Begin Again is a Chinese-language television show that premiered in 2020. Starring Chinese actors Jun Gong and Yutong Zhou, the show follows the story of Lu Fang Ning. As Lu Fang Ning nears her thirties, she succumbs to family pressure to get married and have children.
While Lu Fang Ning is talented, beautiful, rich, and accomplished, as she is the CEO of a home furniture business, instead of having a real romantic relationship with someone, she decides to dupe a warm and kind-hearted doctor into marrying her.
Although saying ‘I Do’ is easy, maintaining a marriage, even when it is fake, can be hard. After she has a child with her husband, Ling Rui, she realizes that manipulating her way into a romantic relationship is not the right thing to do. Plus, the pressure of life, work, and family causes them to drift apart. As the series progresses, we follow if Lu Fang Ning can save her rocky relationship and have a change of heart.
The show was adapted from the novel ‘This Ordinary Man’ By Pitchaya Turdwanchaii and was both a critical and commercial success. Fans of the show especially enjoyed the portrayal of romantic love and intimacy in the show. Readers from around the world can enjoy the show on Rakuten Viki. If you are a fan of ‘Begin Again,’ then you will enjoy our list of similar romantic dramas.
1. Go Go Squid!
Go Go Squid! is a Chinese-language television series adapted from Mo Bao Fei Bao’s novel Stewed Squid with Honey. Originally airing on Dragon TV and Zhejiang TV in China, the show follows Tong Nian, a popular online singer, and Han Shangyan, a cybersecurity professional.
This TV series chronicles the romantic relationship that blossoms between these two individuals, and we see how the support and love they have for each other helps them overcome certain issues in their lives. For instance, even though Tong is a passionate young man who deeply cares for his teammates and family, he has trouble expressing his feelings.
However, with Tong’s support, he is finally able to open up about to his family. Fans of the show found their commitment towards one another, along with how both of them motivated each other to work towards achieving their dreams, very endearing.
Upon its release, Go Go Squid! Became one of the most-streamed series in 2019, and according to the Yien Broadcasting Index, TV was the best domestic Chinese TV series in 2019.
The show even went on to win and get nominated for several TV series awards, such as the China Quality TV Drama Awards, GQ Men of the Year China, and the Sohu Fashion Awards, amongst many others.
- Released in: 2019
- No. of seasons: 1 (41 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.7/10
- Cast: Li Xian, Yang Zi, Hu Yitian, Marcus Li, Chengen Yu, Zhener Wang, Zhener Wang, Lee Hong Chi
- Created By: Mo Bao Fei Bao
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
2. Intense Love
Intense Love is a Chinese-language romantic drama. The show follows Su Jin Bei, a famous and beautiful actress who is unable to form a meaningful romantic relationship with a man despite knowing how to seduce them.
However, one day, when she is badly injured from an accident, she meets Zhou Shi Yun, a rich, handsome, and intelligent doctor who is in charge of caring for her. Even though women throw themselves at him, he finds himself uninterested in developing a relationship with them.
In no time, Su Jin Bei also falls in love with the handsome doctor and decides to pursue a romantic relationship with him. At first, Zhou Shi Yun shows no interest in her advances, but soon enough also falls for her.
Fans and critics of Intense Love were floored by the chemistry between the two leads, especially taking note of the intimate scenes. They also praised the show for having a great pace and self-awareness by ensuring that there was a good mixture of funny, adorable moments along with serious moments.
- Released in: 2020
- No. of seasons: 1 (24 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.3/10
- Cast: Ding Yu Xi, Zhang Yu Xi, Wan Yan Luo Rong, Wu Yang, Shi Ming Ze, and Lin Xin Yi
- Created By: Liu Yu Fan
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki and MX Player
3. Walk Into Your Memory
Walk Into Your Memory is a Chinese-language television show that premiered on Tencent Video in 2019. It follows An Ning, a cook who can see into other people’s memories, and Long Haoqian, her boss, who mysteriously loses at least one year’s worth of memories.
Romance starts to follow between the two after An Ning helps Long Haoqian regain his memories by helping him find the missing pieces. While at first, they find each other at odds with one another, they soon learn to understand and help one another after a series of amusing events bring them closer.
- Released in: 2019
- No. of seasons: 1 (24 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.3/10
- Cast: Song Yan Fei, Zhao Zhi Wei, Zhong Qi, Wu Yang, and Wei Wei
- Created By: Kenne Yam
- Streaming Platform: WeTV
4. Here We Meet Again
Adapted from Er Dong Tu Zi’s novel ‘Three Fields,’ Here We Meet Again is a Chinese-language romantic-drama television series. When the eldest daughter of the Donghe Group, Xiang Yuan, is tasked with rescuing a struggling company from financial ruin, she reunites with Xu Yan Shi, a man she had a crush on in her school days.
Even though Xiang Yuan pursued Xu Yan Shi relentlessly, he ignored her advances. However, this time, they meet under different circumstances as they both struggle with their work and, despite the awkwardness of their past relationship, develop an unlikely friendship.
Throughout Here We Meet Again, we follow the two main characters to support each other throughout challenging situations and even develop romantic feelings for each other.
This show is a must-watch for all romantic-drama enthusiasts as it has everything- a compelling storyline, well-developed characters, humor, and undeniable chemistry between the two leads.
- Released in: 2023
- No. of seasons: 1 (32 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7/10
- Cast: Vin Zhang, Wu Qian, Qin, Yan Shi, Liu Yu Ting. Hao Yi Lin and Huang De Yi
- Created By: Wu Yao
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
5. The Love You Give Me
The Love You Give Me is a Chinese-language romantic drama television series. It follows Min Hui, a woman who falls in love with a man named Xin Qi. However, their romance was incredibly short-lived as Min Hui had manipulated her way into the relationship after claiming to be Xin Qi’s long-lost childhood friend.
When Xin Qi, who has a heart condition, learns about Min Hui’s betrayal, he cuts all ties with her. In the present day, they are reunited with each other at a business event, creating an extremely uncomfortable situation.
Min Hui is now an R&D assistant, whereas Xin Qi has become the CEO of an investment firm. Although Xin Qi is still extremely angry at Min Hui’s betrayal, his anger quickly dissipates when he learns that Min Hui had his child, who shares the same heart condition as him.
Viewers of the show have praised the series for having endearing and likable main characters along with well-developed and interesting plots for the secondary characters.
- Released in: 2023
- No. of seasons: 1 (28 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 8.1/10
- Cast: Wang Zi Qi, Wang Yu Wen, Leon Li, Ma Chun Rui, Chen Xin Hai, Jin Ze Hao, and Jill Hsu
- Created By: Guo Shuang
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
6. Across the Ocean to See You
Across the Ocean to See You is a Chinese-language romantic drama series that premiered on Anhui TV in 2017. The show follows Su Mang, an executive for a global tourism company.
After several failed attempts to have a child with her philandering husband, Su Mang, who lives overseas, decides to move back to Shanghai and serve as the company’s director. However, en route to China, she decides to take a much-needed break.
During this break, she meets Zheng Chu, a man who works for her company. But their encounter is awkward, to say the least. In Shanghai, she struggles to adjust to her new work environment as there are too many rumors in the office about her divorce and her relationship with her male colleagues.
When Zhen Chu returns to the office, he learns that Su Mang is his boss and, despite their awkward first meeting, decides to help improve her reputation. They soon become the center of a rumor themselves.
- Released in: 2017
- No. of seasons: 1 (44 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.7/10
- Cast: Zhu Ya Wen, Ye Qing, Denny Huang, Wang Li Kun, Gao Yang, Ian Wang, and Irene Wan
- Created By: Chen Ming Zhang
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
7. Well-Intended Love
Well-Intended Love is a Chinese-language drama show that follows Xia Lin, an out-of-luck actress who is diagnosed with leukemia. The only person who is a compatible bone marrow match is Ling Yu Zhou, a conglomerate CEO.
When she asks him to help, he poses a condition, and that is to receive his bone marrow, Xia Lin will have to marry him. Meanwhile, in an alternative universe, Xia Lin is a famous actress and ends up meeting Ling Yu Zhou at a gala, where they have an embarrassing change.
When damning photos of their fight are published online, they decide to hold a joint press conference to clear the air. However, at the press conference, Xia Lin is blindsided when Ling Yi Zhou tells the media that they are engaged.
- Released in: 2019
- No. of seasons: 2 (36 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.1/10
- Cast: Simona Wang, Xu Kaicheng, Ian Yi, Liu Jia Xi, Huang Qian Shuo, Sun Jia Qi, Kiwi Shang, Yang Hao Ming, and Chen Xin Ru
- Created By: Wu Qiang
- Streaming Platform: Netflix and Rakuten Viki
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8. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a South Korean television series that premiered on tvN and Netflix and was named by The New York Times as one of ‘The Best International Shows of 2020.’ The show even received a nomination for the Best TV Movie or Miniseries at the 49th International Emmy Awards. The show focuses on Moon Gang-tae, who takes care of her autistic older brother, Moon Sang-tae, who was a witness to their mother’s murder.
When she is not taking care of her brother, she is a caregiver in a psychiatric ward, and it is there that she meets Ko Moon-young, a famous children’s book writer who has antisocial personality disorder.
Moon-young soon forms a romantic obsession with Gang-tae as he finds her endearing due to their overlapping past. As the series progresses, we see how Gang-tae, Sang-tae, and Moon-young lean over each other for emotional support and, in that process, heal their wounds.
- Released in: 2020
- No. of seasons: 1 (16 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 8.6/10
- Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Oh Jung-se, Park Gyu-young, Kim Joo-hun, Park Jin-joo, Kim Chang-wan, and Kim Mi-kyung
- Created By: Studio Dragon
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
9. Cheat My Boss
Cheat My Boss is a Chinese-language romantic drama that follows Jian Chu Chu, a woman who becomes an instant internet sensation when a bad of underwear falls on her. As she navigates her newfound stardom, she decides to learn more about the e-commerce industry, which leads her to Luo Tianyi, the CEO of a famous lingerie company. They soon develop feelings for each other. However, their love for each other is tested due to the differences in their backgrounds.
- Released in: 2019
- No. of seasons: 1 (24 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 5.5/10
- Cast: Yumi Chen, Mingkai Liu, Yongzhuo Lv, and Tao Pu
- Created By: Wei Li Zhu
- Streaming Platform: MangoTV
10. Destined To Meet You
Destined to Meet You is a Chinese-language romantic drama that follows Jin Rong Rong, the general manager of a conglomerate who is at war over the company’s control with her brother. One night, when she goes undercover to check on her business operators, she has too many drinks and is helped by the singer who was performing at the bar when she is accosted by a stranger.
She soon falls in love with the singer, Gu Cong Bei, who is incidentally the son of a powerful business family. At first, she is disgusted to learn that he is a college student but then convinces him to marry her because she wants to take over his family’s business.
- Released in: 2022
- No. of seasons: 1 (20 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.3/10
- Cast: Yang Ze, Lu Yan Qi, Ni Han Jin, and Guo Jia Yu
- Created By: Zhao Lin
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
11. Ancient Love Poetry
Based on the novel ‘Ancient God’ by Xing Ling, Ancient Love Poetry is a Chinese-language historical, fantasy, and adventure series. The series follows Shang Gu, an immortal in possession of pure essence energy which acts as the head of the four true immortals of the ancient world.
These immortals have attained God-like status in the eyes of the mortals and have used their powers to protect humanity and answer people’s prayers. Willing to go to extreme lengths to protect the humans, Shang Gu sacrificed herself.
Now awake after 60,000 years of slumber, she returns only to have no memories of her past life or former powers. She also has no recollection of her lover, Bai Jue, another immortal who gave up his reincarnation for her life. Once Bai Jue disappears, all of Shang Gu’s memories return, and she remembers the love they once shared.
- Released in 2021
- No. of seasons: 1 (49 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 8.2/10
- Cast: Xu Kai, Zhou Dong Yu, Jenny Zhang, Liu Xue Yi, Li Ze Feng, Lai Yi, and Ren Hao
- Created By: Yin Tao and Li Cai
- Streaming Platform: Rakuten Viki
12. Find Yourself
Find Yourself is a Chinese-language romantic drama television series. It follows He Fanxing, a director of a design company who is being pursued by the company’s intern, Yuan Song. She eventually agrees to enter into a relationship as long as they keep it a secret for three months.
Meanwhile, Ye Luming, the CEO of an advertising agency who poses as her mentor, secretly wishes to win her affection. He Fanxing must not only choose between Yuan Song and Ye Luming but also consider the implications of adopting a traditional mindset on marriage.
- Released in: 2020
- No. of seasons: 1 (41 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.6/10
- Cast: Victoria Song, Song Weilong, Wang Yaoqing, Zhang Yukian, Yu Shuxin, Fu Jia, Mary Ma, Yang Zhiying, and Wei Zheming
- Created By: Shui Qianmo and Wang Xioncheng
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
13. Love at First Hate
Love at First Hate is a Thai-language romantic drama series that follows a smart, foul-mouthed doctor, Dr. Pup, and a hot superstar, Kluay. At first, they butt heads with one another and hate each other. But their attitude towards each other quickly changes when they start to live together.
- Released in: 2018
- No. of seasons: 1 (13 episodes)
- IMDb Score: 7.9/10
- Cast: Yuke Songpaisan, Worranit Thawornwong, Carissa Springett, Weerayut Chansook, Sivakorn Lertchuchot, Seo Ji Yeon, Watchara Sukchum, and Apasiri Nitibhon
- Created By: GMMTV
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