Well, the drama version of You Are My Lover Friend can be said to be the real-life story of Zhang Xincheng and Wang Yuwen except for the fact that they are not dating in real life.
Interestingly, both actors, Zhang Xincheng (29) and Wang Yuwen (27), are from Hubei province and have known each other since they were twelve. After almost 17 years of friendship, these childhood friends have now successfully transitioned into an on-screen couple.
What’s even more interesting is, just like in this series, both actors’ parents are also close in real life. Hmm… it’s a pity that they aren’t a real couple, though.
So, ‘You Are My Lover Friend’ is a Tencent Videos romance youth drama, based on the the web novel “Wo Na Ni Dang Peng You Ni Que” (我拿你当朋友你却). This 30-episode drama features Steven Zhang Xincheng and Wang Yuwen in the lead roles and tells the story of two best friends who go from being sworn brothers for over a decade to becoming a lovely couple.
Plot Summary
Jiang Shiyan (portrayed by Zhang Xincheng) and Tang Yang (played by Wang Yuwen) have been best friends since their school days. After graduation, both set out to pursue their careers. Jiang Shiyan becomes the director of a media company focused on food products, while Tang Yang builds her career in finance and starts working as a director in the Credit Review Division after returning her hometown. Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang have always been an inseparable part of each other’s lives, but they had only ever seen each other as friends. Over time, they begin to realize that their relationship has grown into something more than just friendship.
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Jiang Shiyan and Tang Yang are both career-focused and in their late twenties. The good thing is that no matter how busy they are, they will always have time for each other. Whether it’s during difficult times or moments of opportunity, they are there for each other. Despite being childhood sweethearts, their closeness is also attributed to their families, who are very close as well.
You Are My Lover Friend Review
As with any relationship, when friends decide to move into a romantic relationship, their friendship can never return to the way it was before. Since two protagonists have been friends for over 15 years, they kind of struggle with this transition after realizing their feelings for each other. They’re afraid that their decision might cost them the most important bond they share. As a result, they take time to process their feelings and understand them fully before moving forward. Fortunately, they both share the same emotions—if they didn’t, it could easily have been a sad, one-sided love story.
I believe this story will resonate particularly well with viewers whose relationships evolved from being best friends to life partners in real life. That said, I’m not implying that only best friends who turn into lovers will enjoy it—anyone interested in a modern rom-com can appreciate the drama, as it explores themes of friendship, youth, and love.
Also, If the workspace story is about 30% then the remaining 70% is is about their relationship and other side characters stories. Some of the modern romance dramas are too focused on business or some sort of advanced technology along with romance but this drama is mostly about relationship and romance. Though don’t expect too many kissing scenes.
Apart from the main CP, I kind of wanted more screen time for the third couple in the story. With one being a top tech guy who is cold and distant and the other an actress and streamer, I find their part quite interesting, especially because how they encounter each other in the beginning.
I started watching this with very low expectations. Though I thouroughly enjoyed the first 10 episodes. As the two best friends were slowly realizing their feelings for each other, all their sweet yet awkward moments were fun to watch.
But afterward, it somehow became draggy. I have always wonder, if fewer episodes can cover every aspect of the drama perfectly, then why drag it on? It not only worsens the viewing experience but also affects the overall quality of the drama. The same thing has happened here in You Are My Lover Friend. They stretched the plot too much on unnecessary parts, like the New Year celebration and family-friend reunions.
It’s really funny; this is the first drama where I saw four whole episodes (11, 12, 13, and 14) dedicated to the New Year festival. Of course, they showed the progress of various characters’ relationships during this period, but the same effect or outcome could have been achieved in a shorter duration too.
Interestingly, in most other dramas, the friends of the male and female leads are always ahead of the game. They know exactly what’s going on in their friends’ minds with just one small clue. But here? Come on, I just couldn’t get this logic. The second couple in the story is the closest to both main protagonists, yet when it comes to figuring out their relationship, they appear completely clueless.
Yes, we can get confused sometimes since some of our close friends have been in a friend circle for a long time. But I believe Jiang Shiyan gave enough clues; still, they never doubt that they might be in love? I’m not sure how realistic that is, but it feels like the writer was just playing dumb in these parts. And it’s not just the second couple—it’s also their parents. How could they not think about pairing the two? They look like the perfect match! It’s strange that they’re trying to set Tang Yang up with someone else entirely.
Surprisingly, many modern romances these days can’t seem to complete their storyline without that one villain acting as a third wheel between the two main protagonists, whether in a relationship or in the workplace. However, the presence of this villain is less severe in ‘You Are My Lover Friend’ as compared to other dramas. I mean, there are fewer annoying characters in the plot.
Acting And Chemistry
Talking about the chemistry between Zhang Xincheng and Wang Yuwen, it felt natural, sweet, and cute. Since they are best friends in real life, their rapport turn out well onscreen as well.
Overall, every casts performance was okay. Since this is an idol romance drama, there aren’t many high and low points that require the actors to deliver strong emotional or intense acting. But I find Wang Yuwen’s drunk scene a bit unrealistic. It was somewhat believable in The Love You Give Me, but here, for some reason it felt awkward. She seemed to be acting drunk, but in Episode 18, she looked quite sober.
My Verdict: Worth Watching
My rating for this drama is 7 out of 10. If you enjoy watching rom-coms, especially those about friendship turning into a romantic relationship, then I highly recommend watching it. However, the slow pacing and occasionally draggy plot might turn some viewers off.
Photos Credit: Tencent Video/ Zhang Xincheng/ Wang Yuwen/ Weibo
