City of Romance

Bai Xiaoduo has learned to protect herself with elaborate lies because she doubts her own worth, and that habit keeps others at arm's length. When she crosses paths with Su Yancheng, a brilliant cartoonist who has little tolerance for dishonesty, their initial clashes slowly give way to mutual support. Through shared setbacks, creative collaboration, and quiet moments of honesty, they chip away at each other's defenses and start to repair long-standing emotional wounds, while secondary characters around them complicate and enrich their efforts without resolving everything neatly.

Released in 2025, City of Romance is directed by Mao Bingzhang and adapted from material by Rao Xueman. The series features Yu Chengen as Su Yancheng and Wang Zixuan as Bai Xiaoduo, with Gao Maotong, Lin Qiyu, and Xu Bin in key supporting roles.

As of its debut there are no reports of major international awards or nominations. It hasn’t garnered Emmy, Golden Globe, or comparable accolades yet, though that could change as the show reaches wider audiences and festivals.

Early audience reaction has generated modest online buzz, especially around scenes of Su sketching and the lead actors' chemistry. Clips and fan art have started circulating on social platforms, and discussions focus on the show's visuals and the way it uses the cartoonist’s work to reflect inner life, suggesting a growing niche fanbase rather than broad mainstream impact—for now.

Critical response is mixed-to-positive, reflected in a small number of votes averaging 7.0/10, with praise aimed at performances and character work more than plot fireworks. The series trades dramatic spectacle for quiet emotional work, highlighting themes of honesty, trust, and the slow rebuilding of self-esteem. It’s a character-driven drama that values small gestures and gradual change over sudden revelations.