rietveldr_

This is definitely one of the most comforting and meaningful watches for me. From the very first episodes, I already loved the direction of the story and how naturally the characters were written. It feels incredibly real and relatable— like watching fragments of ordinary life unfold on screen. Rather than relying on exaggerated drama, it focuses on the warmth, struggles, and transitions that come with growing up. It immediately stood out to me how everyone felt human. Their emotions, mistakes, family dynamics, friendships, and dreams all felt grounded in reality. It is the kind of drama that pulls you in and envelops you with so much warmth, then suddenly makes you emotional without warning— exactly how life is.

I especially appreciate how the drama portrayed youth, school life, friendship, and family with so much healing. There is warmth in every episode, even when the characters are facing conflicts or painful changes as it was all handled maturely and responsibly. That balance is what made it feel so real— because life itself is exactly like that. Joy and hardship often exist side by side, which is why we really just have to move forward.

One of the strongest aspects for me was how it depicted family. I loved the message that parents often hide their struggles from their children because they feel the need to remain strong and dependable— they need to continue being the rock. It beautifully captures how parents can forget themselves in the process of loving their children. It also reminds us that parents need support systems too— friends, neighbors, lifelong companions— just as much as children do. Most especially, marriage life isn't just in rose-colored lenses, instead it is often accompanied with conflicts, misunderstandings, and hardships. But the most important thing— especially demonstrated in this drama— is to choose your partner in every season of your lives, may it be filled with roses or thorns. Episode 14 in particular, especially broke me. It was such a painful reminder that life can be taken in an instant, and no one truly knows when everything can suddenly end.

The friendships in this drama were also incredibly precious. The trio of Song Cong, Chen Huan’er, and Jing Xichi had such a comforting bond. Whenever one of them needed help, the others were always there to offer support and comfort. They all had the backs of one another. Huan’er and Qi Qi’s friendship was painful but meaningful. I understood both sides: Huan'er being confused and lost with Qi Qi's cold shoulder towards her but still trying. Qi Qi, on other hand, felt alone and out of place yet not knowing how to communicate her feelings. It was so realistic and complex that it hit hard but I’m glad they eventually reconciled. While Du Man, Xinyan, and Li Tian brought so much life and humor to the group. Their presence made everything chaotic, warmer, and wholesome— especially with Li Tian’s drunk alphabet song incident. Even the college friend groups of Huan'er and Xichi were an enjoyable watch because they showed how every season in life introduces new people you'd get fond of, be attached, and still end up going on separate paths. I also appreciated that the love-square dynamics were surprisingly well-executed. Normally, I dislike those tropes, but here it never felt forced or dragged out— I was even anticipating for it and felt it was so cute. At the end, it helped everyone grow and develop more.

Still, none of these would have worked without such well-written characters— the ABCD really stood out to me.
Starting off with Qi Qi who's definitely one of the most realistic and complex characters for me. I found myself conflicted with her many times— for instance, not communicating her feelings properly— but that complexity is also what made her feel human and what made me relate more to her. Her relationship arc with Song Cong was especially realistic: two people liking each other, but realizing they come from different worlds and that constant compromise was slowly hurting them both. It made me felt even more sad when Qi Qi told her mother how she became like her— coercing her loved one on doing things in the name of love— when she, herself, has been suffering from all that. She longs for freedom so much and I am glad that it all worked out for her in the end; from feeling insecure with her writing to finally publishing her own novel.
Song Cong, on the other hand, was another fascinating character because of how much he grew emotionally. From being the consistent top student to being a normal college student— sacrificing his sleep and working hard towards his goal yet there are others who achieve it as simply as drinking water. His love journey also felt layered and realistic— different forms of affection at different stages of life: softer, childish, impulsive with Huan'er, harder, restrained, and conflicting with Qi Qi, in between, mature, and carefree with Du Man. At the end, I’m glad that both Song Cong and Qi Qi eventually found the right person for them. Their differences in life truly elevated the fact that they are incompatible— bound not to last long.
Jing Xichi actually completely won me over. He is thoughtful, observant (especially to Huan'er), dependable, and quietly affectionate— the type of character whose love is shown through actions more than words. He started off as ambitious and true to his dreams, childish and carefree most of the times, which changed drastically after losing his father. Alongside the trajectory of his life, his personality also changed— he matured and grew up overnight. I truly appreciated how well-written his character is.
Finally, Huan’er was one of my favorite characters from the start. She feels warm, genuine, and easy to root for. She represents someone trying to navigate life with kindness while still carrying her own struggles and insecurities. Watching her grow through every stage of life was deeply satisfying and made me felt slightly emotional and sentimental. She went from not knowing what to do in the future— fearing her lack of dreams and purpose— into a woman who is contented and happy with her life. She was never a push-over and stands up for herself when needed. I absolutely love how emotionally intelligent she is and in every place she went, she radiates light and good energy.

Jing Xichi and Chen Huan’er's relationship was definitely one of the highlights of the drama for me. They already felt like a couple long before the confession— it was simply a matter of finally putting a label on what was always there. As even before romance officially began, the way they cared for each other already said everything— heavy on Xichi's side as I believe he was the one who actually fell first. Xichi is genuinely such a green flag. Their romance is the kind of slow burn I love most: steady, natural, and emotionally rewarding. I just love seeing the journey of growing feelings for a long-time friend and the realization that comes with it. There was no any romantic intention at all but suddenly it just felt different; the pining, yearning, tension, and feeling conscious— moments when they linger with the fear of ruining the friendship not knowing they feel the same way. And when the confession finally happened, it made me dropped my jaw— their chemistry was over the top. What I appreciated most was that their relationship was not portrayed as perfect. They had conflicts, misunderstandings, and moments of distance, but those struggles only added more depth to their bond and strengthened their love. It made them feel even more real and solidified their love for each other even more. For Chen Huan'er, it was Jing Xichi who she didn't felt uncomfortable with— even wanting to be closer with him. And for Jing Xichi, Chen Huan’er was always the one— who helped, supported, and stayed beside him through the darkest moments of his life. That emotional consistency made their characters and love story even more touching for me.

I especially loved the ending, particularly their reunion and the scene where they watched their past selves deliver messages to their future/present selves. Seeing them relive, reenact, and reminisce about their senior high school memories made them feel even more human. It was such a sentimental moment, and I found myself feeling nostalgic right alongside them.

The OST also complemented the drama beautifully. It enhanced both the nostalgic and emotional moments, making scenes hit even harder. Visually, the drama had a warm and inviting atmosphere that matched its themes of memory, youth, and home. The cinematography was not flashy, but it was intimate and effective— focusing on expressions, relationships, and mundane moments. The pacing felt natural for a slice-of-life coming-of-age drama. It took its time allowing characters to grow, relationships to evolve, and emotional moments to settle. Nothing felt overly rushed or dragged out.

Overall, this drama beautifully portrayed nearly every aspect of life: family, school, friendship, romance, adulthood, jobs, separation, grief, and healing. It is filled with lessons, heartfelt moments, and emotional truths that stay with you long after finishing. More than anything, this drama felt like home. It was such a refreshing and comforting watch— light in tone, but emotionally and meaningfully rich. It honestly healed something in me and reminded me of the people, memories, and seasons of life that shape who we become. A deeply relatable and heartfelt coming-of-age drama that captures the beauty and pain of growing up with sincerity and warmth.

This drama made me feel always at home in all ways. Definitely what I'd rewatch in the future.