_Kage_

perhaps tied to the child policy back then (from a comment i saw) a family can only be seen to have 2 kids to avoid fines? i mean they even got a family portrait without beiyu - no kid can avoid that kind of trauma...

Not very accurate. I wrote a comment earlier abt the differences

https://mydramalist.com/754391-huan-yu#comment-22464082

Criminson gave good accounts of the extra chapters except for the letter - it was not unmailed but instead time dated to be mailed in the future.

The ep21 event is in chapter 55 and her letter is mentioned in chapter 56. It was sent to her friend who then dropped it in a Time Post Office (seen in ep21 with MS but did not happen in the novel - cause said friend did not get adapted). Content of the letter is covered in Extra Chapter 1

In the novel alot of the romance related dialogue were unspoken internal monologues which does not translate to drama well.

That said, having seen and read both, i am of the opinion that "Reborn" is describing the FL and her family cutting ties from the toxic patriach and embracing + remembering openly Beiyu. The romance is meant to be a side dish / dessert.. so the drama tag misled somewhat.

Wish they found a way to adapt FL thoughts during the basketball games

You may missed it but forcing her to do homework was to make her get extra practice in order to catch up to lessons - she joined in the early middle of the school year

The biggest story change is around the mum's depression and in the novel underscored the extent of FL's sacrifices for her mum.

The family was not aware until mumu mentioned recognizing the bottle in the trash as sleeping pills as well FL mum conversation with mumu's mum

FL had to coax the mum to see Dr Le Fan and get help and basically promised to listen and obey her . This is when she told her everything that has happen, that she likes ML but accepts that they cannot be together (timing and overseas) similar to drama.

What the drama dropped was the fact that FL did not like Finance and was working towards qualifying (and had qualified for the express placement) for the Arts and Literature major at a main university. But she gave it up and followed the mother's wishes to apply for the finance major at a nearby university for employability.

I never liked this turn of events seeing how the strong FL just suddenly folded akin to getting blackmailed. Just glad in the epilogue she does eventually become a successful writer.

I was actually hoping to see some of the relationship beats from the novel and was sorely disappointed
1) at the end of 1 day excursion, ML and FL shared a hug. ML knows that she cannot be in a relationship and just says he will wait for her. She replies a simple okay.
2) skip to the end of the novel, ML is back for christmas holidays and FL asked to meet on 21.12 and that he returns her gift - in the novel it was her parent's pearl hairpin. ML was sad and thought this meant a last cut of the thread that binds them and a final goodbye. FL just hugs ML when she sees him and asks whether he has a girlfriend.
3) letter to the future got moved from 5y to 2y - understandable due to where they intended to end the drama. However it was some philsophical musing very much not inline with her drama characterization while in the novel was her self confession - she loves ming sheng x3

MS was aiming to be a doctor, was in france for 2y and is back good - wtf? Novel does this better

in novel, he was in the US and came back for christmas. FL and ML gets together on 21-12 and has a long distance relationship until FL graduates. FL then goes to US to be with him while doing post-graduate in Arts while working there. This is another 3y until epilogue chapter 1 (return to hanzhou and proposal). correct amount of time for a medical degree

While the show wrapped up nicely - i think there were some nonsensical drama changes and a big story element change

from the novel it would likely be an interlude before they part for an extended period. that said it hinged on her joining a writing competition so it will be interesting how they do it here

in the novel, the FL family cut off the toxic husband side of the family and moved away to a totally different place - last... 10 chapters or so?

link is in the discussion thread

edited for clarity - ML confessed his attraction for FL to Mumu. i need to dig up the chapter it was mentioned. i only recall Mumu telling FL

the novel story is not actually a full on romance - it is about trauma and healing. they only get together in the literal last chapter, and last few paragraphs at that. it is fleshed out in 2 extra chapters which i think many are hoping gets adapted in the drama too

no it was by accident - she did research bus routes (when she knew ML was looking for a cab). in novel she was caught by the reporter instead

from novel she does but accepts that ML likes FL (ML confessed his attraction to FL to Mumu). FL and her both sisterly bonding and decide to give up on ML together at one point

from novel yes

ep16 trailer shows a drama-only sequence - seeing ep17 trailer i think they are using that to finally integrate her into the "girl's group" . Happens in the novel but I can't remember what was the catalyst

also BY got groomed by JInrui - frustrating that because he was the oldest "son" got away scot-free until QY stepped up. Guess the mum is "no boys mode" because of that too

the repercussions will likely be touched upon in the later episodes - likely episode 14 based on teasers. that said you may likely not be entirely satisfied with it, as the one direct impact later is the mum being held hostage emotionally to do the family's further bidding

they cut ties with nan qiao village - while the father is not the progenitor of the idea, he does follow through with the plan (in the novel)