Very cute & light! I was watching a couple of heavy dramas so this one was very wholesome to lighten up a bit my currently watching list. Aoki is a sweetheart, a ball of insecurities but honest & loyal, and Ida is just the most patient teenage boy I've seen lately in a school drama.

The award for cutest character, for me , is nonetheless Hashimoto. It is so refreshing that both here & in Cherry Magic we fans love her & Fujisaki-san. Both girls are the sweetest & most supportive friend the MC can have, and both being so cute-looking is just the cherry-on-top.

This live action is very loyal to the manga, so for anyone who is doubting whether to watch this or not, read the manga first. If you like the story & characters, you will definitely love this short drama.

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My standard for Romance is ruined

Re-watched each ep more than a dozen of times (except ep11... too painful). Perfect casting, OST, story, comedy and romance. The chemistry btw Eiji and Eita <3, the secondary characters, the comedy, the little details... top notch. Super romantic, Kurosawa is a man to swoon for and Adachi a cutie to protect. I am a fan of MM romances where we have a man who loves to adore and take care of his loved one, and the other who deserves to be spoiled, so this was right up to my alley.

People complain about the lack of skinship and that is homophobic... if words, actions and eyes that express love is not enough then I don't know what it is. I prefer a good storytelling than awkward kisses, and the story here was the most romantic I've seen in Asian dramas.

If I have to complain about one thing, it would be the actor who played Minato, but for his looks only. Because he looks like a teenager, Tsuge is the most hated :( I wish a different actor for Minato was chosen...

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Criminally underrated

Beautiful drama, I fell in love with the story, the script, the actors... so much I can't move on! The lead actress is so good, I felt like Qiu DongNa is a real person, not just a character in a show. And visually speaking I adore this actress, even her clothes matched her personality and situation. May be the 1st time I see in a cdrama where the lead, being poor, actually dresses normally with barely any make-up.

Her interactions with the other characters was marvellous, and it helps that there are no villains nor stupid characters. This is what I miss the most, how there are no fillers nor misunderstandigs nor miscommunication. Every interaction (with the mom, the female boss, the frenemy, the ex-cons) is sooo good.

About the romance... maybe not much for romance drama fans but for me it was the best & most wholesome. Gu Fei is truly a husband/mentor material, and Dongna the best student. Both of them listen to each other, support each other and are happy being together. Both of them learn from the other. I know people are wary of watching this wonderful drama bc of the age gap, but I truly only saw a 22-year-old eager just-graduated girl and a 35-or so responsible boss who respects his assistant very much. Their romance is like WangXian... shown through action and words instead of skinship, and that (for me) is even better. They are sooo sweet <3 Best hetero couple in dramaland (for me).

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Tbh, I struggled the first 20 episodes, which is a lot. Comments say "this is not a romance" but ChuSheng spends 20 episodes in love with the 2FML and even when he is facing death, he is still thinking about her. HHL was, however, a good written character. In spite of being the most selfish person ever, she was human and her hopes and fears were totally understandable, at least for me. But I started this drama expecting the CP of XZ and LQ, which is nowhere to be seen in the 1st TWENTY episodes.

Which leads me to the 2nd problem this drama has... the characterization of the 2 leads: ChuSheng, a.k.a, Gary Stu and Xiaomei, a.k.a, Mary Sue. Both are attractive, kind, the most unselfish persons you will ever see; altruistics and never get angry nor resentful. Heck, there are a couple of nasty characters, either jealous of CS or just plain thugs (Heizi) and CS not only forgives them over and over again... he never gets angry . XM is understanding, supportive and mature, never ever thinking of herself. The total opposite of selfish HHL XD

Add to that that both are willing to die for their country and people, and voilá! You have 2 Chinese role models. As a whole, I see this drama as a idealistic cdrama. Even the unlikeable characters that commit crimes and perjury get their redemption arc (except for 2). TBH I don't even see HOW Heizi redeems himself... he stabs, smuggles, lies, betrays and even hires someone to ruin his wife's life (and face) and he still manages to be forgiven **side-eye**.

On the other hand, there are a couple of characters that I really liked, like Ye Fang, QiTian, Yan Qiu and Duan Lei. And the setting was very well done. While the negative points are stronger, it still has its good points.

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