I came here to watch Zhou YiWei after discovering this charismatic actor in The Rebel Princess. Once again he has proven how great an actor he is. His realistic portrayal of the main lead made me wanna pick up the phone and call him to tell him to be nicer to the female lead! If only I could do that.

Storywise
This is an epic of love and regrets, amongst two best friends who fell for the same guy during their teenage years. Many of us have experienced this. Of course this is dramatised but the realism comes from the fact that at that age there is always an ultra popular guy whom everyone loves and he being immature, flirts back although he actually likes this very goody girl who ended up falling in love for the first and last time. The greatness of this simple story lies in the backdrop of how China progresses in past 40 years from Maoism to Socialism to now almost Capitalism in terms of wealth and power. Nice history class as a bonus here.
*Spoiler* ZYW portrayed this handsome attractive young man QiWei who messed up his relationship but got a second chance with the good woman ShuRong. Then he blew it again by rekindling his vulnerability for the other girl Xin Mei who is so selfish that we want her dead. Many people, hate QiWei for being heartless whilst watching this but I can see that QiWei instantly regretted what happened. The issue was he didn’t have the mental strength to deal with it . Instead, he succumbed to pressure and lost all his personality and became this guy who just wants to have some peace at home. He quietly blamed himself for breaking up his own little family and never dared to face ShuRong . So I don’t think he was heartless or didn’t love her anymore. He thought that Xinmei needed him more since she fights for his love openly. He didn’t realise ShuRong , not fighting for her man does not mean she was ok. Instead her heart breaks in silence everyday ever since. She is the typical good girl who is also very brave to walk away. Xinmei took advantage of both of their weaknesses and got what she wants. She even proposes to him and force it on him. He proposed to ShuRong and they looked genuinely happy. Even QiWei thought he had fallen in love totally with Xinmei but if you watch the last scene and think carefully he remembered his first date with ShuRong and he said ‘if he could start over….’ before stopping himself. Also I never figured out when he fell so hard for. Xinmei. He was more impressed by her pursuit of him and too proud to let it go when he was dumped by her after falling out of grace. He wanted the apology as his ego was hurt. This weakness caused him his entire life happiness. He is a pitiful character. Xinmei is plain selfish . She gets whatever she wants in whatever way she could. Lies, backstab and even sleep around to get her way. She had a crush on QiWei but I don’t think she loved him until maybe after many years together. He was more of a prize to show off and to spoil ShuRong’s life for she is so jealous of her friend who is happy and loved. She must see ShuRong suffer the loss of her one true love. She said it so many times as though QiWei is a prize.

Acting wise
Too good.. Zhou YiWei could make us remember our first loves and also make us wanna beat him up for giving up such a good woman and family for a selfish woman. Maybe it’s sex? Xinmei was always wearing more attractive clothing in her voluptuous body compared to ShuRong who dressed prettily but not sexy. Later he also slips into this old man look and personality who wants peace by being a ‘yes’ man at home. He and his reading glasses and slow gestures shows he was a trapped man who lost his fire. Great acting. I almost forgot this is the great general Xiao Qi in the Rebel Princess. A+

Mao Linlin was perfect as ShuRong. She is so pretty even as a grandmother. Omg. How did they think of her hairstyles and dresses .. so perfect. So sweet. And yet so strong to deal with the abuse and betrayal. Her hurt face and silent tears were on cue and last scene with QiWei was a perfect acting scene by two good actors. Why is this actress not more famous I am not sure. Maybe she married a real life Prince Charming after this drama. A

Ada Liu as Xinmei. Voluptous enough to show that she does use her looks to attract males and uses her tears to get her way. So many times! If it doesn’t work she lied and even used her own body to do it. Acting wise not bad but overact at times . Too evil. Not so realistic to always pick a fight and raise her voice. It could be more controlled. B

The rests. Average to good but the young actors portraying their grown up kids were not good. Need more acting school. C

Music is beautiful if you understand the lyrics. It actually questions when did QiWei even stopped loving ShuRong. I think the song is sang from ShuRong’s view point. She wonders…. That’s why she never stopped and could not stop loving the man. Too tired and good to fight and prefer to love from a distance.

Overall I think is a good drama if you can accept a realistic ending. In real life it is like this. Many people have to love from a distance. If you want a boy meet girl then breakup then marry other people then come back together drama then this is not for you. Anyway….how many people do that in real life? None I can think of.