Vertical Drama: Abnormal Trial Marriage

Rating: 8/10

Review

Abnormal Trial Marriage was definitely worth watching! I've seen quite a few vertical dramas by now, and this one was better quality than many of them. The acting was good, the leads had convincing chemistry, and the story kept me entertained. It wasn't particularly original, but I don't necessarily need a romance to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes I just want an enjoyable love story with attractive leads, a satisfying relationship, and enough going on to keep me interested.

The premise has a little Cinderella feel to it, with a heroine facing difficult circumstances and a wealthy male lead entering her life. There are familiar romance tropes here, but they're familiar for a reason. I still enjoy watching two people who enter a relationship for practical reasons gradually develop genuine feelings for each other.

I thought the leads did a good job bringing their characters to life. Liang Wenjing and Shi Kang both impressed me, and I would be interested in seeing them in other projects. Their performances felt natural, and I thought they worked well together. I haven't been able to verify substantial roles for either actor in mainstream, full-length Chinese dramas or movies, but they certainly have the potential to do more.

The production was also better than I expected. I didn't notice much that looked obviously AI-generated, and if any AI was used, it was subtle enough that it didn't distract me from the story. The visuals felt natural to me, which I appreciated.

Overall, this was a good, predictable romance. It didn't surprise me with a completely new story, but it didn't need to. I enjoyed the characters, the romantic development, and the familiar tropes. I also appreciated that the heroine wasn't simply a helpless woman who needed a man to solve every problem for her.

Would I watch it again? Probably not. But I don't regret watching it, and I wouldn't automatically turn it off if it came on again. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy Chinese vertical dramas, especially those who like contract-marriage romances, wealthy male leads, and couples who gradually fall in love.

For me, this was a solid 8/10. It entertained me, and sometimes that's exactly what I want from a drama.

Spoilers

I liked the chemistry between the two leads, and I thought the premise worked well. The story itself wasn't especially novel, but I'm not tired of this kind of romance. A contract marriage between two people who have their own reasons for entering the arrangement, followed by the gradual development of real feelings, is a trope I can happily watch again.

I also thought the characters were reasonably well developed for such a short drama. The leads had personalities beyond simply being the handsome billionaire and the woman who needed help. Their relationship had enough progression to make their growing attachment believable.

However, there was one part of the story that really bothered me. It was the karaoke scene involving the heroine's former high school bullies.

Let me be clear: bullying is awful, and I have no sympathy for people who deliberately make someone else's life miserable. Seeing those former classmates again must have been upsetting for her. I had no problem with her standing up for herself or giving them a taste of their own medicine verbally. Honestly, I would have enjoyed seeing her confidently put them in their place.

What I didn't like was how the confrontation escalated into physical violence once the male lead arrived. He holds her hand while she attacks them, and the scene is presented as though their behavior is somehow sexy or empowering.

That didn't work for me at all.

To me, there is a difference between standing up to people who have mistreated you and using your newfound wealth or status as an excuse to hurt people. The heroine had every right to be angry, but that didn't automatically make physical retaliation acceptable. And the male lead's presence made the scene feel even more like they were enjoying the power they now had over people they considered beneath them.

I found myself thinking that this was the kind of behavior I would criticize if the characters weren't wealthy and attractive. Being rich doesn't make someone better than everyone else, and it certainly doesn't give them permission to behave however they want. I would have much preferred to see the heroine confront her bullies with confidence and dignity rather than have the situation turn into a physical attack.

Then there was the car-racing scene.

When the male lead tells her to let go and promises to protect her, I understand what the drama is trying to convey. It's supposed to show that he's fearless, capable, and willing to protect the woman he loves. In a romance, I enjoy a male lead who is confident and protective, so I understand the appeal of the moment.

But there is a difference between being protective and being reckless. You can be the richest man in the world, but if you drive too fast and lose control of a car, money won't stop you from getting hurt. It won't necessarily save the person sitting beside you, either.

I don't find reckless behavior romantic just because a handsome man promises that everything will be fine. I would rather see a male lead demonstrate his strength through good judgment, self-control, and the ability to keep the woman he loves safe without putting her in unnecessary danger.

Those two scenes affected how I viewed the characters. I actually had to convince myself to move past them because they made me like the leads less. It felt as though the drama wanted me to admire behavior that I would normally consider entitled and irresponsible.

I don't think the characters needed to be perfect. Flawed characters can be interesting, and I don't mind a little revenge against people who have behaved terribly. But I do think there should be some distinction between justice and cruelty. People who have been hurt shouldn't have to become bullies themselves to prove that they are no longer victims.

Despite those frustrations, I still enjoyed the drama overall. The leads had good chemistry, the romance was entertaining, and the story was engaging enough that I don't regret watching it. The problematic scenes didn't ruin the entire experience, but they did keep me from loving it as much as I might have otherwise.

Abnormal Trial Marriage is worth a watch if you enjoy this kind of vertical romance. Just be aware that some of the scenes intended to make the leads look powerful and attractive may not land that way for every viewer.

Overview

Year Aired: 2026

Number of Episodes: 77

Average Run Time per Episode: 2 minutes

Country of Origin: China

Genre(s): Romance, Modern Drama

Synopsis

After an unexpected accident leaves Song Cixing with a startling realization, she discovers that her life resembles the plot of a novel in which she is destined to be the unfortunate side character. Rather than accept the miserable future awaiting her, she decides to take control of her fate. Her solution is an unconventional marriage arrangement with Su Mingyuan, a wealthy businessman whose cold reputation makes him a man most people would prefer to avoid.

Cixing approaches their trial marriage as a practical arrangement rather than a fairy tale. With clear expectations and personal goals in mind, she intends to make the best of her new circumstances without getting swept away by romance. Mingyuan, meanwhile, has a reputation that suggests he is anything but an easy husband to live with. As the two begin sharing their lives, however, their relationship proves more complicated than either anticipated.

What starts as an unusual agreement gradually opens the door to unexpected affection. Cixing's determination to shape her own future challenges the assumptions others have made about her, while Mingyuan begins to reveal a more caring side beneath his intimidating exterior. As family conflicts and outside interference threaten their growing connection, the couple must discover whether their marriage can become something genuine—or whether their unusual arrangement will remain nothing more than a temporary deal.

Major Character List

Song Cixing (Liang Wenjing) — A determined young woman who discovers that she is destined for an unhappy future in the story she appears to inhabit. Rather than accept her supposed fate, she takes an active role in changing her circumstances by entering an unconventional trial marriage. Practical, resourceful, and willing to stand up for herself, Cixing approaches her new life on her own terms.

Su Mingyuan (Shi Kang) — A wealthy businessman whose intimidating reputation makes others view him as cold and difficult to approach. Beneath that exterior, he has a more caring side that gradually emerges through his relationship with Cixing. Their unusual marriage challenges his expectations and gives him an opportunity to build a genuine connection with someone who isn't easily intimidated by him.