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Frustrating first love and heartbreak meets slow-burn healing romance.
This drama had me going through all the emotions. Like one minute I’m smiling, the next minute I’m annoyed, then I’m soft again.
So the story basically revolves around Nie Xiguang. She's soft, hopeful, a little naive, but also quietly strong. And then there’s Zhuang Xu. My feelings towards him are mixed and slightly aggressive.
Xiguang navigates school, friendships, and her first love and oh my God… the emotional stress I felt.
The whole dynamic between Xiguang, Zhuang Xu, and Ye Rong was messy. Very messy. And I get it. It’s realistic in a way. People are like that. But also… it was so frustrating to watch.
Then enters Lin Yusen into the picture and he's what I call an intentional character. Like you can feel the difference. Completely different energy from Zhuang Xu.
The vibe of the drama actually improves when he becomes more central.
Also can we talk about the aura farming?? Because why does this man do the most normal things with so much intensity 😭 Putting on glasses? Intense. Standing quietly? Intense. Looking at Xiguang? VERY intense.
And I ate it all up. LOL.
The workplace arc also adds something fresh. It’s not just romance anymore. There’s hierarchy, power dynamics, competence, mistakes, growth. And I liked seeing Xiguang in that space, trying to prove herself outside of her background.
Overall, it’s a journey about moving on and finding someone who actually chooses you. It’s frustrating, it’s dramatic, but the payoff with Xiguang and Lin Yusen is honestly so sweet.
WHAT I LOVED ❤️
Lin Yusen: intentional, devoted, emotionally engaging, strong presence (a yearner done right) and character growth.
The Payoff: Seeing Xiguang finally get the love and family peace she deserved after all that heartbreak.
Character Depth: Even though Zhuang Xu frustrated me, his "gloomy" acting was so on point that you really felt everything he felt, including his regret.
Xiguang’s growth
The shift from campus to workplace
Emotional scenes
Soundtrack - The music was spot-on. Perfectly timed. Great song choices. It really set the mood.
Jiang Rui – literal sunshine character. He was such a darling, a loyal cousin and the only one who actually had Xiguang’s back when things got tough.
The subtle themes about privilege, independence, and emotional healing. Xiguang had advantages, yes, but she genuinely wanted to stand on her own. That tension between the way people perceive her and who she actually is was handled quite well.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
Zhuang Xu’s Personality: The constant moping and indecisiveness were exhausting to watch over time. He made things so much harder than they ever needed to be.
Ye Rong’s behavior: just… no. Absolutely not.
Lack of Communication: The early misunderstandings between Xiguang and Zhuang Xu were just pure nonsense. Talk to each other!
Editing Flaws: The Europe and desert scenes were so obviously fake/green-screened. I was like, "Are we serious with this editing?”
Final Thoughts
This drama is very much a slow emotional journey. It thrives on character feelings, missed timing, and evolving relationships more than clean plot progression.
If you like emotional tension, character-driven romance, longing, regret, and second chances; you’ll definitely enjoy it.
But if you’re someone who gets easily frustrated by miscommunication and drawn-out misunderstandings; just prepare yourself mentally 😭
So the story basically revolves around Nie Xiguang. She's soft, hopeful, a little naive, but also quietly strong. And then there’s Zhuang Xu. My feelings towards him are mixed and slightly aggressive.
Xiguang navigates school, friendships, and her first love and oh my God… the emotional stress I felt.
The whole dynamic between Xiguang, Zhuang Xu, and Ye Rong was messy. Very messy. And I get it. It’s realistic in a way. People are like that. But also… it was so frustrating to watch.
Then enters Lin Yusen into the picture and he's what I call an intentional character. Like you can feel the difference. Completely different energy from Zhuang Xu.
The vibe of the drama actually improves when he becomes more central.
Also can we talk about the aura farming?? Because why does this man do the most normal things with so much intensity 😭 Putting on glasses? Intense. Standing quietly? Intense. Looking at Xiguang? VERY intense.
And I ate it all up. LOL.
The workplace arc also adds something fresh. It’s not just romance anymore. There’s hierarchy, power dynamics, competence, mistakes, growth. And I liked seeing Xiguang in that space, trying to prove herself outside of her background.
Overall, it’s a journey about moving on and finding someone who actually chooses you. It’s frustrating, it’s dramatic, but the payoff with Xiguang and Lin Yusen is honestly so sweet.
WHAT I LOVED ❤️
Lin Yusen: intentional, devoted, emotionally engaging, strong presence (a yearner done right) and character growth.
The Payoff: Seeing Xiguang finally get the love and family peace she deserved after all that heartbreak.
Character Depth: Even though Zhuang Xu frustrated me, his "gloomy" acting was so on point that you really felt everything he felt, including his regret.
Xiguang’s growth
The shift from campus to workplace
Emotional scenes
Soundtrack - The music was spot-on. Perfectly timed. Great song choices. It really set the mood.
Jiang Rui – literal sunshine character. He was such a darling, a loyal cousin and the only one who actually had Xiguang’s back when things got tough.
The subtle themes about privilege, independence, and emotional healing. Xiguang had advantages, yes, but she genuinely wanted to stand on her own. That tension between the way people perceive her and who she actually is was handled quite well.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
Zhuang Xu’s Personality: The constant moping and indecisiveness were exhausting to watch over time. He made things so much harder than they ever needed to be.
Ye Rong’s behavior: just… no. Absolutely not.
Lack of Communication: The early misunderstandings between Xiguang and Zhuang Xu were just pure nonsense. Talk to each other!
Editing Flaws: The Europe and desert scenes were so obviously fake/green-screened. I was like, "Are we serious with this editing?”
Final Thoughts
This drama is very much a slow emotional journey. It thrives on character feelings, missed timing, and evolving relationships more than clean plot progression.
If you like emotional tension, character-driven romance, longing, regret, and second chances; you’ll definitely enjoy it.
But if you’re someone who gets easily frustrated by miscommunication and drawn-out misunderstandings; just prepare yourself mentally 😭
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