A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream

A Heart Healing Romance Among Beautiful Mountains, Where Love, Freedom & Fate Unite Two Hearts

There is something incredibly exciting about discovering a BL that feels completely different from anything else out there, and A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream delivered that feeling from the very beginning. With 16 full length episodes, a rarity in the BL world, I was already excited to start this series on GagaOOLala. But I never expected to become this invested. From the opening moments to the very end, I was completely hooked. Even the title itself is unforgettable, but what makes this BL truly special is just how unique, ambitious and different it feels.

What immediately sets this series apart is its breathtaking setting. Instead of the usual busy city backdrop, the story takes us through lush green mountains, endless tea fields, peaceful forests, and stunning natural landscapes. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. Every frame feels carefully composed, almost like a painting, and the scenery creates such a peaceful, refreshing, almost magical atmosphere.

The romance is just as captivating. Qinglang comes from the glamorous world of fame, while Changyang is a free spirited tea farmer who belongs among the mountains. Their completely different lifestyles create such an interesting dynamic, and watching them slowly grow closer feels incredibly natural.

And the chemistry between these two is EVERYTHING. Their interactions feel effortless, warm, and genuine. Changyang is especially lovable. He cooks for Qinglang, feeds him, lets him use his lap as a pillow, and constantly takes care of him. He is the definition of boyfriend and husband material. From his cute and gorgeous looks to the way he treats Qinglang like a princess, he is basically the perfect man. Honestly, if I had Changyang as my boyfriend, I would turn from straight to gay in a heartbeat.

But what really made me fall in love with this series is the writing.

In Episode 3, after Qinglang kissed Changyang, he asked, "Do you like men?" Changyang did not answer yes or no. Instead, he simply replied, "Is it important?"

Then in Episode 4, Qinglang asked again, "Do you like men?" This time, Changyang answered, "Is your name Men?"

There is so much meaning hidden in those few words.

If Qinglang's name were "Men," then the answer would be yes. Changyang was not saying he likes men in general. He was saying that the only person he likes is Qinglang. That is the beauty of poetic writing. Sometimes a single sentence can carry the weight of an entire love confession without ever directly saying it.

And then they kiss. That kiss scene is honestly one of the most beautiful BL kisses I have ever seen. Instead of showing the kiss directly, the series captures their shadows moving across the ocean waves. The water seems to carry the moment across the shore, creating something incredibly artistic and romantic. I have seen plenty of creative kiss scenes, but I had never seen a shadow kiss executed quite like this. It was beautiful and unforgettable.

This series reminds me that great romance is not built on kisses alone. Sometimes it is in the words left unsaid, the meaning hidden between conversations, the small gestures, and the emotions that slowly build between two people.
And speaking of kisses...

If you are watching on GagaOOLala, STAY AFTER THE CREDITS! There are additional scenes at the end of the episodes that you absolutely do not want to miss. Episode 4 even has a post credit kiss by the car overlooking that stunning lake.

Also, make sure you watch the additional Small Theater version on GagaOOLala because WOW. I genuinely do not think I have ever watched a BL with this many kissing scenes. I binge watched all 15 episodes and these two were basically kissing nonstop. It is crazy, hot, intense, and I am completely obsessed. 😭

Another thing I cannot stop talking about is the cinematography. Almost every shot looks like it could be turned into wall art. The camera angles, scenery, lighting, and background music all give the series such a distinctive identity. I have watched so many BLs, but the visual style here genuinely stands out.

Even something as simple as a car driving up a mountain road, filmed from a distance against those enormous green landscapes, becomes incredibly memorable. Every frame feels intentional.

Not only is the title long and unique, but A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills’ Dream has also given me an engaging story, beautiful music, strong performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a romance that feels both sweet and deeply emotional.

It has such a unique atmosphere that makes it stand out from other BLs airing right now. If you love slow burn romance, gorgeous scenery, poetic dialogue, meaningful little gestures, and couples with undeniable chemistry, please put this one on your watchlist. ❤️

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a must watchable BL!

in this Review....i gonna give u all....all the infos😭😭.... and also It's the same director and company that also releases a year ago "Secrets happens in the litchi island"😭😭😭...I'm obsessed with this drama so i Researched a lot off things....kumas insta id https://www.instagram.com/kumakid.106?igsh=OG9zNnpyODFhbWFn.....the main mv of this drama https://youtu.be/ZDCQ9aC7QBc?si=LvOnHRYKj1QcLq-4......and this one is available on Spotify too.... just srch this 满纸长情....it’s the another one ost....and also the village... really exists in real life too...and It's really too pretty 😭😭😭....Both Xigui and Molie (Molei) are highly sought-after, premium ancient Pu-erh tea villages located in Yunnan Province, China.......and mainly this drama is really too good....everything i mean everything....the osts,those bgms....those places....their acting chemistry everything....and also they must have lot off cut scenes....so they upload those scenes on thete official YouTube channel....so plss must Check it out..unless u must miss....those hwwt and good scenes off them...😭😭😭.....and also the tops first drama is this....bt his acting is too good...😭😭...and also in hiy.aa24 u all can watch everything... in insta

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heavy stuff with stuff breaking immersion...

When I heard of this show, I expected greatness, but sadly it did disappoint somewhat.

Positive: No dubbing for the most part, you get the original voices. Very artsy art direction, color grading, costumes. Everything has a reason and is done very well. Except the "acceptance speech" in the final episode, that felt very artificial. Great acting and stunning cinematography.

Negative: Three stories where the 2nd couple feels like a contaminant. It breaks the flow of the main story and they don't really have a deep connection. Their story is not a focus and it shows, it's like a 08/15 BL which entered an artsy production. There are many tragedies in this story and there is no 3rd couple, because forcing drama seemed more important. They could have adapted the story to save the little brother and let him be happy, and remove the 2nd couple. Also some silly comedy and sound effects break the immersion from the main story. I did not like that at all.

I will not go into depth with my review, because first I'm quite late due to reasons and many people already wrote a lot and just pointing out my pros/cons is enough. It's a show worth watching, but I'm not satisfied with the whole series. Considering all the crap we get to watch this show is a marvel, but it did not meet my expectations. Story wise it lacked but it over-compensated with everything else. But killing of the little brother is a reason that this series will not land on my recommended list.

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gorgeous setting & cinematography

Overall: solid tension/chemistry with the leads. Note that the series and my review may have some triggering words/content. Aired on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-CWu74qAe0wQvZOICK6wayQpEdIBkFWl and GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/7815/a-winter-sun-wakes-the-wind-in-spring-hills-dream-2026-e01 (not available in Japan or Korea) Some episodes had extra content after the end credits which I watched and there was also Small Theater scenes that were separate which I did not watch.

Content Warnings: vomiting ep 1 around 2:10, non con picture taking/sharing, dub con kissing, suicidal thoughts, deaths, grief, punch, mental health struggles, manipulation, past & current homophobia, non con picture taking/sharing/outing, blackmail, suicide?, violence

Watch Suggestions (to remove most content warnings and focus mostly on the lead pair's relationship development and sweet moments)
- watch episodes 1
- episode 2 watch beginning-2:40, 8:45-11:40, 13:45-21, 33-37
- watch all of episode 3 and 3's post credit scene
- episode 4 watch beginning-15:30, 35:15-end and post credit scene
- episode 5 watch beginning-1:20, 3:30-17:55, 24:30-29:30, 38-40:45 5
- episode 6 watch 42-47
- episode 7 watch beginning-40:10, 44:15-end, post credit scene
- episode 8 watch beginning-25, 37:45-40:30
- episode 9 watch 12 -16:15, 27:45-31:45, 37:50-end and post credit scene
- episode 10 watch 3:30-8:40, 18:50-20:05
- episode 11 watch 1-5:50, 17-19, 47-end and post credit scene
- episode 12 watch beginning-2min, 12:10-28
- episode 13 watch beginning-6, 23:35-29:25
- episode 14 watch beginning-2:40
- episode 15 watch beginning-6:25, 8:15-13:55, 18-20:30, 25:50-end credits and watch post credit scene 34:07-end
- episode 16 watch 1-2:50, 21:30-24, 34:30-end

What I Liked
- production value, oranges and blues how in episode 1 there were 2 different locations but characters walked thru a door and then the scene with the other characters continued, not sure how to describe this
- tension/chemistry with the lead couple
- countryside vistas
- grandma
- tragedies happened in a realistic manner in that they were foreshadowed and didn't pop out of nowhere (though 3 was too many)
- the ending with main couple

Room For Improvement
- the tone was odd, there were really heavy parts and then there were silly comedy sound effects
- the sister who I think was in her early 20s was infantilized and made into a villain character
- too many antogonists/tragedies so it started to feel unrealistic
- confused with the characters and plot (I didn't take a ton off as some of this was not the production's fault)
a. saying and subtitling brother and sister which included both non related and related characters which made it difficult to know who was who
b. sometimes scenes jumped suddenly
c. not translating text messages or giving context (what is Ranger School)
d. time jumps
e. dreams vs reality
- did not care for the second couple
- leads did not communicate their plans (also the noble idiot trope)
- the leads had barely any screen time together in the finale

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Beautiful multi-layered love story

Summary
A beautiful story of two very different souls coming together through love and loss. The story was occasionally confusing, and the second couple wasn’t very engaging, but the main couple was riveting. Beautiful locations, music, and spectacular cinematography raise the production value enormously. It had its flaws but still made an indelible mark on me. 9.0
The rest of this review is super long and contains spoilers. It has sub-headings if you only want to read part of it.

Story
The story of the main couple is about a BL actor, Qinglang, who, now in his 30s, has closed himself off from love after being hurt in the past. While he takes time away from the spotlight and spends it in the mountains, he meets Changyang, who breaks down his walls and they fall in love. Changyang is young (20) when they first meet, but he is already determined to win Qinglang’s heart. He devotes himself to caring for Qinglang with such tenderness and attention that Qinglang cannot resist him. Their love is passionate and they become utterly devoted to each other. Unfortunately, Qinglang is a big star and lives life in the spotlight, which is not easy.
They try to keep their love discreet, but both cannot avoid being affected by scandal. Qinglang doesn’t care as much about his own image as he does about Changyang, but after Changyang’s father makes it clear that their relationship will damage Qinglang’s future, they break up. This was definitely some “noble idiocy” in my mind because Qinglang doesn’t tell Changyang why they are breaking up, and it happens after they have pledged to stay together, so you know they will end up back together. But it was still very much a typical romance trope, and the lack of communication was, as usual, annoying.
In general, the story of their love and their scandals is meant to shed light on the difficulties of the BL industry, and even the toxic shipping culture. This is especially displayed through Changyang’s sister, who reveals her brother’s relationship online because she ships Qinglang with his on-screen partner and wants them together, not her brother and Qinglang. Here we see how what she wants and imagines as a fan is more important than what actually makes Qinglang or her brother happy. It is infuriating! Qinglang’s former partner also tries to use the fans of their ship to revive his career, despite having hurt Qinglang in the past in real life. While it is important to make BL viewers aware of the problems that go on behind the scenes, I was not especially surprised by most of what happened in this regard. If it opens people’s eyes, though, that’s good.
The story of the second couple is supposed to mirror the past realities and struggles of Qinglang and his BL partner, Yuhao. Unfortunately, the second couple doesn’t pull the viewers in the way the main couple’s story does. There is clearly both love and manipulation involved, but it’s just not engaging in the same way. In addition, it is often confusing and hard to understand what is exactly going on with this couple. At times it was frustrating having so much time devoted to them, when really we just want to see Qinglang and Changyang.
Qinglang and Changyang’s love story surpasses time and place. They love each other beyond words, yet they also let each other have their separate lives. Only at the end do they finally both leave their professions and decide to live together in the mountains. The final scene of their mountain wedding, with imagined blessings from all the characters, lends a beautiful sense of closure to their story.
Watching Qinglang and Changyang together is incredibly moving. They clearly love each other with everything they have. Despite being radically different from each other, they balance each other perfectly. The sacrifices they make for each other as well as the effort to connect while apart is beautiful to watch, and they express a love that all of us would wish to find.

Problems with the story:
It is confusing at times and sometimes hard to follow. I spent a lot of time on Reddit trying to understand what was going on and why. This lack of clarity in the events that unfold really interrupts the flow of the romance and takes away from the beauty and pain of it.
The second couple is not very interesting and is sometimes annoying. Too much time was devoted to them.

Loss and Death in the Story
Three people die in this drama, and they are all significant characters. This lends a layer of sadness to the whole story. The losses are a counterpoint to the beauty of the love story. They affect the characters and viewers deeply. This is especially true of the death of Qingtian, Qinglang’s younger brother and Changyang’s friend, who is portrayed as a beautiful soul and loving presence. His loss hits the viewers especially hard. All the deaths are a reminder that we cannot control the events of our lives, only guide them. Sometimes terrible, devastating things happen. Death exists alongside life and love. The fact that Qinglang is able to continue to love Changyang and lean on him throughout is even more powerful in light of these losses. Changyang suffers too, yet he does all he can to protect Qingyang from the worst of what happened to Qingtian. And in the end they still celebrate their love, despite all that they have lost.
While I found it difficult to watch so many characters die, I don’t see this as a problem with the story. It is an important element in lending meaning to everything that happens.

Symbolism
The title: Changyang is the “winter sun.” He brings slow, steady warmth to the coldness of winter (Qinglang) without being overwhelming.
The wind represents change, as Qinglang opens his heart to Changyang. The wind can cause disruption too, as evidenced by difficulties on the path as well as loss.
“Spring Hills Dream” is Qinglang’s rebirth each time he escapes to the mountains and replenishes his soul through nature. The dreams also represent his connections to those he has lost and a way to see and remember them in his mind.
Tea has great symbolism in the story as well. The best tea takes time to grow and pick and seep. It requires patience in the face of nature and in the process of brewing. It takes time to extract meaning from life’s chaos, just as it takes time and effort to brew the best tea. Qinglang takes the tea thermos Changyang gave him everywhere he goes. It helps him cultivate quiet reflection and connects him to Changyang and to the mountains where the tea comes from. In quiet reflection and dreams he is able to process loss and recognize true love.

Production Value
Locations—the mountains are a spectacular backdrop and provide beautiful scenery to the story.
Cinematography—The cinematography in Winter Sun rates up therewith the best I have ever seen. Every shot is carefully and beautifully laid out. From figures in shadow to overheads of the mountain road to reflections in a mirror or pond, the shots are cleverly thought out, gorgeous to behold, and add the the feeling and meaning of every scene. Quiet, ethereal beauty shines through the whole series and elevates the entire production.
Music—The music is also beautiful and ethereal, and adds another impeccable layer of quality to the production. Sometimes there is no music and just slow and quiet scenes.
Acting—The actors playing Changyang, Qinglang, and Qingtian stood out the most for me. They brought their characters to life with depth and emotion. Sometimes a simple look or movement revealed so much, while other times passionate feelings or desires were expressed physically and viscerally. The MLs had amazing chemistry. The intimate scenes were spicy without being too revealing. I felt I really knew these characters by the end of the series, and I will miss them.

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199/10! A Masterpiece Meant to be Engraved in Our Hearts

I thought after The Untamed I would NEVER be able to watch any drama like that, and since then, I don't think I've ever seen any drama which would come close to it—whether it is the OST, the acting, the storyline, or the cinematography. So, I would just listen to its songs and reminisce about it. But I was wrong! I OFFICIALLY DECLARE that this has surpassed the high standards The Untamed had created in my heart, and that is why this has become the BEST DRAMA OF ALL TIME for me.

If I had to rate it, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to rate this a 1000/10 (or 199/10 if you get the reference). This is actually the type of drama people might be watching even centuries from now, and it would make them feel nostalgic. Dare I say, this drama is BETTER THAN TITANIC for me. The acting, the OST, the background music, the cinematography, the scenic beauty, the plot, and everything just screams to me. It isn't a drama that is meant for just TikTok edits... It is meant to be ENGRAVED IN OUR HEARTS.

The realism in this drama is very much the reason why I love it so much. There was a scene where Qinglang was talking on the phone while simultaneously, in the background, you hear Qingtian and his manager conversing. And though it was very stimulating and might be a lot to take in, I think that was one of the reasons I fell in love with this drama... Because it showed how things actually take place in a social setting. There were also many moments where they would only gesture to each other without any voiceovers or subtitles, but we would understand it right away. So, HUGE props to the actors, our two main leads, Liu Jingyu who played Xu Changyang and Xiong Yiwen (or Kuma) who played Feng Qinglang, for delivering every scene so fabulously. I forgot they were actually acting because of how real everything felt and how perfectly every emotion was delivered.

It wasn't just the chemistry which was INSANELY good, but also the way they delivered every complex emotional scene. I think it was really good... Especially for Liu Jingyu, because it was his first role, which I was really shocked to find out after watching the drama. I thought he was a veteran actor all along, as his reactions, teasing, yearning, and every emotion he delivered were perfect and might even be better than a few veteran actors I've watched. And for Xiong Yiwen, I was truly mesmerized by how he made complex scenes look perfect. His acting felt very natural and comfortable, making me feel every emotion as if I were him.

My boy, Hu Yichen, who played the role of Feng Qingtian!! Even while writing this, I feel like crying because I loved him so much in the drama. His portrayal of anxiety and depression felt so real, as it showed me a mirror to my past self, which was exactly like him: faking happiness to other people while getting eaten up on the inside. I don't think anyone could've played the role better than him. He easily made Qingtian my favorite character in the drama. I cried rivers for two days straight, not wanting to watch after episode 13, but I'm so glad I continued anyway.

Huang Qixiu, who played the part of Xu Wenshu, made me empathize with him. He suffered a lot. The yearning and love for Qingtian portrayed by him was amazing and really made me feel sad for him. He never got fatherly love, being compared to his brother, nor romantic love, so it hurts me badly to think how he would live after all that had happened, blaming himself for everything. It's like he becomes Qingtian.

Guo Zongxu, who played Qi Haoyu, and He Jiakai, who played Han Lu, were really the cutest couple ever with a really sweet chemistry. Their acting was also surprisingly good considering it was their first-ever drama. I think their acting became better and better with each passing episode. Their chemistry was sizzling, and their journey was really difficult. It made me contemplate the industry and how being forced upon by a big shot 100% happens. I felt so sorry for Han Lu and felt Qi Haoyu's desperation for having his hands tied and not being able to help Han Lu. But at last, they got their well-deserved happiness.

Ma Bingyuan, who played Brother Guo or Guo ge, was such a comic relief yet such a caring and soothing character. It hurt me to see him cry and made me happy when he was happy. He must be the richest person in the world by how many 199 yuans he collected from our MLs, haha. He's such a good actor, and I'm looking forward to more projects from him.

I'd also like to thank Zelia Wang, aka Lizzy, for everything... For directing, writing the script, editing, color grading, visual effects, for the original score, the theme song, lyrics, and music. She did all of this by herself and made a LITERAL MASTERPIECE.

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A breathtakingly beautiful love story...unlike anything in a long time...a Perfect 10!

Once in a while comes a show that makes it difficult to fault anything in it, this is one of them...to say this was stunning, will be an understatement...Zelia and the entire team of this drama has set the standards so high that it will be very difficult to like anything in the next couple of months!!

BL-Needle Score: 8.5. High BL-ness

I am at a loss for words after completing this....Changyang and Qinglang, and their love language took my breath away... and then every bit of it, the script, direction, editing, the set designs, the cinematography, the music....it transports you to another world altogether!!! ...the way each frame in this show looks just perfect...seems like it was curated painstakingly ...and even though it gets a tad unsettling to see such perfection all through, it makes you realise just how much effort has gone into it....it is plain to see that the creators wanted to build a stylish, fairytale-scape and completely succeeded in that....its not that the story doesn't have its share of difficult and dark moments and that is what makes it stand out even more.....

By far, the only part in the drama that I felt was not really needed was the other junior actor ship Qi Hao and Han Lu...to me it somehow felt like they were the alter egos of a junior Qinglang and Shi Yuhao and were enacting how their earlier failed affair went...almost like a movie within a movie...maybe the director wanted to have a watermark of that earlier failed affair as a contrast to Changyang-Qinglang presently ongoing romance? Anyway, given all the other superbly done parts, I ammore than willing to let this go

This is my second Perfect 10 score on MDL after The Untamed, even though for very different reasons...I'm ina trance right now and I hope we get more ...

First it was Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island, and now this....Zelia, please give us more, because now I'm addicted!!!

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The best series I have watched so far

I genuinely cannot stop talking and this series. The Acting, Story, Screenplay, Storytelling, Direction everything is on point. Chang Yang is greenest green flag you’ll ever see. I personally did not like the second couple’s story that much but Chang Yang and Qing Lang are the best. This story talks about love, life and death in a very unique way than other any other drama I’ve watched till now. I have seen a lot of people giving bd reviews after a certain incident in ep13 but in my opinion that is what the story is about, true love is always raw and if you are someone who only expects happy endings for all stories it isn’t for you. I wanna say this to main cast Jingyu and Kuma - You guys fucking amazing keep up the good work guys. This story is written for you. Love

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MASTERPIECE OF ARTS , POETRY AND DEPTH OF HUMAN NATURE ?

I hope , ppl find it helpful and those who don't understand read the novel with same name . It has explanation.
🔥 **IF YOU THINK THIS DRAMA IS “BORING” OR “DRAGGING,” YOU PROBABLY MISSED WHAT IT WAS SAYING.**

Before criticizing the drama for being “too slow,” I think it is worth asking whether we are criticizing the writing—or simply expecting every story to move at the speed of a thriller. Not every drama is designed around constant twists and instant gratification. **Some stories are written like poetry: slowly, symbolically and with meaning hidden between the lines.**

• **THE TITLE — “A WINTER SUN”**
Winter represents loneliness, exhaustion and a heart that has forgotten how to bloom. The sun represents unexpected warmth and hope. Qinglang's “winter” is his emotional state, while Changyang becomes the warmth that reminds him how to live again.

• **“THE WIND”**
Wind represents change—love, fate, separation and everything that cannot be controlled. Sometimes it brings people together; sometimes it carries them apart.

• **“SPRING HILLS’ DREAM”**
Spring represents rebirth, while the hills represent freedom from artificial identities. The “dream” is the fragile happiness they find there—beautiful precisely because it cannot last untouched forever.

• **THE THREE COUPLES**
Qinglang × Changyang represents **healing and freedom**.
Qi Haoyu × Han Lu represents **love caught between fear, performance and reality**.
The third couple represents **attachment and sacrifice**.
Together, they show that love has many forms and not every relationship is meant to tell the same story.

• **MUSIC & CHANTING**
They aren't simply background decoration. They represent memory, tradition, spirituality and emotions that words cannot express. When the characters cannot speak, the music becomes their voice.

• **NATURE**
The mountains are a second language: winter is loneliness, wind is change, snow is stillness and spring is renewal. The scenery reflects the characters' inner worlds.

• **QINGTIAN'S DEATH**
His death isn't just there to create sadness. It shatters the illusion that the mountains are a perfect sanctuary. Nature can heal, but it can also take. His death introduces mortality, grief and consequences—and reminds us that **even beautiful places cannot protect us from loss.**

• **THE HIDDEN MEANING**
Winter → Sun → Wind → Spring → Dream
**Loneliness → Warmth → Change → Renewal → Impermanence.**

• **WHY THE PACING MATTERS**
The quiet scenes, tea, pauses, conversations, landscapes and silence are not “filler.” They allow the characters to breathe, heal and change. **It doesn't drag—it lingers.**

Calling something “boring” simply because it doesn't move quickly is not really literary criticism. You can dislike the pacing, but dismissing the entire story without engaging with its symbolism, character development and visual language misses what makes it different.

This isn't simply a BL romance. It is a story about **finding warmth in winter, finding freedom in love, accepting loss and understanding that beautiful moments are precious precisely because they cannot last forever.**

Some people watch a story and ask, **“What happened next?”**
This drama asks, **“What did it mean?”**

And perhaps that's the difference between merely watching it and actually understanding it.

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Beautiful poetry

The majority of this series is pure art, like beautifully captivating poetry. I already know I will be rewatching this many times.
There are just a couple of things that, for me, dragged the story down to an 8.5
- Secondary couple? Absolutely unnecessary. Their pairing/plot contributed nothing to the overall story of the series; I basically skipped almost every single one of their scenes.
- Qianliang's past pairing? Too much power. They presented him as an actor with no longer any significant fame and no future, so how is it that he seemed to have so much power for practically the entirety of the series? Even in his death at the end, I mean, we kinda see it coming, which is fine, but then why all the implied hate towards Qianliang at a point where it no longer brings any weight or meaning to the plot?
- Too many tragedies. I understand that the first death was necessary for the individual development of all the other characters. But Qiantian's? That felt unnecessarily cruel towards his pain-filled character, who seems to finally be finding peace, and even asks for time to grieve a bit before starting his new story. Also, the way he died felt very muddy; I don't really understand the mystery surrounding it. And then the third death... it felt unnecessary and meaningless. I understand why his character would have done that earlier in the series: he had no fame left, no genuine people left, and even realised he was truly in love with Qianliang when he himself saw it was waaaaay too late; but to do it after everything has passed? After his redemption arc, plus 5 years into the future, where he even seems to be on good terms with Qianliang and is even mentioned to have retired? Make it make sense.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and I do plan to rewatch it multiple times in the future, but I will be skipping over what seems to be about a quarter of the series.

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One word. Masterpiece

A series that is SO hard to let go.

Multiple weeks of watching you, my love. 16 episodes of pure magic and awe. If you could marry a TV show, I would definitely marry you. There wasn't a single dull episode that I can remember. Not one.

A lot of people may not understand you, and honestly, I don't even know how I would explain to them what they're missing. A masterpiece. A work of art. I don't even know what else to call you anymore. Zelia, you have all of our respect. 🥹

If you're looking for beautiful cinematography, breathtaking shooting locations, incredible casting, and an OST that feels like magic, here it is. I'm serving this masterpiece to you.

This is not your normal series. You'll fall in love with the depth of the love they show. The kind of love that is pure, but not innocent. Is that even possible? Because somehow, this series made it possible.

Green-forest characters? YES. Angst? Absolutely. Romance? Deeper than I expected. And do you know how many times I cried, smiled, laughed, and just completely got lost in space while watching this?

And somehow, beneath all the magic, this series also feels like a subtle documentary about what really happens in the entertainment industry behind the cameras. The reality it carries, especially in China, where queer media has so many limitations, makes this story hit even harder.

The script was beautifully written. It may feel magical, but somehow, it still serves you reality. Lines filled with meaning that just slap you right in the heart.

And NC? Honestly, it's optional at this point. Most of their intimate scenes are just kissing, but damn, I'm NOT complaining. It fits them. It's enough. Sometimes, a kiss can say everything.

While watching, you might find yourself wondering, "What is happening?" You might even think some scenes are random.

But NO.

Everything is calculated. Everything has its place. Every detail eventually makes sense. Everything feels cinematic, yet somehow realistic.

What else can I even say?

This might be my first 10/10 series. And I'm putting it straight to my #1.

Zelia, you created something I don't think I'll be able to let go of anytime soon. ❤️

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