Chemistry is a weird thing. You can’t fake it. In the world of C-drama, we see a lot of "forced" romance, but when Only for Love episodes first started dropping, something felt different. Maybe it was the sharp suits. Maybe it was Dylan Wang’s intense gaze as the icy CEO Shi Yan. Or maybe it was just the chaotic energy of Bai Lu playing a driven reporter who mistakenly tries to woo the wrong guy for revenge.
It’s been a while since the finale aired, yet the discourse hasn't died down.
Honestly, the show is a bit of a mess if you look at it through a strictly logical lens. The cinematography in the early episodes had people on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo losing their minds—and not always in a good way. Those weirdly angled close-ups? The dizzying transitions? Yeah, they were a choice. But despite the technical quirks, the grip this show had on international audiences was massive. People weren't just watching; they were dissecting every single interaction.
What Actually Happens in the Only for Love Episodes
Let’s get the premise straight because it’s easy to get lost in the fluff. Zheng Shuyi (Bai Lu) is a top-tier financial reporter. She’s smart, ambitious, and slightly petty. After her boyfriend cheats on her, she realizes his new "lady friend" is supposedly the niece of a powerful CEO. In a moment of high-grade pettiness, she decides to date the uncle to become the cheating ex’s "aunt."
Enter Shi Yan.
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He’s the founder of Mingyu Venture Capital. He’s cold. He’s calculated. He also happens to be the guy Shuyi thinks is the uncle. The problem? He’s not. He’s actually just a very successful, very annoyed businessman who finds Shuyi’s sudden interest in him both baffling and intriguing.
The middle Only for Love episodes are where the meat of the story sits. You have 36 episodes in total, and the pacing is... interesting. It’s a slow burn that occasionally feels like it’s standing still, and then suddenly, everything happens at once. The tension builds through business meetings, late-night interviews, and Shuyi’s increasingly bold (and often hilarious) attempts to flirt her way into Shi Yan’s heart.
The Turning Point: When the Truth Comes Out
If you’ve watched a lot of romance dramas, you know the "big reveal" is usually a disaster. In this show, the fallout when Shi Yan realizes Shuyi approached him with an ulterior motive is heavy.
Episode 25 through 30 are the ones that really test your patience or your devotion. It gets moody. Shi Yan feels used—rightfully so—and Shuyi has to reckon with the fact that she actually fell for the man she was trying to manipulate. It’s a classic trope, but Wang and Bai Lu sell the heartbreak surprisingly well.
One thing people often overlook is the secondary couple. While everyone was screaming about the main leads, the relationship between Guan Ji and Bi Ruoshan offered a much more "modern" and cynical take on dating. It balanced out the somewhat fairytale (if toxic-adjacent) vibes of the main plot. Bi Ruoshan, played by Jiang Peiyao, honestly deserved more screen time. She was the voice of reason when Shuyi was being, well, a lot.
Why the Tech and Business Subplots Matter
We need to talk about the startup stuff.
Usually, in these dramas, the "business" is just a backdrop for people to look busy in glass offices. But in Only for Love episodes, the focus on the digital economy and traditional media transitioning to new media is surprisingly grounded. Shuyi isn't just a girl looking for a boyfriend; she’s a professional trying to prove her worth at Financial Daily.
The show dives into the nuances of venture capital. Shi Yan isn’t just rich for the sake of it; he’s obsessed with the idea of supporting domestic technology and independent chip manufacturing. This reflects real-world Chinese economic priorities from the early 2020s. It adds a layer of "grown-up" stakes to a story that could have just been about a girl chasing a CEO.
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- The interview scenes: These aren't just fluff. They show the power dynamic shifting.
- The red carpet event: Pure visual fan service, but a major plot catalyst.
- The mountain retreat: Every drama needs one. This is where the ice starts to melt.
The Aesthetic and the Backlash
You can’t talk about this show without mentioning the "look." Director Guo Hu, who worked on One and Only, took some heat for the editing. There are moments where the camera zooms into Dylan Wang’s nose for no apparent reason. It became a meme.
But here’s the thing: the fashion was impeccable. Shuyi’s "office siren" aesthetic—the blazers, the skirts, the perfectly styled hair—became a blueprint for professional wardrobes. And Shi Yan? He basically single-handedly revived the "man in glasses" trope. It’s a visual feast even when the editing feels like a fever dream.
How to Watch and What to Expect
If you’re diving in for the first time, don't expect a fast-paced thriller. This is a journey. It’s a series of glances, unspoken words, and a lot of texting.
The ending—without giving too much away for the three people who haven't seen it—is satisfying but feels a bit rushed compared to the glacial pace of the middle section. There’s a "special episode" (Episode 37, essentially) that offers a bit more closure for those who felt the finale left too many questions on the table.
You’ll find the series on platforms like Viki or MGTV. If you’re watching on Viki, keep the "timed comments" on. The community's reaction to Shuyi’s cringe-worthy flirting is half the fun.
The Lasting Impact of the Only for Love Episodes
Why does this show still rank? Why do we care?
It’s the chemistry. Bai Lu and Dylan Wang have a natural rapport that transcends the script. Even when the dialogue is a bit cheesy, you believe they’re attracted to each other. That’s the secret sauce.
In the grand scheme of 2023-2024 releases, it wasn't the "best" written show—that title might go to something like The Long Season or even Hidden Love for pure sweetness. But it was definitely one of the most discussed. It captured a specific zeitgeist of career-driven romance that resonates with a lot of people right now.
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you've finished the show and feel that post-drama void, start by tracking down the original web novel, Accidental Love (Cuo Liao) by Qiao Yao. It provides much more internal monologue for Shi Yan, which helps explain why he acts like a robot for the first ten episodes.
Next, check out the "behind-the-scenes" clips on YouTube. Sometimes the actors' real-life friendship is even more entertaining than the scripted drama. If you’re looking for a similar vibe but with a bit more grit, Will Love in Spring is a great follow-up.
Lastly, if you're into the fashion, search for "Zheng Shuyi outfits" on Pinterest. Most of the pieces are from identifiable brands, and the styling tips for layering blazers are actually pretty useful for real-life office wear.
The story of Shi Yan and Zheng Shuyi is ultimately about two people who are too smart for their own good finally learning to drop their guards. It’s messy, it’s beautiful, and it’s deeply addictive.