Young designer Sheng Yang (Xiao Zhan) meets his longtime idol award-winning director Jian Bing (Bai Baihe). Despite a 10 year age difference he has a strong affection for her and she’s drawn to him as well. He tries to be a little ray of sunshine to brighten her life.
Filmed in the city of Chongqing this workplace drama has a movie feel to it. The way it’s shot, the attention to detail, and the great city scapes make for a very artistic urban atmosphere.
In addition to the slice of life story surrounding Sheng Yang and Jian Bing, the drama depicts struggles faced in different generations and stations in life, broaching hot-button issues such as sexism, ageism and bullying.
The acting is natural and on point - cast and crew included seasoned professionals along with fresh faces.
Xiao Zhan is an impressive actor with great range. He has three dramas of different genres in 2023 with three very different characters. The loyal persistent social cow Xiao Chun Sheng, the cool reserved high priest Shi Ying, and now the joyful and warm puppy Sheng Yang. Sheng Yang is so real that after just a few episodes I feel like I know him.
Sunshine By My Side is an interesting and entertaining watch so far. I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds!
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If you’re expecting a typical modern love story with intimacy and happily ever after ending…Here are some interview snippets that may prepare you for a somewhat different type of drama.

On the screen time for leads…
This is not a pure love or idol drama, it show lots of relationships, not just the protagonists.

On the slow burn/lack of skinship…
It does not cater to the audience's fast-paced drama-chasing psychology, but instead handles the progress of character relationships in a step-by-step plot development.

This is a story that flows like water. It has no particularly dramatic conflicts or plots. Everything is natural, just like a story that would happen around you.

This is one of the really realistic things, the didi doesn't immediately push the jiejie up against a wall, the two of them don't immediately get into it, they gradually come to understand and test and walk toward each other.

Love is like a glass of wine. When you put it in mouth, it’s one taste; after swallowing it tastes different; then there’s an after-taste. Love is actually like this, not very intense…getting to know each other, testing each other, There are sweet and sour moments in between.

On the open ending…
Life is a marathon. You may meet someone who is at the same pace as you. You two will run together for a certain distance; If one person loses speed, then you separate. And continue running and meet new people with the same pace. In the end, it doesn’t matter who you are running with, the important thing is that you have to reach the finish line.