Ein zauberhaftes Lächeln

No wonder this drama is usually included in best Chinese drama lists. It's extremely captivating and titillating. The story centers around a pair of gorgeous Computing students in Qing University who bond through the online game A Chinese Ghost Story. The romance between university heartthrob Xiao Nai (Yang Yang) and department belle Bei Wei Wei (Zheng Shuang) is sweet and heart-fluttering.

The pace is much better than many cdramas. The presentation of the online game is impressive, making me interested in playing it myself. The relationship between two individuals who, with their high IQ and EQ, can resolve issues quickly and peacefully, is the type I like - mature, with minimal misunderstanding.

I loved this drama, I usually don't go for Chinese dramas this was my first one and i really really loved it and i finally know that if the story is good and the cast is good i can watch a drama no matter how long it, I am really happy that i gave this drama a try and i will never regret it. I watched it till end but their chemistry still left me wanting for more.

It may seem like a regular movie until you listen and see aspects of Chinese culture, morals, pride through subliminal messages interspersed throughout the film. It's an idealistic romance on the front but the impact of values you can only lock if you study the dialog more. Good job.

I know a lot of people love this show and that's completely cool, I totally get it. Don't get me wrong, I finished all episodes, but it was very cheesy to me, even though I do like these kinds of shows. It felt cheesy and unrealistic along with the fact that I didn't feel the 2 leads had any chemistry together. To me, it almost felt as though most of them could act a bit except for them, even though she was better imo than Yang Yang (even though I felt he did great in The King's Avatar). Her bff was cute and fun and really helped keep this together even though she overdid it at times.

Honestly, I felt a lot of my feelings had to do with the script, directing, and editing. I don't feel like either of those gave the actors much to work with.

But, I did still finish it. ;)

As is my wont, I'm reviewing this against other Asian dramas.

It is a nice story about a young nerdy couple in college and their romance. It ties in computer gaming relationships with real-life relationships and that did make it more interesting until that drops by the wayside later in the series. Later in the series the programming company started by the main male character becomes more central to the story.

The male protagonist, Xiao Nai (Yang Yang), is an almost perfect character with few flaws. The top-rated character in a game, the best programmer, the top intramural basketball player, the top intramural swimmer and the most handsome guy on campus. It is a lot, especially when I realized he is autistic. I'm kidding a little bit here, but not much. Xiao Nai walks past other people without looking at them, even when they clearly want to talk to him. He often then stops and talks to them without looking at them. In Asian dramas this is somewhat common in the cold, arrogant, rich male and I think I'm going to have to start labeling them all, autistic. Xaio Nai is so perfect that female students treat him as a rock star.

He and Bei Wei Wei (Shuang Zheng) do get along well for an Asian drama, with few misunderstandings that are easily corrected with direct communication. Wei Wei is among the top ten players in the game, a good programmer, tallish, thin and attractive.

It is a little too stereotypical in that Xiao Nai takes control of the relationship and while Wei Wei may balk at times, she doesn't resist very long. There is more kissy face than I expect in Asian dramas, but my wife liked it. Wei Wei's contributions to work are limited to traditional female inputs such as ordering meals, and suggesting/arranging sleeping cots (but, she is only an intern as she is two years behind Xiao Nai in school).

Er Xi (Xiaotong Mao) is a fun character and provides some comic relief, as does Xiao Nai's college roommates and programming buddies.

Several of the characters that initially present themselves as bad, for conflict's sake, are allowed to grow and change, which was nice.

Overall better than average and fun to watch. Just put aside disbelief at how good Xiao Nai is at so many things (I didn't even mention them all). The main thing I liked about this drama is the two main characters actually trust each other rather than assuming the worst, which is a common conflict in Asian dramas.