Really refreshing drama, best from Zhou Yiran so far

First off I need to THANK the writers for giving us the best FL I’ve seen in a longggg time, possibly all of 2023 (Hidden Love included). She’s aloof, cool, smart, independent, understated, and at the same time relatable. You get the feeling that ML RESPECTS herinstead of just finds her cute or likes her because of some random childhood fate. It’s a rare dynamic that you usually only see in jiedilian romances, but with more even push and pull here because they’re technically classmates and on occasion, competitors. On this basis alone this drama far exceeds ZYR’s last work When I fly towards you, which had in my opinion one of the dimmest and most insufferable FLs. Consequently the chemistry between the FL and ML is so much more palpable than in WIFTY as well - you really witness the build up of their relationship, and their pre-confession flirting/angst is the stuff of Cdrama dreams.

Beyond the FL, the storyline is also more thought out than your average idol drama. All characters have actual stressors which make sense; you empathise with their emotions instead of simply rolling your eyes at the predictability. Nothing is too far fetched, no crazy hijinks or prolonged misunderstandings, even when it comes to the disputes between the female cast (not just between the two leads). Everyone but especially ZYR is given a much better script to work with; I really enjoy his micro expressions of bemusement at the FL, and it feels like he finally was given a character which has a bit of mischief and edge to balance out the typical quiet/introverted/broody boy he usually plays.

Oh, might I just add that the unexpected bond between FL and her older step-brother is adorable.

Neutral factors:
-I can’t say I’m invested at all in the secondary characters or their lovelines. I might have been more interested in another drama but the chemistry between the leads here is so good, and the writing so tight, that everything else seems like a distraction.
-the food blogger is so over-acted it’s a bit cringey. Maybe that was the intended effect idk.

I started this on a whim when it came up on Mango’s YT but I’m so glad I did! RECOMMENDED.

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