Reviews

It's a beautiful friendship story, I think the romance tag is misleading cause I couldn't see their relationship as lovers at all.

It's a simple story about dreams and working for it and for young people at their ages to work for their dreams instead of just doing what is expected from them.

It's beautiful to have a crazy dream, when you are young that's what your life is about, the two leads friendship was beautiful and how the ML tries to help the FL be the best version of herself is just so lovely.

Again this isn't a love story but a beautiful friendship between two polar opposite characters.

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Peak asadora

This is one of those shows that I had to take a break from halfway through because the thought of it ending was emotionally scarring. Everything asadoras do well is in peak form in this show: character development, non-stop plot, complex themes, and- in this one much more than any other- strong feminist and anti-discriminatory rhetoric. Part of what elevates it is the deft interweaving of the various perspectives and implications of law and equal rights with the character-driven plot, which adds an importance to each arc. The show is also able to bring in very somber themes like war, the atomic bombs, and unspeakable crimes while somehow maintaining an overall light tone.

The core group of friends established and sustained throughout is so strong it's comparable to Hospital Playlist (in my opinion some of the best friend group chemistry ever put to screen), and is load bearing in emotional moments. In keeping with asadora form, characters are given ample room to grow and change, and no villain is irredeemable.

The music is incredible. A strong theme which is carried into background music seamlessly, as well as the truly heartbreaking "You are so amazing." Never have I heard a song which gets me choked up from just a few notes on the piano.

Perhaps my favorite part of this show, however, is the main character. She is driven, she is passionate, but she is not perfect, and must learn and grow from her mistakes. Having a main character who can push for what they want and drive the plot forward is to me what makes a show truly special. My only critique is that things felt a little cramped and the end, and also lost a bit of steam. It feels like the main character isn't really pushing things forward any more at that point, which could be why. Also, I'm not sure why they went with 130 episodes on this on rather than the usual 156, but it definitely could've been a bit longer.

Regardless, loved it. Love love love. I shall definitely be rewaching sometime soon, and here's hoping we get more like this in the future!

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Many charismatic characters! ♡

I really enjoyed the story, and that the main girl has this knowledge about war strategies. I liked many characters, even the villains.
*spoilers*...
The actress who played the villain that loses her nose did an incredible job! About the main actress, sometimes I felt that she didn't show much emotion in her expressions, but I do have a favorite scene of her acting, and it's the one where she is fighting with her cousin that chose not to send the army to help.
I wished that the main couple had a more mature display of love, instead of playing silly or using a baby voice. I also wanted a scene of the main girl finding out about her cousin's death. Nonetheless, it was a good show to watch.

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Speed, Love, and Yearning

Initially, I didn't have high expectations going into Speed and Love, since I wasn't really into cars and racing, but my philosophy for watching this show anyway was because of Esther. Although the production was met with a plethora of issues, including crew and script changes, I felt this drama was still really fun, and I had a blast watching it.

I was thrown off guard in the beginning when Jin Zhao was shown to be underground boxing. I had thought that maybe the cars and racing were pretty minimal since he had other things going on, but rest assured, we see a lot of cars AND racing.

Whoever the casting director that casted He Yu and Esther together deserves a raise because the chemistry was insanely good - everything else was more trivial to me. I love the way Esther brought Jiang Mu to life with the acting, outfits, and hairstyles. The voice and mannerisms are very on brand to Jiang Mu's character too! Esther always plays such fun characters.

I wanted to note He Yu????? I've never watched a drama where a guy wanted to kiss a girl so bad you could very obviously see it in his face - like if you pay attention to whenever he's just about to kiss Jiang Mu, oh my god???? He's actually crazy good!

I really appreciate the first few episodes. The first episode was a bit choppier, but it still got the point across. We are thrown into the realization that Jin Zhao has changed and has been fending for himself. He's involved with shady-seeming people, and Jiang Mu, being spoiled and sheltered, is very unaccustomed to the lifestyle that Jin Zhao has. It got the point across quite well, in my opinion. I imagine they probably cut some scenes related to Jiang Mu since she has a more normal and wealthy lifestyle that didn't require her to struggle as much in comparison to Jin Zhao, who has a rather tumultuous and dangerous lifestyle. So, it seems to me that it could have been a choice of choosing to show more drama vs. a perhaps slightly unrelatable lifestyle, where money isn't an issue.

I also really appreciate Jiang Mu being a bit more on the proactive side to chasing Jin Zhao. I find a lot of dramas like doing the opposite, where the male lead pursues the female lead, which gets little complaints - i.e., The First Frost. So, actually, I don't mind the switch, and considering they always repeat "Zhao Zhao Mu Mu" and constantly think of each other, even when they were separated, they're both mega-yearner 3000s to me.

Now cons:
I honestly really wanted to rate this show a lot higher, but it does have a few pitfalls, namely a few abrupt cuts - don't get me started on the straight-up cut of the wedding, and the storyline issue from the breakup. All issues are attributed to the scriptwriter's fault or the production.

The mom vs Jin Zhao and break-up portion felt a little bit "yikes" - actually, I don't view Jin Zhao negatively. You can see in the show that Jiang Mu's mother almost made the same choice he did, except she was more communicative, and Chris was right there with her when he found out about her condition. If I'm understanding Jin Zhao's character correctly, he seems to have specific confidence issues when it comes to her. He definitely took it very far by ghosting her when he really should have just communicated; however, I do feel that at some point, people were being too harsh to his character, specifically about Jin Zhao's circumstances. The chronological timeline of what happened:

> Jin Zhao is in critical condition from the car accident
> Jiang Mu finds out from Officer Lu that he's in critical condition, and they don't know the outcome
> Jiang Mu finds out from Chris about her mother's successful surgery and is rehabilitating, but is basically missing her daughter
> Jiang Mu, at the time, not knowing whether Jin Zhao is out of critical condition or not, tells Chris she'll go back to Canada with him
> Jing Mu texts Jin Zhao about this - although seemingly feeling very conflicted - but again, he's still in critical condition
> This is when you can't tell whether they cut scenes or what because then Jiang Mu says "my mother is not doing very well and I'll have to stay with her for a while to accompany her" and then you cut to Jin Zhao in a coma? Did someone tell her he was okay? What is going on?
> Jin Zhao, miraculously, comes out of his coma and sees her messages
> To support Jiang Mu's decision to go to her mom, he evades the nurses and sends Jiang Mu away with a goodbye so she doesn't feel guilty.
> So, Jiang Mu goes to Canada and goes to school there while staying with her mother for years

The mom vs. Jin Zhao scene was honestly very frustrating to me because it was a little bit of a questionable moment. It was surprising even! Considering that Jiang Mu's mother came out of surgery successfully, with no significant threat to her life, vs. Jin Zhao, who is in critical condition, where Jiang Mu hadn't even confirmed his wellbeing or even seen him before agreeing to go back to Canada with Chris, the whole situation had started giving me a bit of cognitive dissonance.

So now,
> Although Jin Zhao is out of critical condition, he is basically crippled
> Jin Zhao, just like Jiang Mu's mother, has to go through rehabilitation - but unlike Jiang Mu's mother, he does not have Jiang Mu there for him
> Jin Zhao's character is a man who has always had to rely on himself. So what I imagine is that his mental condition has rapidly deteriorated because of him being crippled. So: thoughts of being useless, a burden/baggage, can't defend anyone physically, won't be able to do much in general, etc.
> In the midst of his depression from the trauma of the accident and physical ailments, he pushes away the one insecurity he seemed to have: Jiang Mu
> Anyone who has benefitted from Jin Zhao and has close connections to him would obviously cover for him because it's his wish/decision. I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised that they would all side with Jin Zhao, considering what he's done for everyone. This isn't to say Jiang Mu is bad or they don't like her, but Jin Zhao has been there for and supported everyone through thick and thin

AGAIN, it is wrong for Jin Zhao to ghost her. I really WISH he said something; however, I find that these circumstances don't make him necessarily as bad as everyone wishes he was. It also stressed me out that after Jiang Mu found him, she immediately started lying and provoking him any chance she got to get a reaction out of him. I honestly think I'm getting old, because this felt immature to me, so it was a bit hard to watch. Although I'm not saying Jin Zhao didn't deserve it, and considering his decision to "let her be happier" without communication is also immature, I consider that canceled out. The sharing of the medical information part without Jin Zhao's knowledge was kind of funny because the entire time, at the back of my head, I was like, "where are the privacy laws?!" - I let out a breath of fresh air when he finally told her he'd send her his medical information to decide whether she'd be with him or not. I know Jiang Mu seemed a bit peeved when Jin Zhao said he'd leave her alone if she found his physical ailments too burdensome, but it is a legitimate concern for Jin Zhao that personally affects him, so I do think it's a good thing he finally communicated that so that Jiang Mu understands what she's really getting herself into. And say what you want about Jiang Mu - as immature as she may be at times, she's always been the most communicative person, and I'm honestly happy she is this way!

Overall, besides the mom vs. Jin Zhao and break-up parts, everything else was honestly still good to me. I wish we could have seen more like Jiang Mu's parents coming to the wedding or even Jiang Mu's father finding out about their relationship, but considering how much they cut from the drama, I wouldn't doubt there was more, but they just decided to cut out for whatever reason. I also realized that while I do like the later Nanjing scenes, Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu's tension, fashion, and hair were unmatched when in Thailand. Something in the Thailand air! Altogether, the casting was fantastic, the vibes are unmatched, and the music is very on point for the show. I already wish He Yu and Esther would have a second collaboration already! For anyone who is on the fence or planning to watch, at the end of the day, the cast, tags, and synopsis are there to read - you know what you're getting into, there's really no surprises. This drama absolutely deserved the heat it got when it was airing!

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HONEST OPINION!!

This is just my honest opinion. Not a hater of any of these actors.

Majority of this drama is great! I just felt that this was somewhat rushed in the ending with the capital drama. Just feel like it should've touched more on the capital part towards the end. However, the storyline of Rong Family is pretty unique. I also like how there's tension between Rong Family teachings and hierarchy compared to "regular" family hierarchy. Rong Shanbao although seems to be a know it all, she is a fair household leader. I'm glad that she is able to find that family peace instead of power struggle. Lu Jianglai also has a interesting background. He's righteous yet also somewhat obsessive. Throughout, there is some cbaracter develeopment. Once again, I just feel like we didn't really touch basis onto his storyline with the Duke. But, this story is mainly based on the Rong family which I can understand. I was expecting a lot more feminine power and things like that, but I am still satisfied with the drama.

Overall, this story has reached my lists of top rewatches. The cast is honestly really good with their acting. Really recommend watching this drama.

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An Uneven Story with Standout Side Characters

I randomly came across a video edit of this drama and decided to give it a shot. I’ve seen Tan Song Yun’s past projects, Go Ahead and Whirlwind Girl, so I figured I wouldn’t be disappointed. This role, however, was different from her previous projects.

Tan Song Yun’s acting was rather disappointing. Disliking a character isn’t a bad thing if it’s intentional, but her performance felt forced, and I struggled to understand what she was trying to convey. In scenes that didn’t require strong emotion, she performed fine, I guess. Tan Song Yun as Ji Xing made me question her acting range. I was somewhat disappointed because in Go Ahead, she handled emotional scenes exceptionally well.

Xu Kai as Han Ting was a pleasant surprise. This was the first drama I’d seen him in, and he delivered a strong, natural performance. His expressions were seamless, and CEO roles seem to suit him perfectly. The stylist did a terrific job as well. I also noticed his demeanor; he moved with the poise and confidence of someone from a wealthy background.

Han Ting’s character I found quite interesting. He’s extremely disciplined, never allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment and it's due to this that has helped him be successful. He’s not someone who wears his heart on his sleeves. Instead, he communicates through subtle actions and carefully chosen words. This is evident when he takes a second longer to think about what he says next to Ji Xing. Although his words on the surface appear harsh, there’s warmth and care behind them. What makes Han Ting compelling is that his restraint isn’t coldness, it’s self control. He’s deeply principled and protective, particularly when it comes to Ji Xing. Rather than expressing care through overt affection, he shows it by offering support behind the scenes and through blunt words. His protectiveness often emerges in moments of tension, where his physical presence and quiet intensity signal concern more than power. Han Ting also struggles with emotional vulnerability and is extremely cautious. When he does allow emotion to surface, it feels impactful. His growth comes not from changing who he is, but from learning to let others see what’s already there.

Ji Xing’s character, however, was difficult to connect with. She came across as overly arrogant, particularly during the investment negotiation with Han Ting. She spoke as if she were in a position to dictate terms, when in reality, she wasn’t. In the real world, investors wouldn’t entertain a measly startup with nothing but an idea, especially with her terms. Han Ting repeatedly had to humble her. Although the advice he gave was harsh, he was simply telling her the hard truth.

The conflict between Ji Xing and Han Ting became even more apparent in a crisis involving a surgery related protest. Han Ting compensated the husband who was causing a scene, and Ji Xing disliked this and was upset that he intervened. Han Ting explained that negative attention benefits no one and that standing there arguing wouldn’t solve anything. Of course, Ji Xing believed she knew best. Honestly, Han Ting had the patience of a saint. I can understand why the writers made Ji Xing so stubborn, but I guess they have the heavily expansive this trait since it's one of the traits Han Ting likes about her, but give me a break.

Han Ting’s patience and support toward a startup were striking. If a random person had approached him with the same proposal, he probably wouldn’t have bothered. Since Ji Xing was his first love and it was clear he still had feelings for her, he stepped in. Time and time again, he helped her, giving honest advice, encouraging her to find solutions, or connecting her with the right people, demonstrating remarkable compassion and patience.

Early on, Han Ting gave Ji Xing multiple opportunities to accept his help. He offered her a job at his company, where she could have developed her idea with extensive resources, but she refused, wanting to prove herself. Later, when her company was on the verge of collapse, he offered to invest, and again she declined. It wasn’t until Su Zhi Zhou pointed out that the company wouldn’t survive without outside funding that she finally confronted reality. For some reason, she kept believing a better offer would magically appear. For a character meant to be compassionate, intelligent, and selfless, Ji Xing didn’t act that way. Instead, her pride and ego repeatedly clouded her judgment. With a small team working tirelessly alongside her, facing uncertainty over their jobs, her behavior was even less excusable.

The biggest issue was the stark contrast between Ji Xing and Han Ting’s business philosophies, which led to constant conflict. While Han Ting was able to separate emotion from work, Ji Xing couldn’t. She treated her employees like family, which made it difficult for her to set clear boundaries. Because of this, a former coworker she once considered family ended up betraying her. What frustrated me most was her saying, “I wouldn’t do that.” Okay, maybe you wouldn’t, but you’re also an inexperienced entrepreneur who needed Han Ting’s guidance to get where you are. If Han Ting operated the way Ji Xing wanted, letting emotion dictate his decisions, he would’ve lost his position long ago. Han Ting’s upbringing was designed to prepare him for life as a CEO; he doesn’t make decisions without reason. I feel like Ji Xing should’ve shown him more compassion.

Ji Xing also asked Han Ting, “Would you destroy my company if I got in your way?” and he answered, “No, I wouldn’t.” Yet she went ahead and betrayed him. Yes, she didn’t know the full story, so I can grant her some grace, but she had already asked him and received an answer. Look at everything he’s done for her. Do you really think he would have set her up for failure? The fact that she went ahead and acted against him shows a lack of trust, which is an issue in itself. Of course, Han Ting had to step in to save her company. She was still mad at him afterward, saying he should’ve told her. I wanted to shake her.

Two scenes in particular stood out. The first occurs when Han Ting speaks privately with Ji Xing after overhearing her conversation with a company they were buying equipment from. The company wanted Ji Xing to introduce them to Han Ting because she had implied a close relationship with him. Tension builds even before the confrontation on the staircase. The camera’s close focus on Han Ting’s hand resting on the cup, particularly the slow rub of the rim with his finger, signals his restrained emotions. Typically calm and composed, Han Ting’s subtle gesture hints at an internal shift. His dialogue reinforces this contrast. He begins warmly, asking who Ji Xing was having a meal with and whether they were the ones she purchased the equipment from. The casual softness makes the emotional turn even more impactful. Then there’s a slight hesitation before he asks, “My name, was it useful?” His expression shifts from warmth to quiet disappointment. Later, when he unbuttons his suit jacket, the camera emphasizes the tension, suggesting emotional exposure beneath his composed exterior. This scene was beautifully executed. Han Ting also leans into Ji Xing’s personal space. On a surface level, it appears as if he’s being intimidating, but in actuality he’s trying to protect her.

The second memorable scene is their argument. It’s difficult to watch, as Ji Xing’s tantrum is one of the most bizarre performances I’ve seen. She insists that the company is hers because she invested time and effort. While true, the business was on the verge of collapse, and Han Ting’s investment saved it. As the argument unfolds, she claims she should make all the decisions because it’s her company. Han Ting responds that while she has authority, she first needs capital, which she doesn’t have. Ji Xing then says, “I lived here long and have been with you for so long. Even if I didn’t yield anything, I worked hard for you. You’re so generous, you wouldn’t be so precise.” This line triggers the subsequent events and is pivotal to the story, at least in my opinion.

Kira Shi as Zeng Di was intriguing, though the styling didn’t help. Zeng Di was meant to be close in age to Han Ting, but it didn’t look that way. I initially thought she was his mother or aunt. That said, Kira Shi portrayed the character well, coming across as calculated and manipulative. I disliked her character. Several times Han Ting made it clear he wasn’t interested, but she kept insisting they were meant to be.

The supporting cast was the drama’s strongest element. I particularly enjoyed Su Zhi Zhou and Li Li’s dynamic. Su Zhi Zhou brought humor to every scene, while Li Li remained confident and straightforward. I liked that Su Zhi Zhou never tried to change Li Li and practically worshipped the ground she walked on. Their relationship felt balanced, supportive, and self assured.

I also appreciated Lu Lin Jia, Han Ting’s uncle, and his grandaunt, Lu Jin Jia’s mother. Their interactions with Han Ting added warmth and humor. Han Ting’s dynamic with his assistant was another highlight. Competent assistants make CEO characters more compelling, and this relationship was handled well.

Overall, Xu Kai carried much of the series on his own. I don’t feel the need to rewatch the full drama, but I’ll revisit certain scenes.

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Only the kiss and FL characterization are worth to watch.

Real Couple is genuinely appealing with great figures, and the intimate scenes are well-done, especially the kissing scenes. The bedroom scenes in the first two episodes are also very atmospheric. FL characterization is well-developed—she's charmingly spoiled, adorable, and doesn't easily be bullied. She's also brave in matters of the heart and directly expresses her feelings.

The downsides are that the logic feels somewhat flawed, and too many plot holes seem designed to advance the main storyline. As a result, you can't really watch it with your brain. It's hard to understand why someone wearing a mask covering half their face wouldn't recognize someone they've been living with every day, why ML wouldn't even glance at the FL 's face before leaving after sleeping with her, and why he didn't know her disguise despite spending so much time with her, with no further explanation about it until the very end. ML in here was too stupid it make me wonder how come he become CEO and still get money despite his mindless brain.

Overall, it's a pretty good short drama suitable for mindless, sweet romance, especially for those who ship Cui Shiyi and Chen Jinghe.

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Damped crackers

I watched this when i am Jia Yixuan binge watching and realized the ML was Huang Bo.

Plot is about FL accidentally bumps into the male lead while delivering takeout. ML recognizes her immediately and kisses her forcefully. Later, ML gives a lecture at her school, where they meet again, and he chooses her as a student. Four years ago, the ML was being chased, and the FL unexpectedly saves him, leading to a gratitude love.

The plot was quite baffling; the first half was better than the second definitely declined. The screenwriter's intentions in the second half were unclear. The pacing was slow, with little ups and downs. The villain's forced entry was a major blunder. Many real kisses, but no romantic ones especially the first scene. The villains have a lot of screen time, and the relationship between the male and female leads isn't sweet. The chemistry between the leads was like eating damped crackers.

Never like ML characterization, he is just straight creep for me.

Only recommended to watch for solo fans.

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Challenging, Well-Written Script, Well Cast and Superbly Acted

For me, this drama was the legal equivalent of Hospital Playlist (my favorite K drama). Jung Kyung Ho, who is good in everything he does, is at the top of his game as the brash, ambitious judge who reinvents himself after a fall from grace. His fellow actors were also beautifully cast, enjoyed them all. I loved that there was no forced romance shoehorned into the plot. The pacing was also good, no filler montages and endless backtracking.

The emphasis here is on social issues, not necessarily unique to Korea, but certainly affected by its history and culture. I loved having to think a little for a change. Characters crossed and double crossed, surprise revelations abound, bonds of friendship developed, loyalties are tested. Secrets are revealed right to the end.

If you like to be entertained, but still be left with something to think about after all is said and done, you may enjoy this as much as I did. I’m hoping for a second season; the door was left open to the possibility.

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Inner Beauty can make anyone beautiful

I really love this drama, I stumbled upon it after being disappointed once more by a wishy-washy cliche drama that left me feeling cynical. I was intrigued by the concept of Hikaru and how sure he seemed of himself. What I love about his drama is all the green flags. Judging someone by how they act not how they look, working hard and communicating.

Matsumoto-san, who played Hikaru, made this drama for him. Not only was he an amazing actor that made me feel female vs male Hikaru but his aura was topnotch, I was surprised to find out this was his first main role. I also really like that there was no nasty ex or evil side characters. Everyone communicated and was mature.

I found myself laughing, crying and squealing through different scenes. I binge watched all 10 episodes in 1 day, between work. It made me feel like I was also growing as a person, watching ML and FL character development.

On rewatch value, I'll be re-watching it for that feel-good warm fuzzy feeling it left me with and because it taught me that my Prince Charming or Cinderella doesn't need to look a specific way. Def one of my favorite dramas, looking forward to seeing more of Matsumoto-san!

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Zhang Jun and Luo Qiqi’s chemistry is so strong even without kissing scenes. 100%

Just Finished “Stand by me” cdrama and I am still hurting with the Zhangjun and qiqi break up .

They were each other’s sunshine in the midst of their own darkness. Qiqi began to find her light and shine beyond their world, while Zhang Jun remained in the shadows—his only source of warmth and light was Qiqi herself. When he realized that Qiqi wanted to stay as his sunshine instead of chasing her own brightness, he chose to let her go, even if it meant losing his light forever. Though they’re no longer together, I know deep down they still love and care for each other

Even though their ending broke my heart, I don’t regret watching this movie. It made me admire the actors and their characters so much—especially Qiqi and Zhang Jun. I learned valuable lessons from the struggles they faced throughout the story. And honestly, I like that they left it as an open ending, because it lets me imagine that, somehow, they found their way back to each other in the end. ✨

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