Shy

There's no novel. Apparently its an original script.

Hope this is angsty because I miss Chen Xingxu doing angst. He’s absolutely going to devour this role for sure.

The way i need her to be casted in high school coming-of-age dramas because why the heck is she being casted to pair up with adults 😩

You know, I feel like this is one of those rare situations where there isn’t a clear “he fell first” or “she fell first.” It feels like they both naturally fell for each other at the same time. You can see it in the way their interactions evolve as the story progresses. Also, whenever there are heart-fluttering moments, you can tell they’re intentionally directed to show that both of them feel it, rather than it being one-sided from the beginning. It’s the kind of relationship where you slowly open up to one another and fall in love simply by getting to know each other, and I think that’s incredibly sweet.

Okay, but this show really set the bar for modern romance c-dramas for me. I love how it stays engaging throughout.

With a lot of shows, especially C-dramas given the longer episode counts, I usually get bored somewhere in the middle. But this one kept my attention all the way to the end, which is honestly such a feat.

The visuals, acting, soundtrack, plot, and chemistry are all so good. And I especially love how natural the main couple’s chemistry feels. At times, it genuinely felt like I was watching a real couple.

It’s also one of those rare cases where both leads are green flags, and their relationship feels grounded and realistic. So good. I’ll definitely be rewatching.

Honestly, its a weird take to say that the ML looks older because firstly, his character is meant to be older. Secondly, weird to say this as SML shipper because SML looks visually older too lol.

Honestly, its a weird take to say that the ML looks older because firstly, his character is meant to be older. Secondly, weird to say this as SML shipper because SML looks visually older too lol.

I kinda like how they're both clingy freaks in a sense that he likes to carry/hold her any chance he gets and she likes to kiss him any chance she gets hahaha

What do you mean it’s ending tmr with the express episodes? I don’t want to say goodbye 🥹🥲 Gosh I love this show so much and it literally elevated my love for Chen Xingxu and Lu Yuxiao. Have always liked them but I absolutely love them here

You know what I really appreciate about Hu Xiu? She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s flirty, she doesn’t shy away from intimacy, and she even takes the lead sometimes. 😌

I genuinely love an experienced FL. So many dramas insist on writing female leads as painfully shy and innocent, which makes zero sense when some of them are written to have had ex boyfriends. Be serious.

Hu Xiu feels so much more realistic than the usual FLs, and that’s honestly so refreshing.

Let me just share my thoughts. I honestly feel like I can empathise with both the ML and the SML, and it shouldn’t be turned into a competition of who is more pitiful or more deserving of love. They are both victims of their family circumstances, just on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Zhi Yu is a victim of neglect, and most of his issues stem from that. His avoidant tendencies are a direct product of his upbringing. The key difference, though, is that he’s self-aware. He knows something is wrong, even if he doesn’t always know how to fix it. What he needed was a gentle push in the right direction, and Hu Xiu became that person for him.

Zhen, on the other hand, is a victim of pressure. Unlike Zhi Yu, he’s had constant attention and was given everything on a silver platter, but that came at a cost: living his entire life chasing his father’s approval. And unlike Zhi Yu, Zhen lacks self-awareness. He doesn’t fully recognise what he’s doing wrong or how deeply his father’s shadow controls him.

In that sense, Hu Xiu’s role and, in a way, Zhi Yu’s role too, is to make Zhen realise that he is not his father and should not aspire to become him. At this point, though, they simply need different things in life. Zhi Yu needs love, care, and emotional security from the people he values. Zhen may also deserve love, but I don’t think that’s what he needs right now. What he truly needs is freedom and the courage to stand up to his father.

That was made very clear during the lunch table scene, when Senior Pei belittled Hu Xiu’s family background. Zhi Yu immediately felt compelled to speak up, while Zhen stayed silent. That silence said everything. He isn’t ready for love at all. He has too much to confront and unlearn first.

This isn’t to say Zhen is undeserving of love. Maybe one day, when he gets his sh*t together and finds the courage to break free from his father’s grip. Just not now. And definitely not with Hu Xiu.

they had me giggling like a fool lol

People are so weird. So the ML isn’t allowed to feel jealous, but the SML is? Some people even think it’s hot when the SML gets jealous, even though he doesn’t even have the right to be. 🤨
Dude barely has any connection with the FL. At least it actually makes sense for the ML to feel jealous when he does have a real connection with her and can feel it slipping away. And he’s fully aware that it’s his own fault too. Just let the man feel jealous. He’s not harming anyone lol.

Also, that preview where Pei Zhen deliberately declares his feelings in front of Zhi Yu and the parents… I’m sorry, but he is still using Hu Xiu as a pawn to one-up Zhi Yu. Not cool, bro, especially when Hu Xiu already warned him not to use her for this exact purpose :/

Let’s be real.

Who pulled Hu Xiu out of her depressive state by challenging her?
Who saw her potential, hired her, encouraged her, and gave her a reason to pursue her dream again?
Who helped her find her voice and stand up for herself?
Who truly understands her and knows exactly what she needs?
Who does she actually share real banter and deep conversations with?

It’s Xiao Zhi Yu.
We all know who the real winner is here, guys lol.

Personally, I’m not taking it too seriously because everyone has their own preferences. I feel like most viewers who claim they have “second lead syndrome” are really just drawn to the second lead based on their personal taste. In a way, it feels a bit like self-inserting lol. That said, I don’t think they necessarily hate the ML. Some people just have a stronger preference for morally grey SMLs, and that’s all there is to it.

The more problematic ones, in my opinion, are those who actively dislike the ML because they prefer the SML. Objectively speaking, the ML is just a better person overall lol, and so far I haven’t really seen much of that behaviour anyway.

There’s also really nothing to worry about when the FL’s choice has been clear from the start and the SML is basically playing a one-sided game. So by all means, love the SML, but let the FL be with the better choice she’s already made lol.

My thoughts: I’m still not a fan of Pei Zhen. They can make him act all cutesy around Hu Xiu or try to highlight his “good heart,” but at the end of the day, he still did unethical things (shady background dealings, stealing ideas etc. ) just to one-up Zhi Yu because of his inferiority complex. Until he gives a proper apology and set aside his inferiority complex, I honestly can’t warm up to him lol. I’m assuming that’s meant to be part of his character arc anyway, where he learns the truth, genuinely helps Zhi Yu uncover it, and finally becomes a real brother to him.

And then there’s Zhi Yu, our poor avoidant boy. As someone who also has avoidant attachment issues (and is actively working on them), I feel him so much. I’m really hoping the jealousy he’s starting to feel pushes him to realise he can’t keep running from his emotions and that he deserves love and comfort just as much as anyone else.

Also, aren’t we all relieved they released a kissing schedule? At least now we know we just have to survive episodes 17 and 18 before we finally get to the good stuff LOL.

I mean, I do see the appeal. He’s definitely hot. No arguments there. But he has zero deep connection with the FL. So I’m guessing when people say “second lead syndrome,” they really just mean he fits their own personal type, not that they’re actually rooting for Hu Xiu to end up with him lol 😆

Because let’s be real, Hu Xiu’s type has been Qin Xiao Yi from the very beginning. Like, the moment she laid eyes on him during the game, it was already over 😂

The 2ML and FL barely even know each other or have any real interactions, so I genuinely don’t get where some of this “second lead syndrome” is coming from 💀 I do understand liking the actor though because I do to hahaha. But liking the actor doesn’t automatically translate into second lead syndrome in this case tho 😅

I just can’t see myself rooting for a romance between them when the ML and FL already have so much chemistry and fit so well together. At this point, are people just using “second lead syndrome” very loosely, or straight up incorrectly, to mean they like the actor/character, not that they’re actually rooting for him romantically with the FL? Because I’m confused lol

Started this without much expectations. All I know is that with Chen Xingxu and Lu Yuxiao, the acting is gonna be great. After catching up with the currently aired episodes, i gotta say that I'm absolutely loving it!