Review: The Best Thing [China] – The Fangirl Verdict

THE SHORT VERDICT:

Low-key and sweet, this show is basically a perfect little escape from the real world.

Everything’s very prettily filmed, and our characters are basically nice, good, decent people slowly falling in love, as their paths cross.

As a bonus, Show also manages to offer a gentle glimpse into the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) without being preachy or heavy-handed about it.

Perfect as a cozy drama nightcap, in my experience. 🥰

THE LONG VERDICT:

I think this could be a case of “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” because when Show’s teasers were first released, I thought it all looked very pretty, but I wasn’t really that excited about it.

I’m so glad that I tried this out anyway, though, because I ended up enjoying this one very well.

In fact, like I alluded to earlier, I did in fact watch this as a daily drama nightcap, and I found myself enjoying it very much, and actively looking forward to new episodes.

Hopefully, this show could work just as well, for you. 🥲

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Here’s the OST album, in case you’d like to listen to it while reading the review.

Overall, I found the music in our drama world to be very melodious and pleasant. I didn’t find it especially outstanding, but I also found it perfectly suited to our very pretty, very pleasant story world. 🥰

In terms of my favorites, I’d say that I really liked Track 1, You Are In The World I Like. There’s just something about the laidback, breezy groove that I really enjoy. Plus, that 6/8 rhythm that I find so easy and comfortable to sink into. 🥰

However, I do think that Track 7, Heavy Scent, which has a very lovely, gentle, light, lilting sort of quality to it that I really enjoy, reflects this show’s overall vibe more accurately. 🥰

Here it is as well, on its own, in case you’d prefer to listen to it on repeat. Just right-click on the video and select “Loop.”

HOW I’M APPROACHING THIS REVIEW

First I’ll talk about how to manage your expectations going into this one, and what viewing lens would be most helpful.

After that, I talk about stuff I liked on a more macro level, before I give the spotlight to selected characters and relationships, in a separate section. Finally, I spend some time talking about my thoughts on the penultimate and finale episodes.

If you’re interested in my blow-by-blow reactions, &/or all the various Patreon members’ comments during the course of our watch, you might like to check out my episode notes on Patreon here.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Here are some things that I think would be helpful to keep in mind, to maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. This is a simple story.

Show is simple and low-key, so if you’re looking for something exciting, this might not be for you, right now.

If you adjust your expectations to expect a sweet, uncomplicated story, you might end up enjoying this one, like I did. 🥰

2. This is more of a fairytale sort of world

What I mean is, everything is prettier and more idealistic than you’d typically find in real life, and knowing to expect this, helps.

3. The romance is a slow burn

I would consider the central romance to be on the slow burn side of things, and I liked this very well, because I liked the idea of our OTP really spending time getting to know each other, and not rushing into anything.

I don’t know if this is something that would please everyone; maybe it’s something that comes with a bit of age &/or experience? At any rate, I do think adjusting your expectations around this would be helpful.

4. This is a doctor-patient set-up

You would likely already know this, if you’ve read Show’s synopsis, but the central loveline has to do with a doctor-patient sort of set-up.

I feel like this would be an in-principle problem for some viewers, but I do think that Show manages this aspect quite nicely, which I delve into, in this next section.

WEIGHING IN ON THE DOCTOR-PATIENT SET-UP

This seems like a good time to talk about the elephant in the room, which is the fact that our male lead, Su Ye (Zhang Ling He), is the doctor whom our female lead, Xi Fan (Xu Ruo Han), is assigned to.

I do think that if the doctor-patient set-up is a big point of discomfort for you, then this show might be difficult for you to enjoy.

That said, I will say that I was not actually bothered by the doctor-patient thing, even from our early episodes, for a couple of reasons.

[SPOILER ALERT]

The first reason being that we actually see Su Ye’s mentor and grandfather, Professor Yu (Li Jian Yi), actively suggest to Su Ye, that he try to build a connection with Xi Fan, because Professor Yu deems Xi Fan a suitable match for Su Ye.

Given that Professor Yu is presented as a very well respected doctor who is strict about doing things by the book, this leads me to think that perhaps a doctor-patient relationship isn’t frowned upon, in China, in a TCM context like this.

At the very least, it informs me that this isn’t something that’s frowned upon in this drama world.

The second thing I’m taking into account, is the fact that Su Ye learns that Xi Fan has a boyfriend.

Once that information is made known to him, Xi Fan becomes “off limits” to him, in the sense that it would be inappropriate for him to woo her, since she’s in a relationship with someone else.

Using that to frame all his actions, is helpful, because while the lines between personal and professional do start to blur a little bit in our early episodes, I don’t truly see it as him being in romantic pursuit.

I see it more as him liking her, but choosing not to actively pursue her. Instead, he’s allowing interactions between them, while likely telling himself that they’re just.. becoming friends.

The other thing that I thought I should mention, is the acupuncture scene, which JJ had  mentioned over on Patreon, as specifically making her uncomfortable.

I guess my various lens adjustments helped, because the acupuncture scene didn’t strike me as being uncomfortable.

To my eyes, Su Ye was professional enough, during the session, and the gentleness that we see, I interpreted as a general kindness and consideration, like the way he pulls the curtain and allows her to continue sleeping.

If it helps, I do think that it’s the love song applied to the scene, that was inappropriate.

It doesn’t actually fit the state of the current connection between our would-be OTP, and likely was the weird factor in the scene that made it land as “off” for JJ, but I feel like enough shows just plonk their signature love ballad even in early scenes, that I shouldn’t hold this against Show too much.

[END SPOILER]

STUFF I LIKED

Everything’s very pretty

On a very shallow level, I just really enjoyed all the Pretty on my screen.

I loved our story world’s pretty Spring palette, the very pleasant breezy music, and the feel-good love story of our very pretty leads. 🥰😁

I mean, just look at this simple scene above, where our characters run into each other; the pink blossoms and fresh greenery just makes everything look borderline magical, doesn’t it? 😍

The gentle spotlight on Traditional Chinese Medicine

One of the most unexpected pluses of this drama, I found, is how it casts a gentle, educational and rather illuminating spotlight on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Show does a very nice job of being a gentle showcase of Chinese medicine, and dressing it up to make it pretty and palatable to the casual viewer.

I really liked this aspect of Show, because I don’t know a ton about Chinese medicine, and we certainly don’t have big TCM hospitals here in Singapore, so it was a big eye opener for me, to see that in this drama, and realize that it’s A Thing, in China.

For context, as far as I know, in Singapore, all we have are TCM clinics, which are much smaller than the clinic and hospital that we see in our story. 😁

I also like the detail, that each episode appears to be named after a key TCM ingredient, with explanations provided upfront, about what that ingredient is good for (example above).

Even better, that the episode then incorporates the ingredient as part of our story. These episodes, we have perilla leaf (which is also our male lead’s name), apple, licorice, and mint.

I mean, clearly, a lot of thought has gone into this, yes? 🥲

I feel like this is an excellent soft introduction to TCM and its practice and benefits, and I think it’s pretty darn cool, that in gaining a big audience for its prettily told love story, Show is also being a great ambassador for TCM. 😁

Usually, my brain associates TCM with the older generation, so the fact that our drama world is so very pretty, bathed in flowers and Spring colors, is a very trippy, very welcome change. 🤩

The way Show doesn’t drag out stuff in general

One of the things I really liked about this drama, is that it doesn’t tend to drag things out; whether it’s a misunderstanding or a challenge that a character faces, things tend to get resolved relatively quickly.

This means that nothing really gets in the way of the development of our OTP relationship; at least, not in a serious or long-term fashion, and I appreciated that a lot.

Here are a couple of examples, to show you what I mean.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-12. Even though we start episode 9 with that misunderstanding on Xi Fan’s part – that Su Ye has a son – it gets resolved soon enough.

In effect, for me personally, it feels like we get some hijinks out of it, but not too much such that it overstays its welcome. I am liking this very well. 😁

E17-20. I’d guessed that Yan Heng (Caesar Wu) wouldn’t take “No” for an answer too easily, and these episodes, well, he proved me right.

Happily, this arc doesn’t outstay its welcome – at least for me personally – and I’m quite satisfied with how it’s resolved.

[END SPOILER]

Unexpected spots of Funny

I wouldn’t say that Show is a comedy, by any means.

It’s just that it made me laugh really hard, on a couple of occasions, and I wanted to give credit where it’s due.

In particular, I loved this particular beat, from episode 1.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1. The moment that had me laughing hardest of all, is in episode 1, when Xi Fan is trying to describe how Su Ye looks, and tells her Xiang Ya (Huang Can Can) that he looks just like the actor who played Gong Zi Yu in My Journey To You.

PWAHAHA!!! That took me by such surprise, that I literally paused the episode to have an inordinately long giggle. 🤭🤭

For the uninitiated, that was literally Zhang Ling He’s role in My Journey To You (review here!), so of course Su Ye would look like him. 😁😁

[END SPOILER]

STUFF I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH

Show’s sense of humor, sometimes

I wouldn’t say that I had a particular problem with Show’s sense of humor in general, but I will say that there were a couple of occasions when Show’s attempt at serving up The Funny, just didn’t work for me.

Here’s an example to show you what I mean.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E9-12. I cringed a number of times, when a drunk Xi Fan calls Su Ye trash and then tells her parents (Fang Zi Bin and Liu Wei Wei) that he’s a weirdo that’s following her.

There’s also how Xi Fan treats him very coldly when Su Ye, Li Jie (Tang Jiu Zhou) and Xiao Fang (Zhou Yi Ru) arrive at the hotel for the meeting, and basically tells Xiang Ya and Yi Shen that he’s trash.

Eep, and then eep again. 🙈😅

It helps me to remind myself that our Xi Fan is the type of person who’s an open book, and that’s why she can’t hide her discomfort with Su Ye at all, but I have to confess that I didn’t find these beats to be funny at all.

[END SPOILER]

SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTERS / RELATIONSHIPS

Zhang Ling He as Su Ye

To be honest with you guys, this was the first time I’d seen Zhang Ling He in a modern role, as I’d previously only seen him in period costume dramas like Love Between Fairy and Devil, My Journey To You and The Princess Royal (reviews here, here and here!) – and I must say, I am liking this modern day Zhang Ling He very, very well. 😍

I really liked Su Ye as a character, and very much enjoyed Zhang Ling He in the role.

I will talk a lot more about Su Ye in my upcoming deep dive into the OTP relationship, but for now, I just wanted to say that there’s something very earthy, gentle and warm about Su Ye, as a general rule.

Even though there were little beats where I was less enthusiastic about the way he was written, that was not enough to displace my overall enjoyment of him as a character.

Xu Ruo Han as Xi Fan

This is my second Xu Ruo Han show, and I am enjoying her here, significantly more than in Perfect and Casual (review here!), where her character was purposely written to be on the ditzy side of things.

Here, I find her character, Xi Fan, much more normal and relatable, and therefore, that much more likable as well.

It’s true that sometimes (just occasionally!), Xi Fan is written to treat Su Ye in ways that I’d consider on the not-so-nice side of things, I do think that Show does a decent job of helping us to understand her reasons for choosing to act in certain ways, at certain times.

Importantly, Xi Fan does chart a journey of healing and growth over the course of our story.

The beats can land as quite subtle, but they are there, and I did enjoy rooting for her, to the end.

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-4. The more I learn about Xi Fan’s personal situation with her boyfriend Yan Heng (Caesar Wu), the more my heart goes out to her.

We don’t have the details of how they got to the way things are in the present, but we can deduce that work and distance had put a strain on their relationship – and that’s brought out her boyfriend’s worst colors.

At least, that’s what it looks like, based on what we’ve seen.

He’s distant and critical of her, and worse, he gaslights her on a regular basis, before breaking up with her without even bothering to meet her in person.

Watching Xi Fan tiptoe around him on eggshells, and talking in timid tones for fear of upsetting him and then getting her words twisted and being accused of being selfish, really hits in the region of a raw nerve for me personally.

As you guys know, I’m in a much better place now, and the wounds have healed, but every so often, being confronted with scenes like this, does bring the memories into sharp focus, for a little while, and I remember all over again, how awful it had been, to be in that situation.

And so, it should come as no surprise that I really feel for Xi Fan, as she tries so hard to make the relationship work, but keeps coming up against the walls that her boyfriend has set up.

I can understand that it’s hard for her to see that she’s being emotionally abused by her boyfriend, especially since they’ve been together for 7 long years, and have likely slipped into this pattern of behavior over a period of time.

It’s like that story of how a frog in a pot of water where the temperature is increased very slowly, doesn’t even realize that it’s being boiled alive; it’s something like that.

When Xi Fan and he had started dating, things had been much different, with him being much nicer to her, and things had likely slid into this current state, over a long period of time.

Also, I can see why Xi Fan would feel so unsure of herself, and uncertain about whether she should even consider breaking up with him.

When you’ve been emotionally abused, you literally get to the point where you don’t trust your own judgment anymore, because the other person has criticized you so thoroughly, and in ways that sound weirdly logical.

Generally speaking, I would say that I appreciate Xi Fan’s desire to make things work, because I like the idea that she’s someone who is committed to a relationship, and doesn’t give up easily.

At the same time, I can see why she would be suffering from such bad insomnia; she’s clearly deeply distressed about the state of her relationship, but feels unable to talk about it.

..Which is how we have her parents recommending her to see a TCM doctor, which is how our would-be OTP first meet.

E13-16. As we close out episode 16, Yan Heng is back in the picture as a VIP guest of the hotel, and I’m honestly quite surprised to learn that he wants to reconcile with Xi Fan.

I mean, after how he’d broken up with her in such a cold and distant manner, I’d imagined that he hadn’t really liked her, so I’m slightly blindsided by him now showing up and wanting her back.

I’m honestly really glad that Xi Fan throws that giant bouquet of roses in his face, because after the awful way he’d treated her, this is the least that he deserves, yes?

Also, this is evidence of how much stronger she is now, compared to before. 🥲

E17-20. I feel bad for Xi Fan, that she’s even having nightmares about Yan Heng now, and as if that’s not bad enough, in her dreams, even Su Ye seems alienated from her.

I think that demonstrates pretty clearly, that Xi Fan’s feelings towards a potential relationship with Su Ye, are very much tied up with her lingering hurt and trauma from her past relationship with Yan Heng.

I appreciate though, that as worn out and exhausted Xi Fan is from Yan Heng’s badgering, she doesn’t falter; when Yan Heng sends her cards and flowers, she doesn’t hesitate to dump it all in the trash and walk away.

Honestly, one of the things that really bugs me about Yan Heng, is how he doesn’t show any kind of consideration for Xi Fan.

Even after he hears that she’d been punished because of his behavior in the main hall, he doesn’t back down.

Instead, he waits for her at the employee exit, with his expensive car, in full view of all the other employees.

Like, how is this supposed to help, right? 🙄

My guess is that Yan Heng is so sure that he will succeed in getting Xi Fan back, where she’d quit her job to go with him and get married, that he doesn’t see what the big deal is, in ruining things for her, in her workplace.

In his mind, he probably thinks that she’ll be quitting soon anyway, so what’s the big deal. UGH. 😑

In fact, everything that we see, in terms of Yan Heng’s behavior, only serves to confirm that the relationship between him and Xi Fan, had been heavily unbalanced, with her going along with his preferences on a long-term basis, without actually making her own preferences known.

That’s what it looks like to me, at least, when he takes her back to their school grounds, and orders grilled meat, which is what they’d always eaten before – not even realizing that Xi Fan doesn’t like grilled meat.

I’m glad though, that Xi Fan speaks plainly with him, and tells him to his face, that she doesn’t want to marry him, nor does she want to ever see him again.

E17-20. I definitely rolled my eyes at Yan Heng’s audacity, when he presents himself at Xi Fan’s home to her parents, and starts talking about marriage.

This, when Xi Fan has already told him that she doesn’t want to see him again, and is absolutely not interested in marrying him??

It’s so clear, that he doesn’t take Xi Fan seriously, and believes that he can manipulate her to his convenience. 🙄

I’m glad that Mom is quick to question why Yan Heng would come on his own to talk about marriage, when Xi Fan works at the hotel where he’s staying.

And, very importantly, I’m pleased that Xi Fan doesn’t waste time, and starts throwing the truth right in his face, the moment she steps into the house.

Again, this is growth!

[END SPOILER]

Su Ye and Xi Fan

The OTP relationship is the Main Event in our story, and I’m overall very pleased with how Show manages the development of the connection between Su Ye and Xi Fan.

I mentioned earlier that this relationship is on the slow burn side of things, but this did not bother me at all.

In fact, I really appreciated being able to see their connection grow stronger and deeper, over their various interactions.

Overall, I thought the chemistry between our OTP was very solid, with enough sweetness and spark to satisfy my fangirl heart. 🥰

In this spoiler section, are my unfolding thoughts about this OTP relationship; come relive the feels with me? 🥲

[SPOILER ALERT]

E1-4. In terms of the way Show creates opportunities for Xi Fan and Su Ye to interact outside of the TCM clinic, it makes lots of sense to me, that they live in the same neighborhood.

She goes to the TCM clinic coz it’s near her home, and he chooses to live in that neighborhood, because it’s near the clinic.

Perfect reason for them to keep running into each other in the vicinity, and strike up a little bit of conversation, which grows into larger bits of conversation. I found this all very believable and reasonable. 😁

It also makes sense that when Xi Fan wants to be alone with her feelings – which she’s trying to hide from her parents – she chooses to go downstairs, and that’s how Su Ye sees her in a downhearted state, more than once.

I thought it was quite thoughtful, actually, that Su Ye would try to think of ways to help her, within his role as her attending TCM doctor, like telling her to put an apple beside her bed, or teaching her that method of releasing tension in her chest, or giving her a sachet that gives off a relaxing fragrance, that she can carry around with her.

I would have preferred if he didn’t look like he was trying to get her phone number, because that does mess with my friendship lens a little bit, but I appreciate that when he talks with Professor Yu later, he expresses that he’s aware that Xi Fan has a boyfriend, and that he doesn’t intend to do anything untoward.

Overall, I feel like they’re inching closer to each other at a pace and in a way that feels natural and believable to me.

Like, we see that they start to slowly include a few personal details here and there when talking, and there’s also the way Xi Fan is starting to rib him, a little bit.

And there’s also the way he casually asks if she wants to come along to the convenience store, and she agrees readily.

Of course, there’s also the way she calls out to him and rushes over with her umbrella, when she sees him walking in the rain, and then hands him half of her bouquet, along with the umbrella, saying that the flowers are a thank you, and he can give her back the umbrella at her next appointment.

These are nice little markers indicating that they’re becoming a little more comfortable with each other, over their various interactions, and I find it very pleasant to see the growing familiarity.

The whole thing where Xi Fan gives him a ring to help him fend off all the eagle-eyed older patients hoping to matchmake him with their daughters and granddaughters was quite amusing, I thought.

Also, it’s another indication of their growing connection, that she would feel comfortable enough to offer to help at all.

E5-8. These episodes, I enjoyed watching Xi Fan and Su Ye growing closer, bit by bit.

I feel like this is something Show manages very nicely; their multiple little interactions do add up, and as they spend more time together, it makes sense that they’re becoming more comfortable with each other.

Little things like how Xi Fan mentions Su Ye quite often and quite easily when talking with her friends – like when she pulls out those mint candies and explains what he’d said about them – really make me believe that she does have positive feelings towards him, even though she is quite adamant about not dating.

I do rather like that idea, that she falls for him, in spite of herself and her resolution to just not date at all, and focus on her plan to study overseas. 😁

Which also means to say, I do think that Xi Fan is kind of in denial, whenever she insists to her friends, that she has no interest in dating Su Ye whatsoever. 😁

It does feel like Xi Fan is moving forward into a life without Yan Heng, because, even though she hadn’t planned it that way, she does tell her parents about the break-up, when they confront her with the photo of her with Su Ye.

The fact that she articulates it, makes it that much more real, in effect – at least, that’s my own experience with it. 😅

And when Xi Fan becomes confused after hearing her parents’ protests about her plans to study abroad, I like that she runs into Su Ye downstairs, because that gives them another reason to interact.

It feels like quite a big thing, that she would feel able to tell Su Ye about her internal conflict around wanting to study abroad, and the practical considerations that her parents have brought up.

It’s so uplifting, for her to now hear Su Ye tell her that he appreciates her passion and curiosity. 🥲

It also feels like a significant step forward, that Su Ye would also open up and share that he’d had a big clash with his dad over his choice of major, and that he’d chosen TCM because his mom had passed away from cancer, and TCM could have helped to alleviate the pain that she’d felt in the process of her treatment.

We’ve already seen that this is a major raw nerve with Su Ye, where he doesn’t even feel able to have a meal with his father (Guo Jing Lin), and so, it definitely says a lot, that he’d be willing to tell Xi Fan about it, and to this degree of detail.

I very much appreciate Su Ye, for telling Xi Fan that she should go after her dreams, even though he does like her, and her going after her dreams would mean her leaving the country for a significant period of time.

He’s giving her advice without agenda, and I like that very much.

I absolutely can understand why Xi Fan would take it to heart, and therefore want him to be the first to know, when she tells her parents her decision to pursue her dream.

Personally, I think it says a great deal, when you want a particular someone to be the first to know, when something important happens in your life.

The fact that Su Ye’s become that person to Xi Fan, definitely says a lot about the regard that she has for him, even though they are officially just friends, at this point in time.

I did think it was a little sudden for Su Ye to take Xi Fan to the lake, but I do think that Show does a reasonably good job of building up a case for it, with Su Ye noticeably moody during their after dinner walk.

With their growing connection, I could persuade myself to believe that Su Ye would feel comfortable enough to ask Xi Fan if she would go somewhere with him, since she’s too excited to sleep, and that Xi Fan would care enough about his broody emotional state, to agree.

I find it quite meaningful, that even though Su Ye doesn’t actually talk about the specifics of what’s bothering him, and only talks about why he likes to come to the lake, and how watching the sunrise there makes him feel like everything’s back where they should be, Xi Fan still finds a way to help him feel better – by offering to watch the sunrise with him.

I thought this was quite perfect, honestly; she’s meeting him where he is, without pressuring him to say more than he’s comfortable saying, and yet, making things better in a tangible way. 🥲

Later, in episode 6, after Xi Fan gets horrible menstrual cramps from being caught in the rain and runs into Su Ye, I can’t help but notice that during the session at the clinic, she’s the one who’s hyper-aware of him, rather than the other way around.

He’s warm and uses a familiar tone with her, but I do feel that he’s still in a very professional space, even as he warms his hands and puts one hand on her stomach to check it.

On the other hand, she’s the one who’s a little nervous and twitchy, which makes me feel that she’s definitely started to see him as more than just her TCM physician. 😉

At the same time, I do appreciate that Su Ye chooses to give Xi Fan some space, when he realizes that she’s in an emotionally vulnerable state.

On that note, I thought I’d clarify the subs in the flashback where he sees that tear escaping her eye, as she sleeps during the treatment.

According to my subs, he thinks to himself that she can’t get over the breakup, which implies that he somehow already knows that she and Yan Heng have broken up.

However, that isn’t what the actual dialogue indicates.

I would translate the actual line as, “You’re having such a hard time. Can you still not bear to break up?”

That makes a big difference, because I hadn’t been paying close attention to the actual dialogue at this point, and was confused about how Su Ye would know that Xi Fan had broken up; like why would Show allow something so significant to happen offscreen?

But no, it was just the subs not being translated properly, heh.

Which is why I thought I should mention it, in case you guys were confused by this too. 😁

Anyway, like I was saying, I appreciate that instead of trying to take advantage of Xi Fan’s emotionally vulnerable state, Su Ye chooses to give her space, even though she does offer to wait for him, so that they can leave together.

I thought that was very gentlemanly and considerate of him, even though Xi Fan might have felt a twinge of rejection, when he declined.

Su Ye’s definitely on Xi Fan’s mind, though, what with the way she leans in to sniff the shirt that he’s lent her, as well as explore his Moments page on WeChat – which is how she ends up liking his photo of licorice water without thinking about it.

Heh. I thought this entire scene was very relatable, coz I completely understand the mortification she experiences, and then the thought process she goes through, to try to neutralize the whole thing. 😁

I had to laugh, when Su Ye low-key ribs her later, that she’d managed to read an entire 8-page article in under a minute, tee hee hee! 🤭

The secondhand embarrassment is real, but so is the relatability! 😅

Ok, but to be fair, he’s kind of cyber-stalking her too, like the way he zooms in on the photo of her drink, when she posts on Moments, and then becomes a bit paralyzed as to whether he should like her photo, or comment, or do nothing. 😁

His eventual chosen course of action – to send her medicinal food recipes to balance out the ginger tea that she drank – is honestly pretty thoughtful, and I like that when she asks why he’d send her those recipes out of the blue, he ‘fesses up about having seen her Moments. 😁 I like honesty. 😁

Another thing I wanted to say was, after this, the subs translate Su Ye as saying that he’s making up things in his head, but actually, it’s more specific than that.

The actual dialogue uses the phrase 自作多情 (zìzuò duōqíng), which refers to someone imagining that the other person likes them, when there’s likely nothing there at all.

Which means to say that at this point, Su Ye is cognizant of his feelings for Xi Fan, but believes that she doesn’t reciprocate in the slightest.

I just thought you guys would be interested to know that. 😁

Later on, I did find that beat, where Su Ye suddenly hugs Xi Fan, a little sudden, not gonna lie.

But we do get enough context, to know that Su Ye’s raw nerve has been very much triggered by his patient’s guardian choosing not to pursue invasive treatment, and instead, just letting her go, because it’s really quite similar to how he’d lost his own mother.

With his emotions being at such a vulnerable, low point, and with Xi Fan being protective and familiar, with the way she grabs him by his sides, to push him out of the way of the oncoming cyclist, I can rationalize that he might grab her for a hug, with his emotions all over the place.

Even though Xi Fan pats his shoulder comfortingly in the moment, it’s pretty significant to see that she can’t sleep afterwards, from thinking about that moment of proximity, and in fact, even saves the buds and petals that had gotten on her hair and into her sweatshirt, from the walk.

In episode 7, we’ve got the whole misunderstanding where Su Ye thinks that Xi Fan’s being pressured into marriage by her parents, when in reality, they’re pressuring her to go on a blind date. 😁

Aw. It’s almost the same thing, but it’s not, because in Su Ye’s mind, Xi Fan hasn’t broken up with her boyfriend, and so, the only pressure he can envision her parents giving her, is to get married to said boyfriend, and settle down.

This would effectively burst the little bubble that he’s allowing himself to have right now, where he’s hanging out with Xi Fan and spending time with her, where he can pretend, just for a little while, that she’s single.

Like Su Ye says to Professor Yu, he’s almost forgotten that she’s had a boyfriend, in the course of their interactions.

Aw. Poor Su Ye, getting all disappointed and resolving to get his feelings in order, when it’s all just a misunderstanding. 😁

But, yay that the misunderstanding doesn’t drag out for too long, and Su Ye figures out soon enough, from Li Jie’s description of his blind date with Xi Fan, that Xi Fan must be single, because otherwise why would her parents be setting her up on blind dates, right? 😁

The happy leaked smile on Su Ye is lovely to behold, honestly. I think I’ve become very fond of Su Ye; when he smiles like that, I smile too. 😁

E5-8. In episode, I felt it was a leeettle early in their friendship, for Su Ye to be inviting Xi Fan to his apartment to cook for her, but because the medicinal food that he prepares isn’t something that’s easily available at a restaurant, I feel like I can rationalize the invitation too. 😁

And it fits perfectly with Xi Fan’s proposal, that he work with her resort as a consultant for their TCM-themed wellness package for seniors, so I’m rolling with it.

I’m very much on board with the idea of Su Ye taking up that consulting job, since this would provide that much more in the way of opportunities for him to spend time with Xi Fan.

Clearly, Su Ye’s very much for that bonus too, judging from the happy leaked smiles that we see, when Xi Fan calls to ask if she can drop by the hospital with the contract. 😁

And y’know, I can see that Xi Fan is leaning into the opportunity to see Su Ye too, because honestly, when he left the contract behind in his rush to get back to work, she could have easily held onto it for him, since they see each other so regularly, by this point.

Instead, she takes the opportunity to head into the hospital, so that she can see him again. Plus, I do think that she just wants to see more of his world as well, as her interest in him grows.

..It’s just too bad that the young patient Zhao Ze (Wang Zi Ming), who’s taken a liking to Su Ye, shows up and calls him “Dad” right in front of Xi Fan, ha!

I’m ruefully amused at Xi Fan’s shocked reaction, and can only imagine how everything she thinks she knows about Su Ye, must be all in a jumble in her mind right now, as she digests this sudden appearance of Su Ye’s “son.” 🤭

Because of this, I’m legit chuckling as I close off these episodes, and actively looking forward to see how Show ends up resolving this. 😁

E9-12. We cover some important OTP ground these episodes, and I found it all quite enjoyable.

I do think that Xi Fan overreacts to the idea that Su Ye might have a son, but I’m willing to roll with it, as Show’s effort towards comedic hijinks.

Also, I can believe that Xi Fan would overcompensate and find it hard to act natural, since she likely feels mortified at having entertained the idea of a romantic relationship with someone who already has a son.

On that note, I thought it was worth noting, that Xi Fan doesn’t actually entertain the idea that Su Ye might be married, which we can see from her conversation with Xiang Ya.

This is also likely reinforced by the fact that Xi Fan has been to Su Ye’s apartment, which is clearly inhabited by him and him alone (versus him and a wife whom Xi Fan hasn’t met).

I believe there is a stigma against single fathers in China, not unlike Korea, and that’s likely the context that Show is using, in presenting Xi Fan’s reluctance at the idea of being “scouted” to be the boy’s stepmother. 😅

The way she puts it to Xiang Ya, I get the idea that she feels that Su Ye only really wants a stepmother for his son, and doesn’t like her for herself.

I’m glad though, that Su Ye comes right out and asks everyone why they’d thought to give him toys – which is how the truth of the matter comes awkwardly spilling out, with Xi Fan admitting how she’d seen Zhao Ze calling him “Daddy” at the hospital.

After that, Su Ye’s barely concealed delight basically makes up for any and all of the cringe I might have felt at Xi Fan’s exaggerated avoidance of him.

You can practically see it coming together in Su Ye’s mind, that the whole reason Xi Fan must have acted so awkwardly at the idea of him having a son, is because she likes him too.

From this point onward, Su Ye’s warm, knowing, affectionate looks at Xi Fan, and his relaxed, easy warmth, definitely gave me the squees. Eee! 😍

Although, there is that time when Xi Fan is the one who discombobulates Su Ye, when he shows her arganwood, and she remarks that it smells like him – and even moves in to sniff him, to test her theory.

Ooh. That definitely feels like a very personal remark, with her registering that he has a particular scent. Plus, that hyper-proximity! Ahem. 😉

And then there’s whole section where they talk in seeming riddles, around agarwood and its properties, but it’s actually all loaded with meaning, around what she thinks of him.

I do like how he remarks that people like her need to be treated with agarwood (ooh!), and she protests that the prescriptions he’s given her do not contain agarwood, and he responds, meaningfully, that there will, in the future (double ooh!). 🤭

Heh. Trust this show to make a conversation seemingly around a TCM ingredient, be so loaded with flirtatious meaning. 😁

All in all, it does make me smile to see Xi Fan start to relax around Su Ye again, even to the point of absentmindedly retorting that can’t she see him when she’s not sick? 🤭

The familiarity; it’s leaking out, and I give Su Ye credit for not jumping on that. Instead, he pretends like nothing’s out of the ordinary, and simply tells her (though not without a twinkle in his eye!) that she can look him up for meals. 😁

As we move into the actual group visit for the TCM wellness experience, it’s nice to see that Su Ye and Xi Fan continue to keep in contact via text, with Su Ye sending that picture of Zhao Ze and his mom, and then inviting Xi Fan over to his place for a medicinal meal.

To my understanding, it is really quite a personal (ie, not a casual) sort of thing, for a guy to invite a girl over to his apartment, so I can understand Su Ye’s invitation giving Xi Fan pause.

Importantly, though, she accepts, which means that she feels safe enough with Su Ye, and comfortable enough with him, to push past any discomfort around the decorum of being in his apartment, just the two of them.

Through it all, there’s a lot of tentativeness and stuff that I would classify as testing the waters.

Like Xi Fan asking about the dragon bone keychain, when what she’d really been curious about, was the key ring, which she suspects is the one that she’d given to Su Ye, which he’d said he’d lost.

Or like Su Ye saying that the photo doesn’t reflect his true mood that day; that he’d been really happy that day.

It’s all very indirect and uncertain, and it is quite tantalizing. 😁

E9-12. The other thing I wanted to mention, is when Xi Fan wakes up with that stiff neck and goes to see Su Ye.

He performs 推拿 (tuīná) on her, which is a specialized type of TCM technique that involves massaging and manipulating the body to help fix various problems. This is when we see that Xi Fan is very hyper-aware of his proximity.

I wanted to mention that there’s nothing unprofessional about the way Su Ye performs the 推拿.

I’ve had 推拿 done before on quite a few occasions, and I feel like my TCM doctor has done at least something similar on me, even the move where Su Ye stands very close to Xi Fan, almost in a backhug sort of position, and then kind of lifts her while manipulating her torso and limbs.

Also, in case you’re wondering, it’s also considered perfectly normal for a male physician to perform these movements on a female patient without any nurse in the room to be the neutral chaperoning body.

So, to my eyes, there’s nothing here that is out of the ordinary; Su Ye is just doing a very professional set of interventions, to help deal with the various aches and pains that Xi Fan is experiencing.

However, because our Xi Fan has burgeoning feelings for Su Ye, she can’t help but feel very aware of his proximity, and react to it.

To my eyes, the reason Xi Fan seems a little bit low-key grumbly and annoyed, is actually because she’s possibly a little offended that Su Ye’s so nonchalant about the whole thing, while she’d been holding her breath because of his nearness. 🤭

Also, there’s the thing where her heart had been processing it as a potentially romantic moment, but had a rude awakening when the movement had turned out to be on the brisk, forceful side of things. 😁

But.. it’s not like Su Ye’s all business about it, since he does take care to collect her medicine for her; that’s definitely a personal gesture, and not a professional one.

Importantly, when Xi Fan seeks his help on her write-up for her application to study overseas, he’s helpful and sincere in complimenting her on work well done.

I do like these various indications that he has no intention of standing in her way, even though she wants to study overseas, and that would mean that he wouldn’t be able to see her.

Although, there is that beat in episode 12, where Su Ye looks very somber, when Xi Fan says that she might leave as soon as February.

To that end, I feel like he’s in-principle in support of her going, but just hasn’t bargained for the fact that he might have to say goodbye to her so soon.

Afterwards, we do see Xi Fan brooding about their potential long-distance relationship, and decide to try to put her feelings away.

Going back to the scene at the end of episode 11, I’ve been thinking about this a fair bit, and all signs point to Su Ye only pretending to be asleep, rather than actually being asleep, because it doesn’t sound like Xi Fan had spent that much time on the phone that he would actually fall asleep.

The bigger clue, I feel, is that when Xi Fan loses her grip on his book and it falls, there’s definitely enough of a disturbance, to wake someone up, especially if they’d just recently fallen asleep, ie, aren’t in deep sleep yet.

And yet, Su Ye’s as still as a statue – ahem. 👀

To my mind, this is likely him testing the waters again, to see how Xi Fan would react to him, when she thinks he’s asleep, and even though we see that she is very much drawn to him, I honestly feel that this was kinda sneaky of Su Ye, to pretend to be asleep.

What do you guys think? Do you think he was really asleep? 😅

E9-12. In episode 12, I have mixed feelings about Xi Fan joining the department gathering at Li Jie’s urging (with Su Ye behind him).

I honestly felt a good amount of secondhand awkwardness, because to my eyes, Xi Fan really has no business joining a work gathering for the oncology department. 😅

I understand why Show has Xi Fan join this gathering though; it’s so that Su Ye could be put on the spot in front of Xi Fan, when he plays Truth or Dare, and the question is about whether he likes someone – and who that someone is.

I like that Su Ye doesn’t deny it, because to me, this means that he’s very close to making his feelings clear to Xi Fan, and that’s why he’s willing to admit it in front of her.

I also like that he doesn’t make it a public confession, which I almost thought he would, because I figured that he wouldn’t want Xi Fan to think that the person he liked was someone else.

Instead, he answers in a more vague sort of manner, that it’s someone he’d met in April, which is not much of a clue to everyone else, but a big clue to Xi Fan. I thought that was pretty clever. 😁

It also makes narrative sense that Xi Fan might feel the need for a stiff drink, at the confirmation, especially given her confusion over the idea of a long-distance relationship.

..Which is how we have Su Ye taking a tipsy Xi Fan home.

And that’s how we have that scene of a tipsy Xi Fan thanking Su Ye for liking her, and then even leaning in to kiss him.

Now, I do have some reservations about the fact that a sober Su Ye soon kisses her back, because Xi Fan’s drunk, even though she says she isn’t.

But, I’m rationalizing that perhaps Su Ye isn’t very experienced at all, when it comes to dating, and perhaps he took her words, that she’s not drunk, in good faith. 😅

I also am of the opinion that from this kiss onwards, Su Ye takes it that they’re now in a romantic relationship – which is why he’s so casually affectionate in his tone towards her, the next morning.

I do enjoy gentle and affectionate Su Ye, and I do like how he confesses, in that same gentle, affectionate tone. 🥰

That said, I have a feeling that Xi Fan’s going to try to stop this relationship from getting minted, because of her concerns about a long-distance relationship – though I’m sure Show will solve that, without dragging it out for too long. 😉

E13-16. My gut reaction last week had been right; Xi Fan does back away from the relationship, which Su Ye had thought was minted by their kisses.

I feel bad for Su Ye when she pulls her hand away and states that she has no intention of getting into a relationship before leaving for her overseas studies; I feel like I’m watching his heart sink before my eyes – he looks so blindsided and disappointed.

I really do appreciate that he remains gentle, respectful and caring, even though he must feel so disillusioned and defeated, in the moment.

I think it really says a lot about the kind of person Su Ye is, and what he’s really made of, that he doesn’t lash out at Xi Fan for leading him on, as some other “nice guys” might do, in his shoes.

My heart does go out to him, in the following days, as he goes about his duties as usual, in spite of his broken heart, and then even gets served that bombshell, that the funding for his research topic has been withdrawn.

On the other side of things, I can understand Xi Fan angsting about things too.

She made a decision that was based on her rational thinking – that it would not be wise to enter into a relationship right before going overseas to study – but it’s also true that she has feelings for Su Ye.

There are traces of him everywhere in her life right now, and even just looking into the fridge, the medicine packets remind her of him; it’s little wonder that the stress and tension builds up within her.

Overall, I feel that the awkwardness between them at this point, is well portrayed, with neither of them being too sure of how to behave, now that Xi Fan has rejected Su Ye.

I feel that this awkwardness is, in and of itself, a source of angst, because the relationship that has once felt so warm and inviting, now feels so distant and strange. 😭

Again, I appreciate that despite this, Su Ye continues to show care and concern for Xi Fan, even if just as a friend who happens to be a TCM physician, like asking her to slice ginger to make a drink out of it, to help her feel better.

Over the next little while, we have a couple of characters kind of overstepping their boundaries, which, in principle, isn’t cool, but in both cases, it’s out of concern, and overall, does ensure the learning of information on both sides, so I’m overall fine with it.

Like the way Xiao Fang tells Xi Fan about how Su Ye had been hurt by his ex-girlfriend, who’d broken up with him in order to go overseas – and then had never come back.

In the light of this context, Xi Fan rejecting Su Ye definitely comes into a sharper focus; she’s inadvertently prodding at an old wound, by cutting off things between them, for the very same reason that his ex-girlfriend had broken up with him.

And then there’s how Xiang Ya tells Su Ye that at the heart of it, Xi Fan’s carrying a lot of hurts from her past relationship, which had been mostly long distance, and she’s very afraid of getting hurt again.

Again, very important context that really helps Su Ye to understand where Xi Fan is coming from.

And so, even though things between Su Ye and Xi Fan are still awkward and strained, and even though it would have been better if they could have talked things out and shared these details with each other personally, I’m still mollified that the information is at least out there, and doing its work to help Su Ye and Xi Fan understand each other better. 🥲

I can understand why this would make Xi Fan cry like she does at the end of episode 13; she’d had no idea how much she was hurting Su Ye, by turning down his heart. 💔

I do appreciate that Show gives both Su Ye and Xi Fan time and space to be on their own, away from each other; I think it gives them time to process things, plus, there’s also the thing where absence makes the heart grow fonder. 🥲

And, we do absolutely see Su Ye missing Xi Fan during his trip to his hometown for the Lunar New Year.

He’s obviously thinking about her every time we see him scrolling on his phone, like he’s hoping to see an update from her, or a message from her, or an excuse to contact her. 🥲

Also, after watching Su Ye with his father, and seeing Su Ye’s memories of his mother, and how he video calls Gramps, if only to have someone to talk to, I really feel Su Ye’s isolation.

He might look like he has it all, being a successful and respected physician, and he may seem like he’s very fine with how pleasant he always is, but it tugs at my heartstrings to know that underneath it all, he does have a lonely side to him.

In that context, I feel like I can imagine the relief that Su Ye’s heart feels, when Xi Fan finally returns his message, and I feel like that’s why he calls her, if only to wish her happy new year.

That beat, where they each wish that the other person’s dreams will come true in the new year, is especially poignant, because they both know that the dreams that they’ve each chosen, are different.

To my ears, it feels like there’s an unspoken “without me” in each of their wishes to the other person. 🥲

I’m so, so glad, though, that Xi Fan remembers Su Ye’s birthday, and calls him so that she can sing him that birthday song and get him to make his birthday wish.

I thought that was sweet, and also poignant, because aside from Xi Fan, we see that only Gramps had remembered Su Ye’s birthday. 🥲

I’m glad that when Su Ye gets back to Hang City, he and Xi Fan have that talk, where she asks him why he isn’t angry; I feel like some really important things are said here.

I like that he shares about his own experience; this is different than Xi Fan hearing it from Xiao Fang, because this is from Su Ye himself, and Xi Fan can see for herself, that he isn’t still hung up over his ex-girlfriend, and that he’s still gentle towards her, while talking about the wounds that he’d sustained from that relationship.

It also feels important that Su Ye establishes a sense of solidarity between them, by saying that he can relate with Xi Fan’s hurts, because he’d been through something similar in the past.

I really appreciate that Su Ye tells Xi Fan that it’s important that she understand that she has worth and value; that she needs to love herself and live well, as the most important things.

To me, this is one of the most important things that Xi Fan needs to hear.

She’d been emotionally abused in her last relationship, and the wounds are still healing; her sense of self-worth and self-value would be precarious at best, and Su Ye being able to speak to that, feels very precious, I feel. 🥲

And how nice, that we even get a little spot of levity, as Su Ye jokes gently with Xi Fan, that he hopes that she’ll get better a little faster.

I’m very certain that Su Ye is a big part of the reason Xi Fan decides to delay her departure to October, instead of the original February, and I’m glad about this, because this would give her and Su Ye more time to build a foundation for their relationship, before they do the long-distance thing.

In the meantime, they’re still in this in-between stage, and I just really appreciate Su Ye for his fondly affectionate manner towards Xi Fan, because if he took his cue from her and was as awkward and reticent around her as she is around him, we’d likely never get anywhere, with these two. 😅

I was a little amused by the scene in episode 15, where he purposely sends Xi Fan’s guest away for her scan with Xiao Fang, so that he can ask Xi Fan how she is, and take her pulse.

It amuses me because in TCM, a good physician can tell a LOT, from taking your pulse, and since Su Ye is, indeed, a skilled TCM physician, there’s really no hiding from him, as far as Xi Fan is concerned. 🤭

Also, it’s great that Su Ye now knows that Xi Fan won’t be leaving until October; I do think that that adds to his general level of happiness, even though he ribs Xi Fan that she’s heartless (for not telling him earlier).

At this point, I have to appreciate our secondary OTP, whose minting of their relationship actually serves as good perspective for Xi Fan.

What Yi Shen says to Xiang Ya is true; by this point, their friendship is already irreversibly affected, so what’s the difference, if they do date?

I’d say the same for the situation between Xi Fan and Su Ye.

Now that his feelings for Xi Fan are out in the open, and she’s rejected him, their friendship can’t quite be the same anyway. So perhaps opting to give themselves a chance at romance, may not be a bad thing.

Now, as for the scene in episode 16, where Xi Fan finds Su Ye all drunk on a park bench in the grounds of their apartment complex, I’m a little conflicted as to whether Su Ye’s really drunk in this scene.

In that beat at the end, where he grins and mutters to himself that she’s a fickle woman, he does look more sober than in all the moments that had come before, where he’d been all tipsy-nonsensical with Xi Fan.

But, the idea of him faking the whole thing does bother me, so I’m rationalizing that he was probably tipsy, and that beat at the end, was just a slightly different shade of cheeky-tipsy. 😅

Either way, Su Ye does get to communicate how he feels about Xi Fan having “hooked” him, and I do think that that’s important for Xi Fan to understand.

E17-20. I think it says a lot that Xi Fan’s first instinct is to seek out Su Ye, even if it’s on the pretext that she has a headache and would like a consultation.

It seems to me that Xi Fan may not have consciously admitted her feelings for Su Ye to herself, but the fact that she acts on that instinct to seek him out, instead of thinking of other headache remedies, definitely shows that she’s very strongly gravitating towards him.

I’m still a touch amused at the fact that Xi Fan can’t hide anything from Su Ye, because a skilled TCM physician really can tell a lot just from taking your pulse, but I’m more touched by the gentleness in his gaze, as he looks at her.

In fact, it’s not just gentleness, but there’s a layer of sadness there as well, like he’s feeling her sadness, and meeting her there.

Of course, the fact that Su Ye can guess that it’s ex-boyfriend troubles, is more to do with their growing connection and shared understanding, rather than his skill at reading her pulse.

I’m glad that Su Ye is his usual sensitive self, and doesn’t press Xi Fan for details, because she doesn’t look like she wants to talk about it, and his approach, to gently direct her to lie down, so that he can do acupuncture on her that will help her sleep well, seems like a really good approach.

He’s helping her where he can, without adding pressure to her, and I like that.

Y’know, I’m honestly quite stunned that Yan Heng not only follows her to the TCM clinic, but actually walks in there, ready to make a scene, in order to find her.

Like, what kind of gangster-like behavior is this?? 🙄

To be honest, I felt very uncomfortable during this whole scene, with Yan Heng barging in on Xi Fan’s consultation and saying that he’s there to be with her, when he’s literally the last person she wants to see.

I appreciate that Su Ye’s there for Xi Fan, because Xi Fan’s just in a pretty worn out, vulnerable place, and could use the moral support.

That said, I’m not sure how I feel about how Su Ye handles the situation, I think mostly because it has to do with out-playing and outsmarting Yan Heng, in order to get Xi Fan away from him.

I think I would have preferred a more straightforward approach, and coming from Xi Fan.

Like, her being the one to put her foot down with Su Ye being the one to back her up.

I imagine that I’d have liked to see her being the one to put her foot down and refute Yan Heng’s claim that he’s there as her guardian, and then have Su Ye being the one to show him out, because the patient has declined his guardianship.

But ok, I get the idea, that Yan Heng’s like a dog with a bone, and won’t give up easily, and that’s why Su Ye finds a way for her to leave first, without Yan Heng realizing.

Afterwards, I do really appreciate that way Su Ye fusses over Xi Fan, with such gentle tenderness and concern. I feel like he makes it easy for Xi Fan to find a safe place in his presence. 🥲

And when she cries, saying that she’s mad at her past self, I do like how Su Ye offers the perspective that the past has helped to shape who she is, and without her past experience with Yan Heng causing her insomnia, she wouldn’t have sought treatment at his clinic, which is how they’d met.

Overall, I like this attitude of acceptance and gratitude on Su Ye’s part, and I also like how he reminds Xi Fan to look at the present and the future, instead of being hung up on the past.

Perhaps the thing I like the most in all of this, is that scene at the end of episode 17, where Xi Fan’s elderly guest talks about this with Su Ye during her consultation, and hints that Su Ye ought to help Xi Fan resolve the matter.

I deeply appreciate Su Ye’s response, where he states his belief, that Xi Fan will be able to find a way to resolve the issue on her own.

This is a wonderful perspective, where Su Ye is choosing to put his trust in Xi Fan to resolve things on her own, instead of getting personally involved to hurry things along.

He’s demonstrating respect for Xi Fan’s personal agency and boundaries, and I love it. 🥲

E17-20. I’m not so sure it was a good idea for Su Ye to get involved with the Yan Heng situation; like, what happened to his earlier resolve to let Xi Fan handle things on her own, right?

But, I can rationalize that he would likely panic in the moment, after hearing from the security guard, that Yan Heng’s gone to see Xi Fan’s parents bearing betrothal gifts. and that’s why he shows up to join the party. 😅

I can also rationalize that this was our writer’s way of giving Su Ye the opportunity to be present with Xi Fan, while she cries afterwards, and reassure her that she didn’t do anything wrong.

That alone makes Su Ye’s presence in the house worthwhile, I feel, because this is so important for Xi Fan to hear. 🥲

E17-20. The next big milestone in our story, happens when Xi Fan receives that gift of perfume from Yan Heng – because that’s when she realizes that she no longer uses perfume, and can’t even tolerate the smell of it.

It might land as a little clichéd, that this is how Xi Fan becomes cognizant of her feelings for Su Ye, but I’ll buy the idea that her body’s reaction to perfume, helped Xi Fan to finally realize that she’s no longer the same person as before.

I do like that Xi Fan is a woman of action; the very moment she realizes her true state of being, she heads out of there, and makes a beeline for Su Ye’s apartment, never mind that she actually has no idea what to say, when she gets there. 😁

In the end, I really liked how she takes the direct approach, when she can’t find any other way to go about it; “He Su Ye, I like you. If you’re still willing, would you be my boyfriend?”

Awww! That’s very sweet, I gotta say. 🥰

Of course Su Ye wouldn’t say no to that, and grabs her for a kiss – which is how our very pretty OTP, is finally minted, in the midst of a very pretty Spring garden scene. It’s all very sweet. 🥲

After this, I kind of like how we get a slow reveal of a lot of little truths; the behind-the-scenes of things, before the OTP minting, if you will.

Like the way Su Ye had spotted Xi Fan through the little screen on his door, when she’d been hemming and hawing, and had found a quick excuse to open the door, so that she wouldn’t just leave.

Or like the way he’d made all those fragrance sachets while thinking of her, but hadn’t given them to her, because he lacked the opportunity.

I also like the way Xi Fan apologizes for making him wait so long, and he tells her that it’s fine, because with each passing day, she’s become more worthy of love.

Aw. That’s sweet. 🥲

In episode 19, I feel like we get lots of little sweet moments to mark the beginning of their relationship.

Like that moment when Xi Fan tells Su Ye that when she likes a person, she likes them for a really long time, and he smiles, then replies, “What a coincidence; me too.”

Aww. This made me smile; it feels like a gentle reassurance on both sides; that they’re in this for the long haul. 🥲

After the wistfulness and angst that they’ve been through to get here, I thought it was very pleasant to see them being so cheerful and smiley at work, thanks to being so buoyed by their new relationship. 🥰

It’s also so cute, that Gramps wastes no time in calling Su Ye to get the official scoop, once he catches wind that Su Ye’s in a relationship. I love Gramps. 😁

Honestly, I really like the fact that our OTP’s idea of an ideal date night, is going to Su Ye’s apartment and hanging out, with him cooking a nourishing dinner for Xi Fan, which they then enjoy together.

It’s so down-to-earth and simple; I somehow love it more than the idea of them going out and eating at fancy restaurants.

Plus, I love the fact that Su Ye actually takes joy in making dinner for Xi Fan; what a wonderful boyfriend is he? 😍

I also like that, during their post-dinner conversation, when they get to talking about what-ifs, and Xi Fan asks Su Ye what he’d have done if she’d gone away and then come back, still not having figured things out.

It feels healthy to hear Su Ye talk about choosing not to hang on to her, if he started to feel miserable because of her, and telling her that if there comes a day when he makes her miserable, to tell him, so that he can change – and that if the changes that he makes aren’t enough, that it’s ok for her to break up with him, because he genuinely wants her to be happy.

It’s not an easy thing to talk about, particularly since they’ve only just started dating, but it’s a healthy perspective, and I like how Su Ye emphasizes to Xi Fan, that a relationship is about two people, and that happiness and joy should flow both ways.

I do love that this is the thought that really grounds Xi Fan, as she faces Yan Heng before his departure.

When Yan Heng questions what Xi Fan sees in Su Ye, I love her clarity as she replies that it’s not that she sees something particular in him, but that when she’s with him, she feels happy and blessed – something that Yan Heng had never been able to give her.

What I love – and what’s probably even more perplexing to Yan Heng – is how calm and unperturbed Xi Fan is, as she says this to Yan Heng.

With this, it’s so clear that she’s completely over him, because there’s nothing about him that gets to her, anymore. 🥲

I’m glad that Xi Fan tells Su Ye about this at their next date, and I like that this potentially sensitive topic, is handled in such a matter-of-fact way between the two of them.

Xi Fan states that she’s completely over her past relationship with Yan Heng, and Su Ye smiles and agrees that it’s an accomplishment worth celebrating; no petty jealousy, no fuss. Very nice. 🥲

And how sweet, that when Xi Fan thanks Su Ye for never letting go of her hand, Su Ye answers that there’s no need to thank him – because he’s gained a girlfriend too, hasn’t he? 😁

It might seem like a simple, throwaway moment, but I like the sense of balance that’s inherent in this exchange.

Xi Fan’s not the only one who’s benefited from Su Ye’s patience; Su Ye’s benefited too. They’ve gained each other, and that’s made it all worthwhile. Lovely.

After this, we’ve mostly got a few light moments, while our OTP basks in their new relationship, and it’s all very harmless and good-natured.

Like Su Ye cluelessly-but-not-cluelessly gatecrashing Xi Fan’s walk with her parents, and basically hijacking Xi Fan for a date, when Mom and Dad hastily excuse themselves so as to give the lovebirds some alone time.

Or when Xiang Ya organizes a double date for Su Ye to get to know her and Yi Shen, and it turns into a photoshoot session.

I do take the point though, that it’s important to Xi Fan, that Su Ye gets along with Xiang Ya and Yi Shen, since they are her best friends.

The pretty photos that result, and how Xi Fan, Su Ye and even Gramps are so taken with said photos, is all very cute and sweet.

I wasn’t so hot on the various scene of Xi Fan questioning Su Ye about the truths behind various moments in their earlier encounters (like why he’d come out of the consultation room to remind her that her medicine could be picked up in 4 hours, for example, or whether he’d really lost the “ring” that she’d given him), but I like the sweet note on which we end episode 20, with Xi Fan giving Su Ye a ring for real.

I find it very sweet, that even though she clarifies that this isn’t a wedding proposal, she assures him that she will take responsibility for him for the rest of her life.

After all that Su Ye’s done to sow into this relationship, this really feels like a nice change, to have Xi Fan being the one to proactively do something for their relationship, and I do love that she’s so sincere and unpretentious about it.

I’m not entirely sure what Show will do next, with just 8 more episodes to go; I suspect that we’re going to get a lot of uneventful slice-of-life OTP sweetness, which could be very pleasant, if only for the pretty, and the sweet vibes.

[END SPOILER]

Yi Shen and Xiang Ya

From fairly early in our story, Show starts hinting at a potential loveline between Xiang Ya (Huang Can Can) and Yi Shen (Wang You Jun), and I was fully on board with the idea.

I also like that their loveline explores the struggle and risk that comes with taking a friendship and turning it romantic; the angst is real on both sides, and I thought that was a nice addition to our story.

Special shout-outs:

Fang Zi Bin and Liu Wei Wei as Xi Fan’s parents

I just wanted to give Xi Fan’s parents a shout-out, for being pretty darn awesome.

They’re consistently supportive and loving towards Xi Fan, even when they don’t really understand what’s really going on with her.

And when push comes to shove, it’s very clear that they’re very much on her side, no matter what anyone says.

Then, when it comes to Xi Fan’s relationship with Su Ye, they are so supportive as well.

I thought it was quite lovely, all around. 🥲

Li Jian Yi as Professor Yu

I also wanted to give a shout-out to Professor Yu, for being such a sweet, supporting and understanding grandfather to Su Ye, and for being so warm, kind and welcoming to Xi Fan and her family.

I thought he was just lovely. 🥰

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PENULTIMATE EPISODES [SPOILERS]

E21-24. Honestly, I’m pretty pleased with Show’s chosen use of our penultimate episodes.

I’d wondered if it would all be too bland, or if Show might swing the other way and create out-of-character angst just because this was the penultimate stretch.

In the end, Show chooses to take some of our key relationships forward, which feels meaningful yet angst-lite, and that seems quite perfect, for our sweet little show.

In episode 21, I thought the handling of Su Ye’s visit to his mother’s grave was nicely done.

There’s definitely some angst around him and his thought around Dad, in that, on the one hand, it’s clear to see that he’s not looking forward to spending time with Dad, and yet, on the other hand, he’s noticeably disappointed and frustrated, when Dad says that he can’t make it.

It’s understandable that he feels this way, given all that’s happened, and yet, I also feel a twinge of sympathy for Dad, because he is effectively stuck between a rock and a hard place, where Su Ye’s going to feel frustrated at him, no matter what he does.

It’s really very pleasant to see Xi Fan show up to fill all these emotional gaps so naturally, seemingly without even trying.

Her gift of fresh tulips for Mom instantly lift Su Ye’s spirits, and her presence, even if it’s virtually, over a video call, helps to brighten the day for both Su Ye and Professor Yu.

It’s quite lovely, and makes me think that Xi Fan is definitely a positive addition to Su Ye’s life. 🥲

It’s also very heartwarming to see their two families spend more time together, starting with Mom and Dad accepting Professor Yu’s invitation to visit the herb garden.

It really feels like our OTP relationship is growing a stronger foundation, as we see the two families start to get along, and I do like that. 🥰

In episode 22, it feels like an important thing, that Su Ye gets to attend the Chinese Medicine Conference at Xi Fan’s hotel.

Part of it, of course, is that it’s an important acknowledgment of his research, and a key milestone in his career.

Part of it, is that him getting to see Xi Fan at her place of work, does help to bring them closer together, because his understanding of her work, and how well she does it, naturally increases.

And the most key thing, in this particular instance, is the fact that Su Ye’s dad is also attending the conference, and this becomes an unexpected opportunity for their relationship to be mended – with much credit to Xi Fan, of course.

To my eyes, it’s partly that she takes the position of a baggage-free neutral party, whom both Dad and Su Ye are amenable to, and it’s partly her sweet, gentle personality that helps to soothe any frayed nerves on both sides.

Of course, it also helps that both Dad and Su Ye have enough care for each other, and enough desire to mend their relationship, because I do think that this is the reason their quick reconciliation manages to come off as believable, despite the many episodes where we’ve seen them be distant with each other.

Without Xi Fan’s loving prodding, Su Ye would have likely never mustered up the resolve to invite Dad out to dinner, and without Xi Fan’s sweet yet neutral presence there to smooth things along, that dinner would not have been the success that it was.

And then, we have that subdued yet breakthrough conversation between Su Ye and Dad, where Dad, in trying to give advice to Su Ye about his relationship with Xi Fan, finally articulates his regret around how things had been with Su Ye’s mom, when she’d been alive.

Honestly, I think that that’s mostly what Su Ye had always wanted from Dad, all these years; an acknowledgment of regret – an understanding that he had failed Mom.

Everything’s quite indirect in this conciliatory conversation, as it tends to be within many Asian families, but you can tell that Su Ye’s accepted Dad’s indirect acknowledgment, with the way he says to Dad, to keep in touch regularly.

That’s a huge step forward, given that all this time, Su Ye’s been tolerating Dad’s infrequent efforts to stay in contact, looking like he wished Dad wouldn’t try at all.

It totally feels like an olive branch, when Dad talks about them maybe studying together, how TCM and cardiac surgery could be combined, and Su Ye accepts the suggestion, with thanks.

It’s all very low-key, and yet, really quite touching, I feel. 🥲

After this, we focus on taking our OTP relationship to the next level, starting with Su Ye giving Xi Fan that bangle that had belonged to his mother.

That’s a very big deal, I feel; to my eyes, it’s basically equivalent to a marriage proposal (except it isn’t) because Su Ye’s establishing a sense of permanence to their relationship, by gifting Xi Fan a family heirloom – which, of course, would be kept within the family.

In giving this to her, he’s saying that they are family, and will continue to be family, and I do find this all very significant.

I also love that when Xi Fan asks why he’s suddenly giving her this bangle, his answer is simply, that he suddenly feels that he really loves her a lot.

To me, the thing that had triggered this thought in Su Ye, was the fact that he could see and understand that Xi Fan was lovingly nudging him towards mending his relationship with his dad, while clearly standing in empathy with him.

In a way, it feels like Su Ye is entrusting himself to Xi Fan, with this gesture, and I do love the thought that he feels safe to do so. 🥲

With that in place, it feels quite natural, that episode 24 focuses on our OTP taking their connection to the next level, by consummating their relationship.

It’s all kind of shy and awkward, blended with sweetly sexy, and it’s all rather dreamy, as our OTP leans into the skinship and sexytimes. 🔥🥰

It really didn’t make a ton of sense to me, that Su Ye would take Xi Fan shopping for toiletries and pajamas the next day, because it’s not like Xi Fan would be able to sleep over at his apartment on a regular basis, given that her living arrangement with her parents is very much on the traditional, more conservative side of things.

But ok, I guess our OTP’s on a bit of a high after this big new milestone in their relationship, and therefore not thinking very straight – which totally lines up with how Su Ye can’t seem to think quite straight either, when they run into Mom and Dad on the way back to his apartment. 🤭

Even though Mom and Dad are clearly not so comfortable with the idea of Xi Fan having slept over at Su Ye’s home (thus the quick change of the apartment lock to an electronic keypad lock 🤭), it’s good to see them do their best to roll with it.

And, it’s also very heartwarming to see the two families continue to spend time together, and Su Ye and Xi Fan getting comfortable as a couple, even in front of the family elders.

It basically feels like they’re practically a married couple now – which makes me think that we’ll likely see a wedding in our finale, either just before or just after Xi Fan goes away for her studies. 🥰

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

E25-28. It’s absolutely no surprise, that Show wraps up its story on a happy, feel-good, neat-bows sort of note, and I have absolutely no complaints about that.

I’m just glad that we don’t end up with 4 episodes of fan service, honestly, because I wouldn’t put it past a simple, feel-good sort of show to do that.

Instead, what Show does, is allow our OTP to work through various obstacles and milestones together, in a low-angst sort of way.

I like this, because it kind of gives us an idea of how our OTP deals with difficulties and challenges, while staying firmly united.

On that note, I’d been a little concerned, for a bit, at whether our OTP would manage to keep up an united front, given that Mom makes that request of Su Ye, to keep her medical condition from Xi Fan.

That effectively puts Su Ye in a very difficult position, because of course he doesn’t want to keep something so important from Xi Fan, who would absolutely want to know.

And, there’s also that thing, where, once Xi Fan comes to know the truth, that she might blame Su Ye for keeping this from her, even if that request had come from Mom.

On that note, I know it can be frustrating to watch, but I can understand where Mom’s coming from.

I think it’s quite a typical Asian parent thing, to not want to worry your children unless absolutely necessary, and I believe that’s why Mom wants to delay letting Xi Fan know about her condition, until the pathology report is out. It’s her way of protecting Xi Fan. 🥲

In fact, my heart goes out to Mom, because she’s clearly worried and scared, and could use all the support that she can get, and yet, she makes that choice to not tell Xi Fan, in order not to worry her.

From that perspective, you could say that Mom’s decision is a rather self-sacrificial one, instead of a nobly idiotic one. 😅

I also appreciate the narrative significance, of Su Ye once again being in a position to worry for someone close to him, who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It’s just that this time, it’s Xi Fan’s mother, not his own mother, and instead of being a powerless kid, he’s now a doctor.

In a way, I see this arc as being rather healing for Su Ye, because he’s now able to help Mom in her recovery, where before, he’d felt utterly lost and helpless. 🥲

Of course, Xi Fan finds out about Mom’s secret all on her own, when she pops by the hospital to surprise Su Ye, and gets upset.

I’m really glad though, that she doesn’t stay upset with Su Ye for long, and I appreciate the very calm and gentle way in which Su Ye explains to her that he had to consider patient confidentiality, and that this was his way of respecting Mom.

I also appreciate that Show then demonstrates how things are actually easier and better for Mom, with Xi Fan in the know; I feel like this is a gentle reminder to all us viewers, to choose transparency with more boldness and courage, rather than try to keep everything to ourselves, for fear of burdening our loved ones. 🥲

After this, I could very much empathize with Xi Fan’s hesitation around going abroad for her studies; as a loving daughter, of course she would want to stay instead, so that she’d be able to help Mom through her recovery, yes?

In the end, it feels right, that Su Ye offers his perspective, but it’s Mom who finally talks Xi Fan around, by urging her to go, because she’ll be fine, and more than that, she doesn’t want to ever hold Xi Fan back. Aw. Mom. 🥹

It does feel quite wistful, to see Xi Fan packing up to leave, especially with how Su Ye packs that thoughtful notebook of remedies that she can tap on, while she’s away, and how he shows up to the airport, to get one last look at her. 🥲

I thought it was a slightly odd choice, that we mostly see the separation from Su Ye’s point of view, with his sweet letters to her in voiceover, while we barely see or hear anything from her side.

I also found it a little odd, that beat in episode 24, where Xi Fan talks about applying to an internship that would require her to delay her return to China for an additional two months, kind of goes nowhere, because the next thing we see, is her returning home to China.

I thought that bit was weirdly edited, and came off as being rather unnecessary, but in the end, it was nice to see Xi Fan settling back into life in Hang City, and being so overwhelmed with happy contentment, that she would suggest to Su Ye, that they get married. 🥲

I thought Su Ye’s proposal, with the intertwined flower ring, very sweet, with his request that she entrust the rest of her life to him, and that he would, in return, give her a lifetime of love.

Awww. Lovely. 🥹🥰

The wedding itself is a warm, sweet and romantic affair, and I thought Su Ye’s sentiment – that they would walk many roads to see lots of beautiful scenery together, but that Xi Fan, to him, is the most beautiful scenery – was sweet, albeit a bit oddly worded.

I also really liked that beat, where Dad moves to congratulate Su Ye, and father and son have that chuckle moment, when Dad says that Su Ye takes after him, in handsomeness.

Aw. Cute. I love that they’ve come far enough to have this kind of banter together. 🥲

As we close out our story, I like the little highlight reel that we get interspersed into the scenes of fun, happy smiles and laughter for our wedded couple and their guests, where we get to see some of our OTP’s key moments, that have brought them this far.

I also love Show’s parting shot to us as viewers:

May everyone with a good heart, be able to find a long-lasting love in the gaps of life.

If you haven’t found that person yet, or you’ve lost the courage to search, it’s okay.

Learn to love yourself first, more than anyone else in the world; then, someone will surely appear in the light shining through the crack.

Aww. What a loving, lovely sentiment. Thank you, Show, reminding us to hope in love, and above all, to love ourselves first. 🥰🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Sweet, simple and feel-good.

FINAL GRADE: B+

TRAILER:

MV:

PATREON UPDATE!

The next drama I’m covering on Patreon, in place of  The Best Thing, is Always Home [China].

You can check out my episode 1-4 notes on Always Home on Patreon here.

Here’s an overview of what I’m covering on Patreon right now (Tier benefits are cumulative)!

Foundation Tier (US$1): Entertainment Drop (Sundays) + the first set notes of all shows covered on Patreon (that’s 2 episodes for kdramas and 4 episodes for cdramas)

Early Access (US$5): +The Haunted Palace [Korea]

Early Access Plus (US$10): +Doubt [Korea]

VIP (US$15): +Heavenly Ever After [Korea]

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