Tencent C-drama Shine on Me with Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long Hits 30,000 Heat Index and Ends Run with Cute Happy Ending
So the 2025 year end premiere of Shine on Me ended up delivering the first good hit of the 2026 C-drama year as the drama broke 30,000 heat index in Tencent right before it’s final few episodes. It’s two week airing run really delivered a nicely paced and sweetly written story that was a lot fluffier than I expected. The second half basically has zero tension once the two leads Lin Yu Sen and Nie Xi Guang played by Song Wei Long and Zhao Jin Mai got together, and theirs was a relationship as glowing with positivity as could possibly be written. There was only understanding, patience, no conflict, and lots and lots of hugs, kisses, and cuddles, to an almost too simplistic degree. I actually have to thank the second male lead Zhuang Xu played by young actor Lai Wei Ming for being the only source of any real conflict in the drama for his character’s total brain dead thinking and passive-aggressive behavior. The Zhuang Xu hate train doesn’t get enough appreciation for his character actually being frustratingly complicated since the male lead is so perfect it borders on laughably absurd. I thoroughly enjoyed this drama and can recommend but don’t expect more beyond seeing two pretty, rich, and well-adjusted leads fall in love and get their happily ever after in work and life. Zhao Jin Mai had the stronger character and acted a whole lot more over Song Wei Long who was basically a walking and talking prince charming and that he delivered on.
This drama was okay but could have been better. Too much slow paced storyline on business stuff and I fast forwarded through some to get to the plot points. Will give them props for making the lousiest father story wise for the female lead and the couple did well. I would give it an 8 out of ten.
The drama is a rosy fairy tale, stress-free, but also predictable and boring to some extent. I’ve been following 21 eps until several intriguing K dramas were premiered lately. Shine on Me have been pushed to the back burner since. I personally think the adaptation has done better than the novel itself. This is the most boring romance Gu Man has written.
The drama has the lowest viewer count on tencent reaching 30,000 on the heat index. Not sure to reach 20 million average. I wouldn’t call it a hit. The hype could be good but i don’t know why i can’t watch ZJM in romance drama.
It will definitely reach average viewership 20 mil/ep during hot broadcast period but I’m not sure if it’s enough to call it a hit.
It’s an IP, S+ budget, with a highly reputable author whose adaptations all garner between 50 and 60 million views more. The actors didn’t gained traction one would expect from a success. It may be deserved being good, but i understand why so much discussion about huge watery.
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the series. It’s sweet and fluffy and goes so well with the feel of winter. Both MCs are great and had good chemistry.
Comments?
I liked having this drama in the background because even when I don’t pay attention I didn’t miss much. It’s an easy watch but it wouldn’t make my personal “hit” list. The episodes could’ve been cut in half because nothing really happens. Song Weilong was a walking plank reciting lines. I don’t find him good looking enough to overlook his lack of talent. Zhao Jinmai was super cute in this though.
I enjoyed it very much. They’re just so beautiful to watch. Zhao Jiinmai has now become my fave Chinese actress. She has chemistry with all her ML and she’s natural in her acting. And she seems like a nice and lively person in the BTS and how she deals with her co actors.
It’s basically a flop. Large IP and writer and it will end up with a forced 30k heat and measly 20 mil average, which is really bad for this type of drama.
Can’t be helped. ML is a disaster. A block of wood has more charisma and acting skills. FL is ok but overall it really isn’t all that.
Basically a flop? You’re probably on a different platform. The stats show that the drama is successful in china and globally. Eversinve it aired it has been receiving awards. The viewship on all platfoms has gone pass a billion now. Not sure where you’re getting your stats from.
I loved this drama. Everyone acted well. The plot might be slow for some people, but i found it adorable. It wasn’t boring at all.
It’s been a while since i finished anything with Jinmai or Weilong. One of my fave books of Gu Man.
Gu Man should write a new drama version of Silent Separation.. huhu
Too much haters from this post calling Shine on Me a flop when it’s literally the highest rated romance drama in history of Weibo and the highest rated romance drama on Douban since 2025. It consistently the top 1 drama for 18 consecutive days since airing and the first drama of 2026 that has complete ads. It’s smells jealousy and insecure with the success of Shine on Me.
I just started Shine on Me and gosh, SWL’s acting is really bad. I’m in half a mind to ditch the drama now, barely hanging on for ZJM. The new Love Between Lines is soooo much better despite the lower viewership.
The lead female character is dull, dim, vacuous and immature. I mean, who, on a day trip wit mates to Shangai, overrides their Interesting itinerary just to sit in a restaurant, stare at a bank building in the hope of catching a glimpse of a guy? Which, unlikely anyway, but doesn’t happen because it’s Saturday and he isn’t at work. Duh! Anyways, even if she had have seen him, judging on their previous DULL, boring exchanges, nothing remotely meaningful would have occurred.
Neither of the two monosyllabic, abrasive males add much, so far.
Honestly, am bewildered that people are enjoying this so much. What am I missing? She really is dull, the guys really don’t say much.
Maybe they all suddenly develop less colourless personalities and actually start communicating in a meaningful way, at some point but, at 8 episodes in, nope, not happening, yet. I’m giving up.
who hurt you girl? you’re full of hatred on your comments lmao
Be patient, your fave actress will have her own time to shine
If you dont like the drama then drop it! There are billions of people who appreciated the drama so they wouldnt mind losing one.
Favourite actress? Don’t really have one, though I do quite like ZJM in some other things – Reset being a favourite. Think she also did a decent job here. Just didn’t find her and others’ character/the writing interesting.
You’re right, I didn’t like the drama and yes, I did drop it, after episode 8, for reasons stated – basically found it DULL. I like to be entertained/engaged, I wasn’t. No hatred, just don’t get the appeal of nothing much happening other than numerous long long stares, poor communicators poorly communicating/misunderstanding for 8 episodes, wasn’t prepared to invest anymore time.
I quite liked the brother/cousin – he had spirit, was constantly trying to cheer his mopey cousin up, AND was articulate-an excellent communicator
Wow. Such a long speech for someone who hated the drama and had to comment. lol. Just stating facts according to records it is a hit whether you like it or not. I think it had perfect cast and the ending was chefs kiss. It’s too early in the year to spread negativity. They had such a healthy relationship in the cast as seen on their celebration party. So if I were you just continue to support your actor or actress don’t come here write a hateful comment. Besides they already got paid Perhaps even a bonus. Your comment is not at all fair. It’s a hater’s comment.
Fair? What have I said that isn’t fair? Tell me, after the initial love declaration, did they have a meaningful exchange, you know, beyond staring, misinterpreting. The final straw for me was upending friends INTERESTING plans in favour of SELFISHLY spending hours in a restaurant just for a glance at someone who didn’t appear? THAT was effectively the first 8 episodes. Oh, plus the also abrasive with not much more to say, ML, who was a step up, I guess. I DID like the cousin.
I’m pretty certain it improved at some point, it has to have for so many people here to like it. BUT, 8 episodes is a lot to invest. It wasn’t hatred, it was frustration, that they continued the same dull interactions for so long.
The only reason I started to watch this was because of this posting about it, I should have dropped it earlier, then I probably wouldn’t have posted here, you wouldn’t be so upset by someone voicing their opinion, which is basically that the acting was fine but I found it dull and dropped it.
As for your ‘if I were you…’ suggestion, you are not me, I don’t ‘support’ any actor or actress, not even sure what that entails. AND I WILL continue to come here and post my comments, like you and everybody else here does. Actually, you’re the one who’s closest to hating, on me, you’ve made it personal, and I don’t really understand why, unless it’s to do with this ‘support your actor or actress’ thing, in which case, well, continue to do your ‘support’ thing, and I’ll continue to do my ‘this is interesting/entertaining/dull/whatever…’ thing.