Reviews

Bouquets or brickbats?

This series surprised me and not always in a good way. I am conflicted. The first half really tested my patience. Just when I was about to give up, the show turned the corner and I am gobsmacked!

To be fair, this drama has good bones. Our leads have strong visuals and they extrude charisma. Their chemistry is next level. It ebbs and flows like a force of nature.

By setting the drama in the Pearl Delta and turning the clock back 20+ years gives the show a unique vibe. It is also a brave decision to focus on the underbelly of society. There is an authentic grittiness that many contemporary romance drama lacked. This gives the narrative a sharper edge. This also creates a lot of head wind for our OTP.

This is not helped by the series spending 10 eps going back to the 1990's. Every key events of our leads are marked. To be fair, these events shaped them and reinforced the found family trope. I do wonder if we need to devote so much screen time to them.

When the OTP reunite 6 years later, they have technically moved on. However, their emotional cores are frozen at the moment they parted ways. They never stop pining for each other.

How cruel is our dear writer. She spared no efforts on their monster sized push-pull. There is so much angst, guilt and longing. It pains me to watch our leads dance around each other. They can't help being drawn to each other, yet they are like the same pole on two magnets.

This is not helped by the FL's constant teasing and barbed remarks. The ML's stoic behaviour only adds fuel to that fire.

BTW, did I mention the ML is the biggest Noble Idiot in town? He thinks by hiding his true feelings, he is keeping her safe from his enemies.

His life was turned upside down while they were apart. That memory is too painful to share. It makes him guarded and sullen. His over protectiveness irritates her. She wants him to treat her as a woman, the object of his desires.

It took several more eps before we finally see some minor progress. Baby steps . . (groan) . . baby steps. They finally arrived at an understanding. That will do for now. The pressure continues to build, like a super typhoon.

Let's take a step back at this juncture. I can't tell you how "weird" I felt about this series. They had me by the end of EP.1. I almost quit out of frustration by mid run. Then I binged the last half like my life depends on it. Should I give the writer bouquets or brickbats? The answer is complicated.

Where most dramas are happy for the OTP to motor along until the inevitable confession. Our dear writer dug several deep holes in their psyche/history and dropped them headfirst into them. Yes, it is schadenfreude, but it also allows our actors to tap into strong emotions and test their mettle. It can be both exhausting and exhilarating.

Many scenes are emotionally charged. It is draining to watch at times. Nothing is ever black or white. Your senses will be assaulted. Your moral fibre stretched. There are many triggers . . so many.

Just when you think they are on the verge of a leap forward, they would walk back from it. I won't lie. It is frustrating. The reward is rich, if you can hold out for it.

This brings me to the nitty gritty of the show. As I mentioned before, the production is solid. I loved the little details, local customs, local dialect, period eccentricities, etc. So much of that is missing in modern c-drama where generic offices and nameless urban sprawl fills the screen. Bring on the location B-reels! You get desensitised until those details hit you in the face and then you realise what is missing.

Similarly, the support cast will get a passing remark, but this lot is a class above. They felt real. They have personalities and are given some space to grow. Special thanks go to Uncle Zhou for watching over our young leads and his unwavering support. Respect! I feel your pain, sir.

As I mentioned before, the ugly underbelly is ever present. Organised crime and shady business cast long shadows. Something wicked this way comes.

Ok, this is one show I refuse to spoil the last few eps. I need someone to scream next to me on this rollercoaster ride. It might as well be you. You can thank me later. 😉

In the end, I am shook. This show is Jekyll and Hyde for me. For every scene that troubled me, there is a one that made me swoon. I finally settled on a score of 8.5. I need my therapy teddy, stat!

Final warning. There are plenty of triggers and pain points. This drama can be frustrating at times. The reward is worth the journey . . at least for me. Peace.

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A gem among the mini-dramas

Honestly, don't let the bad subs stop you. This is REALLY good, although the synopsis seems nothing extraordinary.
A woman whose husband leaves her in an inheritance war after his death, especially when a mistress shows up, saying she's pregnant... She must also face her mother in law's schemes to get the shares in their and her husband's cousin...
Not to mention another mysterious character...

In appearance, this is a very cliche story,nothing original with . But when you watch it, you realize that the process is doing is more complex than you expect : the show tends to play with the usual cliches/tropes to counter these.
For example, the greatest rival of the female lead is not a female but a male (I won't say too much to avoid spoilers).

The show has a lot of assets :
- first of all, my favorite : the relationship between the lead couple. OMG, a lead couple in a short drama with a healthy relationship, that feels like such a breath of fresh air ! OMG even better, the male lead is just a GEM ! The guy is nice, entirely devoted to the female lead, whether it is during her marriage or after her husband died, but never steps out of his boundaries : he doesn't try to hit on her, whether it's when she's married or when her husband just died. The guy is determined to be a pillar of support for her who has to fight this power struggle, having no time to mourn her husband, or to cry over the discovery of his unfaithfulness. Together, they remain united through the whole drama, forming a real team. Their love also feels natural and not forced upon. I also feel like we have to thank the actor, Wang Xing Wei, for being able to play all of the character's different sides : his professional side, his devotion to the female lead, his bond with her...
- the female lead. Man, it's rare to see a smart, classy, badass female lead and again, I think we have a lot of thanks to the actress, Zhao Jia, who was definitely PERFECT as this strong, awesome businesswoman who had play the ice queen when facing her opponents but who also had her times of weakness when she was alone.
-all of the actors did a great job and thank God, no dubbing. Moreover, all of the character are multi-dimensional : even if it's for a short while, they all show a moment of weakness, even the antagonists (the dead husband may be the only whose part is quite one-dimensional but come on, we can let that pass)
-also, I love the mix of mystery which is intelligently set up. It's not obvious from the beginning who did what, and we can't help but want to know more. Everyone, even our female lead, has their own secrets (except the male lead, but again, we can let that pass, as it could have burdened the plot). The plot never stops moving on, doesn't waste time and also doesn't bother with useless tropes
- I also especially like the sober setting : no stupid dubbing, no excessive stageplay, dramatization or acting. Although there are some tropes that may seem a bit stereotypical but it's played with, so it's not ridiculous or unrealistic.

Anyway, I think this should receive more attention as this is really a gem among all of these angsty, ridiculous, cliche short dramas

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me gusto, pero..

Me molesto que cambiaran a la actriz que hacia de rival de nika, la reina de los monos, pero fue divertido como hacían chistes sobre "esta quien es?" ajjaja, Es que esa actriz era tan linda. como lo opuesto a nika, en cambio la otra hasta se parece en el fleco y tono de cabello. pero en si me gusto mucho la serie y las dos temporada, definitivamente la volvería a ver. Ahora tengo un ship con la mejor amiga de nika y masamune ajajja, los actores la química es bonita, porque se siente la timidez del protagonista (casi no recuerdo los nombres pq me la vi de largo) La hermana y la mamá de nika también me gustan mucho son muy divertidas cuando se trata de descuentos las tres.

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They should've been their own movies

Before anything else, I just want to say I watched this with no subtitles. So, I really had to go off of context clues and the little bit of Thai I know. I just really wanted to watch it since Nani was in it. Anyway, since this is broken up into three stories, I'll also breakup my thoughts for each story.

Story one:
This one was my favorite out of the three. I thought the story was the most interesting. It was a pretty standard story of homophobia but also added that the gay character was also disabled and overweight. I do think the two were cute friends, but they really didn't respect each other at all. Gent was embarrassed to be friends with Gent and wanted to keep it a secret and Nana posted about him anyway. I'm not condoning how Gent treated him at all, I just wanted to point out that Nana wasn't perfect either. I think this story could've been better if it also showed Gent's perspective and not just Nana's so we could see how both of them were truly thinking. It was a good concept, but it could've used some tweaking a bit.

Story two:
This one was really boring to me and pretty forgettable. I think it was because it needed to be longer and more fleshed out but instead was the shortest out of the three. I loved the concept of this one a lot, but it was so rushed. It would've been nice to see more of it all. I like that he returned home accepting and even with a boyfriend at the end, but because it was so short it just felt like we didn't really get to see him struggle with it all and then come to terms with it.

Story three:
This one I think was the longest out of the three. Tae was such an unlikeable character. I feel bad that he has to prostitute himself out, but he was such a jerk. He was awful to everyone. I didn't like Nont either since he was sleeping with high schoolers, but somehow, he was still more likeable than Tae. This story was entertaining, but you really will hate everyone in it.

Overall, I did enjoy this movie especially for not knowing what exactly is being said half the time. I think even without subtitles though, it was pretty easy to understand and follow along to. I think all three stories could've just been better as a movie of their own instead of all crammed into one.

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Cute, Modern, and Easy to Watch

I loved how scheming and manipulative Wanwan ( FL) was. Even after falling in love, she couldn't let go of her desire for revenge. She was incredibly determined, independent, and strong-willed. At times she almost felt like the villain, and I loved that vibe 😏

Despite all the hidden agendas and everything that kept pulling them apart, their relationship was beautiful to watch. I loved their dynamic as a couple. It felt very modern and mature.

I also loved how the mother was written. She was deeply flawed, but never a one-dimensional villain.

Great OST (I actually saved a few songs on my playlist).

If you liked *The First Frost*, you'll probably enjoy this one too. It has a similar vibe, but with a more outgoing female lead and a more youthful feel.

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Wonderfully Witty

Wit + Want = If there is a will there is a way!

All Done - I definitely felt like I went on this journey with them. This was great story-telling.

I really enjoyed this because our FL was not portrayed as overpowering and overly smart. She was cute, quiet, considerate, and most importantly strategic. She was fighting(mentally) against a bull with brains and she did not back down and that bull allowed her to fight. Leaving room for something more powerful (😍) to be explored.

Our 2 main leads journeyed this out well. Family, Feud, Politics - are what kept them a part then eventually brought them together.
_____
FL - Her most beautiful aspect was her character, - wise, humble, she knew when to speak, when to stay silent, she viewed the whole picture before making judgments. She was truly a graceful presence in this series.

ML - Loyal, honorable, dedicated, stubborn with reason at the same time - open minded and willing to change. The actor for ML - did an amazing job. He delivered the very different aspects of this character very well.

Side characters - were not overplayed, they contributed greatly to the story
This series gave us a few new things to see - the creativity was great. From sudden deaths and alluring intimacy - they delivered.

I loved this. I definitely recommend it.
Those who read the novel may feel different - but as a drama just being a drama - I thoroughly enjoyed almost everything about it.

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Park Jihoon does it again

I finally had the chance to watch this and I absolutely loved it! The acting from everyone was incredible, especially Park Jihoon! Jihoon's acting will never fail to amaze me. I liked the story a lot as well. It was a great story with such a tragic ending and the fact it's based off a real event makes it even more devastating. I loved seeing King Dan Jong bond with the village folk. You can tell he was a very loved ruler by how many people were willing to die for him and to fight by his side. He was very kind as well. I loved his friendship with Mae Hwa a lot. His letter to her in the end made me cry. The ending in general made me cry quite a bit, which I wasn't expecting at all. My only complaint was I wish they explained some characters titles a bit better (Some of the people of the palace for example), other than that I had no complaints. The costuming and sets were beautiful as well. This movie was really fantastic, and I can see why it was doing so well in numbers in Korea!

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An entertaining thriller that keeps me guessing and invested in the fate of the marriage

An amazing thriller that keeps me guessing. This drama’s strategy seems to deliberately withholds the true motive behind the crime, gradually revealing it as the story unfolds. This makes every episode engaging and keeps the suspense alive.

The car chases, manhunts, narrow escapes, psychological mind games, and fight scenes are all exceptionally well executed, constantly keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. In my opinion, the drama achieves a high level of cinematic quality while remaining thoroughly entertaining from start to finish in every episode.

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Love for you

Love for You is one of the most emotionally captivating C-dramas I’ve watched this year. It isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about healing, loyalty, and finding hope after loss.

Song Weilong delivers one of his finest performances as Chen Yi. He portrays the character with quiet intensity, expressing pain, love, and protectiveness through subtle facial expressions and body language rather than dramatic dialogue. His performance feels incredibly genuine and mature.

Zhang Jingyi is equally outstanding. Her emotional range and natural acting make Miao Jing a character you can’t help but root for. Together, they create breathtaking chemistry that carries the entire drama.

What I loved most is how the relationship evolves over the years. Their bond is built on trust, shared trauma, and unwavering support, making every reunion and emotional moment feel deeply earned.

The cinematography beautifully captures the nostalgic atmosphere of the 1990s, while the OST perfectly complements both the tender and heartbreaking scenes.

This drama is not about flashy plot twists. It’s about emotions, resilience, and two people who never stop finding their way back to each other. If you’re looking for outstanding performances, unforgettable chemistry, and a story that stays with you long after the final episode, Love for You is a must-watch.

Song Weilong and Zhang Jingyi truly exceeded my expectations. I sincerely hope to see them work together again

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Story told in reverse so she was too cold and unlikable for too long

My rating (of the 5 episodes I watched) 7.5/10

Review

I understand why this drama has its fans. If you enjoy slow-burn stories centered on emotional healing, flawed characters, and gradual personal growth, this may be exactly what you're looking for.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

I'm not someone who frequently drops dramas. After watching well over 400 drama series, I've learned that if I'm still not enjoying a show after giving it a fair chance, it's usually better to move on. Before I drop something, I almost always look at reviews from people who finished it—not for spoilers, but to get a sense of the overall tone of the remaining episodes. If the aspects I'm struggling with continue throughout the drama, I don't feel the need to spend several more hours hoping it becomes something it's not. Time is valuable, and I'd rather spend it watching something I'll actually enjoy.

One of my biggest hurdles was the way the story is told in reverse. Sometimes that storytelling style really works, but other times it can make characters difficult to connect with because you don't yet understand why they're acting the way they are. I think that's exactly what happened here.

Not for me, and anyone that has the same taste in series I do, but I think there are drama fans that would find this enjoyable.

Spoilers

The female lead came across as unnecessarily cold and mean toward the male lead for the first several episodes. I know the drama slowly reveals the reasons behind her behavior, and by around episode four it was finally starting to fill in the backstory. Unfortunately, by that point it was simply too late for me. I'd already struggled to connect with her, so learning the explanation afterward didn't really change how I felt.

I looked into whether the pacing changed later in the series because I was hoping it would pick up. From what I found, the overall tone really doesn't change. The female lead eventually softens and becomes much warmer, but that doesn't happen until close to the end. I just wasn't interested enough to wait that long for the payoff.

I was especially disappointed because I really enjoy the male lead actor and have liked just about everything else I've seen him in. Knowing he was starring in this drama was enough to get me to start watching, and I was genuinely looking forward to seeing him play the twin later in the story. Honestly, that was almost enough to keep me watching. Almost.

One of my biggest frustrations was the female lead's professional storyline.

She becomes determined to tear down a wall, despite virtually everyone with experience in hydrology and flood management warning her that it's a bad idea. Instead of reconsidering, she tears down part of the wall at her own house to prove her point. The result? It causes even more damage than she expected and floods her home.

At that point I expected her to step back, reconsider her position, or at least acknowledge that maybe everyone warning her had a point. Instead, she simply doubled down.

That storyline made it even harder for me to connect with her because it felt like she refused to learn from the consequences of her own decisions.

Another issue I had was the timing of the twin reveal. I felt like the drama waited too long to tell the audience that the male lead had a twin brother. Many synopsis reveal there is a twin, so delaying that information in the actual story didn't feel particularly effective to me. It could have added some spice to the early lag if you had main guy playing twins. At least something interesting. But, it wasn't revealed that way, in any significant measure up to episode 5.

While the female lead came across as someone with a chip on her shoulder who was angry with everyone, the male lead came across as calm, mature, patient, and level-headed. Because I never warmed up to the female lead in those early episodes, I struggled to understand why they were supposed to work as a couple. Their personalities felt completely mismatched to me.

For me, though, one of the biggest requirements for a good drama is having characters I actually enjoy spending time with. By episode five, I simply didn't find the female lead likable. She wasn't just cold toward the male lead—I struggled to see her being particularly warm or enjoyable with anyone. Since the story revolves so heavily around her, that made it difficult for me to become invested in anything else that was happening.

The slow pacing only made that problem worse. Instead of feeling intrigued by the mystery of why she behaved the way she did, I found myself growing more frustrated with each episode. By the time the drama finally started explaining her actions, I had already checked out emotionally.

After deciding to stop watching, I read reviews from people who finished the drama. I found plenty of viewers who loved it, but I also found plenty of others expressing the same frustrations I had with the pacing, the characterizations, and the fact that the emotional payoff didn't come until much later. Reading those reviews confirmed my feeling that the overall tone of the series simply wasn't going to change in a way that worked for me.

For me, Last Summer wasn't a good drama because it never gave me characters I wanted to root for or a story that kept me engaged. Real life already has plenty of frustrating people making questionable decisions. When I watch a drama, I usually want to spend time with characters I genuinely enjoy and want to see succeed. Unfortunately, this drama never gave me that, so dropping it at episode five was the right decision for me.

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the truth over winning

this story wanted to ask a big question, is winning everything? at what price is it too much? what crimes can we forgive or even exploit in the quest of seeking punishment for others?
we start with a lawyer that cuts corners and pushed boundaries because all he cares about is winning, he doesn't care who gets hurt or damaged in the process, he doesn't understand that for some being guilty is not the worst outcome.
it ends up being a story about discovering truths, but not necessarily tying down all ends. slowly the real nature of all characters is revealed, the story mostly pivots on the growth of the homeroom teacher, she starts being someone that in the search for fairness ignores the systematic nature that traps both her and her students, her wishful thinking and kind nature initially bring no help, but after hanging out with the lawyer she starts to think about the big picture and somehow still manages to keep her ethical and moral values, but now more willing to bend the rules.
if a person makes a mistake, how much will people let pass? you could see this because most characters knew that one of their friends or acquaintances did something they considered wrong, but they didn't admonish, correct or try to make them see their wrong ways, they quietly accepted their evil nature as long as others didn't find out, in fact, almost all characters where presented with a person having secrets, doing wrong, or hiding something ( hence class of lies) and yet, most didn't snitch, they just used, or accepted that info in order to obtain something.
I didn't feel like the story explained well the main question of "the process being just as important as the result" because it had too many plot lines, we were tracking several murders, too many suspects, and the main lawyer felt a little over reaching. the ending felt like fan service because the assembly being punished randomly and Beomjin being attacked and never acknowledge of again?

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Episode by episode, final thoughts at the end

Shine On Me

Song Weilong - Lin Yusen
Zhao Jinmai - Nie Xiguang

Off the first episode, the visuals are giving. Zhuang Xu as the 2nd lead, Nie Xiguang as the FL and Lin Yusen as the ML. What a trio. Zhao Jinmai is gorgeous, Zhuang Xu is the first time that I’ve seen Lai Weiming act so I’m excited for that, and Song Weilong never disappoints. All 3 of their face cards are insane. But, I have to spotlight Lin Yusen. When he showed up at that job expo and heard Nie Xiguang’s name and got interested in her, his face is just pure beauty. Song Weilong in a suit is just *chef’s kiss.

Lin Yusen, can u please meet Nie Xiguang already? It’s been 3 whole episodes and right now, Zhuang Xu is the only man for Xiguang. Bro Rongrong annoyed me so much. Anyone with eyes can tell that she’s just jealous. She needs to be put in her place, as she was never a good friend to start out with.

Finally, on episode 5, they met. Tell me why I’m hooked on Lin Yusen. From the first 30 minutes of him being the GM of the Suzhou branch, I can tell that he is a good boss and I love that. Aside from the romance, he genuinely cares for the company and the employees. I have a theory that he moved Nie Xiguang over to administration because she works directly under him now, not to punish her but actually to help her and care for her. He heard that she was going to get a bad rep with the finance department, so he secured her job under him and now has direct watch over her. I also think that all his time spent in the archives cannot all be for work. There’s no way he’s spending an hour in that filing room everyday just for the job, I think he secretly wants to know more about Nie Xiguang.

Aww…how cute. I’ve been loving their relationship in these early episodes (finished episode 9). After Nie Xiguang’s accident from falling from the balcony, Lin Yusen and her relationship completely changed. To catch her from falling, he got on his knees to soften her fall. Not only that, but his care and worry for her in the hospital, constantly checking up on her, and bringing her food was so sweet. But, it wasn’t only him that had a change of heart. I loved the scene where Xiguang noticed that Yusen was getting discouraged by the usage of his left hand, so she set an easier mode on the game and asked him to help her win the level just so he could feel good about himself and have more confidence. I think Lin Yusen noticed her sly attempt as well, because the smile that he gave her was so appreciative.

I love episode 10, with the wedding and Xiguang being Yusen’s plus one. That was so sneaky of him to pretend that the bride asked Xiguang to come when Yusen himself just wanted her to come. I got goosebumps when Yusen said the exact time that he met Xiguang (even though Xiguang doesn’t know it was her). The scene in the snow with Yusen literally being Xiguang’s savior and coming to her rescue. I loved loved loved it. This was the scene I saw on Tiktok that made me want to watch this drama and it did not disappoint. I love Yusen’s protective nature. The fact that they know that Lin Yusen is some bigshot businessman makes this scene even better. “I can’t take you out here all happy just to bring you back miserable.” I love how attentive Yusen is. He can instantly tell when Xiguang is feeling down and he understands her and comprehends her in the way that he knows what to say and when to say it to cheer her up. WHEN HE GRABBED HER HAND AND TIGHTENED IT TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO HER COLLEGE CLASSMATES, IT WAS SUCH A SMALL TOUCH BUT I STILL LITERALLY FAINTED WATCHING IT. IT WAS SO CUTE…..UGHHH HIM IN THAT LONG TRENCH COAT TOO, I CAN’T. HE JUST EMANATES COMFORT, PROTECTIVENESS, LOVING, AND CARING ALL IN 1 MAN.

Yea…Yusen is done for. When Xiguang put her head on his shoulders when she was asleep and he started replaying all of their moments in his head, that’s the classic cdrama scene that lets the audience know that a person has fallen for the other person. I also would like to say that by episode 11, I see no superiority complex between Xiguang and Yusen which I love. Usually, these boss/employee dramas always have some type of carried on standard that the man is the boss and the woman is the employee. I loved that little snippet where Xiguang’s friends were asking about Yusen’s old past and why he isn’t a doctor and Xiguang got really protective because she knew it was a sore spot and sensitive subject for Yusen. But, Yusen reassured her that it was okay and I could tell he appreciated the gesture.

Episode 12 starts and right away, the tension between Zhuang Xu and Lin Yusen is so prominent. The stare down that they had multiple times after Zhuang Xu spilled wine on Xiguang was like Yusen telling him “Try her, I will be here to protect her.” Bro, Zhuang Xu’s whole speech to Nie Xiguang about how she helped him wake up his senses and him blaming her for breaking her promise was actually just him being butt hurt. You can’t expect a girl to keep on liking a man with no reciprocation. It’s plain and simple. Lin Yusen is more mature and emotionally intelligent. He was there for Nie Xiguang: “how can I ignore you when you’re so vulnerable?” WE LOVE A CONFIDENT MAN. “Confessing here isn’t exactly my style, but with you crying like this here, how can I not take the opportunity? Tell me, what can I do to make you feel better?” YES YES YES YUSEN. Then, he simply confessed. Just like that! We love a man that knows what he wants, it’s the best thing. When Xiguang honestly admitted that she still has lingering feelings, first off, I thought that was very mature of her. Realizing that being in a relationship takes all of your attention and care and love, so she still needed to work her way up to that with Yusen. When she was rejecting Yusen, I LOVED Yusen’s answer. I think it’s one of my favorite answers from any cdrama ML ever. He said: “If you’re going to reject me, don’t do it like you’re doing with your head down looking like you owe me something. Say it proudly with your head high. This is the first stepping stone to me pursuing you. It’s a natural progression to me working to gain your change of feelings.” I just love how mature Yusen is. He doesn’t make Xiguang feel like she has to say yes and he will simply work harder with her rejection. I love the direct contrast because you can really see why Yusen is the better man. Like if that isn’t the perfect man what is? “With a heart as soft as yours, how much of a failure would I be if I couldn’t win you over? Have more faith in me.” UGH YUSEN STOP SAYING THE PERFECT WORDS. Like he is practically promising her that he will end up winning her over just because he is that determined and “good at everything.” “Me pursuing you should be something good for you, not a weight on your shoulders. You say you still have feelings for other people. That’s not a problem. You take your pick.” Like holy, Yusen you’re killing me here. His words are so smooth and they can’t help but just make a woman feel loved, seen, and understood.

Umm…this is one of the best dramas that I have ever seen regarding pursuing a woman. Lin Yusen instantly does whatever she wants and tries to pay for everything that they do together. He carries her bag and purse around when they are out and I love the thing that Lin Yusen does when he leans his head down to talk to her with a more equal level between them two because of how tall he is. But, my favorite parts of seeing Lin Yusen pursue Xiguang is seeing him admire her when she is being successful and interested and passionate in whatever she is doing. “How do you always see the best in people?” This is a line that Nie Xiguang said to Lin Yusen and I think it sums up one of his best qualities perfectly. He never makes anyone feel like anything less than they deserve, in fact, he works and acts to help people (Xiguang specifically) feel better about themselves than they do. He doesn’t try to make them feel inferior in any way, but in fact, he sees the good in people and helps them develop it and become a more confident person themselves.

Aww..when Yusen came to Changbai Mountains to find Xiguang, her excitement was so deep. She’s already fallen for him, for sure. The scenery, the song, and the cute snowman. Also, I want to say that I love Jiang Rui. I love that he was able to stand up for Xiguang when Zhuang Xu treated her bad and he’s also just so observant. He’s the best little brother.

Lin Yusen’s calling is to be a neurosurgeon. When he went to the hospital with that person who got into an accident on the slopes, he was so dejected when watching the other doctors care for him. When Xiguang showed up worried for him, Yusen finally realized that there must have been a misunderstanding with the car accident. She was so worried for him and even got mad. He realized just how much Xiguang cared about him. I love how Yusen showed up at her hotel room and made it up to her and apologized that same night. I love seeing mature relationships. I know I’m talking about Yusen a lot, but Xiguang is also so observant of Yusen. She noticed that he was longing to go back to surgery and seeing that relationship with the doctors probably made him a little sad, so she cheered him up with fireworks.

Episode 22 and they had their first real physical interaction. It’s crazy how their hands touching makes me excited. Song Weilong’s hands are also huge in comparison to all of his female costars. Zhao Jinmai fit 4 of her fingers on one of his. When he was filming Seven Relics of Ill Omen with Liu Haocun, his hands covered her entire face. The fact that he’s so tall really fits the CEO look as well. FINALLY! THE MISUNDERSTANDING IS BROKEN. All this time, Lin Yusen thought that Nie Xiguang was the one that invited him, but it was a whole lack of communication. I love how Yusen didn’t just disregard Xiguang’s statement and he heard her out. Such a green flag.

Yusen’s postcard/letter back to Xiguang was so well written. I guess this is the first real confession from him explaining everything. “You captivated me. Everyone else called you arogant, but I thought you were radiant and so full of life. Everything I’ve been doing has been for you.” Xiguang connecting the dots when Yusen answered when he met his future wife with an exact date and time and it was at that banquet he told her about in the letter. Everything is finally out in the open, we’re just waiting for them to meet again.

Episode 24 when they met again, it was the perfect meet up. Lin Yusen was so cheeky with all of the words that he was saying and they were both so happy to see eachother. I absolutely love love love Song Weilong’s smile, so during that scene, that gorgeous smile was just breathtaking. Not only that, but the matching trench coats (gray and pink) really went together. That outfit pairing by the crew was really such a good touch. I love the full circle moment with Lin Yusen and Xiguang going to see the plum blossoms which is what was promised that day Yusen was going to drive up to meet XIguang but got in an accident. The scene, the final shot of this episode was truly so so beautiful. The most beautiful scene I’ve seen yet, maybe forever. There’s just something about those flowers, the matching outfits, the hug, the height difference. Ugh. So perfect. Xiguang accepting Yusen’s pursuing and even popping the question herself with Yusen answering “yes” this time. This confession is one for the books for sure. Lin Yusen’s sweettalking after saying “no plum blossoms could beat the ones here right now” (the ones they confessed under). Stop stop stop. I can’t handle this anymore.

Episode 26 was one of my favorites by far. I loved the scene at Yusen’s grandfather’s banquet with Xiguang and him publicly declaring their relationship. Truly a power couple, even if coming from rival families (sort of). Also, the first kiss hello. I loved how they didn’t make it any like huge declaration of anything, like that kiss didn’t change their relationship at all. I think we all knew he was going to go back to medicine no matter what. That’s his calling. Also, Yusen’s whole story about his background and why he chose medicine was so emotionally deep and I’m glad Xiguang got to hear it. “I want to tell you everything about me.”

Episode 30 Zhuang Xu was so annoying bro. It’s been years that youve rejected Xiguang, so you can’t come back now and act liek everything is okay and expect Xiguang to still like you. That just doesn’t make sense bro. I’m so glad Xiguang stood her ground and said everything she’s wanted to say. That’s one of the things I love about her, she isn’t some weak FL. She stands up for what she believes in.

Episode 31 with Xiguang fighting back against Xingjie is so satisfying. I love when she stands up for herself and her own ability and then Yusen laughing after. He loves seeing his woman fight for her own independence and her own ability too. I just love how both of them stand up for the other and are always willing to help out. One thing that I love about Yusen is how understanding he is. Anytime Xiguang is upset about something, he lets her tell him first. He doesn’t ask about it, but he’s still observing. I love how secure Xiguang is making her and Yusen’s relationship even with Zhuang Xu constantly trying to mess it up. Bro, Song Weilong with that black turtleneck, black watch, and that facecard. Whoo! A sight to behold. Truly the best looking male actor imo.

Episode 33 was so satisfying. I love how Xiguang was able to stand up to her father and finally reveal all of the truths and secrets that she alwas wanted to ask him. He is genuinely so manipulated by Ma Nianyuan that he is willing to turn against his own daughter and balmes his daughter first. Yusen also overhearing the part where Xiguang is worried for him was so caring too. He comforted her, but let her finish her own opinions and thoughts too.

Episode 35 was so cute. I love how everyone’s story is ending up on a high note. When Xiguang revealed the name of the garden to Yusen, his face was unforgettable. He felt so much love for her that she named it after their two names being combined together.

Episode 36 was the best ending and conclusion. That proposal was so them. (That wedding ring is a STUNNER, holy. I don’t expect anything less from Yusen). Also, I saw this Tiktok saying that Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai filmed that wedding scene on Song Weilong’s bday, so that day must’ve been just happy in general. Song Weilong just looks so good in everything, especially a suit. Not to mention, Zhao Jinmai is an angel. She is so gorgeous. Song Weilong’s acting being a dad is really really cute. His baby voice and the facial expressions he makes talking to their daughter is just adorable. It only fits that they have a daughter. He is such a girl dad. And um…that kiss scene was probably the most intense and passionate one I’ve seen. That scene was insane.

This drama did not disappoint at all. I loved the ending, especially when they show a montage of all of Xiguang and Yusen’s moments together. They are genuinely such a mature and strong couple together. There were barely any misunderstandings that annoyed me and this whole time, Yusen and Xiguang were both green flags to eachother. The ending was perfect too. They ended with a child, being wonderful parents and I just couldn’t have asked for anything better. Honestly, I have never given a business/workplace centered drama a 10/10 before, because usually some part of the business is just boring to me. But, I guess there’s a first time for everything. This drama is truly such a gem.

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I will add Road to Success to the list of stories that don't have to be perfect, original or free of cliches to work.. The story itself follows a predictable path and the path itself is not very imaginative but the journey is still heartfelt and enjoyable thanks to the passionate cast.. I absolutely enjoyed the scenes with the kids and also the ML's Family..

The praise goes where it's deserved.. The kids in the little savage tribe, their antics and growth are the reason this drama worked for me.. Along with our dear ML and FL, Esther Yu and Chen Jing Ke.. Let's be honest, the script itself feels like it took pieces from several different stories and stitched them together.. We have seen it all before..

The FL, Lin Wan Xing carries a lot of the emotional weight but we still get the usual Esther Yu, I am sad, I am exhausted, but I am still cute.. Chen Jing Ke was alright but he still felt flat in certain scenes.. His voice also felt a bit artificial at times.. It was like he was trying too hard to sound strong or stoic and it just felt out of place.. Their chemistry was good though.. Their partnership and the way they helped each other pull themselves out of their mental mess deserve credit..

Some things in the story just felt illogical.. Like they only mattered when the plot needed them to.. Once they served their purpose, everyone just seemed to forget about them.. Someone wrote an Email ID and password on the classroom board for her to find which actually contained some useful information but nobody bothered to find out who wrote it.. They also never seemed interested in who left behind the puzzles that led them to her grandparent's classroom.. These are pretty important things yet everyone just moves on.. I mean who left the photos and the keys?? Shouldn't they at least try to find out?? But no, they just forget about it until something else happens and the script suddenly decides it matters again..

Then there's the whole part with the FL's senior, our antagonist and the reason behind both the FL and ML's downfall.. That entire arc felt rushed and was handled without a drop of care.. And then there's the conversation between the ML and that psychologist.. I mean what you discuss during counselling is supposed to be confidential, right?? But here the FL is sitting outside listening to everything they are saying.. How does that even make sense?? Where is the privacy?? I get that the writers wanted the ML to confess his thoughts to the FL, but this was such a stupid way to do it..

The football aspect of the drama was well crafted, at least on the field.. But just to be picky, it lacked realism at times.. You could often tell they were just running around without a ball.. It felt like the scenes could have used a bit more effort.. And the ML, bro was supposed to be one of the top international youth football coaches and his advice before the match against the strongest team in the group was 'Eat well, sleep well and step onto the field with a calm mind..' Meanwhile the other team came in with two actual game plans to beat them.. Seriously?? Let's be honest, In that first match against the top team he literally did nothing to help..

Then as expected from a youth sports drama, we get some really annoying parents.. But the worst parents in this drama aren't exactly the student's parents, they are the FL's.. Not trusting her is one thing but not letting her see her grandfather one last time?? That was just evil.. Thankfully we also had one family that was absolute gold, the ML's.. Especially his dad.. He was such a fun character..

Overall, it's a pretty decent drama.. You will definitely love the kids.. My rating is honestly for them.. I have ignored all the other flaws.. It's the kind of feel good drama that gives you a sense of comfort..

P.S. Two things..

First, It still feels a bit weird calling them 'Kids..' They are in the story, but in real life most of them are like 20-24 years old..

Second, It's honestly kind of sad that it's been so long and I am still waiting for an Esther Yu character that can match, if not top Yun Wei Shan from My Journey to You..

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