This review may contain spoilers
A subtle, yet intimate love story
There's something so intimate about two people in a bedroom, in the middle of the night, and just talking. The bedside lamp casting a warm thread of light across their faces . How dark their eyes turn, as if they can’t see, while at the same time they’re more honest than usual.
I am obsessed with a blurred line between platonic and romantic love. When they are important to you in a multifaceted way. Covering up your feelings with another kind of love that is just as true. One type of love does not negate the other.
The drama has many good breathing moments, avoiding being overly dramatic. You don’t get exhausted from constantly being on the edge of your seat.
For the cons, I found the side plots unnecessary. I don’t care about this student who doesn’t even have a relationship with any of the main characters, I don’t care about these teachers. Although the parents’s decisions and feelings might affect the main characters, it still felt too much. Nor do I care for the sports day event. With all these things going on, I’m surprised we still got to see the main characters together that much. Still, I wanted to see more of just the two of them.
It feels weird calling it a romance when there are no romantic moments until the end. There are plenty of beautiful and precious moments, but they didn’t feel romantic, which makes me wonder if they even developed those kinds of feelings for each other yet. Maybe they did but were unaware of it. Well, I’m unaware too.
The wisdom and poetry woven into the narration and dialogue. I love how it’s packed with these subtle details.
Their whole relationship is just so wholesome. The way Jiang Tian silently looks out for and takes care of Sheng Wang, with no questions asked. And Sheng Wang moving into the dorms with Jiang Tian so that he can have a place that feels like home. Like, why are they doing this? But at the same time, isn’t it beautiful. It’s really interesting how different they first seemed from one another, but still empathise with each other and comfort each other.
Favourite quotes:
Hey, do you remember the story our old Chinese teacher told us before? It was about a little boy who was also making a schedule. He started it during the summer vacation. Year by year, he carried on, from childhood to adulthood.
But why did he end up crying?
Because he wrote his entire life in that planner. Everything was in the plan. But real life… isn’t about theorising on paper… Don’t live your youth with regrets.
If there’s only one person in the world who understands you, then he’s more important than anyone else. I only know people do what they do at a certain age. When it’s time to be a little crazy, don’t hold back. You’ve got decades ahead to be cautious and hesitant. What’s the rush?
Isn’t there a saying that when you no longer exchange pleasantries with someone and can share troubles and honors with an ease of heart, … it means you are friends?
As the saying goes, lie down where you fall. Let’s rest here for a while. What are you going to do? Might as well lie down here for a bit. Keep me company for a while.
He is like a tree, not knowing anything about joy or sorrow. Half of it rests peacefully in the dust, half soars in the wind, half scatters in the shade, and half bathes in the sunshine. He is utterly silent, and extremely proud. He never relies on anyone, and never seeks.
Humans have fortune and calamity, just like the moon waxes and wanes.
The moon is far and can't be held, yet the sixpence is close and can be held. The moon would take time to get to, but the sixpence is within reach. The moon is a thought since it holds no value that can be seen, but the sixpence is money that can be used! And that's why the moon is love.
I am obsessed with a blurred line between platonic and romantic love. When they are important to you in a multifaceted way. Covering up your feelings with another kind of love that is just as true. One type of love does not negate the other.
The drama has many good breathing moments, avoiding being overly dramatic. You don’t get exhausted from constantly being on the edge of your seat.
For the cons, I found the side plots unnecessary. I don’t care about this student who doesn’t even have a relationship with any of the main characters, I don’t care about these teachers. Although the parents’s decisions and feelings might affect the main characters, it still felt too much. Nor do I care for the sports day event. With all these things going on, I’m surprised we still got to see the main characters together that much. Still, I wanted to see more of just the two of them.
It feels weird calling it a romance when there are no romantic moments until the end. There are plenty of beautiful and precious moments, but they didn’t feel romantic, which makes me wonder if they even developed those kinds of feelings for each other yet. Maybe they did but were unaware of it. Well, I’m unaware too.
The wisdom and poetry woven into the narration and dialogue. I love how it’s packed with these subtle details.
Their whole relationship is just so wholesome. The way Jiang Tian silently looks out for and takes care of Sheng Wang, with no questions asked. And Sheng Wang moving into the dorms with Jiang Tian so that he can have a place that feels like home. Like, why are they doing this? But at the same time, isn’t it beautiful. It’s really interesting how different they first seemed from one another, but still empathise with each other and comfort each other.
Favourite quotes:
Hey, do you remember the story our old Chinese teacher told us before? It was about a little boy who was also making a schedule. He started it during the summer vacation. Year by year, he carried on, from childhood to adulthood.
But why did he end up crying?
Because he wrote his entire life in that planner. Everything was in the plan. But real life… isn’t about theorising on paper… Don’t live your youth with regrets.
If there’s only one person in the world who understands you, then he’s more important than anyone else. I only know people do what they do at a certain age. When it’s time to be a little crazy, don’t hold back. You’ve got decades ahead to be cautious and hesitant. What’s the rush?
Isn’t there a saying that when you no longer exchange pleasantries with someone and can share troubles and honors with an ease of heart, … it means you are friends?
As the saying goes, lie down where you fall. Let’s rest here for a while. What are you going to do? Might as well lie down here for a bit. Keep me company for a while.
He is like a tree, not knowing anything about joy or sorrow. Half of it rests peacefully in the dust, half soars in the wind, half scatters in the shade, and half bathes in the sunshine. He is utterly silent, and extremely proud. He never relies on anyone, and never seeks.
Humans have fortune and calamity, just like the moon waxes and wanes.
The moon is far and can't be held, yet the sixpence is close and can be held. The moon would take time to get to, but the sixpence is within reach. The moon is a thought since it holds no value that can be seen, but the sixpence is money that can be used! And that's why the moon is love.
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