- Drama Title: Always Home
- Also Known As: 树下有片红房子, Dear Us , Shu Xia You Pian Hong Fang Zi
- Director: Zhang Xiao An
- Genres: Romance, Youth, Drama
- Cast: Zhai Xiao Wen. Daniel Zhou, Yang Xi Zi, He Qiu
- Episodes: 30
- Date of Release: Feb 15, 2025
- Original Network: Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: WeTV, Tencent Video, Viki
- Adapted from the web novel: “Shu Xia You Pian Hong Fang Zi” by Xiao Ge
Hello dear readers! Some days are just made for getting lost in a new drama, and if today happens to be one of those days, let me help you choose one that is worth your time. Always Home drama is the perfect choice for a gloomy, overcast day when all you want is to stay indoors and lose yourself in a drama marathon, free from distractions. It is one the Chinese drama released in February 2025.
I love this drama because it brings a flood of nostalgia, which is why I was glued to my screen. Let me take you through the thoughts that went through my head while watching this sweet, heartwarming teen drama. Happy reading!
Always Home Drama Synopsis
At the age of 16, Chen Huan Er moved from the small town of Shishui to a hospital worker’s compound in Tianhe City. There she befriended two boys who happened to be the sons of her mother’s friends.
Jiang Xi Chi, the sports enthusiast, and Song Cong, the school prodigy, both attended the same high school as her. They were soon joined by Qi Qi, an artistic girl who sat next to Chen Huan Er in class. The four of them quickly bonded and became inseparable.
From the fun days of high school to adulthood, the four of them went through many things. They navigate the complexities of growing up, from dealing with family struggles to coping with grief, shattered dreams, and unfulfilled expectations.
Despite the challenges life throws their way, their unwavering support for one another remains as strong as their bonds. As they move forward, they wonder if their friendship will survive the changes that come with time.
Always Home Drama Review
Youth Drama always brings back some memories for me. I always feel that my teenage years were the best time of my life. I was blessed to be surrounded by good friends and a loving family. Even though I grew up a bit lazy and spoiled. But believe me, I still have some good qualities in me because adulthood taught me a lot 😉
Anyway, I really cherished my teenage years. So I have a soft spot for youth dramas. I’ve watched a lot of them, and thankfully, Cdramaland never disappoints me as there are so many youth dramas released in one year.
Last year I was fascinated by Wind Direction drama. This is more of a family drama, but the friendship between Cheng Miao Miao and her friends warmed my heart. Although the ending was tragic, I can still vividly recall some scenes.
We watch dramas and movies mainly for entertainment. However, the appeal of a story goes beyond mere entertainment. Some dramas or movies are remembered for a long time, while others are forgotten as soon as the word “The End” appears on the screen.
A good drama has the power to stir emotions. A well-written story makes us feel deeply connected to the characters or their situations. Sometimes these dramas reflect our own lives, whether it’s our happiness, our struggles, or our experiences. Watching characters face these challenges can make us feel understood and less alone.
What I particularly like about youth dramas is that they focus on the pivotal moments in life, such as first love or personal growth. These stories evoke pure emotions such as happiness, excitement, sadness, and grief. As we grow older, we learn to hide our true feelings.
We smile when we’re sad, laugh when we’re angry, or pretend to be upset while secretly feeling something else. Youth, however, is the one time when we can truly be ourselves, without masks.
The Story-We Carve Memories in Our Youth
“Life is a blank sheet of paper. Fill it in with whatever colors you want, and it becomes your own painting.” (Qi Qi)
Always Home is a youth drama about ordinary people. It revolved around the lives of Chen Huan Er, Jiang Xi Chi, Song Cong and Qi Qi. They were the main characters of the show. But somehow I feel it was more about Chen Huan Er, Jiang Xi Chi and Song Cong. Qi Qi was more like the extra member of the band. 😅
The story started after Chen Huan Er moved into the same residential area as Jiang Xi Chi and Song Cong. Their mothers worked in the same hospital and had been friends for years. From the moment Chen Huan Er met Jiang Xi Chi and Song Cong for the first time, you could immediately guess what the main plot of this drama was 😉.
Since Always Home focuses on underage teenagers, family dynamics also play a crucial role in shaping the story, especially through the mothers. It’s well known that Asian mothers are often portrayed as strong and fierce, and in Cdramaland, their intensity is often a key factor that triggers pivotal moments for the main characters.
A good example of this is the drama Best Choice Ever, where the influence of Mai Cheng Huan’s mother is crucial to the development of the plot.
In Always Home drama, both Song Cong and Qi Qi face the challenge of dealing with their overbearing mothers. Song Cong’s mother is determined to make her son the best of the best. She meticulously plans his future, including the school he will attend after high school.
Qi Qi’s mother, on the other hand, has her own vision for her daughter’s future. She wants Qi Qi to give up her passion for writing in favor of the path she has chosen for Qi Qi’s future. Jiang Xi Chi also struggles with his mother, who doesn’t support his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
However, compared to the intensity of Song Cong and Qi Qi’s mothers, Mrs. Jiang is somewhat more understanding and less controlling.
The most intriguing aspect of this drama was the relationship between Chen Huan Er and Jiang Xi Chi. Similar to other dramas like When I Fly Towards You, Our Secret, or Exclusive Fairy Tale, the female lead falls in love with the male lead first. However, unlike characters like Su Zai Zai, Ding Xian, and Xiao Tu, who openly express their feelings for the popular boys, Chen Huan Er keeps her feelings to herself and never reveals her true feelings.
The story then develops into a love quadrangle: Chen Huan Er is in love with Jiang Xi Chi, who has feelings for Qi Qi, who is attracted to Song Cong, who ultimately likes Chen Huan Er.
First love is usually an interesting theme in drama. It is often idealized as something pure, innocent, sweet, heartwarming and romantic. Although in real life, not many people would end up with their first love. This storyline entertains us, the viewers, with the idea of relationship goals of two people overcoming obstacles and eventually ending up together.
These stories are uplifting and give us a little hope that reality will be like this. And even though most people knew that this only happened in a story, that didn’t stop us, romance junkies, from enjoying all the sweetness and swoon-worthy scenes. And Always Home gives me the right vibe of a pure and sweet first love.
As a youth drama, Always Home also explores Chen Huan Er’s fear for her future. While all her friends have clear dreams and ambitions, she feels lost, without passion or direction.
This isn’t entirely surprising, however, as Chen Huan Er is someone who values the present moment. Her parents, who understand her personality, trust that she will eventually find her way. They never pressure her to pursue something she doesn’t enjoy, and they wholeheartedly support her interests, such as sports.
This kind of parenting is rare, though not impossible, in C-dramas, and it was refreshing to see such supportive parents. Let’s face it, watching toxic characters can be exhausting. And Cdramaland often seems to be filled with toxic characters, including parents.
What I like about Always Home is the simple story. And even though it was cliché, the execution was good. The pacing was a little slow, but that was okay because you could enjoy each episode at a leisurely pace. The plot was heartwarming and not too heart-wrenching.
Everything I watched reminded me of how clueless I was when I was their age and faced with disappointment, grief, and heartbreak. For a teenager, the support of a friend means a lot. There was always something you couldn’t share with your family. But you know you can talk about it with your friends because they understand you better (on that matter).
My favorite character in this drama is of course Chen Huan Er. She is really sweet and kind with a little naivety. And for the boys, I initially chose Song Cong.
Jiang Xi Chi is a good person, but his overly playful personality is not my cup of tea. But after seeing how well he treated his mother and Chen Huan Er, I changed my mind. While the burden of life turns the casual Song Cong into a gloomy one.
My feelings for Qi Qi were a bit complicated. At first, I didn’t like her character because it seemed like she was only trying to join the group because of her interest in Song Cong, which felt insincere to me. However, I also understand that youth often come with a lack of experience, and Qi Qi, like everyone else, has her own struggles to deal with.
I can’t draw any valuable lessons from the relationship between Chen Huan Er and Jiang Xi Chi. It all seemed so ordinary. But the story of Qi Qi tells us that ideally, family background should not be an obstacle in a relationship. But if it’s not openly communicated between two people, it can lead to much bigger problems.
In Always Home, you can see the good chemistry between Zhai Xiao Wen, Daniel Zhou and Yang Xi Zi. From the casual interaction, you can see how relaxed they are around each other. He Qiu also did a good job as Qi Qi.
As someone who has less interaction with Chen Huan Er, Jiang Xi Chi and Song Cong. Qi Qi should have lacked chemistry with them, so I think it was justified to call her an additional member. 😁
I am sure many of you, dear readers, could guess the ending of this drama. Yes, it’s a happy ending. But it was not that easy, there were some heartbreaking moments before the end 😉.
The Cinematography-The Most Consistent Drama, Ever
Always Home’s cinematography is nothing short of spectacular, with each shot carefully crafted to fully immerse the viewer in the world of the story. The director’s attention to detail is evident in every frame, from capturing the perfect angles to using exceptional lighting that adds depth and atmosphere to every scene.
But when I say “consistency,” I’m not just talking about the visuals… I’m talking about the hair. Yes, the hair. 😆
The timeline of Always Home spans about seven to eight years, from high school to when Jiang Xi Chi and his friends graduate from university and enter the workforce. But despite all the time that has passed, everyone still has the exact same hairstyle.
And if you look closely, the length of their hair stays the same throughout the years. Did any of these characters ever think about cutting their hair or trying a new look? Maybe a wig would have been a fun touch! 😆
The Characters
Chen Huan Er
16-year-old Chen Huan Er (played by Yang Xi Zi) is full of life. She was like a ball of happiness, jumping all over the place. When you see her smile, it makes you smile too. When you see her laugh, you feel happy for her. Chen Huan Er is a very good person. She is kind and warm-hearted. She is always willing to help, and her loyalty is unwavering.
She loves her family and friends and would do anything to protect them. If Chen Huan Er is your friend, you will feel endless support from her. She would always be a reliable, compassionate, and trustworthy friend who would always be ready to help you.
Jiang Xi Chi
Just like Chen Huan Er, Jiang Xi Chi (portrayed by Zhai Xiao Wen) could be described as a lively spinning top. He was always moving around and never stopped talking. Frankly speaking, it was quite tiring to watch him. Jiang Xi Chi is a person with a carefree spirit.
He is always open and honest about his feelings and radiates kindness. He has this playful personality and endless childlike energy that makes him likeable. However, you can still find him to be a refreshingly genuine and sincere person.
It is such a blessing to be his friend. He wasn’t afraid to defend his friends and was always the first to support you when you were in trouble.
Song Cong
Despite being a prodigy, Song Cong (played by Daniel Zhou) often suppresses his dreams and emotions to fulfill his mother’s wishes. It was quite painful to see him putting his aspirations on hold. Beneath his reserved exterior, however, lies a kind and friendly soul.
Song Cong is someone who longs to follow his path but feels the weight of responsibility and familial expectations. His true nature is warm-hearted and patient. He would not force his feelings or expectations on others and would always respect other’s feelings and choices.
Qi Qi
Qi Qi (played by He Qiu) was born into a wealthy family. Her mother, who owned a successful law firm, hoped that Qi Qi would eventually take over the business. However, Qi Qi had a deep love for the arts, particularly writing, and she had a natural talent for it.
She found herself torn between her mother’s high expectations and her own passions. As a young girl, Qi Qi was more mature than Chen Huan Er. She was the first to experience love and was deeply serious about her feelings for Song Cong.
Qi Qi is a good person by nature. She is kind, gentle, and sometimes refreshingly straightforward. She is passionate and not afraid to show her love, admiration, or even jealousy. I truly believe that if Qi Qi follows her heart and continues on the path she loves, she will become an excellent writer.
The Conclusion
To be honest, Always Home drama was not my first choice for a review. However, as I watched more and more episodes, I became hooked because the story was well written. As a person whose main hobby is venturing into Cdramaland, Always Home’s story was quite cliché and predictable. But for those who are just entering this fascinating world, Always Home would be a good choice for you.
The heartwarming story about friendship and family would bring happiness to your busy week. You can binge watching this drama or make it your daily dose of entertainment. Either way is fine as long as you can savor the sweetness in every episode.
Thank you for reading this post, dear readers. Keep in mind that this is just my perspective, so take it with a grain of salt. I hope this review helps you decide if the drama is something you’d like to watch or skip. Until we meet again in another drama review post, ciao!
