The Best Thing

Review

9/10 is my rating. What I have found with a lot of the more recent Chinese romantic series is there is a slow build. A long period of time where one or the other main characters is frustrating. Where you are like "come on you know you like them." And that was this one for me. It was very good. Once all the initial was past and the viewer was able to understand why one of the characters was being so frustrating. That was me also in First Frost. To provide context. I think they pace is very similar to that. I think that is the difference in reviews. If you want things to start evolving immediately versus a slower evolution of the relationship. I would watch it again some time in the future. I would recommend it to romance fans. And would sit down and watch it if someone had it on. They had a lot of chemistry and there are few pancake kisses in this one. In fact, I think somewhere this one was rated as one where there is a lot of kissing and that is true.

Spoilers

My biggest complaint was simply her absolute insistence on studying abroad. It was never clear how that would be such a huge gain in her life to sacrifice relationships. Her ex was just an absolute jerk. So, him not wanting to go was just for his own selfish reasons. But she was also selfish at times in her laser focus on study abroad.

I think only the main guy would have had patience for her. She blew so hot and cold. I was frustrated when she decided it was for the best they didn't get involved romantically because she was going abroad. One of my least favorite tropes. Doing it for our own good. Made no sense she did it to avoid heart break but completely broke his heart in the process. That is what made it seem so selfish.

If I had known earlier in the series what an absolute nightmare her ex was I would have felt less frustrated with her and her sometimes cold attitude toward main guy. It made more sense once I realized that yes, they had a seemingly good relationship in college but he turned into a selfish, entitled jerk once they were in a relationship. He totally ignored her emotional needs by ghosting her. Then he comes back and wants to get back together? After he did whatever it was he wanted? And she also knew the father-in-law would be a problem. Wisest thing she did was not take him back. Not even consider it. He was a special kind of A*$hole and those kind are best left alone.

For a unique synopsis, please scroll down.

Synopsis

Shen Xi Fan (Xu Rue Han) is a hard working hotel manager who has been in a seven year relationship with her College love, Yan Heng (Caesar Wu), Xi Fan and Yang Heng are engaged but she has found that has he has changed over the years becoming very cold and distant. While she had thoughts of breaking it off, she decided to make her relationship work but then Yan Heng broke it off with her suddenly. The stress of the relationship caused Xi Fan to become insomniac leading her to the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic where she meets Dr. He (Zhang Ling He) a very handsome TCM doctor. He is over 30 and experiencing great social pressure to find "the one" and get married. While there is no shortage of eligible women, and mothers and fathers alike try to get him to date their daughters, sister and friends Dr. He shows no interest in romance until he falls for Xi Fan almost on sight. While he works with her to alleviate her insomnia, the two grow ever closer. After some time passes, Xi Fan realizes that her fiancé breaking up with her after seven years may not have been the worst thing after all. It may have opened her life up to experiencing the best thing.

This is a 2025 Chinese romance drama with 28, ~42 minute episodes. It is adapted from Sheng Li's novel entitled "Loving You is the Best Thing I Have Done."

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