Unrequited Love (2021)

Not cringey or cliche

What I love about this show is the fact that the female lead is a very composed woman and despite having a crush on the male lead for many years, she is not the typical silly and dependent girl that we often see in a drama who goes after a man in a cringe or foolish way.
Instead, she is rather honest and says what’s on her mind when she has conversations with the male lead. She has her own valued opinions and backbone which is what I admired about her.

I know many dramas where the male leads finds the female lead annoying but this is a whole different case. The ML(Hu Yi Tian) has huge respect and interest towards FML as both of them are in the liberal arts field.

Going back to the female lead, despite having a calm appearance, she sometimes showcased her anxiousness as she pounders and struggles on her love towards the ML.

In conclusion, the characters are not annoying and this is definitely a step away from the usual cliche modern live dramas that we watch.
It is a mature and lighthearted drama as it really highlights the reality of university love.

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Tortured Unrequited Love

I think if you are going through a breakup and keep thinking you might get back together, watch this drama. Otherwise don't torture yourself unless that's what you are after.

In terms of romance this show tells us to not bother falling in love. If you get into a relationship make sure your exes and old crushes have been cut off. Otherwise they will be toxic clinger who will never let you go. Also the show seems to be telling us that one sided love is wrong, most people cannot stop their feelings. But the way it is shown makes it seem like you've committed some crime.

The main couple - are supposedly smart people. But despite their good grades they are the worse couple. I stopped shipping them by episode 24.

Luo Zhi has been madly in love with Sheng Huai Nan (SHN) since they were children, but he's never noticed her. Almost everyone else seems to know that she likes him, and the antagonists, namely his ex-girlfriend Ye Zhan Yan and her friend decide they want to scheme and manipulate it so that SHN can never really trust her.

There is also the other women who have crushes on SHN who also go out of their way to bad mouth Luo Zhi. But they eventually give up.

Sheng Huai Nan spends half of the series either unsure about his feelings or testing them on the poor girl. Honestly he's an idiot. He was treating Luo Zhi like she was his yoyo, pulling her close when he wanted her, and then pushing her away when he lost trust her in some way.

The last third of the the series spends most of the time focusing on SHN trying to persuade LZ to date him, only so that he can do something stupid in the next episode. Making her want to give up on her feelings.

I read a lot of comments of people blaming LZ for not forgiving him and I disagree. He was a jerk towards her. She was always helping him. At best he got her some cold medications and pancakes. Which he did in an underhanded way. Girls don't just fall for looks and money, underneath the shell is a vapid, insecure young man who can’t recognise sincerity or love if it smacked him on the face and kicked him in the balls.

Now let's talk about the pig Ge Bi and the very sad Bai Li. I hate Ge Bi. He is the worst boyfriend to all the girls. And even when confronted he doesn't care. He is selfish, stupid and frankly deserved worse than he got.

Bai Li is a great friend, and she really loved Ge Bi to a very toxic level. It was frustrating to watch and my heart hurt for her. She was really a foolish person, with so little self respect. It was tiresome to the very end.

There are many kinds of bad relationships, but the show made no effort to show us the positive sides of love. This team of producers and writers must have felt really bitter and angry when creating this production.

Really the only good relationships worth watching on this show were the friendships. Ming Rui was exceptional on this show. His character was the most likeable and sane.

The closeness of Bai Li and Luo Zhi was very sweet. Even Ye Zhan Yan and Ding Shui Jing loved and cared for one another.

If you have watched the 2019 version, you will not be able to stop yourself from comparing the two shows.

The 2019 is shorter and frankly less stressful to watch. The 2021 is very frustrating. There are so many examples of unrequited love on this show. So many ways in which characters seemly torture one another, mislead each other, and fail to trust each other. Once started I couldn't seem to stop, like many unrequited loves, I had such hope for it, and it was just an illusion that left me unfulfilled.

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2019 vs 2021

This review will be more of a comparison of the 2019 vs. 2021 version. There are going to be quite some biased comments as I enjoyed the 2019 version and I have already reviewed the 2019 ver based on the plot/generics itself. So, I didn't want to have to say the same things. I have not read the novel, but I probably will one of these days in my downtime. I tried to condense the review as much as possible; it was hard, as I made a lot of notes while I was watching. However, that doesn't mean I dislike this version any less as the storyline is still the same, and the characters were still true to how they were in the 2019 version. I did watch the last two episodes RAW, so I may have missed important dialogue as most of it was Luo Zhi narrating.

STORY
I want to say that if you don't like watching storylines/characters with the following, this drama isn't for you:
- unrequited love
- girls getting treated like crap in a relationship
- girls giving their all to someone who doesn't care for them
- dragging storyline due to constant misunderstandings

Those may throw you off to want to watch it, but there's something about unrequited love that makes people intrigued. It's probably because we all have had an unrequited love in some way or another. The unrequited love storyline gets exhausting because, for once, the title is true to the storyline. The female lead has been in love with our male lead for over ten years and continues to love him. She gets hurt by him but still foolishly loves him. It's this never-ending loop, but it somehow keeps drawing me to see how their story will turn out.

MUSIC
Almost all of the songs are good to throw onto my playlist. I enjoyed the opening song and think it's quite catchy (in my playlist and stuck in my head). However, I feel like the music and editing within the drama weren't great for me. There were times where I felt like the music overpowered the voiceovers/dialogue. Other times, I felt like the music wasn't fitting to the mood of the scene. Especially when they play the opening song, the music sounds upbeat (even though the lyrics are about unrequited love). It just makes it seem less serious/more of this high school crush where we're supposed to feel bubbly. But this isn't supposed to be the case for this drama. We are supposed to feel the anguish of unrequited love that Luo Zhi feels.

One thing I dislike is dramas dragging out scenes with no dialogue and the song playing. I don't mind it, but it feels like we're listening to the whole song, and I always skip it. This drama had a good amount of those (in the beginning and end). The only scene that was correct, in my opinion, was later in the show, somewhere after episode 30, where Luo Zhi was napping in the library and Huainan was staring at her.

RE-WATCH VALUE
I wouldn't re-watch this drama or version in particular. So far, I have enjoyed all adaptations, though. There were some instances where I feel like this version was dragged out, and there weren't particular scenes that stood out to me about memorable. I am waiting for the movie version and probably will watch it when it has subtitles and is available to watch.

=================OVERALL/2019 COMPARISON (major spoilers) ================

WHAT I LIKED - I knew from the get-go that there should be more depth to the supporting characters and story than the 2019 version, with this ver being 38 episodes. I'll mention the things I appreciated in the 2021 version of Unrequited Love.

1. I appreciated more depth to Ge Bi and Baili's story, especially Ge Bi's character. Ge Bi's character still stood true to how he was in the 2019 version; however, he had more conscious in this version. We can tell how this drama was directed that Ge Bi actually somewhat cared for Baili and didn't just see her go through everything for him but not appreciate it. We see some regret in Ge Bi and him missing her, even if it was selfishly.

2. This version of Huainan was a more likable male lead because there was more depth to him. We see more of his backstory and his feelings, so we could empathize with him more. For example, we see his thought process so we understand why he would ignore her. The writers literally made a whole debate competition on love and selfishness with his stance to explain why he initially felt off about Luo Zhi. In contrast, the 2019 ver focused more on Luo Zhi and her feelings rather than Huainan.

3. What this version does right is that we see them build their connection. It feels a lot stronger this time around. For example, the mutual connection they had with their conversations/texts, without Luo Zhi having to lie/pretend. It was satisfying to see them build their connection with nerdy texts and audio conversations. Which made sense to these two characters as they're supposed to be top students.

4. Huainan's family situation didn't involve an outdated family revenge trope. The writers decided to get rid of that, and it flows a lot better in that aspect. Huainan was more mature in the situation, though I still believed he could have given Luo Zhi a better closure. There was less drama involved after Huainan left school, and that was much appreciated after all that has happened in the drama.

WHAT I DISLIKED - Some of the following things made the drama feel less serious and more like an idol drama. These new additions/changes feel even more like most of the other typical modern-day young adult dramas out there.

1. I'm not too fond of the daydream parts that keep getting thrown in. It makes it less serious. I would much rather prefer a voiceover of Luo Zhi saying what she should have done/her self-conflicting thoughts. This didn't last long, as it was more towards the first half of the drama/before she got acquainted with him. Those long gazes with the theme song getting played make me skip them. It's probably because her gaze doesn't read longing to me. It looks like she's just staring off into the distance.

2. I liked that the aunt only showed up to help Huainan because Luo Zhi begged her to in the 2019 ver. In this version, the aunt felt bad for Luo Zhi's puppy love and came to explain to Huainan. She even acted as a middleman between the two. This is fine, but I think little moments like the 2019 version made it feel a lot more impactful.

3. MOST IMPORTANT! The impactful windowpane scene was relatively lackluster in the 2021 version. They had one conversation, and that was it. While in the 2019 version, it was a build-up of conversations that led to Huainan feeling a connection to Luo Zhi.

4. So, in episode 30, they are still at a point of having misunderstandings. This was one of the things I disliked the most about this version. Sure, more episodes allow more depth in other aspects, but in the wrong area at the same time. I enjoyed seeing an expansion of the supporting character's stories and their character progression, but seeing the main characters not progress in their relationship is so hard to sit through. With this many episodes, it didn't have a better closure either.

5. Luo Zhi in the 2021 ver came off quite selfish to me. While she knew that Gu Zhi Ye was not a good guy, she didn't try to stop Baili or Gu Zhi Ye. In the other ver, she confronted him after she confirmed that Gu Zhi Ye was up to no good. In this version, she knew right from the beginning that Gu Zhi Ye was sleazy and fishy, but she didn't help Baili.

6. Luo Zhi's "restart" from Huainan was lackluster in this one. She cuts her hair and then ignored Huainan… meh. It felt like any other time they had a misunderstanding. Then she was purposely ignoring him to tease him as suggested by the guy who looks like their professor. Does anyone remember from the 2019 ver where she allowed the security to take Huainan away as the thief? That was memorable.

7. The supporting characters that are pursuing Huainan are more aggressive in this one. Probably for more drama, but I don't enjoy that aspect of it. That means the drama will get dragged out/shifts the attention away from the main issue. For example, Zheng Wenrui was really obnoxious in this version. She threw herself onto Huainan and was LOUD. I didn't understand why they made her character like this in this version.

WHAT I MISSED FROM 2019 VER
1. I enjoyed Baili's character in the 2019 version. I thought I would like the Baili in this version more, but so far, I don't. I actually disliked how much she clung to Ge Bi even though he straight up told her to back off. It didn't make me feel hurt for her; it made me feel quite annoyed since it was him continually telling her that it was over. In the 2019 ver, Baili had a bit more self-respect. She knew when to back off when she wasn't needed, which made us feel the pain of her unrequited love story. Like Luo Zhi, the 2019 Baili, silently did things for Ge Bi. The 2019 version did justice to Baili by really trying to make her move away from Ge Bi.

2. The moods of these two dramas are REALLY different. The 2019 version was about a girl who would silently do everything for a boy. She silently loves him and silently decided to let go of him until they fatefully met again. We felt her pain of him not knowing who she is because they showed us all the things she did for him... SILENTLY. And she continues to do things for him in college. That is why we understood why she felt hurt when she was so close to him yet so far. It was easy to empathize with her.

This version of Luo Zhi felt a bit more immature and lacked the same feeling that I enjoyed from the 2019 version. While this is probably truer to how a young adult would act, we didn't feel the same pain from this Luo Zhi. Without seeing what she has done for Huainan, it didn't feel as genuine? (not sure if that's the right word to use) It felt like it lacked why she was so hurt on why he should know/remember her. Like she cried right on the spot after reading Huainan's text and other times as well. This Luo Zhi would be upset and couldn't mask herself well in front of Ming Rui. So far, we're trying to build their love story on the fact that he was a boy from her childhood.

In the 2019 version, we know that they somehow know each other from their childhood, even though it wasn't well written. But the main part was during high school, where the bulk of Luo Zhi's unrequited love started and it was so well done as we get flashbacks to all of the things that she has done for him. So, we understand why Luo Zhi is so hurt/upset at Huainan. The 2019 Luo Zhi has already been disappointed so many times before that she could just back up silently again.

For the 2019 version, we were able to see a glimpse of characters moving on or doing things, mainly through leads and especially through Luo Zhi's interaction with them. For me, that was all it needed to get the right closure for most of the characters and see how Luo Zhi grows as a person. Luo Zhi seems like a love expert to everyone except for her situation. Her aloof character and personality were felt through her interaction with the supporting characters. Even though she came off as aloof, we know that she has a warm heart because she is always helping someone else out. She usually speaks her mind and never hesitates. Her aura felt a lot more mature than her actual age.

3. Another thing I missed was the roommate bond they had in the 2019 ver. It felt more genuine and real than this one. Huainan came off as this god that was on a pedestal and his roommates were literally using him as a study tool in the 2021 version. Also, I missed the silly Ming Rui and his friendship with Luo Zhi. Apart from Ming Rui falling for Luo Zhi later, they were good friends who confided in each other. This one lacked the interactions between Ming Rui and Luo Zhi. Like, we barely see scenes of them together. :'( Ming Rui even told Luo Zhi that he did everything for her because of Huainan. It made me sad that their friendship didn't seem genuine/as close.

4. Gu Zhi Ye came across as someone more genuine in the 2019 ver, even though we found out that he was using her.

5. The beauty of Luo Zhi writing, "Luo Zhi loves Shen Huainan and no one knows about it" was that it was her little secret before college. She wrote it before going to college as a last reminder. It was her finally being able to show it to the world without really telling anyone. Luo Zhi wrote it in college in this version, and Huainan discovered her engraving (coincidently right by his favorite spot). She even attempted to hide it behind the bushes.

6. One nice touch to the 2019 ver was their dorm walls and how it had pictures and posters of what each character likes. Luo Zhi had anime, Huainan had basketball, and Baili had popular stars on hers. This version was just super bright and pink in the girl's dorm.

If you made it to the end, thank you for reading! If you watched both versions, let me know what you thought of each one! I know comparing both may sound negative but I actually enjoyed it enough to watch to the end!

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It was draggy till the end.

I started to watch this without any expectations thank god I did that, it was disappointing, draggy and I was frustrated till the end. It's as its name story of 'Unrequited love/loves' cause the story doesn't revolve around only one unrequited love. If we just ignored some episode there wasn't anything there I really enjoyed or liked. Definitely can say I wasted my time on this.

I really like when FLs are smart/clever I'm no fan of dumb FL at all but wait... it was the only thing I liked about her for me the FLs character wasn't that likable I found some of her actions unreasonable. Talking about ML I know he wasn't at fault from the start but I really hated him whenever he used to be misunderstood I mean man can't you trust your instincts or there's something known as communication it exists. Jiang Bai li her character development was literally dragged to few minutes of the last episode, I mean why did make her character so pathetic I know it's a harsh word but it was indeed pathetic and Ge Bi I really don't want to talk about this character. The one and the only character I liked in the whole show Ming Rui he was a show-stealer for me I really liked him.

It was a frustrating ride for me and I'm devastated now. It's really not something that can be turned out as a pleasure. It was slow-paced and I really didn't like how they just wrapped up the ending.

Not gonna recommend this for sure!

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"If I love you, what business is it of yours?" (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

“Luo Zhi loves Sheng Huainan. And no one knows about it.”

You’ve been warned. This is a long review.

Within the first few episodes, you’ll notice that the show’s stylist didn’t particularly love Luo Zhi enough to give her a memorable style. She’s a brilliant character - committed to her ambition, clever, meticulous, sincere, composed, and yet full of secrecy, shame, longing, and regrets, but she is dressed so...poorly and forgettably. And honestly, I could care less, if I weren’t using this bit to make my own little clever joke, because the juxtaposition of Luo Zhi’s beautiful depth and terrible fashion is exactly how I feel about this adaptation of 八月长安’s (Ba Yue Chang An) web novel, 暗恋橘生淮南 (Unrequited Love.) It has so much potential, gets certain things right that 99% of dramas miss, and yet...suffers from so many flaws. The team behind this show had the right intentions and chose the right story, but dressed it inadequately.

My relationship to this drama is quite mixed. There are elements that I absolutely adore, and yet, elements that frustrate me. But because it gets certain pieces of romantic storytelling right that most Chinese dramas (Asian dramas in general) completely miss, I also keep it close to my heart. The best I can do is to give a sincere review of what I love & hate about Unrequited Love (2021). This review is full of spoilers btw. Beware :)

Elements I Adore:

I. Sheng Huainan & Luo Zhi.
For the first time in Dramaland, I am fully aboard this ship. I am genuinely convinced that if there were a Sheng Huainan and Luo Zhi in our reality, that they would fall for one another. This element is the sole redeeming factor of this drama for me. I’ve found myself watching drama after drama, wondering how both characters fell for the other, and why the story needed to contrive reasons for the couple to come together (cue the usual person falling and the other main character catching them and then...they’re in love! How? We don’t know! But they are…)

In the beginning, we’re told the story of this romance framed by Luo Zhi’s shame and regret. She feels like a ghost beside Huainan, forever chasing after his shadow, but is unwilling to make herself visible unless he sees her first. This pining follows her from high school into her college career. In Luo Zhi’s heart, her yearning for Huainan’s attention isn’t just rooted in the affirmation of a childhood promise, but also in her self-actualization. She’s convinced herself that the best version of herself will undoubtedly catch Huainan’s eye. It’s cringy for us as the audience, because we know this narrative is self-defeating and reeks of shame. But the story’s unwillingness to hide this narrative of Luo Zhi humanizes her. Beside this secretive yearning for Huainan to fulfill his childhood promise, Luo Zhi is an individual who will work as hard as she must in order to achieve the goals she has set for herself. Sure, she’s a softie for Huainan, but she is as tough as it gets outside of her secret yearning. And I love that about her.

Huainan, on the other hand, is both thoughtful and simplistic. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that he’s idealistic to a fault. This man is exactly the albatross that he and Luo Zhi talk about. In terms of academic performance and popularity, he soars in the sky, full of ambition and potential, but his only aim for landing is to find a soulmate. He pines for someone who can share a telepathy with him. Yet when he lands on ground level, he becomes the Big Clumsy Bird he describes the Albatross as. These ideals he crafts in his mind are incomprehensible to most people and highkey irrelevant to most people’s lives. People see him for his looks, his family’s wealth, and his popularity, but he sees himself differently. It makes him feel isolated, invisible, and wary of others.

When you bring the two together, their shared fascination for one another is what makes this drama shine. Their conversations are endless, and I loved seeing that portrayed on screen. Luo Zhi’s shyness and Huainan’s persistence feel natural and painfully realistic. And I adore their initial dates. The surprise gift of Gibran’s poetry? Has my whole heart. Huainan saving the leaf they serendipitously grabbed at the same time, and Luo Zhi finding it as she peeks into his journal -- and Huainan SEEING her find it? I was embarrassed AND blushing for them.

II. Reframing “Missed” Love

I think we can agree that this show isn’t truly portraying “Unrequited Love” when it comes to Huainan & Luo Zhi. It’s portraying missed love. We’re shown this from the very beginning in terms of Luo Zhi’s self-inflicted pain of an “unrequited” love. The truth is, Luo Zhi’s suffering came directly from her own shame. She planted that seed of rejection all on her own and ironically created the distance between her and Huainan, because she never opened any opportunities for their meeting.

I love that the show sets up expectations for us, and then shamefully misses it. Because it’s this same shame that has kept Luo Zhi both resenting and perpetuating the 0.6cm distance between her and Huainan. The drama reveals to us that this distance between her and Huainan is self-forged. Luo Zhi herself has yet to let go of all the shame and self-hatred she developed in her secretive admiration for Huainan, and because of that, she sabotages most of their initial interactions.

The whole merry-go-round of the show is an unwinding of Luo Zhi’s shame. There’s an incredible scene in the movie Saving Face where one character confronts her lover in an airport and says, “You're too scared to look the world in the eye...and let it watch you fall in love.” Which fits perfectly with what Luo Zhi heartbreakingly inscribed on the rooftop wall: “Luo Zhi loves Sheng Huainan. And no one knows about it.” At this point, Huainan doesn’t even know of Luo Zhi’s existence. Her heartbreak is a whole narrative she has spun all on her own. And I think some of us might relate to that - the feeling of ending something before it even has the chance to begin, because we’re scared of the risks involved in putting ourselves out there. And she sets up these conditional requirements Huainan has to meet in order for her to finally reveal their childhood history, but those conditions are deceptive. The truth is that Luo Zhi is not ready to meet Huainan in her fullest vulnerability. Her ambivalence is fueled by her shame and fear.

When Huainan meets Luo Zhi, it’s as if his lonely lil Albatross self has finally found a place to land. It’s lowkey unfair to him that Luo Zhi comes in with so much reservation and secrecy, but we’ll save that conversation for another day. A part of me loves that though, because it’s painfully human. How many of us aren’t secretive and wary when it comes to love? I’ve been a partial Luo Zhi before, and I’ve also been a partial Huainan. I’ve been an admirer, and I’ve also been an overly cautious person. I’ve been the person full of shame, and I’ve also been the person who wants to risk losing my societal mask(s) in order to grow closer to someone.

I dislike the way they framed the eventual 5-year wedge between Luo Zhi & Huainan, but I respect the reasoning for it. The romantic in me loves and is in tune with how Luo Zhi describes their love: It is rooted in mutual, shared belief. Both of these clumsy Albatrosses believe that they will land in the same place, but for now, their ambitions are diverging. Their love is a commitment to the belief that they will come together without reservations, without shame, without secrecy standing between them. If I were to call myself a believer of love, I’d be in agreement with Luo Zhi. I think my truest belief in love is where choosing myself is already choosing the other person, because becoming who I am will naturally lead me to someone who is most compatible with me (granted that they too feel as if they are becoming closer to their ideal self).

And the irony is that even during this period where they are far apart in both time and distance, they are the closest they've ever been to each other at heart. They’re often in the same places, by coincidence, and even peruse the same book. And yet, when they were closest in terms of distance and time in college, they were farthest at heart, because they were clothed in shame and secrecy, which bred miscommunication after miscommunication. I guess the winding of this drama is meant to show us that Huainan & Luo Zhi had to come so close and yet spend so much time apart because they were the ones closing the door on one another. They were rejecting each other, or rather, rejecting themselves from fully accepting the other. And thus, as Huainan says, “isn’t it the absence of a thereafter that makes something romantic?” Now that they’re in agreement of a shared belief in love, there really is no “Aha!” moment the show owes us. They are in sync, and time and distance no longer reduce what is already shared between them. A true meeting of heart and mind.

“Sheng Huainan loves Luo Zhi. And the whole world knows about it.”

III. Zhang Mingrui
I loved this character & the actor's portrayal of him. His bond with Huainan was both believable & heartwarming. I also appreciate how his relationship with Riqing unraveled -- and how he was honest about not having any lingering feelings for her. I honestly think Luo Zhi & Mingrui were compatible all on their own, and wouldn't have minded if the show-writers decided to give us a "Luo Zhi's first love is Huainan, but her second love is Mingrui" kind of ordeal. My all-time favorite moment of Mingrui in this show was the scene where the uncomfortable classmate takes Huainan's bag of chips, and Mingrui says, so candidly, "Excuse me?" It was one of those scenes that felt so natural -- as if these characters really were just college students in a library, completely caught off-guard & bewildered by the actions of a *strange* classmate.


What Fell Short:

The. Side. Characters.
I’m going to be brutally honest and tell you that I skipped past most of the side character storylines. The dynamic between Bai Li and Ge Bi? That’s a big ~nope~ for me. I pretty much only watched Bai Li when she was with Luo Zhi. I will say one character that I passionately abhor in this show is that one boundary-breaking, fear-inducing, unreasonable stalker of Huainan. And I don’t abhor her, I abhor the characterization of her. She was so contrived. I won’t spend my words on it further than that. If they took out the side characters and focused more on Huainan & Luo Zhi's period of separation, I would give this series a higher rating. But these unnecessary & pathetic villains are not it.

The Misunderstandings
Scrap the entire feud between Luo Zhi and Huainan’s families. It was unnecessary and barely fleshed out. While we’re there, scrap Huainan’s family downfall too. And that bit about Huainan giving Luo Zhi the raincoat as a test? It was weird and off putting. It felt like tacky story writing. It’s what I mean when I say the show had heart, but was poorly dressed.

I’m definitely going to come back & edit this review, because I’m still contemplating how I feel about the show. But I still treasure the feelings it gave me because it reminded me of my own belief in love.

The Initial Daydreams
I have a strong dislike for any show that uses this technique. Showing the audience a scene and then revealing to us that it was all the character’s imagination is both uncomfortable and unnecessary. We KNOW Luo Zhi is pining after him, and we KNOW he doesn’t know her yet. Please spare us the trickery.

I don’t have much to say about where I feel the show fell short because I feel as if they were problems in the show’s exterior -- that’s not where my heart is at. My heart is in the interior of the show - the crafting of Luo Zhi & Huainan’s love - of which I’ve already penned a gazillion words.

If you’ve gotten this far, I do recommend the show. Just skip the side romances. And give space for Luo Zhi to grow on you, because she will. If you liked this show, I’m recommending you Nana (Japanese Anime), Ao Haru Ride (Japanese Anime), Whisper of the Heart (Japanese Anime), "A Love So Beautiful" (Chinese Drama), and “In Time With You” (Taiwanese Drama).

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A perfect pair of geniuses

First, I’ve been waiting for this drama. I really liked Hu Yi Tian in A Love So Beautiful and was waiting for another similar romantic drama with him. Although he’s awkwardly tall sometimes, he has a smart charm to him. The intellect roles suit him well.

Now onto the drama, I am enjoying the story. It’s a beautiful and innocent story about a girl who quietly loves a boy for 15 years. I don’t mind that it’s taken time for the characters to mature and grow. I like the slow pace.

I first watched Hu Bing Qing in Whirlwind Girl 1. Didn’t like her too much then. But I am loving her in this drama. She plays this role super well. I adore her calm demeanor. Even though LZ has a huge crush on SHN, she is still able to stay calm, collective, smart, and quick wit. Every time she is hurt, she refocuses her attention toward her studies. I admire that about her! She doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. She is strong physically and mentally. She endures. I LOVE her character.

Can’t wait for the next episodes.

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A story that makes me want to cherish my youth

when this drama first started i was in a relationship. By the time is ended i was not. this drama really captures the essence of young love and how heartbreak is part of our youth. The main characters in this drama has remarkable chemistry and though some may say this drama was dragged out, i completely disagree. The progression of their love story was gradual and understandable. it wasn't not like one of those dramas where wow that escalated quickly. It has tremendous rewatch value. On the other hand some may say that this drama portrays unrealistic ideals of love and being in a relationship, its a c-drama come on. this show has high rewatch value because the side characters aren't boring. i very recommend to watch this.

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torture, despite my love for HYT

what a mess. annoying.

spoiler:
it takes 30 episodes until they come together - and this only for 2 days and then theres a 5 year break again.

FL becomes incredibly annoying towards the end imo. i really started to despise her after she said "i dont want to explain myself" but is cold to her crush of 15 years who finally noticed and started to love her and asks HIM to explain. really? the characters switch roles and there are some very pathetic examples of women with no dignity who really only devote themselves to the guy they like (not FL, shes the other extreme and it really is annoying having to see him chase her like a puppy and shes just stoic and mean). i really started to cuss her thats how annoyed i was. theyre apparently brilliant but they cant even figure out the simplest schemes (i mean its always them and it only stops at the end)

at the end i really couldnt watch anymore and just skipped. the ending is so long winded and unnecessary.

tbh ive been bingeing so many chinese tv shows and this is the first one that actually made me tired of watching anything.

gosh i really am annoyed

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Unrequited Love

To start off, i came to this drama without reading the novel/ watching the web drama version. I came mainly for the leads, and the interesting storyline.

Story aside, I really loved the characters, especially Luo Zhi. She is very calm, and composed. However, she does have a temper and backbone. She is willing to stand up for what she feel is right / wrong., even so towards Huai Nan, whom she harbours feelings for. She is true to herself, and does not carry a façade, like most of the other characters in the show. She doesn't mind the fact that she's alone by doing so, but at least she stick to her morals and values. In most girl likeing the guy trope, it's almost always a cutesy character/damsel in distress kinda? But Luo Zhi proves to be independent and clear in what she truly wants. I liked how while she liked Huai Nan, she remained cool headed in their dealings. She clearly demands she won't be in a fling/some but will only want to know if they are official or not. She is sincere towards everyone, which at time may come across hostile/ insenstive, but she is really the most true being i guess not many can achieve in our current society?? While she secretly harbour a crush, it was heartbreaking to see it from the POV and the fact that she conceal it so well?

For Huai Nan, honestly i am not sure if i liked his character. While knowing Luo Zhi likes him, he did alot of so-called tests / push and pulls or sending wrong signals. He gives her hope, and let her down again and again, right til the end. I understand it's because of the limelight he is under and the influence of his reknown familial ties, but I wish he had been more true to himself, instead of hiding behind his inferiority complex. Much misunderstandings could have been avoided, if he had gone less with the tests/ felt less inferior.

The character i feel the most will be Bai Li. Her love life had never been smooth right til the end, and it was upset for her to question whether she is worthy of love because of unworthy men she met. I am glad she managed to find herself at the end. Honestly served Ge Bi right for missing out a lovely lady like her. I am so glad she did not return to him when he wanted a rebound.

Another character i really liked was Zhang Ming Rui. He was always there as a bridge, as a true friend towards Luo Zhi and Huai Nan. I wonder if he had feelings for Luo Zhi in the original novel? His concern and love for his friends is truly remarkable and he definitely earned my tears during the rooftop scene with Huai Nan and the other bunkmates.

Ending wise, i honestly was disappointed? After the countless misunderstandings, our lead couple finally stood together at the end, like around ep 34? But after barely having a few dates, Huai Nan just ghosts on Luo Zhi because of his family issues？Mind you this ghosting took 5 years, before he re-appear in front of Luo Zhi in an open ending. Honestly, i admire Luo Zhi for her unwavering love towards Huai Nan, but i actually hoped the author showed how Luo Zhi came to like Huai Nan this much? Because sometimes i feel Huai Nan seems to be unworthy of Luo Zhi though they belong together spiritually? To be brutally honest, if my bf ghosted me over his family or whatever issues i will feel very upset?? Because I will feel like I am not included in his plans/ future, and he does not trust me enough to face challenges together. Let alone expecting me to wait 5 years??

All in all, the unrealistic and rare romance we witness here i guess will only be visible in dramas? but still kudos to the actors and their acting. While it wasn't a truly satisfying watch, I will say the acting are on point :)

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Much better than the past versions..

Reason for my high rating 4 this drama is that at many places i related its storyline with myself..Its completely reckless for all those who suffered from their first unrequited /one sided love..Moreover its ML being HU YITIAN has completely raised the bar....it is a totally refreshed version of the unrequited series with same cliches.. FL 's performance is worth watching her pain, dignity ,self respect yet her unconditional love since childhood is laudable..i loved many times when she handled all the situations with her high end intelligence and witty answers.The best scene of luo zhi was ,whenever she felt hard times, she diverted her complete attention towards her study instead of making herself depressed The luo zhi shown in this version is totally unlike the previous versions .Here she shows all her emotions unlike being only cold and complicated.
2021's Luo Zhi is my ideal...the next most cute characters are Baili (Luo 's best friend)and Mingrui( ML best friend)...Baili depicts ..the role of a best friend to a girl and the bestest gf ,a boy(Ge bi) can ever have ...She is genuinely very cute.
Few of
My Favourite lines..."Oranges grown on south of HUAI river r called LUO ,those grown on north of the river r ZHI (Sheng huainan luozhi) yet
......being so close they still can never be together...."

At last lots of love and support to one of my favouite cdrama actors Hu yitian...Since being a fan of ALSB 2017..!!.#Hushen!!

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Sudden happiness that is too short-lived, yet it will take too long to forget in the future

This show appealed to me with its simple romance and its lack of fluffiness. I quite enjoyed the pining, the stolen glances, and the pensive stares between the lead couple. Having watched the 2019 version and really liking it, I thought this 2021 version is a more light-hearted adaptation and is less angsty. Still, there was enough sweet yearning and longing that kept me rooting for the two and coming back for more. I thought the script was beautifully written, and I appreciated many of Luo Zi's mature musings and Huainan's romantic declarations. Music-wise, the OST was pleasant and soothing and was used effectively during the more poignant scenes

I have to compliment Hu Bing Qing for her portrayal of Luo Zi. She had the essence that made her the heart of the show. Her Luo Zi was cool and classy, witty and sarcastic, introverted but always ready to stand up for her friends or herself, confident but also insecure when it came to her crush. Hu Yi Tian, as Sheng Huainan, probably had the easier job where he just had to be the "nan shen" (male god), look good, smile, and charm his way into Luo Zi's good graces. Still, having seen his previous dramas, he has definitely improved his acting skills, and he certainly has the aura of a male lead. I like the chemistry between the pair and the way they flirted with each other in their adorable geeky way.

Also central to the story are the secondary romances that all revolved around unrequited love but the side stories fused well to the main one. The drama also nicely showcased friendship; the sismance between Luo Zi and Jiang Baili and the bromance between Huainan and Zhang Ming Rui provided the heart-warming moments that lightened the frustration of missed opportunities. Ming Rui is one of my favorite characters in the show. He is adorable and good-looking, the epitome of warmth and loyalty. The entire cast did a great job, and there was great rapport among them.

The show would have benefited more if it were a few episodes shorter since I found the pace in the middle just a little draggy, and they overplayed the "misunderstanding" theme. There were many moments in the earlier parts of the show when I wished I could grab and give both leads a little shake to finally just talk it out. Especially when Huainan repeatedly stated his wish that there would not be any misunderstanding between them. I also found the ending pretty anti-climatic. Don't we deserve at least a hug or more after seeing the couple go through so many trials and tribulations?

Overall, I recommend this slow-burn romance for those who are looking for something more wistful and not so cheesy.

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Not your typical melo or romcom drama

This series really got me going on an emotional roller coaster ride. With a female lead who’s got a character and not those weak minded ones who will change just for the male lead; I really like the character set up. HBQ and HYT really are suited for the characters played.

I like how they series shows the growth of all the other side characters as well as emphasising friendship which made the story more wholesome.

If it’s another story, I would find the ending a little lacking albeit a happy one. But in this case, I feel that the ending was perfect

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