Shining for One Thing (2022)

the regretful i like you.. is an end, to a beginning :(

one of the top trending series, and I see why. It reminds me of Someday or One Day, but the story and mechanisms here are different. I would say this was more heartbreaking for me :(

The story revolves around Beixing, who just got dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years, Zhan Yu 2 weeks before their wedding. Turns out he had been cheating on her with her best friend... coincidentally, she realizes that deleting a texts from her old mobile sends her back to 2010 but a boy, named Wansen, who died in 2010 seems to be the key to her time travels. Beixing decides to start anew, far from Zhanyu and also sticks close to Wansen to prevent his death.

She soon finds out, there was more to Wansen. They had met since young, and he was once her savior. Turns out, she had mistaken Zhan Yu for him, leading to her falling for Zhanyu instead. As Beixing canvass through her new timeline, she and Wansen falls for each other. There, she slowly unravels the mysteries behind Wansen's inevitable death.. and everything links to her. For 12 years, Wansen had harbour a crush for Beixing, unbeknownst to her. He was always right behind her to protect her, and a step ahead of her when danger is imminent. We later find out that Wansen died, trying to protect Beixing from loan shark gangsters who were after her brother...unfortunately, all was too late and history repeats, in a different way when all was known.

Back in 2021, Wansen is gone. Beixing belatedly notices every moment she had returned to 2010, was a regretable moment of Wansen's and that his unspoken confession, "i like you" will be the end of the time travel. In a final attempt back in 2007, Beixing painfully pushes Wansen away...if that can keep him alive. Despite so, he still hovers around protecting her...this time he survived, but they part with a final "i like you"... back in reality, Beixing can only continue living with memories of Wansen, that did not happen in the current universe. Its and end, before there was any beginning... it was regretful but at least Wansen's unrequited, unconditional love was eventually made know to Beixing..

While i am not familiar with Chu Xiao, i had watched the past works of Karlina, Caesar & Jinna. But boy, Wansen is the undeafeatable wall for unrequited love. His love for Beixing was so pure, and unconditional. Staking even his life to protect her, just for her to be happy... even if she doesnt knows him... fate was cruel to Wansen... for 12 years, he worked so hard to appear in her life, but they got separated / missed the chance again and again.. even til his death Beixing never knew the sacrifices he made for her. He was always just a step behind, but that distance seems like eternity. If only Beixing had turned around, and understood all this earlier... it's equally heartbreaking for Beixing, loving the wrong person... and falling in love with Wansen all too late... and eventually, she can only carry memories, which only belongs to her in reality. WS never had those moments before his death :( the ending feels like an open one to me. I feel that there is a possibility Wansen is alive/ comatose, but reappears later because his death was never really confirmed..but more of like a consensus. I hope this becomes a S2 :( but we can rejoice since there is a movie for this with the same cast! Not sure whether it's a sequel or not!

Eitherway, it was a good watch for me. Not sure if I can rewatch this after crying so much for Wansen.....

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ONE OF THE BEST TIME TRAVEL TYPE OF DRAMA♥️

REVIEW

This is by far one of the best time travel drama that i watched, the storyline is so beautiful. I watched a lot of time travel drama before and honestly all the drama is not as good as shining for one thing. I love all the cast in this drama especially karlina, i was shocked when i found that she 33!! she look so young, i mean even younger than all the other cast. My fav will be zhang wansen, qu chu xiao deserve an award, the nailed the character as zhang wansen, he potray the image as zhang wansen so well. the fact that he died protecting lin beixing made me and all the viewers cry(deff need s2 for this drama). As for the other cast they just amazing. This drama also have the best ost. the ost really suit the drama well. overall this drama is the best in my opinion, deserve higher rating than 8.3.

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We just can't change fate, can we?

I never watch youth dramas because most of them are about poor girl and rich, stupid and arrogant ml who have a toxic relationship. But this is a far cry from that. Time travel sci fi dramas are mostly good, but this had a really very touching plot that keeps tugging at your heartstrings.
Never imagined that this alternate universe drama had a majority part about coming of age and youth, and it was so wonderfully done. Youth never felt so sweet in a cdrama.
The support characters, the side couples, were all so nice. The ml was a gem of a character. He surely is in my top 3 mls in modern cdramas. He was strong but not arrogant, shy but not distant, quiet but not non communicative and had his own charm and attraction without being the most handsome in the room, such amazing was his character. The love ml had for the fl was just so pure and true and selfless, she cared so deeply for him and didn't realise her own love for him until late. They had a healthy and beautiful relationship which didn't deserve to end in a tragedy. Only a first love that pure can last in the long run.
The series of heartbreaks begins after ep 15 until which it was all rainbows and unicorns, though there was no explicit heavy romantic scenes, but subtly sweet enough to bring a big smile on our faces. The monologues of the fl after she returned, her mad search for him, her reminiscence and all her emotions, his innumerable sacrifices, the pain he suffered, their past that she didn't know of, was so touching, heartbreaking. I laughed with them, i cried an ocean for them. It was an actual rollercoaster of emotions and the ride was ultra wild. It was just so painfully beautiful. I wish they had more time, and in the present day he really came back somehow and it was not her imagination. I am thoroughly convinced that they are a pair of star crossed lovers, soulmates that aren't meant to be, yet who can never love someone again with the same intensity that they loved each other.
I want someone to love me like Zhang Wansen loved Beixing. My interpretation of the story is that she time travelled to a different alternate universe every time, and in each of them, he loved her just the same, while the other events happened differently, so here lies the concept of multiverse. "No matter how time changes, i will always like you".
The main leads had beautiful chemistry and their acting was on point, realistic enough to make us feel whatever they felt. In fact i liked all the cast. Maizi was a character that grew on me, just like Gao Ge.
This show touches beautifully on the themes of friendship, family, coming of age, and most importantly unconditional and unending love.
The cinematography, editing, overall production is also great. The osts were very fitting with the story.
I'd definitely recommend watching this if you're looking for something that makes you feel everything and aren't afraid of sad endings. I will wait impatiently for the movie sequel to this because that open ending was far from enough to satisfy my buckets of tears.

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GREAT DRAMA

You might already know the scope of this series as it says in the synopsis and other reviews, it is about a girl(Lin Beixing) who time travel on her high school years to change her future but this gave her chance to get to know his savior(Zhang Wansen) and there he wants to change the past. Although she failed, she learned so many lessons and made memories with Zhang Wansen which she missed in her real world.

High school love, smart ML, naive FL, and the airport scene are just some of the common and old things in a drama that you can also see here but this doesn't mean this is not worth to watch. They made this series "ordinary but unique", they used old scenes but they put it in a totally different story. This will make the audience wonder think what will happen next, "it might be this" , "it might be that" but then it will give you a satisfying answer on your thoughts. The time travel here is really different from other time travel dramas, in here, while time travelling, it will show you different relationship lessons from family, father-daughter, friendship, classmate, siblings, romantic, etc.

The ending is not really happy but an open ending where it left us many questions about many things , I can totally understand it, as it will become a cliche drama that just gives romantic satisfaction it they made it so happy, rather they chose to give us a story full of lessons and wonders as many of this things can be encountered in real life. The ending is truly sad but a good ending for the drama even there are questions, the only thing I want to know here is why Zhan Yu cheated?

In terms of their love, the love of Wansen to Beixing is so pure and innocent, he is the type of man who will love you, protect you, sacrifice for you but not greedy, he's willing to care for you behind knowing that you already like someone. Beixing didn't realise this at first, but with her ability to go back time, she tried all her best to care for Wansen and love him back. I don't know how to say it but I like this series. Chaoyang, Gaoge, Maizi are the friends we need, they are what we can call true friends. The characters will show you different personalities and has the best character development.

The OST here completely complimented the drama, they are really great and soothing to the ear and will totally add emotions and feeling to it. And lastly, the acting of the 2 main is just so fine, they totally bagged their characters, this cast is just perfect.

Go watch it, it is adorable/cute, logical, life learning, somewhat funny, etc.

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A roller coaster

I don't think the result is satisfactory, in my perspective. This, in my opinion, is appropriate for Season 2. I really want them to spend more time together in the future, regardless of how the narrative flow changes. I just wanted to give them another shot, stranger or not much better.

I'm hoping they'll get the chance to meet each other through their jobs in the upcoming season. She has been designated as the team's representative for the international rescue. Within the years he was away, Zhang Wansen most likely became a prosperous veterinarian without boundaries in other countries. And now they have the possibility to get back together because they missed the chance to enjoy the snow together.^^

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Zhang Wansen *holds gently*

Looking at the poster I thought it would be a cute youth drama. A bit formulaic with the time travel element punched in but oh boy this was NO ordinary youth drama. Nothing could have prepared me for the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while watching this.

Lin Beixing an 30 yo who seems to be leading a very ordinary life gets her entire world turned upside down when her fiancee breaks up with her just before the wedding. Unable to let go of her past and regretting over the time spent with him she starts slowly erasing him from her life. Thus, begins her travel to the past. But is it really her past? Whatever happens in the past would have influenced the present right......but it seems like she is sent to a different time parallel altogether which doesnt affect the present in any manner whatsoever.

In the past, she comes across Zhang Wansen a timid shy naive teenager who turns out be like her guardian angel of sorts. Things she did not know, difficulties which she could have faced were all resolved by Zhang Wansen.

Zhang Wansen, played by Shaw Qu, is such a well written but difficult character I was honestly impressed by his acting, There's a fine line between being innocent and naive and being foolish. Shaw Qu got the mannerisms down to the T. His style of speaking, his timid way of walking yet feeling protective over Lin Beixing it was just pure perfection.

Karlina Zhang also did a fantastic job. She portrayed the maturity of a 30 yo flawlessly and carelessly blended into being a teenager too. At times you'll feel that this isnt a 30 yo at all but just a normal teenager who is about to go through many trivialities of life. But at times she evoked the poise calmness and confidence as was expected from a woman. Dressed like a teenager but mind wiser beyond years.

The plot isnt something completely unique we've seen a fair share of time warps, time loops and time travel in various forms of media. The commanding storytelling pulls the viewers completely in. The OST is so beautifully crafted and magically lures the viewers into this fantasy world created.

*Spoilers about ending*

I know people were unhappy about the ending but I think its rather beautiful. Lin Beixing participates in the Animal Rescue team and becomes a Veterenary without borders. I think her becoming what Zhang Wansen's aim was is a homage to him. Zhang Wansen as a kid had told her his dream and she had encouraged him. Now that Zhang Wansen didnt possibly exist in the same time and space she wants to remember him by his dream instead. Zhang Wansen who had always wanted to be a Veterenary without borders but chose to delay his leaving for it for her.

Zhang Wansen always chose her above everything and as the saying goes Zhang Wansen may be timid but his love is not. His love deserves to be known by the entire wide world.

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A drama that shines in all aspects

This drama was great and it really stuck with the mystery and twists it gave but although the twists are good when rewatching this you may feel the need to skip parts that you already know what's going to happen in it but the chemistry and how the actors portrayed the characters will make you stay and I can't get over how cute they were but that is mostly all I want to write in this review I want to say that I'm not just praising the leads but also the second leads and support roles and also the crew and how passionate they were with this project.



Side note-i think the FL looks like Kim saw Ron which is one of my fav actress.

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Lin Bei Xing, I like you, regardless of how the world may change, I like you always.

Well, to be honest, I do not usually pick Chinese modern dramas because I find the stories very average and endings anti-climax and especially avoid school settings because they are the usual stuff like exams, tests, results, puppy love, etc., but I decided to watch this after reading the good reviews and was pleasantly surprised and touched by the story...

STORY: Lin Beixing, the female lead, by accident, time travelled to her high school days by using her 2010 handphone and deleting messages in that phone, so each time she deleted a message, she was brought back to the school and each time she went back, she tried to save the life of Zhang Wansen, the male lead, and eventually learned about Zhang Wansen's heartfelt secret. When he was young, Zhang Wansen was a weak boy easily bullied, but a chance meeting in the zoo with Lin Beixing who rescued him from bullies and encouraged him to pursue his dream to become a borderless veterinarian, his heart warmed up to Lin Beixing and his liking for her became rooted in his heart. Throughout his school life from elementary school, he tried to get close to Lin Beixing and when they grew older, he was always trying to let her know that he was the 'girl' (he was dressed as a girl then) they met in the zoo, always trying to muster courage to make her notice him and tried ways to impress her, like practising hard at playing basketball when he knew that she liked boys who played basketball, etc.

Alas, it was this playing basketball and a subsequent fire accident that eventually led to a misunderstanding and caused them to miss 8 years until they were in the same class in high school but at that time Lin Beixing had eyes for only Zhan Yu, thinking that the latter was the one who saved her in the fire. Zhang Wansen, though feeling sad, never gave up liking Lin Beixing and was always behind her, helping her to solve her troubles, never seeking for repayment. He prepared notes for her exams and even gave up going abroad (and therefore gave up being a borderless veterinarian), instead using the money to help pay for her brother's debts, but also because of this help, eventually causing him his life and never being able to send the message from his handphone, the message he wanted to send to Beixing, "I like you.".

Eventually, Lin Beixing learned of his existence, his liking for her for such a long time and they did manage to have a brief 'relationship' in one of her time travels and most importantly, she also finally realised that if any one of them said the words, "I like you", to each other, the time zone she was in would end immediately, she would thus lose Zhang Wansen and be separated from him, so in the very last time travel, she decided that she would make Zhang Wansen dislike her, but by doing this, even if it made Zhang Wansen sad and at a loss, he still did not stop his concern and care for her, quietly collecting evidence of the bad guy's deeds to protect her and when he happened to read Lin Beixing's diary and understood the truth behind Lin Beixing's cold attitude towards him, he kept quiet about it, did not confront her whatsoever, instead went along with her 'intentions' and pretended to distance himself from her and dislike her.

ACTING/CAST: The male and female leads had very good chemistry, I didn't see any unnaturalness in them at all. Although I did feel that they look older than their ages in the drama, their acting overcame all. The other side characters also performed well. No one in particular, acted badly, in my opinion.

MUSIC: The music was good enough, did bring in the emotions.

ENDING: Lin Beixing continued working in the zoo, passed the interview for the international animal protection organisation and eventually was on the way to become a borderless veterinarian. This is literally carrying the dream of Zhang Wansen and living for him. I shall not say in detail here, but I really hope that the one standing behind holding the umbrella for her, was Zhang Wansen, in the very last scene.

AFTERTHOUGHTS: What really touched me in this drama, was the quiet sacrifices Zhang Wansen made for Lin Beixing. All he ever wanted was for Lin Beixing to be happy and safe. Protecting Lin Beixing was his life mission and regardless of any time zone that Lin Beixing time-travelled into, his liking for her was always there and he was always ahead of her in thinking for her, protecting her. Even when he thought she killed a man, he didn't even check or confirm the details carefully, but instead went ahead of her to surrender to the police first, just to protect her. All these done without any expectations, without ever expecting Lin Beixing to know his liking for her or what he did or to like him back or repay him. I was touched by such a person. Love, even if not known, will always be enduring and I guess the reason for Lin Beixing to be able to time-travel was that God did not want Zhang Wansen to be forgotten by her. Every time Lin Beixing turned back, Zhang Wansen was there. No wonder the old man at the beach said to Lin Beixing, "your world is not in the present, nor in the future, it's in your past, it's in that every moment you turned back."  

What also touched me, was when Lin Beixing tearfully realised later that each time she managed to time-travel back, she always landed in those moments Zhang Wansen had regrets for, like not being able to watch fireworks with her, take graduation photo with her, do the rabbit dance with her, take the university entrance exams together with her, walk out of the exam hall together with her, cycle together, watch a live band concert together, watch the first snow together with her, etc.

Such a boy like Zhang Wansen, I guess any girl would hope to meet. At least to me, he will always be worth remembering and well-deserving of the love from the girl he likes.

P.S. A movie of this drama is coming up in 2023, I will definitely watch it and I hope I can see everlasting happiness with Zhang Wansen and Lin Beixing living together, spending time together in the same time zone always. And most importantly, be able to say "I like you" to each other without any fears of losing each other or be separated from each other.

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The best "highschool" drama in recent years from C-land

This drama is so amazing that I think I am not exaggerating when I say viewers won't be able stop watching this drama even when it ended. We would go back and re-watch the episodes (many) many times until we can find peace with our emotions.

If you have watched the K-drama "Extraordinary You" or the Taiwanese drama "Someday Oneday" and liked these very much, then "Shining on One Thing" is the drama for you.

The story depicted the adventures of the FL (Lin Bei Xing) whom somehow traveled back in time (or perhaps traveled to parallel world) when she deleted sms messages on her old highschool mobile phone. These time traveling experiences made her realised that there was someone who was madly in love with her since she was a little girl, yet she has never set an eye on this boy (our ML) named Zhang Wan Sen.

Very often, I find myself not able to follow highschool dramas because I find them a bit childish but this drama absolutely stands out. It is filled with bitter sweet moments that capture those youthful years in highschool (the anxiety that everyone goes thru taking the pre-u exams , the uncertainty they feel when they have to leave highschool, the excitement of the summer before leaving for university and those moments when we all fall in love for the first time as young adults)

The script writing is really good, despite a few melodramatic moments which can be too coincidental or dramatic, I find the story acceptable to logical sense. The pacing of every episode is good, it doesn't drag too long on one issue.

The casting of both the ML and FL were very well done. They played their characters so well. It was such an amazing experience watching the FL and ML playing highschool kids who looked absolutely convincing despite in reality, the FL is already 30 yo and the ML 25 yo respectively. Most of the supporting roles were really good too. Convincing for most parts.

The OST was good. I especially liked the song "Goodbye" sang by Ding Dang. There were a lot of bitter sweet moments in this drama that teared me up because of OST.

I really don't have much complaints about this drama except the ending. I really wished it could have been more conclusive. I am guessing that's why they are doing a movie to give all of us a closure. I look forward to this movie.

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This is a good story, I almost crying after the half episode I am not expected the plot twist like that, I like how the main lead always do the best thing for her but it so sad to know he did everything secretly. At first I thought its gonna be cliche time travel story but its not. It full of plot twist. The story focusing on how female lead did always did the best to prevent the incident from happen but who knows the previous accident cannot change the current life time. Even its not quite happy ending but it is a good story line. Both actor and actress are good and have chemistry. I also like the 2nd lead pairs.

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you can never change the past, so appreciate the present and enjoy the future when it comes

usually i am not a huge fan of time travel dramas, mainly because i get confused as its typical for them to have plot holes etc, and even though no drama is perfect and there are defo some plot holes in this drama, it is still the best manipulation of time/worlds i have seen !

i actually appreciate how the ending was open, not all romance dramas need a happy ending, nor a sad one, i like that the ending means it is possible to create a theory for both sad and happy endings (and hopefully the movie next year will give some closure!) i personally think its one of 2 things 1. ML but in her imagination as he truly did die or 2. ML in real life after recovering from the fall . regardless, i enjoyed every episode.

episode 19 is by far my favourite episode.. cried multiple times during the show but ep19 hit the spot.. honestly ep16 onwards is a rollercoaster of emotions.. he loved her so so much..

anyways, in short i give this a 9-10/10 , the ost did it justice, all the songs are amazing, acting was also very good!! the storyline was good minus a few plot holes here and there overall was good , id defo rewatch when i feel up for a sad romance LOL

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