emberzmars

Jiejie romance that would have been great if there were real kisses

Older woman-younger man romance is my favourite trope so I was intrigued by this drama. I was unfamiliar with both the main actor & main actress. The drama was a satisfying watch.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - She was smart, attractive and confident and Dai Qi Xuan played this role very well. I will definitely check out her other dramas.
2. ML characterisation - He was like a lost puppy who hides his inner dobermann. I liked him better once his secret identity was out. I liked Zhou Ling Feng's acting and hope to easily find his dramas online.
3. Styling - FL seemed to don an avant garde fashion. Her neon green gloves and oversized white hat definitely grabbed my attention. I liked ML's styling as it gave edgy allure to his character.
4. Supporting characters - I found the backstory of FL's stylist fascinating! ML's half brother was also an intriguing character.
5. Romance - Great mix of push and pull between FL & ML. You can tell that they love each other. There was also a hint of secondary romance in this drama.

What I disliked:
1. Kisses - Sadly the kisses were shot at angle that made them look like fake kissing. Despite that, I must say the chemistry was definitely there between Dai Qi Xuan and Zhou Ling Feng.
2. Backstory - I want to know more about FL's stylist backstory!
3. Deceit - I found the lie FL told to ML about her engagement was too elaborate. Pity ML.

Favourite scene
FL was hospitalised and realised how important ML to her

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Kisses everywhere indeed

As user Lindaseton mentioned in her review, there are, at the time of this review, four versions of this story. Version 1 starring Wang Zhao Yang & Guo Jing, version 2 starring Zhao Guan Yu & Zhang Shan, version 3 starring Wang Ying Jie & Shi Tong, version 4 starring Song Yubo & Wei fanshu. I watched version 2 (this version) first. I have watched Zhang Shan dramas in the past but Zhao Guan Yu was new to me. What a mighty fine introduction!

What I liked:
1. Romance - Wow, Zhao Guan Yu is the finest stud in vertical dramaland. The kisses between him and Zhang Shan were blazing hot. I echo what is said by a YouTube user - "They bless my eyes with so much intimate scenes. I love it!"
2. FL characterisation - Smart, confident, self-sufficient - all the qualities I like in FL.
3. Styling - Love the hairstyling & outfits worn by FL. Gorgeous!

What I disliked:
1. FL ex husband - He is the stupidest husband ever for agreeing to be cuckold. Double standard - he has no right to be jealous!
2. Mistress arc - Gosh she annoyed me so much that I felt like slapping her. I wish she was given less screen time.
3. ML's grandpa - OMG the twist!
4. Relationship - It's great that ML supported FL by investigating her ex's family. However I wish there were more scenes that focused on their growing emotional connection. Something that would be unique to them i.e. not related to FL's family problems.

Favourite scene
ML answered FL's phone when she was in the shower

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Kickass FL, sweet ML & great comedic moments made this romcom super fun!

I watched this drama on 12 January 2025. I enjoyed this drama immensely and I thought it deserves recognition so I submitted a New Title page for 'Sweet Travel' on 19 March 2025. Delighted that the page is now up & running.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - I loved FL because she was spunky, kind & quick on her feet. She was also funny and honest. That very first scene of this drama set the tone right. Anyway I had watched Yi La as bitchy SFL in another drama. I was pleasantly surprised to see her as FL in this drama. She did very well in comedy and I am definitely going to watch her other dramas.
2. ML characterisation - ML is a nice and humble CEO. I liked that he was attracted to FL because of her wits and kindness. This is the first time I watched Zhang Yi Lun's acting. I was captivated by his eyes. So striking!
3. Romance - Gosh the romance between FL & ML was very believable even though Yi La and Zhang Yi Lun did not do proper kissing. I saw the gradual growth of their relationship from strangers whom met & married to friends and life partners who developed affections & love as time passed. I felt like they were best friends! Chemistry was on point between Yi La & Zhang Yi Lun.
4. Supporting characters - FL's mother, ML's assistant and ML's mother were great additions to this drama.
5. Comedy - This is one of the best romcoms in vertical drama land. That scene in which FL saw ML and his assistant in his office was hilarious!

What I disliked:
1. Styling - FL's outfits (except the white dress) were so drab! Antagonists wore nice outfits unfortunately. I am not a fan of long fake nails and sadly Yi La had them in this drama.

Favourite scene
That scene in which FL saw ML and his assistant in his office

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Great acting by Lu Lu Lu in this hidden identity drama

I was in the 'military man' phase after watching So You Also Like Me and The Squadron Leader's Doting Darling Wife. Saw the word 'soldier' in the title on the thumbnail so I clicked 'Play'. I was hoping for a military romance but nope, ML was transitioning from a soldier to a CEO.

What I liked:
1. Lu Lu Lu - I have enjoyed Lu Lu Lu's dramas. Superb acting especially the sad scenes. I was touched by her acting.
2. Supporting characters - I really liked ML's mother because she was nice. ML's assistant was likeable too.
3. FL characterisation - She was smart & hardworking and I liked her.
4. Hidden identity - This trope provided the comic relief in the earlier parts of the drama.
5. Romance - Their first meeting was a meet cute! Sweet romance. ML was smitten by FL right from the start.

What I disliked:
1. Xi Er Li - His acting was too restrained & unemotional. I didn't like it. Despite that, I appreciated his height & handsomeness.
2. The rivalry - The rivalry betwen ML & his cousin was over the top. Sketchy board members need to be fired.
3. Drunk - FL was drunk so much after she had gotten marriage license with ML. I disliked that she was wasted & alone (no drinking buddy) because she put herself in dangerous situation.

Favourite scene
When FL was sorrowful due to passing of a family member

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Likeable couple, super cute kid & interesting antagonist made this drama enjoyable

I am a fan of Zhang Yi Lun from his dramas with Yi La. I have also seen Li Tian Yuan in her drama with Zhang Yi Yang. I was drawn to this drama because of its introductory scene. Overall I liked this drama.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - She was a hardworking, single mum. Even though she struggled in meeting ends meet, she held on to her values & integrity. Li Tian Yuan was convincing enough for the role.
2. ML characterisation - He was warm, respectful & protective of his family. I liked Zhang Yi Lun's acting in this drama.
3. Romance - Slow burn. I liked that they were not strongly driven by lust which is understandable considering FL's single mum status.
4. Supporting characters - ML's mother was great for her warmth & kindness towards FL.

What I disliked:
1. The child casting - It's amusing that the kid seemed big (like aged 1-1.5 years) in the first scene then gradually grew younger. By the time ML met him, the kid looked like a 6 month old child.
2. Antagonists - I hate antagonist that bullies children & elderly. I also thought FL's mother was judgemental & intrusive.

Favourite scene
When FL firmly informed her mother that she wanted to be with ML

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Kindness & patience never felt this rewarding before

I remember the date I watched this drama. It was 2 February 2025, right after I finished watching GOT7 livestreamed concert. Anyway what drew me to this drama was the title & high view count. I enjoyed this drama even though the 'philandering prince of Beijing' title was misleading.

What I liked:
1. ML's characterisation - I liked that he was not CEO but he was rugged, work-with-his-hands guy! He was intense at times but overall treated FL with respect. Cheng Yue was good and sweet in this role.
2. FL's characterisation - I am not a fan of meek FLs but she won me over with her sweet demeanor & character growth. I liked that she never took advantage of ML's kindness. She had just gotten out of a bad relationship & didn't go for rebound/one night stand. Hu Jia Ni did well in this role.
3. Romance - For once, I was glad that their romance developed slowly. Their love language was definitely act of service. Their height difference was big but adorable.
4. Supporting characters - The two mechanics were entertaining.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonist - I hate men who abused their power at workplace. FL's boss was despicable.

Favourite scene
When ML made a surprise visit to FL's hotel room

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Enjoyed different dynamics but I struggled to complete this series

It had been awhile since I made use of my Youku subscription. 'Bound by Sin' was heavily promoted and since reviews were positive, I decided to watch this show. I usually can finish a mini drama in 3 days max but I struggled with this series. It took me almost a month to mark this as 'Completed'.

What I liked:
1. Hao Fu Shen - I found him captivating. His deep voice doesn't match his baby face.
2. Dynamics - FL was career driven & always scheming. ML seemed like a good boy but actually had an ulterior motive in approaching FL. I also enjoyed watching dynamics between FL & her siblings. The rivalry for leadership position was intriguing.
3. Romance - Intimate scenes were hot & plenty. That photo session at the start was bold! I think the sizzle was mostly attributed by the aforementioned dynamics. I liked them when they were together especially at the start because of the sexual tension.
4. Supporting characters - I liked FL's assistant, FL's younger brother & half sister.
5. Outfits - FL wore beautiful outfits very 1920s.

What I disliked:
1. Breakup - When FL decided to break up somewhere in the middle of the series, I lost interest in the series. I disliked that FL & ML spent more time apart than together.
2. Engagement - I think FL got engaged to SML for too long. This was another reason my momentum for this series decreased.
3. Ending - WTH is that ending??? I wouldn't even mind a sad ending.

Favourite scene
When ML finally gave in to FL's seduction & kissed her

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Too much resistance in romance dept but kisses were great

I watched this drama 2 months ago when I was new to vertical dramas and was exploring Bai Yan's works after liking another drama of hers. This was my first time watching Zhang Yun Tao. I have mixed feelings about this drama.

What I liked:
1. Supporting characters - I really really liked ML's assistant as he was observant & sympathetic towards FL. FL's assistant, her senior and ML's friends were also likeable.
2. Kisses - Intimate scenes were hot. Kisses were good.

What I disliked:
1. ML characterisation - I didn't like him at the start because of the way he treated FL. I did howver like Zhang Yun Tao. He could portray cold demeanor very well.
2. Antagonist - She faked an illness & stayed at hospital. Insane for doing this to keep your crush close to you. Karma bit back for her.
3. Romance - There was so much push / resistance in the development of romantic relationship between FL & ML. They were not truthful with each other until almost at the end.

Favourite scene
The conversation in the car

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Crisp, coherent and well-written romcom that is best watched on repeat

I was having bad luck with dramas that I chose to watch this week. I've enjoyed Qian Zhe's dramas in the past and this one has a fascinating plot. Zhai Yiying's face seemed familiar. I think I've watched her as SFL in other dramas but can't recall the titles. Anyway I watched this drama at midnight and finished it in one sitting. OMG, this is one of the best romcoms I've watched recently.

What I liked:
1. Romance - I love their love story as it has great balance of sweet and spicy. They were affectionate with each other even in public. Their love language is definitely physical touch. There were a handful of kissing scenes - my favourite was the one they were in the car. Zhai Yiying and Qian Zhe had great chemistry considering that he is much older and larger in size/build than her.
2. FL characterisation - I loved how Su Ruan was written. She's smart and unintentionally funny. She was not easily intimidated. I also liked that she never played coy when being intimate with ML. This is my first Zhai Yiying drama as FL and I found her to be enchanting. I'll definitely check out her other work in the future.
3. ML characterisation - I also loved how Lu Hanting was written. He was sensitive, caring and loyal. I understand his trepidation about the white lie but I think that's a good decision. It's wonderful to see Qian Zhe showing softer facial expressions in this drama. This is my favourite role of his.
4. Screenplay - Well-written, crisp and coherent. Many dramas (including long length ones) lost its charm in third act but not this one. One of the best vertical dramas I've watched.
5. Supporting characters - ML's best friend and grandma were awesome for supporting ML's pursuit of FL. There was a nice character development for ML's mother.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - Both antagonists were delusional and dangerous. They refused to respect FL & ML's set boundaries.
2. Support system - Just a minor comment. FL's parents only had a cameo in this drama. Wish they had more scenes especially when FL finally recovered her full memory.

Favourite scene
The ending was suspenseful, sweet and satisfying

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Action-packed but romance & espionage arcs were underdeveloped

I liked Yu Peishan's acting when he acted alongside Jia Yixuan. I found this drama through his MDL profile so I watched it last night. This drama was my second drama of both Yu Peishan and Zhao Zaoer. I liked this drama but found certain arcs could be fleshed out more.

What I liked:
1. Action - I rarely watch action vertical dramas so appreciated the action scenes. The first scene was exhilarating. I love that Zhao Zaoer got to kick butt.
2. FL characterisation - She's tough, smart and multi-talented. I also liked that she was kind to and protective of Lu Jingyuan. I didn't like Zhao Zaoer's acting in Zero Ambiguity but I enjoyed her acting in this drama.
3. ML characterisation - I liked that he's always on his toes about FL's whereabouts. I liked Yu Peishan's hair in this drama because he looked dashing and somewhat resembled Chen Gang.
4. Supporting characters - I loved Lu Jingyuan OMG he was so precious. I smiled whenever he appeared on screen. FL's right hand man, ML's assistant and brother/cousin were nice addition to the cast.
5. Ending - It was romantic and sweet. So satisfying!

What I disliked:
1. Romance - Both ML & FL looked good together and the kisses were nice. However their romance was underdeveloped, which disappointed me given the long running time (almost 2.5 hours).
2. Villain - OMG she was the worst villain in all of vertical dramas that I have watched. How could she do that!!! I was also disappointed that she got so much screentime. Same old jealous half-sister arc. I also thought her scheme to get FL to be kicked out from university was silly. How could university's top management take such action based on a hearsay.
3. Espionage arc - I wish this arc was fleshed out. I wanted to know about the mission at the start and why did FL want to kill ML.

Favourite scene
The mission at the start of the drama

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Familiar plot but great chemistry between the leads kept me watching

It has been awhile since I watched this drama. Glad that the MDL page has been created because I write a review & remove this drama from my 'No MDL review' list.

What I liked:
1. Romance - That intro scene was just smoking hot. I liked a take charge FL. ML was very lusty once they got married but there were sweet moments from 2nd act onwards. Though I enjoyed most of the steamy scenes, I wish FL would show more interest/desire.
2. Li Tian Yuan - This is my first time watching Li Tian Yuan & I enjoyed her acting. She was radiant in this drama. I am definitely keen to watch her other dramas.
3. Familiar plot - This drama reminds me of You've Been Tricked starring Yao Yuchen. Both dramas have ML with memorable tattoo & flashbacks to FL & ML's childhood. I wonder if this drama is an adaptation/iteration of the same story.
4. FL's best friend - It's good to see a best friend playing integral role in vertical drama.

What I disliked:
1. Rescue - FL was kidnapped & I was surprised that ML came alone to rescue her.
2. Africa - The whole 'I banish you to Africa' threat should stop. It's insulting.

Favourite scene
When ML revealed his secret to FL

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Jiejie romance that brought out the conflict

I was drawn to this drama because of the familiar names Wang Nan & Sheng Yijie & because of the older woman - younger man trope, which is one of my favourites. I watched this drama on 2 March 2025 and it was enjoyable.

What I liked:
1. Acting - I have watched Sheng Yijie act in another jiejie romance so I knew she could nail her role. She had great chemistry with Wang Nan. Now Wang Nan was believable as younger love interest. He was great at expressing his character's vulnerabilities.
2. Romance - There were steamy scenes. ML being submissive in bed surprised me. I also liked when they talked about FL being domineering - that was a sweet scene.
3. ML characterisation - It's good that we saw ML's serious side when he was at work. I could feel the love conflict faced by him.

What I disliked:
1. Fake results - I hated that FL faked DNA test result to get support from board members. In real world, that move would jeopardise your credibility in the company / industry.
2. ML parents - Their arc is underdeveloped.

Favourite scene
ML being submissive in bed

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CEO FL, ML hides identity, hot kiss - ❤️ this drama!

I watched this drama on 18 December 2024 during my first month of exploring vertical c dramas. I am very delighted that MDL page has been created! This is my first drama of Yu Long and Tian Yu and I must say I was impressed by the quality. This is one of the few vertical dramas I watch on repeat.

What I liked:
1. FL characterisation - FL is a CEO who faced misogyny
from her brother and some male CEOs. She is assertive, capable, smart, funny & vulnerable (I love that she's not Mary Sue). Tian Yu was excellent in this role. She can do comedic & dramatic scenes. I also think Tian Yu has a gorgeous body and she looks hot in tight fitting dresses.
2. Romance - I love her reasons for choosing a husband not a C-level executive. There was an attraction at the start, which slowly grew into admiration and love. ML comforted FL when she was down and I love those scenes. Their kisses are hot! The fact that Yu Long and Tian Yu looked like a sexy, mature power couple made me love this pairing even more.
3. ML characterisation - I love how devoted he is to FL and their marriage. He does have a flaw - he hides his identity while being married to FL. But he managed to convince FL to stay married. Yu Long was so dashing & handsome as ML.
4. Supporting characters - Omigosh I love FL's parents, ML's grandpa. FL's brother is unlikeable but towards the end he was ok. He was the comic relief.
5. Comedy - This drama is a romcom done well!
6. Misogyny - There was a scene where some CEOs, including FL, gathered for a meal and they bullied FL. The bullying was horrible but FL handled the situation well. Overall I like this scene because it depicts real life.

What I disliked:
1. Hidden identity - I just think ML should come clean at his grandpa's birthday.

Favourite scene
When FL & ML had beer at convenience store 🔥

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Revenge tale that tasted like dark chocolate - noir, sexy & indulgent

It has been awhile since I last watched Zeng Hui drama. This drama was highly talked about on MDL so I watched it last weekend.

What I liked:
1. Romance - FL seduced ML at every chance she got and damn those seduction scenes were sexy as hell. Their intimate scenes were blazing hot!
2. Acting - Great acting by Han Yu Tong, Zeng Hui & actress who played the antagonist. Zeng Hui with pierced ear is devilishly handsome.
3. Revenge - A carefully planned one.
4. Ending - So sweet!

What I disliked:
1. Change of look - FL changed her looks through cosmetic surgery but I didn't see any difference between before and after looks. She should have worn a different hairstyle & thick glasses before or used a different actress.
2. Duration - I wish this drama was longer. I would love to see FL struggling with her changing feelings for ML and ML's kid.

Favourite scene:
The jacuzzi scene

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FL fitting as ballerina, sweet romance

I saw clips of this drama on my Youtube shorts. As I clicked play, this drama's plot seemed familiar to me as I recognised the names of FL, ML, FL's ex and FL's occupation. This is the second version of the plot that I have watched version. The other version starred Wang Xin and Lei Xiaomi.

What I liked:
1. Styling - Wang Xiaoyi, who played FL, looked beautiful in several outfits in particular red dress & traditional outfit that she wore for dancing. I also like the tracksuits. Wang Nan with silver hair looked like anime character - that was cool moment which reminds me of Lighter & Princess.
2. Ballet - I love the scenes where FL danced ballet. Wang Xiaoyi was graceful & elegant.
3. Romance - Sweet romance. Milder intimate scenes compared to Wang Xin-Lei Xiaomi version.

What I disliked:
1. Variety show - There was a solo female contestant in the variety show. It made the show imbalanced.
2. Duration - This drama's duration is 1 hour 45 minutes. I wish drama was at least 2 hours because I wanted to see more romantic scenes.

Favourite scene
FL dancing ballet

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