Series worthy of a re-watch from time to time, even if only for the love story.

Notes may refer to cupcakes or PCAB, which makes reference to my other public collection of my most favorite OTPs (precious cupcake angel babies).

Double Take

HunanTV

A young swimmer tries to stage a comeback four&nbsp;years after a scandal.


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Tang Yi Bai (Dylan Xiong) is a former champion swimmer who was wrongfully accused of doping that derailed his competitive career four&nbsp;years ago. He returns after a four-year hiatus&nbsp;to compete for the South Physical Education College alongside his best friend, Qi Rui Feng (Huang Sheng Chi), against their biggest rival, Ou Yang Heng (Pang Han Chen), of North Physical Education College.


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At the competition, Yi Bai meets rookie sports reporter Yun Duo (Tan Song Yun), who is assigned to cover the competition but has a fear of water due to a near-drowning incident in her past. Yun Duo also happens to rent a room in Yi Bai’s family home, and the two become good friends.


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Can Yun Duo encourage&nbsp;Yi Bai to prove his innocence in his past scandal and regain his swimming glory?


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“My Mr. Mermaid” is a 2017 Chinese drama series. It is based on the novel Lang Hua Yi Duo Duo by Jiu Xiao Qi.

My Mr. Mermaid

Just Keep Swimming

Tencent TV

Trying to figure out what you want to do in life is hard enough, but with graduation fast approaching, Si Tu Mo (Fei Xing) is finding the task nearly impossible. Standing on the brink of adulthood, the pressure to make this next big step in life the right one, was starting to make Tu Mo second guess everything. Finding herself wavering between what she wants and what everyone expects of her, Tu Mo has no idea where she should go from here. At least not until she meets Gu Wei Yi (Lin Yi).

A brilliant physics student, Wei Yi knows exactly what he wants from life and he isn’t afraid to chase his dreams. Watching Tu Mo flounder through these last fleeting days of university life, Wei Yi decides to step in and help her out.&nbsp;

Encouraging Tu Mo to think about what it is she really wants, Wei Yi helps his lost friend see that life doesn’t always have to have structure and a plan, by reminding her that sometimes it’s best to follow your heart.

Based on the novel by Zhao Gangan, “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” is a 2019 romantic drama directed by Zhu Dong Ning.

Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Lean on Me 

iQIYI

Zhang Wei (Zhang Zhe Han) is the workaholic general manager of a luxurious five-star hotel. His busy and stress-filled life is joyless and loveless – until he meets the beautiful and warm-hearted Luo Xi (Zhang Ruo Nan).

She melts his cold heart, and he falls head over heels for her. But there is a twist – she has a long-term suitor in the form of her former schoolmate Tao Lun (Riley Wang). Although Tao Lun loves Luo Xi passionately, the feeling is not mutual. She likes him, but only as a friend – while her passion for Zhang Wei is very real...

The heartbroken Tao Lun eventually accepts defeat, and throws himself into his professional career, while lovebirds Luo Xi and Zhang Wei begin to co-run a small hostel in the countryside.

But the trio’s paths cross again, some time later – when Tao Lun is enlisted to help stop a scheming hotel chain push forward with plans to demolish the idyllic surroundings of the hostel to make room for a real estate development.

Can the former love triangle members let bygones be bygones to save the natural beauty – or will old emotions get in the way?

“Everyone Wants To Meet You” is a 2020 Chinese drama series directed by Hsu Fu Hsiang.

Everyone Wants to Meet You

The Viki's Legends Team ツ

Yul (Do Kyung Soo) is the King’s nephew who prefers to spend his days playing instead of being studious and ambitious. In one of his play days, he crosses paths with the kind and compassionate Yi Seo (Nam Ji Hyun) and falls in love with her.
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In this background, Yul’s father (Jo Han Chul) is a jealous man who vies for the throne, and schemes together with Kim Cha Eon (Jo Sung Ha). On one night, Cha Eon runs a coup that kills the King and his trusted allies, including Yi Seo’s father. Yi Seo escapes with her brother, unbeknownst to Yul, who was trying to protect her. Yul’s father becomes King, and Yul is now the Crown Prince.
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Sixteen years later - Yul loses his memory after an assassination attempt. How will this lead him back to Yi Seo, and what fate awaits them?

100 Days My Prince

The 100 Days Team

As a high schooler, Eun Ha Won (Park So Dam) loses her mother in a tragic accident, and her father remarries. When her cruel stepmother moves in with them, she steals Ha Won’s college funds, leaving Ha Won forced to take on multiple part-time jobs to meet her college downpayment. One day, Ha Won meets an old man who sees her fiery disposition and her no-nonsense personality.&nbsp;Convinced that this is exactly what his three grandsons need, he persuades her to move into a mansion, where she will stay as the housekeeper, with three other young men who happen to be billionaire cousins.
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There’s a middle cousin and lone wolf Kang Ji Woon (Jung Il Woo), a rebel with a cause with a sad past, who might have shared a moment with Ha Won years ago.
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Eldest cousin Kang Hyun Min (Ahn Jae Hyun), an arrogant playboy with a penchant for smooth-talking, and a money machine used to getting whatever he wants.
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The youngest cousin Kang Seo Woo (Lee Jung Shin) is a top singer-songwriter, who is easily the most affectionate with Ha Won.
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What sort of adventures can come out of living with three dashing, spoiled rich men, and who will Ha Won choose in the end?

Cinderella and Four Knights

✨ Cinderella's Knights ✨

JTBC

Jang Sun Gyeol (Yoon Kyun Sang) has wealth and good looks but suffers from severe germophobia. He is obsessed with cleaning and even owns his own cleaning company. However, he meets a carefree and untidy girl named Gil Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung) after she enters his company as a new employee. Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung) has worked all sorts of part-time jobs while striving for a full-time job and does not have the time to date or keep everything clean. She gave up on being neat after facing the tough realites of the world and is known for always wearing her trademark tracksuit. But she has a bright personality and does not mind getting dirty. With the help of Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung), Sun Gyeol (Yoon Kyun Sang) faces his fear of germs and discovers that he's falling in love with her.

Clean with Passion for Now

🐙 💦 The Clean Freaks 💦 🐛

Oksusu

After an electric shock, a top celebrity (Lee Hong Ki) is suddenly able to hear a script writer's (Jung Hye Sung) thoughts. Knowing her true thoughts and feelings, he finds himself falling madly in love with her! But when he loses his ability to read her mind, would he still be able to win her heart?

"I Hate You Juliet" is a Viki Original 2019 drama directed by Kim Jeong Kwon.

I Hate You Juliet

Juliet, Where's Your Romeo?

One of the most admired and beloved romance manga writers of her time, Hanai Ao (Fumika Baba) has dedicated her entire life to her work. From sunup to sundown, she pours one hundred percent of herself into what she does and it shows. With countless fans clamoring for her latest work, Hanai is at the top of her game. As one of the best romance writers in the country, you’d think Hanai would be experienced in the world of love, but in reality, she’s never even had a boyfriend. A fact that her editor likes to point out. Frequently.

Completely fed up with the constant nagging of her editor, Hanai decides to take a walk, completely unaware that she looks like she's just survived a typhoon. Completely indifferent to anything but her work, Hanai has never bothered with her appearance. At least not until she catches her reflection in a shop window and has to do a double-take. Feeling inspired to make a change, Hanai walks into a nearby salon, where she’s immediately greeted by Riichi (Eiji Akaso), a charismatic and charming stylist who promises to give her a look she’ll love. Struck by Riichi’s charm, Hanai soon finds herself falling for this man she can’t seem to resist. Lucky for her, the feeling seems to be mutual.

With love in the air, it’s only a matter of time before Hanai finds herself experiencing all the joys of a first love, but her strict work ethic could become a problem. Can a workaholic really keep a steady relationship when she frequently forgets her boyfriend even exists?

Based on the manga of the same title by Aya Asano, “Hey Sensei, Don’t You Know?” is a 2019 romance drama directed by Keijiro Tsubakimoto and Tatsuya Aoki.

Hey Sensei, Don't You Know?

Love At First Sight Team

Mango TV

As the reign of the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing Emperor approaches its end, trouble finds its way into the palace. Funds which had been set aside for the repairs of the river in Yangzhou, have disappeared. Commissioned by the emperor to investigate the incident, Lu Yi (Allen Ren), of the Jing Yi Wei, is determined to find those responsible and bring them to justice. But he’s not working this case alone.

A talented constable in the secret police, Yuan Jin Xia (Tan Song Yun), is an obvious choice when it comes to assisting Lu Yi on the case. There’s just one problem, the hot-tempered constable has encountered Lu Yi in the past and the disagreement that followed is not one either has forgotten. Despite their less-than-pleasant past, the two must work together to find those responsible for the missing government funds.

Putting their differences aside Lu Yi and Jin Xia learn to get along, making them a formidable team. As they dig deeper into the case, their feelings for each other begin to take root, eventually blossoming into a beautiful relationship. But all that comes crashing down when Jin Xia uncovers a dark and disturbing truth about her past.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Lan Se Shi, “Under the Power” is a 2019 historical mystery romance drama directed by Yin Tao.

Under the Power

The Powerful Team

Tencent

Xia Lin Xi’s (Xiang Han Zhi) senior year of high school was as perfect as anyone could ever hope one’s would be. With good friends, good grades, and a bright future ahead of her, she was ready to face whatever life brought her way with confidence and a smile. Jiang Zheng Han (Wang An Yu), on the other hand, didn’t have quite the same experience during his final year of high school, but he did have Xia Lin Xi. The brightest part of every day, Lin Xi was the friend who helped him through his most trying times and from their friendship, a profound love blossomed. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Moving from high school to university, Lin Xi and Zheng Han found themselves attending the same school. Spending their university days together, the love and friendship they had fostered during high school began to grow. As their feelings for each other deepened, they began to make plans for their future, certain the other would always be a part of whatever lay ahead. But life has a way of taking you down unexpected roads and as their university years drew to a close, Lin Xi and Zheng Han found themselves walking along different paths.

Even so, their relationship never faltered. Now as working professionals, the two are beginning to see that the feelings they have for each other have only gotten stronger with time. Recognizing that the feelings they have for each other are strong enough to last a thousand lifetimes, Lin Xi and Zheng Han begin to wonder, is it time to take their relationship to an entirely new level?

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Su Guang Tong, “Forever Love” is a 2020 romance drama directed by Wen De Guang.

Forever Love

💞 Loving Connections Team 💞 

In late-Tang Dynasty China, Chu Chu (Su Xiao Tong) is a young woman from a long line of coroners. She dreams of becoming the most prominent coroner in the land – by winning an appointment to the Imperial Palace. But she knows that in order to do so, she must first travel to Chang’an, the Tang capital, to pass an exam and prove her worth. While in the capital, she meets Xiao Jin Yu (Wang Zi Qi), an imperial prince and a budding sleuth.

The two young people realize they can be an asset to one another: Chu Chu’s quick wits can help Xiao Jin Yu solve a number of tricky cases, while she can hope to raise her profile by solving the mysteries they tackle together. When they join forces to get to the bottom of a two-decade-old secret, they realize that solving the case could help them both fulfill their dreams. But their investigations lead them to suspect that there may be untold secrets pertaining to Xiao Jin Yu’s family, while high-ranking civil servants hatch devious schemes – and the duo starts to wonder if their partnership could eventually take a romantic turn…

“The Imperial Coroner” is a 2021 drama series that was based on a novel by Qing Xian Ya Tou and directed by Lou Jian.

The Imperial Coroner

The Imperial Coroners 

Youku, Mango TV

Qin Shen (Deng Chao Yuan) is a tall, handsome, young wannabe sculptor. He has decided to attend art school to polish his skills and throws himself into his craft. He strives for perfection and does not want anything – least of all romance – to get in his way.

He has never had a girlfriend, and he prefers to stay away from all matters of the heart. His destiny, it would seem, is to live and die alone.

But at art school, his path crosses with that of another perpetual loner – a budding painter named Yuan Qian (Song Yi Ren).

She is also focused, driven, and intelligent. And Yuan Qian is not as averse to the idea of love as Qin Shen. However, she is so picky that she finds fault in just about everyone she meets – to the extent that it seems no man will ever meet her sky-high standards.

Together with their classmates, this duo begins on a journey of self-discovery as they hone their skills and begin to round out their personalities.

But as time goes by, could Yuan Qian and Qin Shen finally find love – with each other?

“Professional Single” is a 2020 Chinese, university-themed drama series that was directed by Lin Yan.

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