I started to watch this show because it is based on a BL, but even though I never really got to see the BL it was still very well done. The two main characters don't have a story that hasn't been done before, however, the pacing was done so well that it still was refreshing and believable. They started off at a very slow pace of just general hate for each other but Yuan Yang back story of why he is so untrusting of people claiming to want to help him, was actually heart-breaking, but so simple. Their little war is very entertaining to watch as Gu Qing Pei genuinely wants to help Yuan Yang but Yuan Yang is such a mess that he can't even accept it. On the other hand Yuan Yang has some of the most ride or die friends I have ever seen in a series, those boys were on point from start to finish. Their methods may not have been the best but they are the best to him. They lil stupid though, but nobodies perfect.
While we never get to see a real romance between the two male leads, they do have a pretty good bromance and in the end it seems like it did overcome all, with some limitations.