This review may contain spoilers
Who said healthy love is unrealistic?
Main relationship:
The straightforwardness of the ML and FL is what makes their relationship work. They are two individuals who can stand on their own by the time they meet, which in turn just shows them adding to one another rather than burdening each other. The moments when they were on “rocky ground” were the realistic moments of needed individual space that was accompanied by strong communication, and that was before they were dating! Some will say that their relationship is unrealistic, but I disagree. It was a very good example of how a relationship looks when two mature like like-minded people CHOOSE each other. Choosing to be together and choosing to make each other better through their relationship.
Xi Guang: The FL is my type of person. She starts the show very upfront about who she is, and it is quite refreshing. Though I am not an upbeat and bubbly person, one can only admire a person who is true to themselves, no matter what. I believe this trait is what makes her hard to digest for those who are insecure around her. The SML feels that someone of her status should not also be kind and that she should feel some shame about the opportunities afforded to her due to her background. While Ye Rong feels inferior to her not only socio-economically but also in personality. Her willingness to stand up for herself but maintain her kindness is not something we see often in shows. It's either one or the other: she’s mean but not a doormat, or she's kind but gets trampled on. After what she went through with the SML, Xi Guang is more reserved about love; she is not only afraid of pursuing, but she is also apprehensive about letting herself be pursued. However, after noticing the similarities between her past self and Lin Yuse, she realizes that she shouldn't let the one bad experience stop her from trusting that Yusen is serious about her. She is quite quick when it comes to self-reflection and correction, which is another likeable attribute about her. Though she becomes reserved in love, she remains true to her nature everywhere else, and it’s very refreshing to see.
Lin Yusen: Our ML is a breath of fresh air compared to the SML and many of those around our FL. Though he starts very conflicted about his feelings towards Xi Guang, he is consistently straightforward. When he “hated” her, he didn't make her confused if that was the case what confused her was why. Once he decided to leave it in the past, he in fact left it in the past. Quickly and honestly telling Xi Guang how he feels and his intentions of being a positive force in his life, not a burden. Much like the Xi Guang in college, he leaves his feelings at his desired partner's feet, waiting for them to choose what to do next. Apologizing when he felt he overstepped, and communicated with Xi Guang clearly. When the misunderstanding comes to an end, he is conflicted and rather than take it out on Xi Guang, like we have seen others do, he takes time for himself. To reflect on how this impacts his complicated feelings, but also how it may impact how Xi Guang sees him. His clarity stands in direct contrast to Zhuang Xu's redirection of people's feelings and intentional obtuseness regarding misconceptions and misunderstandings. He is a walking green flag and is a perfect example of a character that is not without faults and but is willing to be accountable.
Zhuang Xu: To me, he is neither a villain nor a victim. I understand his reasoning behind not wanting to be with FL, given their different backgrounds and societal positions. In this front, you could pity him for never being able to let go of this insecurity and be true with his feelings. However, being pitiful does not excuse how you speak to others, and feeling frustrated isn't an excuse to treat people however you would like. He spoke so condescendingly to Xi Guang and Ye Rong, to the point where I felt bad for Rong on some points. When Xi Guang explains how it is natural to have a change in feelings when someone treats you well and likes you, it should have been a wake-up call for him. He didn't have to confess his feelings to her to be kind; that was his major problem, he didn’t see that. Furthermore, he is drowning in self-pity and victimization. He takes no responsibility for the fact that it was his choices and unwillingness to let go of his misconceptions and insecurities to chase the one he “loves”. To the point, he blames Ye Rong, Xi Guang, and the universe for missing the timing with Xi Guang. Without taking accountability that he was fully in control of this “timing” for a long time.
Ye Rong; In my opinion, Ye Rong and Zhuang Xu are two sides of the same coin. Rong has the stereotypical insecure “friend” trope surrounding her. We are first led to believe that it is all revolving around Zhuang Xu, but it later becomes obvious, especially when speaking about careers, that Rong feels inferior to Xi Guang and must one-up her at every turn. The insecurity surrounding Xi Guang's background is what makes Rong and Xu so similar; both, in my opinion, are using each other to bring Xi Guang down a notch. Rong, to feel superior, and Xu, to bridge the gap that makes their relationship “impossible”. What makes Ye Rong a bit more villainous is that what she did was meant to ruin Xi Guang’s reputation. At the same time, Zhuang Xu put Xi Guang down to feel a little better about his situation; he holds to misconceptions he had of Xi Guang, even when they were unreliable, to make himself have a reason other than their socio-economic standing to not be together.
The straightforwardness of the ML and FL is what makes their relationship work. They are two individuals who can stand on their own by the time they meet, which in turn just shows them adding to one another rather than burdening each other. The moments when they were on “rocky ground” were the realistic moments of needed individual space that was accompanied by strong communication, and that was before they were dating! Some will say that their relationship is unrealistic, but I disagree. It was a very good example of how a relationship looks when two mature like like-minded people CHOOSE each other. Choosing to be together and choosing to make each other better through their relationship.
Xi Guang: The FL is my type of person. She starts the show very upfront about who she is, and it is quite refreshing. Though I am not an upbeat and bubbly person, one can only admire a person who is true to themselves, no matter what. I believe this trait is what makes her hard to digest for those who are insecure around her. The SML feels that someone of her status should not also be kind and that she should feel some shame about the opportunities afforded to her due to her background. While Ye Rong feels inferior to her not only socio-economically but also in personality. Her willingness to stand up for herself but maintain her kindness is not something we see often in shows. It's either one or the other: she’s mean but not a doormat, or she's kind but gets trampled on. After what she went through with the SML, Xi Guang is more reserved about love; she is not only afraid of pursuing, but she is also apprehensive about letting herself be pursued. However, after noticing the similarities between her past self and Lin Yuse, she realizes that she shouldn't let the one bad experience stop her from trusting that Yusen is serious about her. She is quite quick when it comes to self-reflection and correction, which is another likeable attribute about her. Though she becomes reserved in love, she remains true to her nature everywhere else, and it’s very refreshing to see.
Lin Yusen: Our ML is a breath of fresh air compared to the SML and many of those around our FL. Though he starts very conflicted about his feelings towards Xi Guang, he is consistently straightforward. When he “hated” her, he didn't make her confused if that was the case what confused her was why. Once he decided to leave it in the past, he in fact left it in the past. Quickly and honestly telling Xi Guang how he feels and his intentions of being a positive force in his life, not a burden. Much like the Xi Guang in college, he leaves his feelings at his desired partner's feet, waiting for them to choose what to do next. Apologizing when he felt he overstepped, and communicated with Xi Guang clearly. When the misunderstanding comes to an end, he is conflicted and rather than take it out on Xi Guang, like we have seen others do, he takes time for himself. To reflect on how this impacts his complicated feelings, but also how it may impact how Xi Guang sees him. His clarity stands in direct contrast to Zhuang Xu's redirection of people's feelings and intentional obtuseness regarding misconceptions and misunderstandings. He is a walking green flag and is a perfect example of a character that is not without faults and but is willing to be accountable.
Zhuang Xu: To me, he is neither a villain nor a victim. I understand his reasoning behind not wanting to be with FL, given their different backgrounds and societal positions. In this front, you could pity him for never being able to let go of this insecurity and be true with his feelings. However, being pitiful does not excuse how you speak to others, and feeling frustrated isn't an excuse to treat people however you would like. He spoke so condescendingly to Xi Guang and Ye Rong, to the point where I felt bad for Rong on some points. When Xi Guang explains how it is natural to have a change in feelings when someone treats you well and likes you, it should have been a wake-up call for him. He didn't have to confess his feelings to her to be kind; that was his major problem, he didn’t see that. Furthermore, he is drowning in self-pity and victimization. He takes no responsibility for the fact that it was his choices and unwillingness to let go of his misconceptions and insecurities to chase the one he “loves”. To the point, he blames Ye Rong, Xi Guang, and the universe for missing the timing with Xi Guang. Without taking accountability that he was fully in control of this “timing” for a long time.
Ye Rong; In my opinion, Ye Rong and Zhuang Xu are two sides of the same coin. Rong has the stereotypical insecure “friend” trope surrounding her. We are first led to believe that it is all revolving around Zhuang Xu, but it later becomes obvious, especially when speaking about careers, that Rong feels inferior to Xi Guang and must one-up her at every turn. The insecurity surrounding Xi Guang's background is what makes Rong and Xu so similar; both, in my opinion, are using each other to bring Xi Guang down a notch. Rong, to feel superior, and Xu, to bridge the gap that makes their relationship “impossible”. What makes Ye Rong a bit more villainous is that what she did was meant to ruin Xi Guang’s reputation. At the same time, Zhuang Xu put Xi Guang down to feel a little better about his situation; he holds to misconceptions he had of Xi Guang, even when they were unreliable, to make himself have a reason other than their socio-economic standing to not be together.
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