This review may contain spoilers
A MASTERPIECE IN MAKING ✨
Park Hae Young has worked her magic yet again. After masterpieces like “My Mister” and “My Liberation Notes,” she returns with “We Are All Trying Here.”Actor Koo Kyo Hwan, whom we know from “D.P. 1 & 2,” plays the character of Hwang Dong Man, and Go Youn Jung, known for “Can This Love Be Translated?”, “Resident Playbook,” and “Alchemy of Souls 1 & 2,” plays the role of Byeon Eun A in this drama.
Honestly, when I started it, I wasn’t sure if it was going to click with me or not. It’s unlike the usual dramas we watch,there is no superhuman ML or invincible FL...What we see instead is a deep dive into the very realistic and harsh world of the film industry. When I first started the drama, I didn’t know who the writer was, but I got this uncanny feeling of similarity to “My Mister” and “My Liberation Notes,” and lo and behold, it's the same writer!✨🤗
Unlike the typical K-drama style, which often leans toward a kind of fictional utopia, this drama dives headfirst into the realities of the film world. There are no purely black-and-white characters; every character falls into the grey area, just like most of us in the real world...The characters represent complex emotions like: greed, ambition, jealousy, inferiority, competitiveness, hardship, and the deep desire to be noticed. Each of them has something they love, something they want, and something they are anxious about...
OUR ML & FL
Our ML, Hwang Dong Man, represents the struggle of someone who wants to pursue what he loves but hasn’t gotten his break yet, even after 20 years in the industry. He’s an aspiring director and the only one in the famous film industry group “The Eight” who hasn’t debuted...Despite this, he shows up to face the world with a smile, masking his anxiety with a talkative facade. It’s his way of maintaining a sense of normalcy in a harsh and often demeaning environment...
He’s a character that may be hard to fully understand at first. He uses his love for food and his talkativeness as shields to fill the void within him...Watching his peers move forward while he remains stagnant, he inevitably feels jealousy and anxiety, which sometimes cause him to behave unpleasantly towards his colleagues, friends, and those around him. Still, his struggles make him someone we can’t help but root for...
On the other hand, Byeon Eun A, a producer at Choi Film, is almost the complete opposite...Instead of expressing her emotions outwardly, she internalizes them, letting them build up until they manifest as anxiety in the form of nosebleeds. She reminds me of Lee Ji An (played by IU) from “My Mister,” especially in the way she moves through life with a deadpan expression and eyes that seem to lack warmth...There’s a sense of hollowness and emptiness within her that reflects in her gaze, almost as if her eyes are a mirror to her inner world. She’s known as “The Axe” due to her sharp screenplay reviews and used to be extremely cutthroat in her criticism. However, something happened about a year ago that caused her to change...It seems to be connected to her ex-boyfriend, though the details are still unclear since only two episodes have aired...This is something that will likely give us deeper insight into her character as the story progresses...
Both characters carry their own struggles, and it’s through these struggles that they begin to connect...
OTHER CHARACTERS
Park Gyeong Se, played by Oh Jung Se, is one of “The Eight” and is easily provoked by Dong Man’s blunt and talkative nature. After his movie receives bad reviews, he blames Dong Man for it. He represents someone who externalizes blame, and for him, Dong Man becomes the scapegoat...
His wife, Ko Hye Jin, CEO of Gobak Film (played by Kang Mal Geum), is loyal yet grounded. She’s the kind of person who will show you the truth when you’re wrong. She understands Dong Man’s situation while also recognizing her husband’s tendency to shift blame. Tho I have to say the way she kicks out Dong Man out of their group activities and his brother too when he confronts them about it I found to be very harsh especially the sign outside the restaurant "Dong Man and his brother not allowed here" is very bullying and discriminatory...But I guess she has her flaws too...
Choi Dong Hyeon, CEO of Choi Film (played by Choi Won Young), comes across as narcissistic and self-absorbed. He looks down on others and doesn’t like seeing anyone who might outshine him...
Hwang Jin Man, played by Park Hae Joon (“When Life Gives You Tangerines”), is Dong Man’s older brother. He works hard and struggles but deeply cares for Dong Man and wants the best for him. While he may seem brusque at first, his actions reveal his genuine concern and love for his brother...
There’s still so much more to explore in their stories, and I’m honestly looking forward to learning more about each of them as the series progresses!😇✨
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good, but rushed?
I watched this specifically so I could watch the second season lol I thought it was good, the action was intense and fight scenes were very well done. I think it was a bit rushed and could be more developed, likely due to it being a shorter drama. I was still a bit confused why all the events happened like they did but maybe I missed stuff idk. like why did beom seok just suddenly turn on the group?? why were they never punished and where were the adults?? idk man. overall I thought it was a well done drama but would make more sense if it was longer.Was this review helpful to you?
Outstanding drama about an iconic and unprecedented decade – the 80s.
Like a Flowing River is a splendid drama depicting an iconic and unprecedented decade – the 80s - in a grounded and human way. It's difficult to portray all the changes that China went through during these first ten years of the Reform and Opening Up while capturing both the grand picture and the daily lives of ordinary people, but somehow this drama manages to do it.In 1978, after years of a centralized planned economy and being closed off to the world, China began an unprecedented transformation in history that has impacted the world beyond imagination, with changes still continuing into the 21st century. These first two decades lasting until 2000 are known as the Reform and Opening Up*.*
In Like a Flowing River we see the first part of this transformation - from 1978 until 1988 - , while the second and third seasons cover the following years. Set in eastern China, we experience what the Reform and Opening Up meant through the lives of the three main protagonists: a university graduate who will enter the production industry, a local Party leader in rural areas, and a private entrepreneur.
The Execution
Based on a novel, the adapted script is so well written that I took notes on many life lessons to remember, reflect on, and apply to my own life. The excellent performances from the whole cast, led by Wang Kai, Yang Shuo and Tong Yao, do full justice to the characters and the story, under the magnificent direction of Kong Sheng and Huang Wei. It was produced by Daylight Entertainment – and as always, if DE is involved, you can rest assured the final product will be of high quality, even if it's not necessarily your taste.
I love the storytelling. There’s no messy start, no reliance on flashbacks, no constant jumping between multiple characters and storylines from the beginning that prevent you from connecting with them or that make you struggle to follow each storyline. Instead, everything is presented in a clear and smooth way, without oversimplifying. Nothing feels fake or forced, also doesn’t shy away from hardship, whether from the previous or the current period.
The Story
I mean, a drama that can make you eagerly want to watch the next episode while dealing with seemingly dry themes, at least deserves a try.
Starting in 1978 with the restoration of the Gaokao, the National University Entrance Exams - which marked the ending of the Maoist-era recommendation system -, we see throughout 48 episodes how the collective farming, which had been pushing people into poverty, was replaced with a family-based land leasing system where farmers could sell the surplus on the open market, the legalization of private businesses – yes, they were forbidden before –, and the government promoting rural enterprises collectively owned by townships and villages.
The drama also depicts how state-owned enterprises gained autonomy in production, pricing, and profit retention, and even shows the introduction of the dual-track price system, allowing goods to be sold at both state-set plan prices and higher market prices, gradually shifting toward market mechanisms. And of course, we see how the quality of life was gradually improving.
Not only do we see the main transformations through the intertwined lives of the three protagonists and their relationships, but we also understand what they meant, the challenges they represented, and we also get invested emotionally in the characters’ struggles and achievements! Outstanding indeed.
Final thoughts
Two things to highlight: my love for a secondary character, Xun Jian Xiang (played by Zhao Da); and the overall positive feeling that runs through the story. The words from A Nai, the author of the novel on which the drama is based, sum it up perfectly:
"We are so fortunate to be able to catch up with the era of China's rising fortune. I don't want to fail this era. I'm blessed to be living in an unprecedented era of change."
Despite its length, I didn't want Like a Flowing River to end. This drama entered, without hesitation, my all-time favourites list and luckily, seasons 2 and 3 covering the remaining years until the end of the '90s are already out!
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love
My best kdrama everrrrrrrr,, I love the chemistry between Kim Seon and go youn Jung they’re my fav couples in whole Korean drama ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ احبهم كلش وتمنيت ما يخلص المسلسل أبداحتى اني عدته هواي وهواي أتمنى ان يجتمعون في دراما أخرى او في الحياه الواقعيه لأنهم اكثر اثنين لايقين لبعض جدا جدا جدا جدا
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A Brutal Spiral of Greed, Betrayal, and Payback
FL is honestly hard to predict. She’s not always in control, and there were moments I genuinely thought she might fail. She can be reckless and a bit unhinged, but somehow she still keeps pushing through and getting things done. That’s part of what makes her interesting to watch.One thing that stands out more the longer you watch is how unfair everything is for women in that era. A lot of what she goes through isn’t just personal betrayal—it also reflects how little power women actually had, and how easily they could be controlled, discarded, or blamed no matter what they did. 😔
ML stays pretty lowkey for most of the story. He’s more in the background and doesn’t try to take over her journey or act like the typical “saviour” type. When he does step in, it feels more intentional. Later on, he becomes more present, and some of those emotional moments actually hit… even if a few of them made me laugh a bit. 😅
The story itself is basically about revenge.... FL is going after her own family after what they did to her, and she doesn’t just wipe them out quickly—it’s more of a slow breakdown, piece by piece. Sometimes it feels satisfying, but other times it’s just dark and kind of grim, like everything was already doomed from the start.
Honestly, the first episode already pulled me in because of how brutal it is. The greed and betrayal are just on another level. It doesn’t hold back at all, and it immediately sets this uncomfortable tone where you know these people are rotten.
Around the middle, the vibe starts to shift. It moves away from pure revenge and leans more into character interactions and relationships. It’s not as intense as the first half anymore...but it was still good! 😘
Overall, it’s chaotic, dramatic, and definitely not perfect—but it keeps you hooked. And surprisingly, after all that darkness, it still manages to end on a pretty satisfying note. ❤️❤️
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Love Duang's Way
Rating update TEN ... TEN All the Way!!!Well, I've proved myself wrong and missed these two so much, that I had to watch this drama again. YESSSSS.... when watching something a 2nd time, you see things that didn't see before & the good feelings have blossomed. TeeTeePo are the Perfect Pairing.
DUANG WITH YOU!
Qin's first time opening up to Duang... and I can understand that he doesn't like feeling his vulnerability for the first time when it comes to this new relationship.
Duang's character is a bit eccentric, it's a personality that can be either become annoying or cutesy. I don't know if there are young men out there that truly act like this, but it's something to think about 🤣.
The moment that Duang covered Qin's part to help him recover, was when Qins found his safety net in him. You can see the chemistry forming. Duang gently makes a path to be in Qin's heart, he understands that in his own eccentric way .. that he needs to allow Qin to find his way to him. With all the silliness that Duang had toward Qin.. it was apparent that Qin would sooner or later open his heart & trust Duang with his vulnerability.
Then came ........ the....... *Kiss* 🫣🥰. The song playing was perfect with the *First Kiss* oooooo.... goose bumps and a smile!!!!
And.... Qin ... 🫣Time to get busy 🫣.
Watching the relationship between Qin & Duang was subtle yet alluring within their world of embrace.
Until, a certain person enters back into Qin's world, it was a moment of holding your breath... especially when Duang suddenly saw a text come through.
Episode 7, from the middle to end... my heart was hugging Duang. Even though I was watching what was happening with Qin's past ... to see Duang trying to understand where he stands now in Qin's world.
This actor TeeTee is amazing in facial expressions to pull you into his heart. I definitely have to give him 10 stars. The pairing of these two was definitely ***Powerful*** shipping.
Qin is facing a path that will get rough, yet how strong is this relationship going to be with the Qin's past trying to bulldoze he's way back into his life?
Once Qin made himself clear about his feelings to Duang... I didn't cry (😭) Really 😉. Duang had his answer as the tears he held back flowed (I really didn't cry 🤭)
I really adore their relationship. Although Duang is a bit too much for me with his eccentric personality... it truly works for this drama, it fits. I didn't appreciate his quirkiness at first, because I just couldn't relate to a preadult or adult acting in such a manner. However, there was a reason the writer made Duang the way he is. With the personality of Qin ... and Duang... it fits perfectly for their ship. They are the colors in each other's life... nicely put dad 🥰
🥰🥳It's Official ... YAY!!!! 🥰🥳
***The expensive gift***, not being accepted & feeling hurt because of it. A value of the gift can be concerning but remember the emotional attachment when buying it.. has a more priceless meaning. It's not only to give happiness to the receiver but also brings that warmth of happiness to the one who gives it. Understanding the difference between can make or break a person's heart.
Yet, Qin also has a very solid point... gifting should really not be chosen by value... but felt with sincerity.
Duang is such a Velcro Love Puppy 🫂
What Qin went through as a child is heartbreaking. He never let go or came to terms with it.
Duang once again tugged at the heartstrings by saying "Let go of your younger self's hand & hold onto mine, I'll take it from here."
OMG... what a burst of warm bright light that Qin needed to come out of his childhood darkness. (The writer of this drama... knows how to find the perfect wording to pull at the heartstrings)
Duang is definitely the best character in this drama!!!
The music picked out for this drama ... perfect!
Not sure if I would watch this again, but it's definitely a drama I will remember & recommend.
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Biggest waste of acting talent and MY TIME
I am so frustrated after watching this. It was the biggest waste of time. I watched to the end hoping for some resolution but it was just stupid and annoying to the end.I am so sad Jinyoung felt he needed to do this drama. He needs to do brighter rom coms. People will just think of him and get depressed because of this drama. I guess in that sense, he did a good job acting. However, this story doesn’t deserve his efforts nor our time.
There’s plenty to be depressed about in the world these days. I don’t need to waste time and money for crap like this.
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Nice in Concept But Didn’t Quite Land
I'm sorry folks, but this just wasn't my cup of tea. I enjoy both Hu Yiyao and Zhao Yiqin, but this was a miss for me. The overall concept was a win. I always enjoy playing with timelines and the idea of reincarnation or rebirth. But the execution felt off, and the villain, in particular, undermined conflicts that could have been stronger. So, the subplots felt underwhelming and somewhat sleepy for me. I also think this would have benefited from a shorter run to help tighten the pacing. There were a few scenes that stood out, but they felt interrupted.Was this review helpful to you?
I started watching it already expecting to drop it within the first few episodes
I have to admit—whenever I read the reviews of some fellow viewers, I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy for their expertise and depth of knowledge. I’ve seen people who followed Veil of Shadows since the very beginning of its filming last year, and all I can do is stand in awe. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with something like that. I can barely keep up with the sheer volume of Chinese releases each year. On top of that, I’m still watching Scarlet Heart—because, honestly, I could never just abandon the classics—and then there are countless productions from other countries demanding attention as well.I truly wish I could embrace everything at once. But I lack the time, the stamina, and sometimes even the clarity to separate what’s worth it from what isn’t. And that was exactly how it felt with Veil of Shadows. I pressed play already half-convinced I would drop it within the first few episodes.
Seriously.
The twists felt so relentless, so wildly unpredictable, that I quickly assumed this just wasn’t for me.
Well… I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Not a single episode went by without me craving the next. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen—not even for a quick popcorn break. I was genuinely afraid to blink and miss my passage into that other world… and honestly? What a show, my friends. What an unforgettable show.
There are so many strengths in this drama that it feels almost unfair to try to list them—they overflow, they exceed, they linger. But I’ll still try, even knowing it won’t be enough.
Costume Design: Simply breathtaking. Huang Wei—whose already flawless career includes work with Vogue and many other prestigious roles—left me with one lingering question: what dimension do you truly belong to? Because these costumes cannot possibly be from ours. They are otherworldly. Every piece feels like art in motion.
I’m not even sure how many tissues I went through just to wipe away the drool while admiring her creations.
Characters: Amid such a rich tapestry of personalities, each so distinct and vivid, one truth remained constant: every single character shines. Each carries a unique essence, yet all contribute meaningfully to the story’s beauty and depth. I loved them all—even the monstrous Jiu Ying. But my heart belongs, above all, to Ji Ling—our “false” Dragon Deity, who, to me, never stopped being divine, not even after the arrival of the Dragon’s tenth son. Tian Jia Rui delivered a performance nothing short of extraordinary. He didn’t just portray Ji Ling—he became him, in a way that feels utterly irreplaceable. To me, he is the soul of this story, its most powerful and unforgettable presence. I will never forget the sweetest little red fox.
And then there’s Lu Wuyi, the second character who captured my heart completely. Her life was nothing but fragments—broken, reconstructed, stripped of memory—until Ji Ling appeared in her world like a quiet miracle. She is, to me, one of the most unique and emotionally resonant characters I’ve encountered. Irreplaceable. Deeply human. Ju Jingyi portrayed her with such grace and sensitivity that it’s impossible not to be moved.
Screenwriting and Direction: Bold, inventive, and fearless. A story that dares to take risks—and succeeds. Its twists are not only surprising but purposeful, carefully woven without leaving behind loose ends or emotional gaps. Guo Jingming (Edward Guo) may be a deeply controversial figure in the artistic world, but talent like this cannot be denied. His early recognition now makes perfect sense to me. I haven’t explored his other works yet, but after Veil of Shadows, I feel compelled to.
Controversial or not, I genuinely hope he continues to share his vision with the world.
In the end, Veil of Shadows is not just one of the best productions of 2026—it’s an experience. One that lingers, captivates, and refuses to be forgotten.
Absolutely phenomenal.
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Emotional but cute
This show is interesting for a few reasons. The most explicit one being that the 3 couples are so different from each other. While that is a normal thing irl, it's not common in an ensemble bl. We have a Psychiatrist/Patient, a Host/Client and a Baker/Bike repairman. All 6 have their own adult issues and all of these are dealt with in a very sensitive and emotionally mature way (except for DindinTawan who keep punching eachother before they kiss. Idiots.)This is by far the best Netflix Original BL at the moment. It's emotional, cute, sexy and funny.
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Jian Ge Xiao Fu Bao, Quan Cheng Zheng Dang Nv Er Nu
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The cast makes this better.
Mostly submitted due to no reviews...Scenes seemed abridged, missing details and just 'flat' at times. No fault of the cast. Zhang Li Ren, Yang Xin Yan(?), and most of cast still very good. Reappearance, resurrection, or reborn mother at the end was random and made no sense. Alive o ghost, could be either? Stlll, pleasant to watch. So far, Sun Zi Hang version, (He Jia Xiao Qian Jin, Ta Die Di Chao Chong) is still my first pic.
Favorite scene - Dueling patriarchs dinner at Master Bai's home. Master Bai grabs Hu Huaichen(?) and Sui Sui and runs away from his own home. Facial expressions, inner dialogues, and panic were really well done. Had me laughing.
MDL cast listing is really sparse. Would be nice if people could do some adds. Child Actor needs to be verified.
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Takane No Hana
I find this concept of the flower atop a high mountain, the beautiful, unattainable woman, to be so intriguing. The main character is raised by a master flower arranger and she is expected to be the best of the best and carry on the family name and school. But her heart is yearning for something outside of the glass walls, and she meets this guy in a bicycle shop who looks like a muppet who has a heart of gold. She is basically the flower that came down from the mountain to hang out with the chickens. But I can understand her need for freedom, and in order to master something great, one has to open their heart. It’s just that I wasn’t really buying into their romance. It had this 90s Hollywood romcom feel to it that renders the romance as fake, melodramatic (mostly on the part of the female), and unnecessary. My opinion is that she should have stayed as the unattainable woman and found her true value from the divine source within. But oh well. The aesthetics were amazing. An interesting fusion of the traditional culture and the wild heart that wants to break free of it.Was this review helpful to you?
It needed more time to tell this many stories well
Overall I liked it and I was invested in the characters. But there were some ham handed elements and places where it felt rushed. All drama is setup, tension, resolution (repeat). But there were so many story lines and so little time. It got garbled up.One of the highlights for me was anytime the family came together to support or just enjoy each other.
The main couple is good, but I wanted them to grow more. Theres a lot of trauma, which they lay out but then dont exactly work through. (Honestly, they might want a trigger warning because as someone who is NOT an SA survivor I still felt some kinda way about seeing all that pain.) Sailom stays a little more doe eyed than I wanted. Pi Doc is the greenest green flag and I loved that.
Tawan and Dindin are my babies. And in a lot of ways thats the story I enjoyed the most. But there were a few ridiculous plot lines that I could have done without. I really could have watched a lot more content with the two of them. I liked the actors' chemistry the best of all the couples (with the mains as a very close second).
Sky and Nava had a somewhat tortured story arc. I like them a lot too, but some weird unearned moments happened with their story.
The daughter and the mom! Yes please! Loved them both. More substance from them would have made me happy. I really like kids and family storylines in bl. It changes the dynamic.
Thanks for dealing with the mental health issue even if not entirely to my satisfaction. And thanks for making this about grown men! (Anyone who reads my reviews knows I appreciate seeing mature adults in bl series.)
Overall it needed more depth and finesse. The writing could have been better, and some of the director decisions were questionable to me. There was a lot to work with and they missed some opportunities and blew others. That said I'm not mad I watched it. I'd even say I enjoyed it!
But there's a lot of bl out there, especially in Thailand. And, again, Khemjira is making y'all work for it!
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So real... Strikingly real
This drama was so real in a way I totally understand why each caracters act the way they do. Many caracters feel like they have been played and betrayed and they act and feel accordingly. Many people will say it’s draggy and will complain about how some caracters act but the truth is their action and behaviours are all the consequences of what they have been through. I guess it feels draggy because it highlights their emotions a whole lot so it feels real.I really love Ming Yi and Ji Bozai. They are both complex caracters so it could be hard for you to watch without some patience and understanding. While watching this drama, I always kept in mind that Ming Yi has been through a lot of pressure to always win and she has barely received love growing up so I could totally understand she never feels safe to not be serious and to be honest about her feelings. Gradually, she will warm up but she still fears people won’t like her if she ever becomes true to herself which leads to her hiding lots of things but that’s how people act when THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO BE LOVED. 😃 Ji Bozai has been through similar things so he would conceal his feelings, keep his distance and have his trust wavering, sometimes I would feel like he trusts a lot and he would loose his trust in a second. Both have their own sense of pride so it is hard for them to stay united and act together, they would act unilaterally but they learn through a lot of hardships that they need to resolve their problem (be it their own couple problems or others) hand in hand.
I also really loved Tianci and Yan Xiao. Tianci is a strong willed princess, she knows what she wants but she feels helpless about it, at the beginning. Yan Xiao doesn’t know what he truly wants (or he deluded himself in wanting some recognition in the wrong place) but is resolute in his actions. And here is the thing, I have seen people complaining about Tianci but I can totally understand her. Yan Xiao is the type of a man who will do things solo in order to protect who he loves, without them knowing but Tianci prefers to face trials together, she doesn’t want to be sheltered and protected.
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Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
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I've rewatched this 4 times and am watching it a 5th!
Can I give this series 20 stars?First, if Machida-san is in it... I'm there!
Second, it has everything one could want in a romance!
Third, even secondary couple is adorable with an awesome story!
I wish there would be a sequel of some sort but with Machida's huge rise to fame after "10 Dance" it probably won't happen.
Surprisingly, the 30-yr old virgin and magic fable is legit in Japan! My aunt is Japanese and she was surprised this old 'wives tale' was the basis for this series! LoL!
Everything is adorable with this story...wish the romantic scenes were a bit more intimate but it's Japan, so I get it.
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