Love Story in the 1970s (2026) 纯真年代的爱情
Directed by Chen Chang, starring Chen Feiyu/ Arthur Chen as Fang Muyang, Sun Qian as Fei Ni, Wang Tianchen as Qu Hua, Guo Xiaoting/Cristy Guo as Fang Mujing, Shi Yunpeng as Fei Ting, Guo Weijie as Lin Mei, Li Shuman as Ling Yi, Xia Haoran as Ye Feng, Wu Yue as Fei Mingde, Hao Wenting as Wu Baoying, Wu Youyou as Feng Lin, Liu Mintao as Xu Hongqi, and Chai Juanzhe as Lin Song.
Watched 6 - 19 April 2026 — 29 episodes (KISSKH)
*This slice-of-life drama, set in China in the 1970s, is a wholesome watch, exuding a feel-good vibe. The cast of characters is mostly likeable, and our OTP (Chen Feiyu/ Arthur Chen as Fang Muyang and Sun Qian as Fei Ni) is lovable and cute. I enjoyed this very much! I even went back immediately to rewatch favourite scenes.
*This is not a drama with a big storyline and intricate plot. It tells a simple story of a hardworking factory girl, Fei Ni, entering a fake marriage with a boy (Fang Muyang) she knows since childhood. This way she can secure housing and eventually follow her dream of going to university. The series puts the focus on little details and quiet moments, and we see how the bond between the OTP deepens and eventually develops into real love.
*I have to admit I wasn't immediately sold. The series is a slow-burn and it just really gets better once you get to know the different characters. I liked the female lead right away, the character Fei Ni and the actress Sun Qian. She reminded me a bit of the female lead from When I Fly Towards You. Initially I wasn't too enthusiastic about the male lead Fang Muyang. He lost his memory and at times he seemed mentally unstable. He won me over at the end of episode 7 when Fei Ni was about to name the one condition for their marriage (i.e. not stopping her from going to university), and Fang Muyang already knew and spoke out first. Saying that he would support her, meant the world to her. I loved the beautiful image of them cycling through the yellow fields. I also liked that she was the one to propose marriage. He could have been the one to suggest it, knowing it would solve his housing problem. My infatuation with Fang Muyang was gradual, it was through his words and actions, just like Fei Ni fell for him. He is sweet, a bit mischievous, and the way he looks at Fei Ni is dreamy!
*I love love love love the painting scene and the lovely mural in episode 10. There are numerous heartwarming moments where Fang Muyang tries to help Fei Ni in any way he can and shows his support. Some other fave scenes: Fang Muyang having built a private shower in their room; Fang Muyang and Fei Ni listening to the gramophone together; Fei Ni wanting to help out when Fang Muyang is building a TV-set; Fang Muyang making furniture for Fei Ni's brother and best friend and Fei Ting giving Fang Muyang wood to make a double bed (a double bed with divider!); love how Fei Ni and Fang Muyang work together on the blackboard project; how Fang Muyang shows Fei Ni the warehouse library; how Fang Muyang draws dresses for Fei Ni while sitting at the cinema together; how Fang Muyang glued together the designs Fei Ni made (shredded by Feng Lin) and redrew them all for her, sketching the designs with her wearing the dresses. This got me teary-eyed. And I loooove the rooftop scenes, they are magical. So where can I get myself a Fang Muyang?
*Besides the lead couple, there are three other romantic couples. Each couple has different dynamics. The second couple, Fang Muyang's sister Fang Mujing and doctor Qu Hua, make a good pair. I didn't immediately like their love story but ultimately I loved them together and they made their story and love for each other believable. I also like Lin Mei (Fei Ni's bestie) and Fei Ting (Fei Ni's brother), the third couple, and Ting's struggles to get a job. Lin Mei and Fei Ting showed some badass behaviour at times. I loved how Fei Ni helped her brother propose to Lin Mei's parents and how she defended Ting. The 4th couple Ling Yi and Ye Feng didn't get a happy ending, which was understandable, but I still had hoped for an extra scene between them and a sliver of hope for a reconciliation.
*One of my fave characters is Fei Ni's father. He is so funny. I loved his relationship with Fang Muyang. Also the mother is very nice. Fei Ni's parents are so lovable, not controlling, and I really love how they loved their children and wanted what was best for them.
*The biggest 'villain' of the story is Feng Lin, and the actress did a great job portraying her. She is really nasty and I didn't feel any sympathy for her. Her meddling is constantly backfiring, and in the end she gets fired and loses her residence. I did feel a bit sorry for another unlikeable character, Lin Song (Lin Mei's brother), but he had a clear redemption arc. Director Xu Hongqi turned out okay and wasn't entirely unlikeable, and I liked her replacement Director Chen.
*There's a lot of humour in this series. I had a smile on my face a lot and was also laughing out loud. What comes to mind: Fang Muyang eating those big carrots, the condom scenes and shaking of the bunk bed, the bite from a 1.9 meter tall mosquito!
*With the earthquake, things become more dramatic, and there's also director Xu Hongqi's emotional dismissal, but the feel-good vibe comes back soon enough with Fang Muyang's parents meeting Fei Ni's parents and everyone having dinner together.
*I loved all the happy moments, I couldn't get enough of them.
*Great production values, with great drawn opening credits and beautiful accompanying music. Love the cinematography and colour palette! I noticed there were lots of sunsets as scene transitions.
*I was sad it was over and that I couldn't hang out with the characters anymore. I wanted to follow the main couple's path through university, see the 2nd couple navigate their jobs and marriage in Germany, watch the 3rd couple raise their little baby, and spend more time with Fei Ni's lovable parents.
*Fei Ni: "I never thought I'd fall for you. It's not that you're bad. I've known you since Grade 3. Back then, I knew we were not the same kind of person. You splurged a lot. To put it nicely, you were carefree and optimistic. But frankly, you were reckless. That said, it was you who made me understand that no matter how hard life is, when two people share it, it becomes lighter. And you taught me life isn't only about distant goals. It's also about the scenery right in front of you. I used to think I was unlucky, that luck was never on my side. But only now do I realise that all that good fortune had been saved up so I could meet you."
Fang Muyang: "I like you. The moment I first saw you, I liked you. I carry this feeling across half of China. From Jiangcheng No. 2 High School, to Beidahuang, and back to Jiangcheng. If you call it a rehearsal, then I've rehearsed it in my heart countless times."