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.