LayarHijau – The modern romance drama Shine on Me (驕陽似我), starring Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai, recently aired its final episode and closed its run on an impressive note. The drama recorded more than 710 million total views, reflecting its strong popularity throughout the broadcast period. Beyond mainland China, Shine on Me has also gained traction overseas, ranking steadily at No. 3 on Netflix Taiwan’s viewing chart since its release.
This commercial success has been matched by strong audience reception. Shine on Me opened with a solid 7.4 rating on Douban, a notably high score for a modern romance drama. The rating places it ahead of other dramas airing in the same period, such as The Unclouded Soul, Light of Dawn, and The Punishment. It also surpasses several widely discussed 2025 hits, including Love’s Ambition, The First Frost, The Best Thing, Filter, and Sniper Butterfly. With this result, Shine on Me officially stands as the highest-rated modern romance drama on Douban in 2025.
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Adapted from Gu Man’s well-known novel of the same name, Shine on Me has maintained strong ratings since its premiere and consistently topped its time slot. As of the finale, more than 47,000 users had participated in Douban scoring, resulting in its final 7.4 rating. This achievement places the drama third within the so-called “Gu Man Universe,” following Boss and Me, starring Zhao Liying and Zhang Han, which holds a 7.7 rating, and My Sunshine, starring Tiffany Tang and Wallace Chung, with a score of 7.5. Notably, Shine on Me also outperforms other Gu Man adaptations such as Love O2O and You Are My Glory.
Despite the abundance of modern romance dramas in 2025, many high-profile titles posted only average Douban scores. Love’s Ambition, starring Zhao Lusi and Chen Weiting, achieved the strongest viewership figures of the year but earned just a 6.5 rating. The First Frost, led by Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, enjoyed widespread popularity yet received only 5.4 on Douban. The Best Thing, starring Zhang Linghe and Xu Ruohan, scored 6.8, while Sniper Butterfly, featuring Michelle Chen and Zhou Keyu, emerged as a late-year dark horse with a score of 7. Filter, starring Tan Jianci and Li Landi, previously held the title of 2025’s highest-rated modern romance drama with a 7.3 rating, before being overtaken by Shine on Me.
Industry observers attribute Shine on Me’s strong word of mouth to three key factors. First is its high fidelity to the original novel. Gu Man personally served as the screenwriter, ensuring that many iconic scenes from the book were faithfully recreated on screen. Memorable moments include Lin Yusen climbing the stairs through falling snow to take Nie Xiguang away, as well as the couple’s first kiss outside a building after leaving the male lead’s grandfather’s birthday banquet—scenes that resonated deeply with longtime readers.
The second factor lies in the performances of Song Weilong and Zhao Jinmai. Song Weilong portrays Lin Yusen as an elite CEO who appears nearly flawless yet remains warm and understated, avoiding the usual excesses of the domineering male lead trope. Zhao Jinmai, who had previously faced criticism for lacking chemistry in romantic roles, proves to be a strong match for the character of Nie Xiguang. Her bright and natural presence brings the sunny heroine vividly to life.
The third key factor is the drama’s mature portrayal of relationships. The romance between Lin Yusen and Nie Xiguang develops alongside their personal growth, rather than relying on an overload of superficial sweet moments. At its core, the drama emphasizes the idea of “loving oneself before loving another,” promoting mutual respect, emotional independence, and the courage to pursue love while staying true to oneself. These values have struck a chord with younger audiences, many of whom praise Shine on Me for its healthy worldview, restrained storytelling, and warmth that lingers long after the final episode.
