Chinese Drama 2017 Jiang Chen Hu Ti Yian & Chen Xiao Xi Shen Yue Global Granary Drama Recommendation Genre Romance, First Love, School, Youth, Comedy, Drama, WebDrama Based on a novel To Our Pure Little Beauty’ by Zhao Gan Gan Release Date 2017 CDrama 23 Episode + 1 Bonus Episode 24 Cast Hu Yi Tian as Jiang Chen Shen Yue as Chen Xiao Xi Wang Zi Wei as Lin Jing Xiao Gao Zhi Ting as Wu Bai Song Zhang He Hao Zhen as Li Shu Sun Ning as Lu Yang Lv Yan as Li Wei Synopsis A sweet love story spanning 19 years between genius boy and a fairly ordinary girl. Between them, they found a common ground that created the cutest, purest, long-lasting love affair of a lifetime. This is such a cute drama. I have seen all the episodes literally hundreds of times both in the raw and subtitled forms. Despite the language barrier can’t understand Chinese, I still found the drama quite engaging. Probably because of the script is well developed plus the fact that the cast is beautiful and handsome. Most of them are newbies, new to the business, which is amazing in itself as they do deliver fine acting. When you have a good line-up of actors, it is usually hard to go wrong. Actually this drama should come with a warning! HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. I love the main girl, Chen Xiao Xi. She’s so lovely, full of vim. She knows what she wants and goes for it. At the age of 16 she wanted Jiang Chen, the genius & proud boy of her class. This drama spans 19 years of their sweetly innocent romantic life. Based on the trailers of forthcoming episodes, it will not be all roses all the way through; there is a lot of angst and drama. But having said that,it is predominantly cute scenes that will leave you gooeyly mesmerised! This drama has been likened to the Japanese Itazura Na Kiss, which is I supposed has the same formula where arrogant genius boy meets scatty girl. The difference, I think, which I prefer is that in A Love So Beautiful, the viewers are given a chance to know that the genius boy has really fallen for the girl almost from the beginning. We see him becoming jealous and doing thousands of different ways to show the viewers how much he cares for the girl. The subtle smile, the widening, and furrowing of his eyes, glowering, grimacing, secretly grinning, his facial expressions are so sweet. There are apparently 23 episodes and a bonus extra episode at the end. By the way, it can be hard to wait for Chinese dramas to be subbed in English, which is rather frustrating sometimes especially when the drama is deemed to be good. I would like, therefore, to thank some hard-working youtube subbers most of them hold full-time jobs and being students, who do subtitling in their spare time with no monetary rewards whatsoever. If I had been the Queen of England, I would have given them MBEs for services rendered to the society. LOL Since I am not the queen, I would like to thank them with all my heart for subbing this excellent drama. I would also like to urge you to subscribe to their channels to show appreciation. Cheers! Episode 24 This episode is really a standalone one. I would say it is a prologue to the whole drama. Therefore, if you wanted to watch this drama again or just about to start this addictive series, I am seriously recommending that you start with episode 24 first. This actually introduces the cute Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen. It is very short at less than half hour. Standout Xiao Xi trying out for the SuperGirl talent show believing that it was Jiang Chen favourite show. LOL Episode 1 Dear Jiang Chen Chen Xiao Xi was shown reminiscing, She said that the most important thing in her life is drawing… and drawing, this was at present time 2017. But back then 2005,it was a boy called Jiang Chen. It all started in 2005 when she was16 and enrolled in Chen Xi Middle School. Chen Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen grew up together in the same neighbourhood, in fact the same apartment complex. They went to the same kindergarten, primary school, junior school, high school and university. Chen Xiao Xi was without any qualms in pursuing Jiang Chen. She told him she liked him in which he replied “I don’t like you.” This hardly made Chen Xiao Xi stopped on her track. In fact, she persevered and researched the internet how to make someone like you back. So funny. love it. Back then, sending love letters was still the norm. 🙂 Xiao Xi sent a love letter to Jiang Chen, ergo the title of this episode. I love the characters. Chen Xiao Xi is a least a foot shorter than Jiang Chen but somehow they looks so cute together. Even from the beginning, their chemistry was clear. Episode 2 Can You Find Me This episode also strengthens the growing bond between Xiao Xi, Jiang Chen, Bo Song, Lu Yang & Lin Jing Xiao. I don’t know but I thought there was no real chemistry between Lu Yang and Jing Xiao, but there is this sexual tension between Bo Song and Jing Xiao. I felt it and saw it. LOL This is a story about children and parents. Being filial. Appreciate your parents while you still can. This episode also gives a background why Jiang Chen is a bit of a loner or having a rather cold demeanor. He was very young when he lost his father and for some reason, his mother and younger brother were living in another city, where his mom works. And one of his memories regarding his father was when he was 7 years old. He accidentally made his little brother fall over and gets hurt and cries. He was so upset that he run away. It took ages for his father to come along and find him, he felt they did not value him until his father took him in a noodle restaurant for father-son bonding. Standout He started seeing Xiao Xi in a new light. Episode 3 This episode is about Chen Xiao Xi wanting to be the class monitor. She would have been the clear winner if Jiang Chen had voted for her instead of Li Wei. He was convinced that she lacks the attitude and character to be an able class monitor. She was so annoyed she kicked Jiang Chen in the shin. Ouch! It was revealed that the real reason Jiang Chen did not vote for Xiao Xi was that he got jealous watching Xiao Xi and Bo Song practising her candidate speech by running around in the playing field of the school. She tied with Li Wei and temporary they were the two-class monitors. In the end Jiang Chen told her that she made a good class monitor despite misplacing the class fee monies. The 5 main characters were such a hoot in this episode. Bo Song is delightfully helpful but clueless. He’s adorable. Standout Bo Sung encouraging Xiao Xi to be more confident by shouting and running around in the playing field. Episode 4 Run With The Wind, Towards Freedom It was going to be Jiang Chen’s birthday and Xiao Xi wanted to give him a present but she lacks funds. Previously she does not want to participate in their sports day but because the prize would be a watch, she steeled herself to do the hurdle. It was rather hilarious given that she has short legs. LOL. Bo Song once again was there to help her. Running along with her in the track in a mascot costume. The stand-out scene was in the bookshop where Xiao Xi was reading a comic mag giggling to herself which captivated Jiang Chen. So cute Episode 5 This episode is about a drama competition. It was hilarious. Shen Yue is such a good actress for a newbie. She made Xiao Xi so adorable, so human and so funny. Xiao Xi did everything she could to convince Jiang Chen to be part of her drama team to play Erkang. But in the end, the home room teacher assigned the top students in which Xiao Xi is not part of to bond together and create a drama. Jiang Chen is beginning to show serious jealousy between the comfortable friendship of Xiao Xi and Bo Song. So much so that at the end of the drama, instead of comforting the aggrieved and humiliated Xiao Xi she ruined the drama for all as she stumbled towards the set, making it to collapse, Jiang Chen showed annoyance because Xiao Xi and Bo Song were wearing a couple-t-shirt. Awwww Jing Xiao developed a major crush on Teacher Li, the school doctor. Highlight Xiao Xi trying to reach a book on the top shelf. Then came Jiang Chen, who was seemingly prepared to help but put the book even more out of reach. Awww moment 🙂 Episode 6 Xiao Xi is doing badly at school, so her parents mooted the idea of transferring her to a stricter school. But of course Jiang Chen was there to tell her not to transfer. She then promised her parents that she will be in the top 15. Everyone thought that was impossible. But then again Jiang Chen was her personal tutor. She got to top 13. Awww. Episode 7 2 Days and 1 Night This is a rather hectic episode. Xiao Xi thinking that Jiang Chen would like her better if she appears to be more vulnerable just like Li Wei, over-dramatised her parents’ domestic spat. She was told off by Jiang Cheng for making things up. But it seems there might be cause for concern as Xiao Xi saw her father on a date’ with another woman. She went home crying for real much to the surprise of Jiang Chen, who became so concerned. Standout scene Xiao Xi crying using the sleeves of Jiang Chen tracksuit. Btw, it was all a misunderstanding. Xiao Xi’s dad is a devoted husband and father. Also in this episode, Lu Yang won a scammish contest in which the prize was a 2 days-1 night getaway in the suburb. During the away night, they played pen deity, much like the ouija board. Jiang Chen was rather curious about what Xiao Xi asked the pen deity. Xiao Xi said she was too embarrassed to ask whether Jiang Chen would ever like her. She doesn’t want to know that Jiang Chen would never like her as her love will be a useless miserable one and therefore she would have no choice but to stop liking him. Jiang Chen was rather touched. The drama ended with Bo Song winning during the swimming competition. When asked during the interview by the press what was his motivation for winning the gold, Bo Song gently pulled Xiao Xi towards him and said “Because of her” much to Jiang Chen’s shock and jealousy 🙂 Episode 8 While in the bookstore some girls were saying loudly that Xiao Xi was Wo Bo Song’s girlfriend but she is not good enough. Xiao Xi can’t take this without saying anything so she said she was good enough which was heard by Jiang Chen, who was in a jealous mode. It’s Xiao Xi’s birthday. Everyone knew that she wanted to see Manchester United play in China with Jiang Chen, who was an avid supporter, but she can’t afford the tickets also it was hard to get them. Bo Song put a feeler amongst his sporty friends about how to get tickets. On her birthday, she got the tickets for the game from her father. Unfortunately, the tickets were fake but all the same, she enjoyed being with Jiang Chen. It was so sad to see Bo Song throwing away the tickets as he watched Jiang Chen and Xiao Xi having a giggly time. Standout scene Xiao Xi doing her blackboard drawings when she saw Jiang Chen standing rather like a stalker in a horror film, which frightens her so much that she stumbled straight into Bo Song’s arms. Jiang Chen was really upset. When Xiao Xi tried to give her prized Manchester United t-shirt, allegedly signed by Wayne Rooney, Jiang Chen would not accept it without paying her for it. She was enraged, she threw back the money at him. She also said she’ll stop liking him. Episode 9 This episode is cuteness overload. Jiang Chen and Xiao Xi riding the same bike together is just the cutest! It is a bit sad though for the second male lead. He is rather adorable in his own way, he was really overtly devoted to Xiao Xi. He was always on her side whenever he can. The main topic of this episode is joining the class debating team. It was hilarious when Xiao Xi tried to get info from Bo Song about his struggles in his swimming sporting life. Despite the interview, Xiao Xi was making things up as she goes along. She would have been perfect as a tabloid journalist! LOL Jiang Chen was in full jealousy mode that he was actually rather nasty to our already upset Xiao Xi. Episode 10 This one is about Avian flu. Of course, Xiao Xi would be one of those suspected of contracting bird flu. But it was a false alarm. It was just a simple cold and no outbreak of bird flu in their school. Episode 11 This is rather sweet. Finally, Jiang Chen is showing a romantic interest in Xiao Xi. It was nearing Christmas and about gift-giving. The girls were frantically knitting scarves, hats, and gloves for their crushes. Of course, Xiao Xi can’t knit. Instead, it was Jiang Chen, who gave her his scarf when it was snowing. So sweet. Standout Jiang Chen wrapping his scarf on Xiao Xi. He pulled the scarf over her face. 🙂 Episode 12, Their class was going on a field trip. During the trip, Xiao Xi and her friends prepared for her confession again to Jiang Chen. They brought fireworks with them which they would light up during the romantic confession. Unfortunately, another girl, Li Wei, was confessing to Jiang Chen when the fireworks burst into a myriad of colours. Xiao Xi witnessed Jiang Chen hugging the girl. Thank goodness Wo Bu Songsecond male lead was there to take the crying Xiao Xi away from the scene. I have to say that Jiang Chen is rather frustratingly annoying sometimes. He knew how much Xiao Xi is aching to be his girlfriend and chase him at every available moment and yet Jiang Chen is toying with her by not discouraging the other girl, Li Wei. Episode 13 This episode is the aftermath of the aborted confession by Xiao Xi to Jiang Chen. It was lovely that her friends were there to support her. Wo Bu Song was there all the way through her heartache; giving her a shoulder to cry on, which only made Jiang Chen lonelier because he actually misses the bubbly Xiao Xi who was always on his face and then suddenly avoiding him like the plague. To be fair to him, he did do everything to make amends. And at the end of the episode, he explains to Xiao Xi that what happened with Li Wei was not what it seemed. This episode also showed that Li Wei was caught cheating in their English exam, which meant expulsion from the school. Episode 14 This is the episode where there was that cute hair tucking behind Xiao Xi’s ear using a pen by Jiang Chen. Xiao Xi said that she will not ask ever again what was going on with Li Wei but she ask Jiang Chen not to hang out with Li Wei. Jiang Chen can’t respond to such a request. So their estrangement continues on. Li Wei was caught cheating at the exam. She became depressed that she even thought of jumping from the rooftop of their school building. Because of her mild depression, Teacher Li prescribed Diazepam drug to Li Wei. When she’s used up all the tablets, she got more drugs from the school clinic without prescription or permission. Unfortunately for the handsome doctor, the object of Ling Jing Xiao’s crush, became the scapegoat and got fired. Before he left he saved the life of Li Shu, who got very upset after finding out that Ling Jing Xiao is crazy about the doctor. Li Shu ended up in the hospital due to his congenital heart problem. By the end of this episode, Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen are back at their most flirtatious. 🙂 Episode 15 Bo Song’s dad asked Xiao Xi to cheer Bo Song up, who has a more complicated injury to his shoulder, thus will not be able to join the national swimming team. Xiao Xi being a good friend became very attentive to Bo Song much to the chagrin of Jiang Chen. Jealousy doesn’t recognise a double standard. He did not repel Li Wei’s advances immediately which made Xiao Xi upset and jealous and yet expected Xiao Xi to be not too friendly with Bo Song. Again there are so many cute scenes here, showing the jealous Jiang Chen, including going out to get water only to come back with empty containers. Precious! There was also that pool game between Bo Song and Jiang Chen. Standout In order to pacify Jiang Chen who lost at pool game against Bo Song, Xiao Xi said that he played a very good game and would have won against a normal player. And rubbing salt to injury, she tactlessly said that Bo Song is just above him because he is amazing. Jiang Chen can’t take it anymore so he had to cover her mouth with his hand. Kawaii!!! Episode 16 This is a bittersweet episode. Wo Bu Song confessed to Xiao Xi but at the same time accepting defeat. He finally gave up the hope of being with Xiao Xi, because he knew she only has eyes for Jiang Chen. As much as Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen are so cute together, there are times that I wish for Xiao Xi to just give up and just be with Wo Bu Song, and his gorgeous abs, who was really devoted to her. There was a cute tiny bromance between Bo Song and Jiang Chen. Bo Song said he will leave Xiao Xi under the care of Jiang Chen as he was going to pursue his swimming dream in Beijing, to which Jiang Chen said “She was never yours to leave” Bo Song said you are annoying sometimes and Jiang Chen, “it’s mutual” Awww Episode 17 Xiao Xi did not get into any university but went to an art college to repeat the year and revising to take an exam upon advice by Jiang Chen, who said that he will help her get to the university he was going to. She did get into Zheijiang University and officially dating Jiang Chen. This episode is so cute. It seems Jiang Chen is missing Xiao Xi more than she misses him. Their telephone conversation was so excruciatingly cute. They also shared their first kiss. However, Xiao Xi was drunk at the time. Jiang Chen said that if she remembers the night, she has to contact him. Sweet. Note During an interview BTS, Shen Yue mentioned that this was her first kiss ever. This 20 years old girl grew under the eagle-eyed protection of her history teacher father. He was a teacher at her school. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Hu Yi Tian said that he had his first love at 18. 🙂 Episode 18 A specially sweet episode. Jiang Chen is the perfect caring boyfriend, masterful and yet gentle at the same time. Their hug when she was wearing a pink dinosaur outfit was so romantic. It was like a eureka moment that it was so cute to hug a mascot dinosaur. 🙂 Love it. Episode 19 It is graduation from university and they had to move on from their dormitory. Xiao Xi needed to find somewhere to stay and rather upset that Jiang Chen was forever busy with his hospital duties. She was envious of her friends who were all moving in with their respective boyfriends. When she went to view an apartment by herself, Xiao Xi was almost assaulted by the realtor. She went crying all the way to the hospital where Jiang Chen was. But she found out that he was going to Beijing without consulting her. She felt belittled and immaterial in Jiang Chen’s life scheme that she said she doesn’t want to like him anymore. What she doesn’t know was that Jiang Chen had always planned to marry her and if he was going to Beijing then he was taking her with him. But Jiang Chen is rather poor in communicating his feelings. So Xiao Xi is left feeling just like a surplus and her old insecurities surfaced, thinking that it was always a one-sided love and Jiang Chen never really liked her anyway even from the first. Jiang Chen was rather distraught after having a patient dying a first death he had witnessed as a consulting doctor on the operating table under his team. He went to Xiao Xi for comfort but she was really upset with Jiang Chen that she turned her back on him. For the first time, when he called her name, she did not listen and just left him. Thinking that Xiao Xi doesn’t care anymore, he accepted a post of further study in Beijing. At the last minute at the airport, Jiang Chen called Xiao Xi, begging her to go find him to which Xiao Xi replied, “you bastard, I am not going to find you.” But of course, Xiao Xi did go looking for him but she missed him. Xiao Xi was left crying on the airport only to be faced by the smilingly gorgeous Bo Song. 🙂 Episode 20 Jiang Chen is back after three years of working/ studying in the best hospital in Beijing. He saw Xiao Xi on his peripheral vision in the hospital while he was on his way to his interview to a directorship at the cardio-thoracic ward. He was so excited to see her that he walked away from his interview to double-check that the person he saw was indeed Xiao Xi. Awww, the longing in his eyes would melt you into a gooey syrup on the floor. He missed her so much which was actually mirrored in Xiao Xi’s eyes when she finally realised that she was seeing Jiang Chen in the flesh not naked, just an idiom 🙂 They were like magnets. Jiang Chen did everything to be close to Xiao Xi again including using jealousy tactics by bringing a fake girlfriend into Lu Yang’s farewell to Singleton’s party. Our good girl, Xiao Xi, is playing hard to get. 🙂 until the gorgeous more mature Jiang Chen came sauntering towards her lit by his car headlights. Wow Jiang Chen at his most gorgeous! Xiao Xi was left mindless, even apologising for something she did really know about. But it was ok, she was rewarded with a long passionate romantic kiss. Awwww 🙂 Standout scene the gorgeous but tired Jiang Chen asleep on Xiao Xi’s sofa. 🙂 Episode 21 Xiao Xi continues to visit the hospital where her father is confined for a fairly minor surgery. Again she meets up with Jiang Chen. They had a heart to heart talk but was interrupted by an emergency. Xiao Xi was told by Jiang Chen to stay and wait for him. Left to her own devices, Xiao Xi spins round and round on the swivel chair in Jiang Chen office but only to fall and bump her head causing a mild concussion. I would have not minded if they added another 30 episodes with Xiao Xi getting amnesia as most dramas would do. 🙂 LOL. Jiang Chen treated her concussion and gave her a kiss as an extra service 🙂 LOL This episode is also Lu Yang and Jing Xiao’s wedding. It was a very moving ceremony. Most of their high school classmates attended including Li Wei, who was looking lovely. She told Xiao xi that she also confessed to Jiang Chen episode 12 but was told that Jiang Chen liked Xiao Xi. Xiao Xi caught the wedding bouquet, she was caught by both Jiang Chen and Bo Song before she fell backwards. Standout scene from Jiang Chen Xiao Xi, let’s get back together. … Xiao Xi, we will be back together! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Episode 22 Jiang Chen is working tenaciously towards getting back with Xiao Xi. He even sold his car to fund a vanity publication for Xiao Xi manhwa book. Awww If you are pro-Bo Song, then this episode is a sad one because despite proposing to Xiao Xi with a really huge diamond ring he got turned down. He did instinctively know that Xiao Xi will say no. He went out drinking with Lu Yang. Lu Yang invited Jiang Chen to come help with the drunk Bo Song, who begged Jiang Chen to return Xiao Xi back to him. Jiang Chen would not oblige as Xiao Xi is always been his. He then went on a monologue about how misunderstood he was that he was actually more in love with Xiao Xi than Xiao Xi with him. He said that he thinks he can’t live without her. Awwwwwww Lots of standout scenes A photo session of all the friends as a reference to Xiao Xi’s new book. Woah Bo Song and his abs are an absolute dream. Lu Yang is so cute. Jiang Chen was adorable. After begging Xiao Xi to forgive him, Xiao Xi said to give her time to think it through. I thought it would be at least a month later but her mulling it through only took a couple of hours as Jiang Chen found her asleep in his hospital cot. This scene is what makes A Love So Beautiful beautiful Jiang Chen was in ecstasy. A love so beautiful, indeed! Episode 23 Treacle! So sweet! Sugar! This episode is a compendium of sweetness and romance. So cute. The standout is a hard choice but the scene that did pinch my heart was when Jiang Chen was inebriated after a drinking bout with future father in law. Xiao Xi What’s up with you again? Jiang Chen I want to look for Xiao Xi. Xiao Xi I am Xiao Xi. Jiang Chen confused You are a little familiar. Xiao Xi Ok let’s sleep. Jiang Chen Are you really Xiao Xi? Xiao Xi I really am Xiao Xi. Jiang Chen hugs her tenderly Xiao Xi Xiao Xi Hmm? Jiang Chen I miss you so much. Xiao Xi finally realised how much she means to Jiang Chen. 🙂 Melt your heart. The sweetest ever! I have followed it religiously for more than a week now. I have hardly watched any other dramas at all because I have been watching episodes after episodes over and over. This drama is truly addictive. The scriptwriter got it so right but most of all the young actor, Hu Yi Tian was brilliant in his role. every facial expression is spot on. He might be perceived as rather cold but he does wear his heart on his sleeves. We can see what goes on in his mind and heart in every twist of his nose, curl and pout of his lips and the way he stares at Xiao Xi is just adorable. He was also very tactile. He holds her, hugs her unashamedly. Yue Shen as Xiao Xi is also a good actress considering that this is her first role ever. She is lovely and fun. I love her, love her character and so looking forward to her next drama serial in Meteor Garden next year. But one thing does, she has to practise her crying. It is not believable to the point of rather annoying. But other than that, I hope she makes another drama with Hu Yi Tian in the near future. I can’t wait for the rest of the episodes but at the same time dreading that it will be ending this Thursday, 07 December 2017. Just a thought! There should be a Season 2 Second Series for this beautiful drama focusing on a romance between Wu Bo Song and Dr Su Mu, that cute doctor with a zany sense of humour. I think they’ll be so cute together. I’d like also to see more of Lu Yang and Jing Xiao. And of course guest appearance of the adorable pair Jiang Chen and Xiao Xi I am pretty sure it would be hard to get these to appear as they would be busy with more projects now that they are made famous by ALSB! MERRY CHRISTMAS! HOPE TO SEE MORE OF HU YI TIAN AND SHEN YUE IN 2018 UPDATE!!! 21 April 2018 You can now binge-watch the whole series at NETFLIX Update!!! 2 July 2020 Apparently there will be a Korean version of this drama. I would like to see that! A LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL KDRAMA REVIEW & SUMMARY Post Views 31,665