IrenaK

I started this drama without any expectations, but along the way I developed some. However, in the end, none of them were delivered in a way that left me satisfied.

Firstly, the romance was mostly built on misunderstandings, stubbornness and bad communication, mixed with yearning, protectiveness and constant self-sacrifice. But it had its nice moments too, and those are the moments I cherish the most, because they were the ones that kept me watching.

Secondly, some of the characters deserved more screen time than they were given, and some were present way too often. The villains were quite predictable, yet somehow a little disappointing, and the supporting characters were always there to support, sometimes even stealing the spotlight. Some of the side plots were particularly interesting, and I would have loved it if they had developed them more than they did, but the screen time was given to the main plot, which felt quite repetitive at times, especially in the middle part.

Overall, the story wasn't a total waste, but it didn't really grow on me. It was often messy and chaotic, detaching me from the characters and leaving me wondering why they did what they did, and why the writers had to include this or that, because sometimes the plot choices really didn't make sense.

If anyone wants to watch this, my conclusion is this: don't expect too much. Enjoy the visuals, the actors, and the mess the plot offers, and you'll be fine. As for me — once bitten, twice shy. I will remember this as the first drama of Song Weilong I ever watched, but otherwise, I am shelving this and probably not returning to it again.