I can't get over how beautiful the story in this series was! It was definitely a roller coaster of emotions, and very painful at times, but it was so beautiful!
The progression of Qi Lu and Qin Xiao's relationship in the series from beginning to end was just perfect! Seeing it go from clearly liking each other but not admitting it, to Qi Lu admitting his feelings, Qin Xiao then denying his feelings, to him finally giving in, was just so beautiful to watch!
Same with Liu and Tan Yi. While I didn't love their story as much, their relationship progression was just as great to watch. Tan Yi pining for Liu, Liu drunkenly admitting his feelings while Tan Yi couldn't hear, to him then denying his feelings before finally giving in.. so perfect!
Honestly, almost everything about this series was so perfect to me! It had the perfect blend of pain before happiness, rejection then acceptance, and two people who felt trapped before finding each other and finally breaking free.
The ending was definitely more rushed than I'd have liked, but with how amazing I personally found the rest of the series, I didn't mind. I am just happy that we got a happy ending for both couples!!
One thing I did hate was Qi Lu's father.. I wanted so much more to happen to him for the abuse he was doing to Qi Lu. He is a disgusting piece of shit human being who doesn't deserve to breathe air so I hate that in the series nothing ever happens to him. He's even an influential person in the art world, and yet he doesn't even get that taken from him.. The one time Qi Lu actually stood up to him, he threatened Qin Xiao again to get him back under control 🙄 I'm really glad at the end of the series he was able to get away from him, and that even though he had to do what his father wanted because of the threatening, he only had to do it for a year and it was a year away from him!
I also am not a huge fan of miscommunication, or non-communication in this case. It drives me crazy when, if people would just talk to and be honest with each other, things may not have happened the way they did. If they had been honest with each other, when Qin Xiao hurt his hand and realized he couldn't take the exam to get into university, he would have known Qi Lu was being forced by his dad not going with his mom so he wouldn't have had to hide it. The only thing I'll say in that regard, is the dad could have threatened him again when Qin Xiao tried again to get into university.. I could see that happening, but it didn't ease my irritation with the non-communication causing a 6-year separation. I know that was needed for the angst and drama of the series, but miscommunication/non-communication is a trope many series tend to fall back on and I just really dislike it.
Regardless of that though, I thought this was a beautiful series! I'm so happy that both couples got happy endings with each other! I just really adored this and it's probably one of my top series from this year!