I had low expectations coming into this series after watching Nirvana in Fire, but was happily impressed. The story and the characters are quite different, so there's no point in comparing. They were both good in their own right.

Story: I fell in love with the Chang Lin family. I could see why so many people would go after them because of jealousy and fear. Their love for each other wasn't over the top, it is how a loving family really are and the actors portrayed it really well. The villains could have been developed more, though. I couldn't really empathize with them nor root for them or their plight. I liked how Ping Jing realizes he needs to live life for himself and that his family was supportive of that. I also felt relief and happiness, as he did, when he was finally able to let go of all the guilt weighing in his heart and live freely.

Actors: I'm thoroughly impressed by Liu Hao Ran and how his character developed throughout the series. Towards the end I wish they had kept more focus on him instead of Yuan Qi. I had heard grumblings about Huang Xiao Ming before I started watching, but I was also impressed by his portrayal of Ping Zhang as Ping Jing's older brother. I liked the supporting cast, including Tong Li Ya (Qian Xue) and Sun Chen (Ting Sheng), but somehow couldn't really connect with Lin Xi's character. I'm not sure if it's the actress or the character.

I really enjoyed this series because I was invested in the Chang Lin family, especially Ping Jing. Ping Jing's experiences and motivations resonated with me. I strongly recommend if you like character development and strong family relationships.