I haven't cried this much since Goodbye My Princess. The only saving grace for my poor shattered heart is that this is the first of two parts with the modern drama promising a happier ending. Since it's pretty much been touted as such online, even by the actors and studio, I don't feel as if this is in any way a spoiler. Having said that, I'll jump right into what I loved about this show. No cons because honestly, I don't have any.

First of all, the acting. The acting is fantastic with so many familiar faces. I actually found myself trying to pick out all the actors who had starred together in recent dramas together such as Song of Youth or Under the Power. Nobody presented themselves as a weak link here, and the two main leads have amazing chemistry together. I knew that Allen Ren conveys a ton of emotion through his eyes, but I think Bai Liu really shone here as well - she really had to since some of the earliest episodes presented her character as being mute.

Secondly, the plot. Very, very good. Excellent feel-good comedic moments (the look of astonishment on the ML's face as the FL gives her daily obeisances was priceless) and sweetness without artifice in their romance. The tragic parts were unavoidable - the "prequel" and their star-crossed status being what drives the modern installment - but done so well that even as I bawled my eyes out, I could appreciate how it slowly developed and was written in an inescapable fashion but without casting a shadow over the happier moments. I also DEEPLY appreciated that the FL was not a sniveling brat and the ML was not tragically stupid. Not a single pouty, arm-swinging, baby-talking moment in the entire 24 episode run. Whew!

The background score was sweeping and the use of various stringed instrumented gave scenes a melancholy note which was appropriate for the theme. Definitely going to rewatch, but I need to catch Forever and Ever first and give my poor eyes a break from the boo-hoo fest.