- Drama Title: About Love
- Also Known As: 玫瑰丛生, Ai Ru Chan Yi, Chan Nv, Cicada Girls, Mei Gui Cong Sheng, Wu Guang Shi Se De Wo Men, Xiang Yu Qia Feng Qi Shi, Zui Ai De Ni
- Director: Yang Lei
- Cast: Wang Zi Wen, Liu Yu Ning, Jiang Xin
- Genres: Romance, Drama
- Episodes: 26
- Date of Release: February 26, 2026
- Original Network: Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: WeTV, Viki
- Adapted from the web manhua “Chan Nv” by Gong Yuan Qian
Dear readers… How are you today? While I’m writing down this About Love drama review, I feel like my head is completely overheated. The weather is unbearably hot right now. And if you set foot in a tropical country like mine, it’s not even the high temperature that makes you suffer, it’s the humidity that slowly drains the life out of you.
I’ve tried everything to ward off the heat. I turned the fan to its highest setting. I put an ice block in a table next to mine. I wish I could drink iced coffee, but it’s Ramadhan, so I have to be patient for a while. I even contemplating whether lying flat on the cold tile floor counts as a valid life choice.
My YouTube is now playing winter scenes from Germany, and I’m hoping they’ll cool me down subconsciously. But nothing really works. So, if today’s About Love review feels a little unhinged or overly dramatic… just you know that it’s not me. It’s the weather. 😁
About Love Drama Review
The Synopsis
Li Xiao Xi is a cautious and serious woman when it comes to love. Her job made and personal beliefs made her that way. Her life starts to change after she meet Xiao Bei. It was a casual meeting in the beginning, but his loyalty and steady characters slowly melt her heart.
He helps Li Xiao Xi face her fears of love. In turn, Li Xiao Xi’s companionship and warmth give him the support he needs to heal from his emotional wounds and learn how to cherish what he has right now. Still, broken hearts and wounded soul were never easy to heal.
As Li Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei continue to face the wounds in their hearts, they also have to deal with love rivals. Would Li Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei’s love withstand the reality of adulthood, or was it only meant to exist in a flleting moment of youth?
The Review
A few years ago, a friend of mine told me a story about a man who was very confident in his relationship. He always said that he loved his girlfriend and would never cheat on her. But one day, someone decided to test him during an office gathering.
The most attractive woman in the office started to talk to him and flirt a little. At first, he proudly mentioned his girlfriend. But as the night went on, he seemed to forget about her. And by the end of the night, he was already exchanging numbers with the girl.
My friend resigned from the office not long after. But she kept wondering whether the girlfriend knew about the incident. Or whether the man will not be thinking about cheating with others if only he were not tested. When we talked about it, we decided that the one in the wrong was the one who initiated the test. Because does love really need to be tested?
About Love is a story about trust. Trust is the foundation of all relationships. Whether it is dating, marriage, friendship, business partnership, or even sportsmanship, all were built on trust.
Without it, even the strongest connection can slowly fall apart. Once trust is broken, it is never easy to rebuild, and sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things will never feel the same again.
But trust is not just a matter between two people. It exists in different forms and comes with different consequences. And that is exactly what this drama tries to show.
About Love is not a single love story about Xiao Bei (Bei Qi Yuan) and Li Xiao Xi. There was also a story about A Xiu (Xiu Luo Dian), Gong Yuan Qian, Da Sen, Ming Ming, Luan Luan (Yi Fu Luan), and Ying Tao. It involves a new relationships, past stories, affairs, and deceptions. Their stories are complicated, but at the same time, very grounded and relatable.
About Love is an adaptation of a manhua (Chinese comic) titled Chan Nv by Gong Yuan Qian (yep, it’s the same name as Gao Wei Guang’s character). The English title I found on the internet is Cicada Girl.
I didn’t really read the story, but I did check on the artwork because I was curious about the hairstyle. And guess what, A Xiu’s half hair (it was called Skrillex style) and Gong’s messy bun and petite goatee were indeed close to the manhua’s style. Now I get why Liu Yu Ning was left with a hairstyle that didn’t do him any justice…😂
About Love is one of the Chinese dramas released in 2026. The story was heavy but easy to follow. Even though the scenes move fast between the couples. And because this is based on the author’s fantasy, the story is sometimes far from logic. For instance, Li Xiao Xi’s profession is a love testing agent.
In this drama, she worked for an institution called The Wild and Proud Rose Woman’s Club, which belonged to Guan Jie. I have never heard about this kind of profession in the real world. People tend to hire private investigators to catch a cheating spouse or partner. That feels more reliable, I suppose.
Anyhow, back to the drama.
This drama did bring an emotional roller coaster for me, especially in Li Xiao Xi and Yu’s case. In their relationships, there was broken trust, insecurities, mismatched expectations, and emotional burdens.
The relationship stories felt messy and frustrating at times, but also painfully real. Because in the end, not every relationship falls apart in a dramatic way. Sometimes, it just slowly breaks under the weight of things left unsaid.
Now let’s talk about the characters.
At first, I was thinking that Xiao Bei’s personality was almost too good. The kind of green-flag man every girl would want. But slowly, we begin to see his flaws. He easily attracts the opposite sex because of his kindness.
Being too nice to other women can easily create misunderstandings and even jealousy. He might say, “she’s just a friend, a colleague, a classmate, a neighbour.” But he can’t guarantee that the other person feels the same way.
I also hate how Xiao Bei treated A Xiu and Luan Luan’s affair as something he shouldn’t interfere with. He clearly knew that A Xiu was married. Everyone knew that.
But standing there, watching it happens, and choosing to say nothing… that’s not loyalty to me. It felt more like he was protecting the wrong side. The person who should have been respected the most was completely left out of the picture.
Real loyalty is also about calling them out when they ‘re wrong. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Because letting a friend continue down the wrong path is not kindness, it’s just another form of avoidance.
Li Xiao Xi saw too many deceptions in relationships, because she was part of them. She knows many women who didn’t trust their partners, even though they were initially good men.
And Li Xiao Xi also knows how to make those men fall at her feet, abandon all logic, and forget long-time affections. Because she also has personal experience, everything seemed to justify her fears. When she first met Xiao Bei, she agreed to teste him several times. It showed how much distrust she has toward men.
But what I love about Li Xiao Xi is that she is an honest girl. I know it sounded contradictory with her profession that often involves deceptions, but she tried hard to be honest with Xiao Bei. Even if she feared that the honesty would break them apart.
The character I hated the most, but at the same time found important for the story, is Gong. He is a very annoying person. He even looks unattractive.
I really can’t believe that I reached the point where I called Gao Wei Guang unattractive. You should see him in Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. 😩
However, Gong is the one who truly understands the situation. He is a very open-minded and seems to understand how the human heart works. Probably because he is a comic writer.
He must have done his research and surely knew how to build complex characters. But emotionally, he is still very annoying. His stubbornness in chasing Jiang Yi Fan is frustrating, but at the same time hilarious. Until now, I still hesitate whether to like him or not.
There aren’t many people talking about this drama. I wonder why… Actually, About Love promised a top-notch watching experience, especially with such a strong cast.
Starting with the most eye-catching one, Liu Yu Ning. Who doesn’t know him? Since he played in The Prisoner of Beauty and A Dream Within a Dream, Liu Yu Ning has become a global sensation.
Even one of my friends who never watches Cdramas asked me about him. So, I told her to watch The Long Ballad and The Story of Pearl Girl. And I also said that Liu Yu Ning looked totally dashing in costume dramas.
And then there’s Gao Wei Guang. Both Liu Yu Ning and Gao Wei Guang are known for their striking looks. Handsome face, tall figures, long legs, muscles, and great hair.
We know them as the depiction of handsome men in many dramas. While Liu Yu Ning often appeared in costume dramas, Gao Wei Guang shines in both modern and historical settings.
You might remember him as the white-haired Dong Hua Di Jun in Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms and Eternal Love of Dream. But he is also looking amazing in modern costume such as in The Outsider and Snowfall drama.
Wang Zi Wen, who played Li Xiao Xi, has been on Cdramaland since 2006. I personally knew her from her 2016 drama, When a Snail Falls in Love, where she acted as Xu Xu alongside Wang Kai.
If you like crime and mystery, you should watch it. The story is good, and Wang Kai is very hadsome. Wang Zi Wen also starred in Sweet and Cold with Jin Han. You could read my review of that drama here.
All in all, About Love is satisfying and unsatisfying at the same time. There were so many things to comment on. The story is strong but easy to understand. The pacing works well. I love the visuals, the lighting, the color tones, the camerawork.
But at the same time I dislike the hairstyle, some of the costumes (I really don’t think tweed jacket suits Liu Yu Ning), and the overly theatrical scenes in some parts. The ending is surprisingly a happy ending. Sometimes, this kind of drama would heartlessly leave us with bad ending or open ending. It’s rarely a happy ending.
There were several lessons to be learned from Xiao Bei and Li Xiao Xi right from the first episode of About Love. He told Li Xiao Xi that a woman should avoid sharing location details in her photos, especially if she lives alone, because it’s not safe.
He also warned her to never send unedited photos to strangers, as they can reveal hidden details. But the last one is my own suggestion for you all: never tell a stranger that you live alone.
When Xiao Bei asked whether she lived alone, Li Xiao Xi casually answered yes. And sometimes, it’s exactly these small, careless answers that can lead to the biggest risk. Xiao Bei is still a stranger to her. If only About Love were a mystery thriller drama, that answer might have turned it into the Chinese version of Gone Girl. 😁
The Story-Love is Easy, People Make it Hard
When you try to test how strong a piece of glass is, that glass is bound to break. In other words, once doubt takes root, the guilt is already there. (Xiao Bei)
My binge-watching experience in Cdramaland told me that dating and marriage in modern times feel much more complicated than in historical dramas. Love itself hasn’t change. People still love wholeheartedly and passionately. But situation changed and many things have evolved.
These days, people have more choices, more independence, and much higher expectations for what a relationship should be. Back then, a partner was someone to build life with. But now, a partner’s role is much complicated.
They are expected to provide emotional support, stability, share financial burdens, and so many other things. People also tend to being more aware of their emotions, yet more afraid of getting hurt. The most important thing and the hardest thing to do when in a relationship is trying not to lose ourselves in the process.
And all these complexities are exactly what this drama tried to capture. Not just through Li Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei, but also through many relationship, each with its own struggles and flaws.
There were so many things to talk about in this drama. I even hesitated about which one I should write first. Should I start with Li Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei? Or A Xiu and Yu’s failing marriage? Or maybe Ming Ming and Da Sen?
But then there’s Yu’s mother and her obsession with getting Da Hua to marry her daughter. Or Luan Luan and A Xiu’s affair. Or A Lun, who secretly married another woman while dating Ming Ming.
Or An Miu’s one-sided love. Or Guang Jie and her unconventional business. And don’t forget Zhen, Xiao Bei’s ex-girlfriend. She also deserved to be addressed.
This tangled web is fascinating to talk about, because when a relationship fails, there were usually many factors involved. It might be the timing, the choices, past wounds, or sometimes, it’s simply because who we are at that moment.
But somehow, the drama didn’t always take the time to really dig into those layers. Some conflict felt rushed, some characters were left hanging and their storylines just faded without a proper closure. About Love tried to show how complicated love can be. But somehow watching it felt like entering a room where everybody speak at the same time.
In my opinion, Xiao Bei and Li Xiao Xi were rushed into a relationship. Yes, they were attracted to each other, but didn’t they need some time to think about it? I thought that, because of their past experiences, Li Xiao Xi and Xiao Bei would be less impulsive and more careful when it comes to opening their heart.
Our second couple, Yu and A Xiu, move at different speeds and walk in different directions. Yu is more rational and lives in the present. A Xiu is a dreamer. He is not a lazy person, but he was often caught up in his own world, and chase possibilities that feel distant and uncertain.
Although they started in the same starting point, the timing and personal growth were different. They just change and didn’t grom in the same direction anymore. The mismatch becomes the source of the crack in their relationship.
Yu and A Xiu have different views on money, family, and dream, an even what “love” should look like. Yu works hard to support the family because A Xiu’s profession doesn’t bring much income.
A Xiu thought that Yu didn’t give him enough credit and undermined his efforts. Still, despite his deep involvement with Luan Luan, A Xiu refused to divorce Yu, simply because it felt like too much to deal with.
Yu’s point of view about money might be influenced by her mother, who believes money is everything. She was disappointed because Yu refused the so-called perfect husband in her eyes.
Even after Yu and A Xiu got married, her mother continued to interfere in their relationship. Yu couldn’t stop her, while A Xiu could only quietly swallow the insults.
The affairs in this story was not just to create drama, but because they often comes from something deeper. A Xiu and Luan Luan’s affair didn’t happen out of nowhere.
It grew from everything that was missing in his marriage with Yu. But still, wrong is wrong. Instead of fixing what was already broken, A Xiu chose the easier way out. His lack of responsibility plays the biggest role here.
I really want to smack A Xiu’s head. He demands understanding but gives none in return. He lives in his own bubble, while Yu is out there facing the storm of mortgage, bills, and daily responsibility. She tried to fill all the gap he failed to fill.
The burden became too much for her, to the point that she slowly turned into a different person. But honestly, no one can really blame her.
See? I can’t resist taking sides. The moment A Xiu fell into affairs. He was already dead to me. Not even a second chance, not even a benefit of the doubt. He just… done.
About Love is a story about adults and was meant for mature people. It’s not because it has steamy scenes, but because of the depth of its message. It talks about choices, consequences, and the kind of mistakes that don’t just hurt in the moment but stay with you long after. And at the centre of it all is trust. Trust is fragile. And once it’s broken, it changes everything.
And even though love sometimes took a long route, you could always find your way back, if you are willing to try.
The Visual-Everything was Good, Except…
Animations, theatrical acts, and the use of color tone were quite entertaining to me. Until the theatre acts became a bit too much. Honestly, everything in this drama is already good enough. They described everything almost similarly to the manhua. But in my opinion, they could have done much better, especially with the hairstyles. 😅
The overall atmosphere of About Love was mostly gloomy, yet it was full of small and thoughtful details. The director did a good job with various lighting colors.
Sometimes it was dark and gloomy, then everything turned yellow and full of hope, and then suddenly it shifted into black and white, just like in the past. And if I try to ignore the theatricals acts and questionable hairstyles, this drama still deserved a praise for its visuals.
The Characters
Li Xiao Xi (Played by Wang Zi Wen)
Li Xiao Xi is a woman with charm. Her beautiful face was supported with her versatility. She can be warm, naïve, seductive, cold, and guarded, depending on the situation.
On the surface, she looks confident and in control. but deep down, she is soft hearted and afraid of getting hurt. After stopped being a love testing agent, she opened a floral shop. She is creative and I really like her sense of fashion.
Xiao Bei / Bei Qi Yuan (Played by Liu Yu Ning)
Xiao Bei is the calmest character in this drama. He is loyal, patient, principled, and emotionally steady. Xiao Bei is the kind of person who didn’t say much, but his actions speak loudly.
He is romantic and selfless, but quietly sensitive. He owned Zhen Guan, a shop that specialized in luxury authentication, and he is very serious about his job.
Gong Yuan Qian (Played by Gao Wei Guang)
Gong Yuang Qian is charming and confident comic artist. Yet, he is unpredictable. It was hard to fully trust him because he often treats everything lightly, as if nothing really matters. He can be a bit manipulative at times.
Gong speaks in a straightforward and brutally honest way. His words may hurt. but it’s hard to argue with him because there is always some truth in what he says.
Gong loves to flirt with women, which is why his girlfriend can never fully trust him. But although he often acts like a carefree child, there is still a thoughtful side hidden within him.
Yu (Played by Jiang Xin)
Yu is a determined and hardworking person, even before she became a wife and a business owner. She chose to marry to A Xiu, even though her mother was against it. Yu is sharp, independent, and practical. Her dream of love and marriage was crushed by the harsh reality of life.
When bills started to pile up and responsibilities became heavier, she had no choice but to carry most of the burden on her own. Slowly, she became more guarded and distant, learning to rely on logic rather than feelings just to keep everything from falling apart.
A Xiu / Xiu Luo Dian (Played by Gu Jia Cheng)
A Xiu runs a musical instrument store. Music is always his passion. He sometimes writes songs that never sell. He took odd gigs, but none of them really bring money home. He is easy-going and down to earth.
And although he is so frustrating to me, I feel like he is a real person here. He is imperfect, sometimes unreliable, but still trying in his own way.
Ming Ming (Played by Chen Jia Ying)
Ming Ming is an ordinary girl who made money as a photographer. She had been together with A Lun for years since college years.
She is a gentle, affectionate, and sincere person. Her vulnerability comes from her sensitive and emotional nature. She loves deeply, but that also makes her easy to get hurt.
Da Sen (Played by Zhu Jia Qi)
Just like Ming Ming, Da Sen also made a living as a photographer. He is a hopeless romantic who had been in love with Mign Ming for seven years and is deeply fixated on her.
Da Sen is a part of the Oddball group too. Da Sen is loyal, supportive, friendly, and kind. His presence always adds warmth and balance to the group.
The Conclusion
About Love drama is a heavy story, but easy to follow. The message is clear that this drama was meant for mature audiences. It might be adapted from a manhua, but the core message feels grounded and relatable.
It talks about love, trust, and yourself. I had a good time watching it, and more good time writing this review. The only problem is, I had too many thought about this drama that I kept hesitating about where to start.
Anyway, About Love feels like the kind of drama you watch when you have plenty of quiet time during the weekend. It should be enjoyed without interruptions. Like I said before, I feel both satisfied and dissatisfied with it.
But if I reflect on myself, maybe that’s the point. Nothing is perfect in this world, including Cdramaland. The question is can you accept those imperfections, or will you keep wandering in Cdamaland, even when you know no story will ever be perfect?
So how do you think of this About Love drama review? Hope you like it. Happy watching, dear readers! 😉
