Drama Review: The Best Thing

Synopsis and Information

• Chinese title: 爱你 / Ai Ni
• Genre: Romance
• Episodes: 28
• Episodes Length: 45 minutes
• Where to watch: iQiyi (en)
• Adaptation of novel: Ai Ni Shi Wo Zuo Guo Zui Hao De Shi (爱你是我做过最好的事) by Sheng Li (笙离)

Synopsis: Shen Xifan, a dedicated workaholic and hotel housekeeping manager, who suffers from insomnia and migraines due to her high-intensity job. Seeking relief, she turns to traditional Chinese medicine and meets the gentle and refined doctor, He Suye. However, her busy schedule often causes her to forget to pick up her prescriptions, much to He Suye’s frustration. What starts as a mere doctor-patient relationship takes an unexpected turn when they realize they live in the same neighborhood. Through a series of chance encounters, their feelings gradually blossom. Having experienced a painful first love, Shen Xifan is cautious, while He Suye, abandoned by his first love, has since closed off his heart. As Shen Xifan slowly approaches him, their awkward yet endearing interactions lead He Suye to rediscover the meaning of love, eventually making him the one to pursue her instead. Meanwhile, He Suye’s dedication to traditional Chinese medicine inspires Shen Xifan to find her true aspirations. (Source: iQyi)

Character Breakdown

Zhang Ling He 张凌赫 as He Su Ye	Xu Ruo Han 徐若晗 as Shen Xi Fan
He Su Ye is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor specializing in oncology. Raised by his maternal grandfather, a renowned TCM professor, he developed a deep passion for the field. After losing his mother to breast cancer at a young age, Su Ye dedicated himself to using TCM to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy for cancer patients. In his spare time, he volunteers every Saturday at a local neighborhood TCM clinic.	Shen Xi Fan is a hotel housekeeping manager with dreams of studying abroad to further her education. However, her long-term relationship with her college boyfriend, Yan Heng, held her back from pursuing her aspirations. Just as she feels ready to apply for study abroad programs, relationship troubles with Yan Heng lead to persistent insomnia. Seeking relief, she visits her local TCM clinic, where she crosses paths with He Su Ye.

Drama Review

★★★★☆ Rating: 4/5

Plot Overview

The Best Thing is adapted from Sheng Li’s novel Loving You is the Best Thing I Have Done. The urban romance screenplay is written by Ou Si Jia, known for popular romance dramas such as Love O2O and Hidden Love. It is directed by Che Liang Yi, who also worked on the Tiny Times series.

The series stars Zhang Ling He, known for his roles as the second male lead in Love Between Fairy and Devil and the male lead in My Journey to You and Story of Kunning Palace. Xu Ruo Han is recognized for her performances in Perfect and Casual and The Forbidden Flower.

The Best Thing follows the love story of He Suye and Shen Xifan, which begins as a doctor-patient relationship and gradually deepens over time. Through their constant interactions, they learn to grow and heal together.

Concise and Focused Storytelling

What I liked about The Best Thing is that, despite its simplicity in terms of plot, jobs, and characters, it brings its story to life through strong storytelling. The characters feel deep and layered—not just in how they interact with each other but also in how they relate to those around them. Their personalities drive these interactions rather than just serving the plot or creating sweet moments for viewers.

I also liked how the drama stayed focused. Instead of unnecessary side plots, it kept its attention on the leads’ lives and relationships within their small circle. The few additional arcs—the elderly Liu Yun Ci at the hotel and Zhou Ze’s storyline at the hospital—were enough to provide insight into the leads’ careers, their interactions with people in their fields, and how these experiences contributed to their growth. This concise storytelling made the drama feel well-balanced and engaging without filler, allowing the emotional journey to take center stage.

A Healing and Slow-Burn Romance

One of the things I truly loved about this drama is how healing it felt through its slow-burn romance. Even a year after her breakup with Yan Heng, Shen Xi Fan’s wounds still hurt, which makes sense for someone who internalizes her emotions and burdens. It also feels natural that she’s still struggling because they were in a long-term relationship—one where she deeply loved him but never received a proper explanation or goodbye.

So when he reappears, it’s not about her wavering in her feelings but rather about finally getting the closure she never had. Once she was able to talk with Yan Heng, Shen Xi Fan was able to process her emotions, acknowledge the pain of their past, and truly move forward with her new found feelings.

A Beautiful Portrayal of Time and Atmosphere

Another aspect I loved was how well the drama conveyed the passage of time. It wasn’t just through visual cues like blossoms blooming, leaves falling, or snow covering the ground, but also through the pacing of interactions and events. You could genuinely feel that time had passed, allowing Shen Xi Fan the space to grieve and heal before moving on.

The cinematography also added to this atmosphere, with its stunning use of greenery, flowers, and natural settings. Even if some of the flowers were artificial for aesthetics, they blended in beautifully, enhancing the drama’s calming and healing tone.

A Well-Paced, Mature Love Story

What I enjoyed most was the comforting and healing journey the leads took. Their love story didn’t feel rushed, nor did it drag on unnecessarily. Their mutual feelings developed at a natural pace, and when their relationship progressed, it was just as adorable—if not more so—than when they were tiptoeing around their emotions.

When romantic scenes do appear, they aren’t exaggerated with unnecessary slow-motion effects or lingering gazes. For instance, when Shen Xi Fan spotted He Su Ye riding his skateboard, the only slow-motion effect used was the moment when He Su Ye caught sight of Shen Xi Fan standing with the tulips, before the scene resumed its normal speed once she revealed herself. This subtle use of slow motion enhanced the moment without making it feel excessive.

Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han also have just the right chemistry, making He Su Ye and Shen Xi Fan’s love story feel organic as they gradually fall for each other.

I also appreciated that there were no frustrating misunderstandings. Both leads are mature enough to acknowledge their emotions while also knowing when to hold back. For example, when Shen Xi Fan discovered that He Su Ye had hidden her mother’s situation from her, she reacted emotionally but was still willing to listen to his side. He, in turn, respected her space while hoping she would understand his reasons.

One Issue: Villainizing the Ex

That said, I don’t like when dramas villainize the ex. It’s okay to show that couples sometimes grow apart and that, despite one person’s efforts, life can push them in different directions. Some people do have toxic exes, but in Yan Heng’s case, the drama’s portrayal of him as rude and dismissive feels forced.

He comes from a wealthy family but fell in love with Shen Xi Fan, which suggests her social status didn’t matter to him. Yet, the drama paints him as embarrassed by her bowing to his business partners, making his character feel less well-rounded. In the novel, he was shown as sweet during their college days, and Shen Xi Fan had fond memories of him, which added more dimension to their past.

I also didn’t like how the drama changed the timeline of their breakup. In the novel, Shen Xi Fan had already broken up with Yan Heng when she met He Su Ye, though Yan Heng seemed to want to reconnect. This change in the drama didn’t add anything significant—Shen Xi Fan could have still been healing and learning to open up again without being freshly out of a relationship.

Conclusion: A Return to Romance

For those following iQiyi’s Love On (formerly Sweet On) series, this is the first drama under the new title that actually feels romantic and sweet. When the series was still called Sweet On, its dramas focused more on romance and emotional depth—titles like Love in Time, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Forever and Ever, Sweet Teeth, and The Day of Becoming You.

After the rebranding to Love On, many of the dramas felt more drama-heavy than romance-driven, such as Snowy Night: Timeless Love, Love Song in Winter, and Story of Kunning Palace. Although I’ve watched or started most of the dramas in this series, The Best Thing is the first in a while that truly lives up to the Love On name.

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