Be Passionately in Love

Xu Zhi rides a wave of academic success after the college entrance exam and becomes the celebrated top student at Ruijun Middle School, but her triumph in the classroom doesn't translate to her love life. The series follows how admiration, expectations and plain human awkwardness complicate her attempts at romance, as friendships shift and loyalties are tested. Scenes move between school corridors, family homes and late-night conversations, showing how someone used to being the "winner" has to learn about vulnerability, jealousy and the messy give and take of relationships, without revealing how any of those strains resolve.

Released in 2025, the series was directed by Liu Kuang-Hui and created by Er Dong Tu Zi, Fang Qiangqiang and Liu Yang. The cast includes Liu Haocun as Xu Zhi, Wang Anyu as Chen Luzhou, Wu Hankun as Zhu Yangqi, Zhang Xinyi as Cai Yingying and Sun Zhihong as Xu Guangqi.

As of its initial run it hasn’t collected major industry awards, but early audience response has been notable. Viewer ratings are strong on some platforms, with a vote average of 9.0/10 from 11 votes, suggesting a warm reception among early fans even if formal accolades are still to come.

Early audiences have been actively discussing the show’s portrayal of exam culture and romantic expectations, focusing on how the characters handle pressure and disappointment. Clips and character moments have circulated online, prompting debates about the realism of school relationships and the moral choices adolescents face.

Critics and viewers highlight the series’ focus on the tension between achievement and personal life, and on how success in one area can coincide with vulnerability in another. Dialogue and performances are often praised for feeling immediate, and recurring themes include identity, competition, and the cost of always trying to be the best. The show doesn’t offer easy answers, and that ambiguity is part of what has kept conversations going.