Super cute story following our main characters Su Zaizai and Zhang Lurang from high school to college. As I started reading, some of the scenes in the first few couples felt so familiar, and when I looked it up, I realized this is the novel that the drama When I Fly Towards You is based on. I watched that drama not too long ago and found it super cute, so no wonder I enjoyed this story as well.
This is a very much a simple, feel good story where we follow Su Zaizai as she slowly cracks open Zhang Lurang's shell and forces herself into his world, and slowly he falls in love with her. There were times when I found her annoying, but it was endearing at the same time. Clearly Zhang Lurang felt the same way XP
I liked the novel more than the drama, since it focuses exclusively on them rather than introducing all of the other random characters in the drama, but overall the drama follows the novel story pretty closely. I recognized several scenes in the novel.
Su Zaizai's character is really crazy here. I think they toned her down a bit for the drama, but I got a kick out of seeing what kind of crazy or shameless things she's planning to say next. She can say anything to get what she wants and always takes the initiative for the next step in their relationship, which is refreshing to read. Plus she's so bubbly all the time and can carry on a whole conversation almost by herself, which often helped make Zhang Lurang feel better when he's in a bad mood because of his family.
Speaking of which, I felt bad for our male lead. It's a shame that he got reduced to the less important and less loved son in his family. It sounds like by the end, his parents started to reflect on their behavior and whether they treated their sons right, but it's too little too late. Both Zhang Luran and his younger brother's relationship with them is already quite strained at that point. I'm really glad that at one of the lowest points in his life, Zhang Luran found a beacon of light in Su Zaizai to light up his world and show to himself that his existence has meaning to someone.
Overall I thought this was a cute read. It's short too; I managed to finish it in only a couple hours which is nothing compared to most Chinese novels.
I'll end my review with a classic example of Su Zaizai being shameless XP
"See, you're not saying anything again." Su Zaizai started to lecture him, "Besides the first kiss and hug, which I had to forcefully initiate, it seems like I'll have to take the initiative in everything in the future."
He turned his face away, remaining silent.
Su Zaizai counted her fingers, listing items one by one. "We haven't tried holding hands yet. What else... oh, taking off clothes... on the bed..." She paused and murmured, "Thinking about it this way doesn't seem too bad."
Zhang Lurang couldn't stand it any longer.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Alright, I'll take the initiative for everything." Su Zaizai, in a good mood, no longer minded him, "You're good-looking, and that's enough."
Tên truyện convert sang tiếng Việt là "Cô ấy bệnh không hề nhẹ" và đã được chuyển thể thành bộ phim siêu đáng yêu "Khi anh bước về phía em". Nói thật là phim khai thác tâm lý và hình tượng nhân vật tốt hơn truyện rất nhiều. Truyện hơi trẻ con (tác giả cũng còn trẻ lắm thì phải) nhưng đọc đỡ ghiền trong khi chờ tập mới thì cũng thú vị.