Homesick

While the plot is absolutely different for these productions, both shows feature unlikely (and sometimes unwilling) family members that get brought together by coincidences and... Stockholm Syndrome. Both dramas focus on stories of seemingly benign old gentlemen

In both dramas a child "returns" to their family. during the drama doubt arises of the identity of that child and if its truly this person. While in Homesick this is pretty much clear from the beginning, it is a mystery in "Lost in the Shadows". Both children are however involved in a murder case and try to figure out what has truly happened to the person who's identity they have taken on.

Both shows were directed by the same person and similarly focus on misleading us half of the time and playing with our perception. Both shows also feature Dai Xu

Darker and mystery themed cdramas.
Focus on two teens/young adults who grow close while investigating something.
Both 12 episodes.

Darker and mystery themed cdramas.
Focus on two teens/young adults who grow close while investigating something.

Both shows have the same screenwriter and the same heavy feeling to them; both shows are fairly simple on the surface but a layered mystery lies underneath. Both dramas play with your mind and show you exactly what you want to see. Both shows feature an underprivileged/poor lead - Yan Liang and Yue Pu in The Bad Kids and Chen Youxi in Homesick

Both dramas focus on a missing girl, and connect this to peel back layers of hidden secrets and unsettling truths within their respective communities. Each show adopts a dark, thriller-like tone, keeping viewers guessing as the characters navigate deception and unexpected revelations. Ultimately, both series explore how a single disappearance can unravel a much larger, more sinister web of crime and family secrets.