Drama Review: You Are Desire

You Are Desire (白日梦我)

Main Cast & Synopsis

“You Are Desire” is a romance drama adapted from Xi Jian’s novel, Bai Ri Meng Wo. The story revolves around Lin Yu Jing, a high school student who is forced by her mom to visit her father and stepmother. After arguing with her father and accidentally breaking her mother’s bracelet, Lin Yu Jing finds Qinghe Silver Jewelry, where she meets Shen Juan, a silversmith. On her first day of school, Lin Yu Jing finds out that Shen Juan is actually a high school student. By becoming desk mates, an unexpected bond forms between the two lost souls, and they come together to fight for their desires in life side by side.

Zhuang Da Fei, known for her roles in “Miss Chun is a Litigator” and “Binary Love,” portrays Lin Yu Jing, a high school student who doesn’t have the best relationship with either of her divorced parents. Living with her mother since she was young, Lin Yu Jing was suddenly forced to visit her father’s new family, only to find out that she was abandoned by her mother and has to live with her father in Pucheng. Now attending Liying High School, Lin Yu Jing meets Shen Juan again, who turns out to be a delinquent high school student and her new desk mate. Living in Pucheng, Lin Yu Jing finds herself forming unexpected lifelong friendships.

Zhou Yi Ran, known for his roles in “When I Fly Towards You” and “The Sweetest Secret,” portrays Shen Juan, a high school student who lives alone in his uncle’s silversmith store. Because Shen Juan is trying to make ends meet to keep the store that holds sentimental value for him, he is seen as a delinquent student. There’s more to the misunderstood Shen Juan than meets the eye as he opens up his heart to Lin Yu Jing and lets go of his past to pursue his dreams.

Character Breakdown

Questions and Answers of “You Are Desire”

heavy spoilers ahead

How many couples are there in “You Are Desire”?

There are three couples in “You Are Desire.” The first one is our main couple, Lin Yu Jing and Shen Juan, who meet each other in Pucheng as high school students and again as college students before forming a romantic relationship.

The second couple consists of the timid but sweet Xu Ru Yi and the supportive and sweet He Song Nan. These two individuals met in high school, and their relationship blossomed through their friendship with Lin Yu Jing and Shen Juan. Despite attending separate colleges, He Song Nan made sure to stay relevant in Xu Ru Yi’s life and eventually started a long-distance relationship.

The third couple is Fu Ming Xiu and Gu Xia. The two met while Gu Xia was interning at Fu Ming Xiu’s law office, where she worked directly under him. After her internship, Gu Xia continuously sought help from Fu Ming Xiu and eventually fell for him. Through Gu Xia’s confession and with the help of his little sister, Lin Yu Jing, Fu Ming Xiu decides to overcome his fears and start a relationship with Gu Xia.

Are there any second male or female leads in “You Are Desire”?

There are no second male or female leads in You Are Desire. Lu Yao shows up in Pucheng for a competition at Liying High School and to support Lin Yu Jing. Although his presence was used as a trigger to ignite Shen Juan’s feelings and jealousy, Lu Yao and Lin Yu Jing are merely good friends.

What’s the ending of “You Are Desire”?

Episode 30: Feeling like he’s failing in life and finding out that Qinghe Silver Jewelry, where they made most of their high school memories, will soon be demolished, Wang Yi Yang is saddened. The group has one last meal in the store as they discuss their past. Nearing the end of their college journey, Shen Juan finds out that Lin Yu Jing received a job offer in Huaicheng. Everyone moves out of their dorms, ending their college journey with a graduation photo.

Special episode: In this 24 minute “special,” it takes place during the end of college and the group goes on a beach vacation where they open up their hearts and discuss their vulnerabilities.

Drama Review: You Are Desire

“I won’t allow the darkness to engulf you. I won’t let any bad guys harm you. I will protect you.”

★★★☆☆ Rating: 3.8/5

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed “You Are Desire.” What made it particularly captivating was its emphasis on the slow burn, taking the time to explore the characters’ feelings, delving into subtle attractions, and focusing on friendship and genuine connections. Throughout the show, it continued to excel in portraying relationships among the two leads and with their peers and team. Most of the romance depicted here was healthy and heartwarming. It unfolded gradually, yet the storytelling and direction were precisely what I appreciated. The drama didn’t indulge in unnecessary sweetness; it didn’t romanticize their traumas, suggesting that love could fix everything.

Every issue faced by the characters was addressed with the support of their close-knit group of friends. Their collective journey felt deeply satisfying and warm. It portrayed the story of two individuals who were once lost and broken, coming together, healing, and helping each other achieve their goals and dreams. There were no compromises, misunderstandings, or major arguments—just real-life issues examined objectively and solved with the support of friends. Thus, the melancholic tone of the series added a perfect touch to emphasize the sadness that Lin Yu Jing and Shen Juan hold inside.

After their high school days, I experienced a bit of a lull and had to adjust to new story arcs. Shifting to their college days and focusing on Shen Juan’s arc of finding his desire, although unnecessarily long, was fine with me because we were still focusing on unraveling Shen Juan’s story and connecting it back to Lin Yu Jing. However, I was indeed disappointed with the way Lin Yu Jing’s arc of finding her passion and the end was quickly pushed.

One thing I observed was that Lin Yu Jing emerged as the stronger one in their relationship, despite being the one who was vocal about her issues. She consistently supported Shen Juan, even when he didn’t explicitly ask for help. Despite her dominant personality, Shen Juan didn’t allow Lin Yu Jing to fall either. Even when he was focusing on his competition, Shen Juan made sure to come back and support Lin Yu Jing. The way they loved and understood each other made them a couple that balanced each other remarkably well.

Additionally, I appreciated how the drama allowed each character the space to grow. Lin Yu Jing refrained from overwhelming Shen Juan with constant calls; he found out about her situation and took professional leave before coming to her side. He didn’t try to assure her that everything would be okay or that she was the sole solution. Furthermore, Lin Yu Jing respected their group dynamics, not intruding on moments that were meant for individual growth or when the guys needed their own space. These small details added depth to the characters and made me truly appreciate the drama.

One of my favorite things about reaching the end of each episode was the outros. Each of the monologue outros is unique to Shen Juan and Lin Yu Jing, expressing their thoughts and feelings. Lin Yu Jing’s words about Shen Juan in episode twenty-four’s outro were my favorite: ‘All the tenderness I have for this world comes from your blatant favoritism. When you’re not treated gently by this world, I will stand up without hesitation. I will prove to the world in my way that you are a boy with a warm heart and bright talent.’ Meanwhile, Shen Juan’s outro about Lin Yu Jing in episode twenty-five was my favorite romantic expression about her: ‘I used to love the night, sitting alone quietly and polishing the silver ornaments. I threw away worries in the past. Now that I have you, I prefer to see the light. I take you to watch the sunrise, seeing the sun rising from the sea. It looks as shining as our future.’

Yes, there were arcs and shifts in the drama that could have been done better. Yes, I was thrown off by those arcs, but because the characters stayed true to who they were from the beginning, as characters I fell for in the first arc, I persisted through with no regrets on seeing Shen Juan and Lin Yu Jing’s journey. So, if we were to just rate on the structure of the plot, my rating would be lower.

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