LayarHijau – The drama Shine On Me continues to dominate online discussions after surpassing 200 million views and securing the top spot on popularity charts. Starring Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong, the series has drawn attention not only for its evolving romance but also for viewer complaints about the male lead’s screen time, which many feel is overshadowed by second male lead Lai Weiming.
In recent episodes, Nie Xiguang (Zhao Jinmai) travels to a ski resort with her family, only to coincidentally run into Lin Yusen (Song Weilong), who is also there with his parents. The unexpected meeting between both families creates an awkward yet sweet atmosphere, prompting viewers to joke that it felt like a “speedrun version of meeting the parents.” From ski lessons to shared meals, their interactions significantly raise the drama’s sweetness level and fuel anticipation for their relationship to officially begin.
At the same time, Zhuang Xu, played by Lai Weiming, also appears at the ski resort and once again crosses paths with Nie Xiguang, despite their strained relationship. In one scene, Zhuang Xu unintentionally reveals his lingering feelings by gently touching Nie Xiguang’s face on his phone screen while looking at a photo. Moments later, he notices a message from Lin Yusen checking in on her, underscoring the emotional distance growing between them. While the scene drew sympathy, it also sparked criticism, particularly when Zhuang Xu failed to stand up for Nie Xiguang during an uncomfortable situation.
This has led to heated discussions among Chinese viewers about screen time distribution. Many argue that Lai Weiming’s character receives disproportionate focus, even appearing more prominent than Song Weilong. Lin Yusen himself only makes his full entrance in episode four, while earlier episodes concentrate heavily on the dynamic between Zhuang Xu and Nie Xiguang, complete with a well-developed personal storyline.
Zhao Jinmai, meanwhile, continues to enjoy steady career momentum. Following the strong reception of Amidst a Snowstorm of Love alongside Wu Lei, she went on to lead roles in Our Generation (previously known as Cherry Amber) and Shine On Me. Although Shine On Me initially faced criticism for its slow pacing and Nie Xiguang’s understated styling, audience perception has gradually improved as the emotional stakes and narrative tension increased.
Interestingly, the controversy surrounding screen time is rooted in the original novel by Gu Man. In the source material, Lin Yusen does not appear until chapter 14. Zhuang Xu was initially written as the male lead, but as Lin Yusen gained unexpected popularity, the author shifted the story’s focus and redefined the main character. This creative evolution contributed to the novel taking nearly ten years to complete.
Some viewers therefore believe the drama adaptation has already made an effort to introduce Lin Yusen earlier than in the novel, while still remaining faithful to the original structure. Despite ongoing complaints, many hope the story will increasingly center on Nie Xiguang and Lin Yusen’s relationship as the series progresses, aligning more closely with audience expectations.
