Little Master

Just an Encore is a sweet, heartfelt drama that beautifully captures the innocence of youth, school friendships, and the complexities of first love. Ding Yuxi’s character shines through as sincere, caring, and deeply understanding—someone who truly sees the heroine for who she is and allows her to be her authentic self, which is rare and touching. The “puppy love” dynamic, with unrequited feelings at first and a slow realization of emotions, makes the romance feel genuine and relatable.

I loved how the story focused on friendships, school memories, and the subtle struggles of growing up, without exaggerating the romance or including unnecessary drama. My only complaint is the pacing of the heroine’s realization of her feelings; it came very late, leaving just two episodes for them to fully enjoy their connection. Also, it would have been nice to see exactly how and when Ding Yuxi’s character fell for her back in junior high school.

Overall, it’s a mesmerizing, light, and pure youth romance that I thoroughly enjoyed, mostly because of Ding Yuxi’s perfect portrayal and the gentle, sincere way the story handled relationships and emotions.