I don't usually watch dramas of this genre but I decided to check it out for the male lead Xiao Zhan after watching him in The Longest Promise. And I stayed because of the storyline and the excellent acting by the actors.

The story follows the life of the male lead, Xiao Chun Seng played by Xiao Zhan and his group of friends from their youth days in the 70s through to the early 2000. It's interesting to watch the characters develop against the changing eras in China. And how each character became who they were in life because of the choices they made in their life journey. The story talks about brotherhood, friendship, selfishness, pride, betrayal, frustrations, growth. And all were done not in an overly dramatic way but in a very realistic manner as how we would have reacted as we make our everyday choices in life. There were no real bad guys. The "bad guys" were more grey than bad, they just became who they were because of what life throws at them. Yet, they were given choices but then, there is human nature too. No one is perfect. I would ask myself, if I were Hong Ling, what would my decision be. Would I be like Hong Ling or would I be like Tong Xiao Mei

The cast was excellent. I loved Xiao Chun Seng for his idealism and dreams and cried with him when all seemed bleak. I loved how gentle yet strong Tong Xiao Mei was. I didn't like Yue Guo Hua for his cowardy, yet I pity him and felt for him at the same time. I hated Hong Ling for her pride and selfishness yet I truly understand why she was who she was and admired her pride at the same time.

Except for the last two episodes which seemed to be a bit of a rush, the drama is a good watch. I would have loved to see them tell us a bit more, do a bit more in depth into the ending. Still a very good watch.