets minimal gestures as proof of love, and continues to hope he will be truly recognized as a real son. This loyalty is not deserved; it is the result of deprivation, not a healthy bond. To me, this man did not raise Jin Zhao.

Mumu’s parents completely failed Jin Zhao, and this injustice deeply upsets me. During his childhood, this woman was literally his only maternal figure, the person who was supposed to provide him with security, warmth, and affection. Yet, at the most crucial stage of his development the time when a child builds self-esteem and their understanding of the world Jin Zhao did not receive love, but hatred, rejection, and contempt. Growing up in such an environment leaves invisible yet lasting wounds that mark a lifetime.

His father represents another, equally destructive form of abandonment. Barely having started working and gaining a semblance of stability, he chose to remarry and build a new family without ever ensuring that he was truly capable, financially or emotionally, of supporting a new family or even taking care of the child he already had. He chose to start over elsewhere rather than take responsibility, leaving Jin Zhao to fend for himself in an already harsh world.

Deprived of any adult support, Jin Zhao had to learn to survive on his own far too early, without guidance, protection, or anyone to rely on. This imposed solitude and responsibilities led to a series of tragic circumstances that would have broken almost anyone. Yet, instead of succumbing to anger or hatred, he developed a profoundly moving resilience.

What touches me the most is that he harbors no resentment. Despite everything he endured, he remains grateful, kind, and continues to protect and care for his younger sister. This behavior reveals just how deeply he longs for love and belonging, to be chosen and loved unconditionally.

Jin Zhao embodies silent courage and a rare strength of character. His ability to remain humane, gentle, and loyal after so much neglect and pain is truly moving. His character is exceptionally well written.

That’s why I think the screenwriter should have had her learn the truth from childhood; it would have felt more natural and less morally questionable.

Sadly, she doesn’t learn the truth until just before her departure for Thailand.

That’s not exactly the case. Jin Zhao always knew that Mumu was not his biological sister, but Mumu had no idea that he wasn’t her brother. Her mother only reveals the truth right before Mumu leaves for Thailand, hoping that this will keep them apart.

Go watch the drama, it’s really well made. I’m sure you’ll love it.

The drama remains largely faithful to the novel and benefits from a very strong aesthetic. The world-building is coherent and well constructed, and the atmosphere works well enough to easily draw the viewer in. He Yu delivers a solid and convincing performance, even though some scenes are overly exaggerated and occasionally verge on caricature, which weakens the emotional impact at times.

Esther is undeniably a good actress. After watching My Journey to You, it is clear what she is capable of and how much her acting can surprise those who are still skeptical of her abilities. Her casting as Mumu makes complete sense: she is beautiful, with a youthful face and a soft, almost childlike voice that perfectly matches the character’s description in the novel. She is also accustomed to playing this type of role and appears entirely comfortable in similar characters. I have no criticism of her performance, as she remains faithful to Jiang Mu despite a few minor changes made in the adaptation.

My main issue lies with the writing of Jiang Mu rather than with Esther’s portrayal. I had hoped the screenwriters would handle Jiang Mu’s emotional development more carefully, but the transition toward romantic feelings is far too rushed. This is especially troubling given that she has only just learned that Jin Zhao is not her biological brother. The resulting moral discomfort could have been avoided if Mumu had known the truth since childhood, which would have made her emotions feel more believable and psychologically coherent.

I also wish Jiang Mu had been portrayed as more mature and perceptive when it comes to Jin Zhao’s reality. Several elements made his situation painfully obvious: her mother’s open hostility toward Jin Zhao clearly suggested that the loss of contact was not voluntary. The poverty and hostile environment in which Jin Zhao lived made it evident that his inability to continue his studies was directly linked to financial hardship and a complete lack of moral and parental support.

The behavior of Jin Zhao’s father is equally telling. Seeing him live in extreme poverty while still having the audacity to remarry and have another child despite never having been able to take responsibility for Jin Zhao should have prompted deeper reflection from Jiang Mu. She never truly questions what it must have felt like for Jin Zhao to be abandoned yet again, pushed aside in favor of a biological child, especially when Jiang Mu’s mother had never loved or accepted him in the first place.

These elements, although obvious, are insufficiently explored, resulting in a lack of psychological depth for Jiang Mu’s character. This flaw already exists in the novel and unfortunately carries over into the adaptation, which is a real waste given the emotional potential of the story.

Fortunately, the chemistry between the actors is excellent natural and convincing which makes the drama worth continuing despite its narrative weaknesses. Above all, He Yu is truly outstanding in this role.

I started this drama for Chen Xin Hai… only to realize it’s actually Zhou Keyu 😭 They look so alike that I genuinely got confused. I really thought Chen Xin Hai was the one in Always Home and Love of the Divine Tree. Looks like I’ve just unlocked a new actor to keep an eye on 👀✨

Amputation: he has learned to live with it.

So sad and painful, he has suffered so much neglect. He truly deserves to be loved and protected. If I were in his place, I wouldn’t have had the strength, as an adult, to forgive Mumu’s parents. The truth is: Mumu is the only one who has truly shown him attention, given him love, and genuinely cared for him. That’s why he loves her so much and is willing to do anything for her.

Action is at the core of the first part of the story, which mainly focuses on Jin Zhao’s struggles and personal challenges. It’s possible that the screenwriter added more depth to Mumu’s character, since so far she has received several welcome improvements and adjustments compared to the original material.

After that, there is a time skip of several years, and the plot shifts toward Jin Zhao’s disability, their reunion, and their future careers. It remains engaging, but it ultimately depends on individual preferences.

Poor Jin Zhao. Mumu’s parents are such irresponsible and unlikeable people.

I know I’m repeating myself, but i’m here because of the leads I genuinely like these actors and I support their projects. But I’ve read the novel, and let’s be clear: what some people call "a few moments" were actually years during which Jin Chao took care of Mumu like she was a child he was responsible for. He tucked her in, bathed her, and looked after her day after day. That’s not a small detail; that’s a deeply rooted dynamic.

From Jin Chao’s side, it makes sense that over time he might outgrow that sibling-like affection. He was never fully accepted, loved, or treated as a real son by Jiang Mu’s parents. He always knew he wasn’t their biological child, and after years of separation, it’s plausible for him to reinterpret his attachment to Mumu not as a protective older brother, but more as the bond between childhood companions who shared intense moments together. His emotional shift is believable because it stems from a lifelong lack of love, belonging, and stability.

But from Mumu’s side, it’s a completely different story. She grew up believing Jin Chao was her brother, period. Her entire childhood and teenage years were built on that certainty. She waited for him, longed for his presence, and carried that familial attachment for years. That’s not something you can just "switch off." Even if she learns he’s not her biological brother, it doesn’t erase nearly two decades of identity building and family perception. You don’t suddenly fall in love in a few months with someone you’ve considered family your whole life just because a DNA fact says “not related.” In real life, this would be psychologically complicated even unsettling for many people.

That’s why, despite how beautiful the chemistry between the leads is and how strong their acting performances are, there’s no point trying to rationalize this romance to comfort people who find it odd. In real life, this dynamic would raise a lot of red flags, and it’s normal for people to feel uncomfortable. But the key is it’s fiction. It doesn’t try to mirror realistic psychology; it leans on emotion, chemistry, and storytelling. That’s why we can enjoy it without pretending it’s completely logical. Luckily, it’s just a story, and we can simply appreciate the drama for what it delivers without forcing real world justification onto something that is, by nature, unrealistic. I had hoped the screenwriter or the directors would find a less debatable, or more realistic, way to approach the topic without pushing the audience too much toward moral reflection. But it’s not a big issue the story is still well executed so far, and the cinematography is beautiful.

Normally, she longs for her brother Jin Zhao ever since their separation. She always wanted to contact him, but her mother was against it, so she avoided bringing up the subject, and they eventually lost touch. I think this narrative choice was made to prevent the audience from feeling too much discomfort at seeing them grow up and love each other as siblings especially Jiang Mu, who only learned the truth much later.

You don’t just fall in love in a few months with someone you’ve always seen, even subconsciously, as a brother. She grew up perceiving Jin Chao as her brother, period. Her entire childhood and adolescence were built around that certainty. She waited for him, she longed to regain the protective presence he represented. That’s not the kind of information you can simply “switch off” overnight. Even if she learns he’s not her biological brother, that doesn’t erase twenty years of identity and family building. You don’t replace a sibling bond with a romantic spark in a matter of months just because a DNA test says “not related.” In reality, it would be psychologically very difficult even disturbing for many people.

So they went straight to the point, avoiding the more emotionally familial parts to keep the audience from feeling that discomfort too strongly.
But of course, that’s just my opinion.

I’m here because of the leads I genuinely like these actors and I support their projects. But I’ve read the novel, and let’s be clear: what some people call "a few moments" were actually years during which Jin Chao took care of Mumu like she was a child he was responsible for. He tucked her in, bathed her, and looked after her day after day. That’s not a small detail; that’s a deeply rooted dynamic.

From Jin Chao’s side, it makes sense that over time he might outgrow that sibling-like affection. He was never fully accepted, loved, or treated as a real son by Jiang Mu’s parents. He always knew he wasn’t their biological child, and after years of separation, it’s plausible for him to reinterpret his attachment to Mumu not as a protective older brother, but more as the bond between childhood companions who shared intense moments together. His emotional shift is believable because it stems from a lifelong lack of love, belonging, and stability.

But from Mumu’s side, it’s a completely different story. She grew up believing Jin Chao was her brother, period. Her entire childhood and teenage years were built on that certainty. She waited for him, longed for his presence, and carried that familial attachment for years. That’s not something you can just "switch off." Even if she learns he’s not her biological brother, it doesn’t erase nearly two decades of identity building and family perception. You don’t suddenly fall in love in a few months with someone you’ve considered family your whole life just because a DNA fact says “not related.” In real life, this would be psychologically complicated even unsettling for many people.

That’s why, despite how beautiful the chemistry between the leads is and how strong their acting performances are, there’s no point trying to rationalize this romance to comfort people who find it odd. In real life, this dynamic would raise a lot of red flags, and it’s normal for people to feel uncomfortable. But the key is it’s fiction. It doesn’t try to mirror realistic psychology; it leans on emotion, chemistry, and storytelling. That’s why we can enjoy it without pretending it’s completely logical. Luckily, it’s just a story, and we can simply appreciate the drama for what it delivers without forcing real world justification onto something that is, by nature, unrealistic. I hope they found a more realistic way to approach the topic, and if not, then oh well.