Review: Shine on Me (2026) 骄阳似我
Summary: Nie Xi Guang starring Zhao Jin Mai was once an optimistic college student brimming with youthful energy, now enters the workforce. In college, she had a bittersweet crush on the aloof yet brilliant top student Zhuang Xu starring Lai Wei Ming. Now a working women, she crosses paths with Lin Yu Sen starring Song Wei Long, a rising star in the photovoltaic industry who changed careers from being a surgeon. Although Lin Yu Sen initially harbors misunderstandings about Nie Xi Guang, her sun-like warmth gradually draws him in. The two develop a loving relationship and it’s the whole hearted support from Lin Yu Sen that allows Nie Xi Guang to let go of her regrets and embrace her relationships.
Platform: Tencent
Episodes: 36
Airing Date: December 22, 2025
Review (after 12 episodes): 6.1/10 – A traditional romance drama that follows the trope of “CEO falls for me”. With the first 12 episode dragging on with Nie Xi Guang pining over her college crush and Lin Yu Sen inexplicably falling for her despite lacking any defining traits, the drama didn’t give me a reason to stay invested.
Lin Yu Sen 林屿森 Song Wei Long 宋威龙
Vice President of a Photovoltaic company who was once a promising surgeon
Nie Xi Guang 聂曦光 Zhao Jin Mai 赵今麦
Young college grad from a wealthy family
Zhuang Xu 庄序 Lai Wei Ming 赖伟明
College crush of Nie Xi Guang
Ye Rong 叶容 Bai Bing Ke白冰可
Fellow classmate of Nie Guang Xi
Initial Thoughts
Adapted from a novel by Gu Man, this drama arrived with decent expectations. Gu Man is a proven hitmaker whose works have produced some of the most iconic modern romance dramas of the past decade, including You Are My Glory (2021), Love O2O (2016), and My Sunshine (2015). Those adaptations launched or solidified the careers of stars like Yang Yang, Dilraba, Tang Yan, Zhao Li Ying, and Zheng Shuang, making this project feel like a safe bet from the outset.
Unfortunately, the drama failed to hold my interest beyond the first 13 episodes. The opening stretch drags significantly, centering on Nie Xi Guang, a kind-hearted young woman from a wealthy family whose greatest struggle is lingering feelings for a college crush. Nearly everything in her life comes easily. She’s handed a job, financial security, and the attention of Lin Yu Sen, the handsome deputy CEO, who becomes inexplicably fascinated by her. Most of her professional challenges are resolved for her by Lin Yu Sen, leaving her primary concern as navigating unrequited feelings in post-college life. As a result, Nie Xi Guang experiences little meaningful growth, and Lin Yu Sen’s interest, while likely explained later, feels unconvincing and professionally misplaced at this stage.
While there’s nothing fundamentally “wrong” with the drama, it also never gave me a reason to root for the leads. I understand the appeal of light, escapist romance, but by the end of episode 12, I simply wasn’t invested. Fans insist the story improves around episode 30, but I didn’t feel compelled to keep going.
This drama has done well for both leads, breaching 30,000 on Tencent’s popularity index which is a big win for Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long. They both had several romance dramas air last year but none had the reach and splash of this one. Still, when compared to Gu Man’s earlier adaptations, the performance feels modest. The drama currently averages around 25 million views per episode. While respectable, it is far from the heights of You Are My Glory, which averaged over 60 million views per episode during its 2021 run. Different eras aside, this adaptation ultimately falls short of the author’s own high standard.
What Worked
- Shot on-location: One of the drama’s strengths is its on-location shooting in Wuxi, Shanghai, and Suzhou. Rather than presenting these cities as generic backdrops, the series highlights their distinctive modern character and recognizable landmarks, grounding the story in a vivid, contemporary setting that feels lived-in and authentic.
- Chemistry between leads: Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long share pleasant, natural chemistry. It’s notably stronger than either has had with some of their other co-stars in recent dramas. Song Wei Long turns on the charm with ease when the moment calls for it, while Zhao Jin Mai’s portrayal of Nie Xi Guang trying (and failing) not to get flustered adds a sweet, endearing dynamic to their interactions.
What didn't work
- Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long’s individual performances: While Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long share decent chemistry, their individual performances left much to be desired. Zhao Jin Mai’s delivery is frequently undermined by vocal fry, resulting in indistinct, muffled enunciation. Her portrayal of Nie Xi Guang leans hard into exaggerated cuteness with puffed cheeks, excessive meekness, and affected mannerisms. These traits are common in modern romance female leads, but they somehow felt overtly distracting here. Song Wei Long struggles to project authority. Despite his height, he often tilts his head downward when speaking, creating the impression that he’s not fully engaging with his scene partners even though the intention is to actually pay attention to them. More importantly, he lacks the presence of a seasoned executive. Compared to Wei Da Xun’s commanding Gu Yan Chen in Fireworks of My Heart who exuded quiet confidence and filled every room, Song Wei Long’s Lin Yu Sen feels hesitant and withdrawn, particularly in professional settings.
- Ill-Fitting Costumes: Song Wei Long’s portrayal is further hindered by questionable styling choices. Many of his suits appear oversized and poorly tailored, with exaggerated shoulders that clash with his already subdued screen presence. Instead of conveying power or polish, the effect is awkward, making him look like a child drowning in business attire. As a result, he often feels out of place during boardroom scenes and formal meetings.
- Lack of Growth: The most significant issue, however, is the lack of growth for Nie Xi Guang in the first 12 episodes. Her primary conflict remains an unrequited college crush, a problem that feels increasingly trivial given her privileged background. She’s handed multiple job opportunities, assigned minimal responsibilities, and still manages to catch the attention of the deputy CEO. Yet her emotional energy is almost entirely consumed by worrying about her crush and his potential new relationship. After more than ten episodes of pining with little personal or professional development, the viewing experience becomes tedious. While the story may improve later, by this point, my investment had already worn thin.