Rating this drama based on the central characters Sheng Yang and Jian Bing alone, 10/10. Loved watching them struggle with their feelings, their personal challenges, and their families and professional lives in such a real fashion — and come out better, stronger, and on top. I watched this drama for Xiao Zhan, who once again, did not disappoint.

What made me connect with this drama the most though, was watching Sheng Yang and his parents. Their dialogue with each other (the arguments!) and with him were like watching my own parents/family growing up. Those scenes were heart wrenching, yet priceless to watch, simply because they were not glamorous but absolutely true to life.
Personally, like many other comments and reviews here, I too wish there was much more of Xiao Zhan and Bai Bai He. I wanted to see them develop as a couple as they continued to walk together; instead of seeing so much time spent on side characters.

But I think big stars like XZ and BBH truly understand that the success of a drama doesn’t just depend on the shoulders of the main characters, but on all of the parts and people working together to achieve a deep, rich story. I believe the reasoning for some of the pacing issues — was to allow all facets of this fictional world and their actors — equal billing and time. I also think that if they had been allowed to keep more of the original material in the final edit, it would have helped round out some of the plot gaps a bit better. Doesn’t detract from the fact that this was still a solid, must-watch drama. Well done.