My friends, if you’re on the market for a light, fluffy, feel-good romance, and you either like noona romances or don’t mind them, then I really would suggest giving this one a look.

I’d had this show on my “want to watch” list when it first came out in 2021, but somehow never got around to it, and man, am I glad that I went digging in my lists from previous years, when I was looking for a new drama nightcap – because this one actually hit the spot perfectly. 🥲

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Lin Yang (Li Xi Rui) and Lu Zheng An (He Yu) are childhood friends who grew up together.

Being 7 years older, she’s always treated him as a little brother, but he doesn’t feel the same way. Now that he’s back from his overseas studies at all of 24, his biggest goal is to get Lin Yang to see him, not as a kid brother, but as a man. 😁

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s the OST album, in case you’d like to listen to it, while you read the review.

I honestly hadn’t been expecting much in terms of the OST, given that this is a fluffy little show that doesn’t look to have much of a budget.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by how I found the songs on the OST nicely enjoyable.

The song that ended up lingering with me most, is the song played during the ending credits, which isn’t in this OST playlist, for some reason.

Here it is on its own. It’s titled 长不大的你, which translates literally as “The You Who Can’t Grow Up.”

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are a few things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to help you maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. Give the age gap a chance

7 years might seem like a big age gap to you, particularly if you aren’t fond of noona romances to begin with, but give Show a chance; it manages to close that gap in a way that works, I feel.

2. Some suspension of disbelief is needed

Sometimes, Show stretches logic a bit, but it’s almost always in service of serving up the feels, so I am happy to roll with it. 😁

STUFF I LIKED

The premise

I’ve said before, that I tend to struggle with noona romances where the female lead has actually helped care for the male lead as an infant, and has perhaps even changed his diapers (like in classic k-favorite What’s Up, Fox?).

Funnily enough, this is the case in this show, but.. it didn’t actually bother me.

In fact, I found all the flashbacks to our leads’ younger days quite charming.

And, I’d even go so far as to say that Show uses the childhood flashbacks to strengthen our understanding our OTP’s relationship, and help us see, with more clarity, why they’re so perfect for each other. 🥲

Also, I just really liked the idea of the male lead being a focused, adoring, determined puppy, and Show gave me exactly that. 😍

Li Xi Rui as Lin Yang

I found myself growing to like Lin Yang very well, as a character.

When we first meet her, she’s already a little jaded by life in general, having dedicated so much of her youth to work demands, and a not-quite-relationship that hasn’t gone anywhere.

I liked that she’s clearly capable and good at her job, and well respected for it.

I also liked that she’s confident and self-possessed, and a quick thinker, even.

[MINOR SPOILER]

There’s a early-ish scene where second female lead Li Tian (Tian Xi Wei) demands that Lin Yang stay away from Lu Zheng An, whom she has a big crush on, which is a pretty typical trope in romance dramas.

What floored me, was how Lin Yang is able to analyze everything so clearly, on her feet, in a matter of seconds, and then calmly, without ruffling a single feather, give Li Tian the best takedown I could have asked for.

I was an immediate fan. 🤩

[END SPOILER]

As we progress through our story, we get to see many other aspects of Lin Yang as a person, and I liked very well, that she can be as dorky and awkward, as she’s bold, confident and capable.

Somehow, it just works. 😁

He Yu as Lu Zheng An

I really, really enjoyed Lu Zheng An, as a character.

I freaking loved his Determined Puppy vibe 😍; I thought he was all kinds of adorable, in the way he’s set on showing Lin Yang that he’s worthy of her affections, and is not, and never was, a kid brother to her.

As a character, Lu Zheng An comes across as both impossibly youthful, optimistic and energetic, yet at the same time, he shows flashes of real groundedness and maturity, which I appreciated very much. 🥲

He’s not perfect, of course, and Show does give him room to grow and become even more grounded and mature.

So if you find yourself getting annoyed when Lu Zheng An acts out, hang in there, because our boy does grow up, and very nicely too. 🥲

The OTP relationship

I really enjoyed this OTP relationship, from the early courting stage, to the point where they mint their relationship, to when they get really serious about their relationship.

The broad strokes of this relationship are quite predictable, but Show makes it all so watchable, and the OTP is so nicely sparky, that I never minded.

[BROAD SPOILERS]

For example, you just know, from the get-go, that Lin Yang is going to resist Lu Zheng An’s efforts to get closer to her, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to watch him be a Determined Puppy, doing all sorts of thoughtful, considerate, loving things for her. 😍🥲

One of the things I appreciate about Show’s treatment of the OTP relationship, is that when the OTP relationship is minted, our OTP doesn’t simply just fall into being a couple; we get to see and experience the initial awkward adjustments that they go through, as they get used to being a couple.

This made everything pop all the more, for me, because this made the evolving relationship feel that much more real. 🥰

Another thing that I really appreciated, is that our OTP has pretty healthy communication habits.

Yes, there are occasions when they don’t tell each other things, and try to act on their own, in the interest of the other person, but by and large, we get to see them talk things out, and it’s great.

Also, shout-out to the bedroom scene when our OTP eventually consummates their relationship; the skinship feels so natural, and the scene is delivered in a way that feels loving, yet quite electric. 🔥

[END SPOILERS]

The lack of toxic characters

This was a big plus for me, because this worked out to be an extremely wholesome story world.

Even Lin Yang’s love rival Li Tian (I honestly didn’t realize this was Tian Xi Wei, because I’ve never seen Tian Xi Wei in a modern c-drama 😅) ends up accepting our OTP relationship, and supporting their love.

If you’re tired of toxic secondary characters peopling your drama worlds, then this should be a big plus for you too. 😁

The gal pals

I grew to really enjoy the friendship between Lin Yang, Cao Ling (Zhao Yuan Yuan) and Yao Dan (Lu Xiao Lin).

They’re such good buddies, and really care about one another, to the point that they would each drop everything, if they felt that the others in the group needed help.

I also appreciate that Show gives Cao Ling and Yao Dan their own mini stories as well, rather than let them be flat secondary characters who exist purely for the sake of our OTP.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I thought Cao Ling’s challenges as a single mum were particularly poignant, though Yao Dan’s tension with her husband over whether or not they should have kids, was very relatable as well.

[END ALERT]

Zhou Xiao Chuan as Ma Le

I found Ma Le to be on the sillier, more comical side of things, but I grew to appreciate his goodhearted nature.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I liked how we could see his sincerity towards Lu Zheng An growing over time, so much so that he would risk his own business going bankrupt, in order to protect Zheng An. 🥲

I also thought Ma Le’s crush on Cao Ling was pretty cute, and I did root for their little loveline, as well.

[END SPOILER]

The parents

If you’re tired of controlling, toxic parents in Dramaland, then you’ll be glad to know that the parents in this story world are not that at all.

There are glimmers of concern that appear to work against our OTP, at points in our story, but rest assured that these parents are some of the most loving and supportive drama parents to ever grace Dramaland. 🥰

I did love the context (which we learn early on), that these parents had been such good friends, that they’d made a pact to become in-laws, if at all possible. Sweet. 🥲

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

Of course Show serves up an all-around happy ending, because that’s just the kind of drama this is, right?

I will say that I ended up feeling very satisfied with this ending, even though I hadn’t bargained for the sudden 4-year time-skip.

First of all, I love that we open the final episode with the backstory of how Zheng An had first fallen for Lin Yang.

All series long, he’s only alluded to the time he’d fallen for her, but now, we finally get to see that moment of hyper-awareness that he experiences for the first time, while helping her remove the remnants of that sticker from the scar on her shoulder.

It’s so endearing how, when Lin Yang remarks that no one would want to marry her because of her scar, Zheng An immediately promises her that he will marry her – which is a promise that he keeps, in the present.

Awww! Isn’t that sweet? 🥲

It’s so like Zheng An, to sneak out during the halftime break, at his concert, so that he can huddle up close to Lin Yang – and pop the big question, while everyone else’s backs are turned. 😁

Even though Lin Yang’s acceptance seems a little rushed, I do like that we get that highlight reel of cuteness, before we see her pull him in for a kiss.

And, on that note, I must say, Zheng An really kisses her like he means it, and I definitely swooned all over my floor, in response. 🫠🫠🫠

Like I said, I was rather taken aback by the sudden 4-year time skip, but it was nice to have confirmation that everyone’s doing well, 4 years later.

Li Tian’s doing well overseas and even has a boyfriend, Cao Ling’s quit her job to start a restaurant, and Ma Le’s adoringly by her side, and Yao Dan even announces that she’s pregnant.

It was little sudden for me, to see that Zheng An and Lin Yang already have a son (whom she likes to dress up as a girl, just like she’d used to do, to Zheng An 🤭), but I am suitably amused at what Show’s going for:

The idea that their son and Cao Ling’s daughter, are starting to bond in a way that’s extremely reminiscent of how Zheng An and Lin Yang had bonded, as kids.

The thought that we could have a cycle of events in the future that exactly mirror our OTP and their parents, amuses me quite a bit, I have to confess.

I love this concept of continued cuteness and warmth, through the generations, where our OTP’s friendships will stand the test of time, just as their parents’ friendship has. I do love that.

My heart; it’s full. 🥰🥰🥲🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Easy-breezy, wholesome and very slurpable.

FINAL GRADE: B++

TRAILER:

MV:

WHERE TO WATCH:

Show is available on Viki, Youku and YouTube.

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