Friends to lovers is one of the most popular tropes in Asian dramas. The snug storylines are sure to melt viewers’ hearts. Moreover, there are many Chinese shows that follow childhood sweethearts’ transition into adulthood or childhood friends who fall in love along the way. From Go Ahead to Le Coupe de Foudre, here’s a list of Chinese dramas where friends find love in one another.
Go Ahead (2020)
One of the most popular Chinese dramas that follow the friends-to-lovers trope, Go Ahead tells the story of three troubled youths—Li Jian Jian (Tan Songyun), Ling Xiao (Song Wei Long), and He Zi Qiu (Zhang Xincheng). They grew up with one thing in common: dysfunctional families.
To find solace, they support and consider each other as a family. However, after high school, they are forced to part ways. When they reunite several years later, they attempt to heal each other’s past scars. But along the way, Li Jian Jian and Ling Xiao fall in love.
Go Ahead is available to stream on WeTV, iQIYI, TVing, and Viki.
Le Coupe de Foudre (2019)
An adaptation of Qiao Yi’s I Don’t Like This World, I Only Like You, this Chinese drama follows high school desk-mates Zhao Qiao Yi (Janice Wu) and Yan Mo (Zhang Yujian). Despite being the top student, Yan Mo develops a strong friendship with Qiao Yi, who is failing her classes. They make a promise to study abroad together after high school, but an unexpected family emergency forces Qiao Yi to back out, and they eventually lose touch.
Years later, the old flames spark again when they reunite at the school reunion. Qiao Yi moves to the city to patch things up with Yan Mo. However, she becomes sad upon learning that Yan Mo is already in a relationship.
Le Coupe de Foudre is available to stream on Netflix, iQIYI, WeTV, and Viki.
You Are My Glory (2021)
This is one of the most popular Chinese dramas that follows two friends’ journey to becoming lovers. To save her endorsem*nt deal, Jiao Jiao (Dilraba Dilmurat) starts gaming and accidentally bumps into her high school classmate, Yu Tu (Yang Yang). She also had a crush on him in the past.
As they continue to work side by side, they eventually get close and find comfort in each other. Apart from being a genius engineer, Yu Tu is also a gaming expert. Moreover, he helps her learn gaming and overcome her insecurities.
You Are My Glory is available to stream on Tencent Video, We TV, Prime Video, and Viki.
Skate Into Love (2020)
Li Yu Bing (Steven Zhang), a shy elementary school student, is constantly bullied by Tang Xue (Janice Wu). After they unexpectedly reunite at the university, Tang Xue discovers that Li Yu Bing is now the most popular ice hockey player there. Meanwhile, Tang Xue struggles to make her dream of becoming a professional speed skater a reality.
Li Yu Bing initially wants to hurt his ex-bully, and to achieve this dream, he makes her his assistant. But as he gets to know her better, they fall in love. He even helps her find inspiration when she is ready to give up on her dreams.
Skate Into Love can be streamed on Apple TV, Youku, and Viki.
Everyone Loves Me (2024)
Yue Qian Ling (Zhou Ye) has a crush on his batchmate Gu Xun (Lin Yi). However, when she confesses to him, Gu Xun not only turns her down but humiliates her in front of the entire college. The rejection leaves her heartbroken, and she starts to despise the man she once desired.
Meanwhile, Gu Xin is in love with his online video game partner, not knowing that it is Qian Ling. In a turn of fate, they start working at the same company. After knowing her real identity, Gu Xin does everything in his power to win her back. However, winning over Qian Ling proves to be a challenge.
The series is available for streaming onYouku, Viki, and Netflix.
A Love So Beautiful (2017)
A popular Chinese drama with a Korean adaptation, A Love So Beautiful follows two friends as they gradually fall in love with each other. Chen Xiaoxi (Shen Yue) has a crush on her high school classmate Jiang Chen (Hu Yitian). The duo have completely opposite personalities.
While Xiaoxi is cheerful and bubbly, Jiang Chen is studious and popular but introverted and reserved. The duo become friends, and the show follows them throughout their adult lives as they slowly fall in love with each other.
A Love So Beautiful is available for streaming on We TV, Netflix, and Viki.
