Ep 1. Dear Jiang Chen

A Love so Beautiful is a Chinese drama television series that follows the lives of high school students and their journey through romance and friendship. The first episode, titled Dear Jiang Chen, introduces us to the protagonist, Chen Xiaoxi, a bubbly and intelligent girl who has a crush on her classmate, Jiang Chen.

The episode begins with Xiaoxi preparing for a new school year with her two best friends, Lin Jingxiao and Wu Bosong. As they navigate their way around the school, Xiaoxi is overjoyed to see that Jiang Chen is in the same grade as her. However, she quickly realizes that he is not interested in the world around him and only focuses on his studies.

Despite this, Xiaoxi is determined to befriend Jiang Chen and understand the world he lives in. She decides to start by writing him a letter expressing how much she admires him and giving him a small gift - a new pencil that she recently bought. Although she is nervous to give it to him, Xiaoxi gathers the courage to approach him and hand over the letter and pencil.

As the episode progresses, we see the ups and downs of Xiaoxi's relationship with Jiang Chen. Xiaoxi's crush on Jiang Chen intensifies, and she becomes more determined to get closer to him. She repeatedly tries to catch his attention, whether it's through participating in class discussions or offering to help him with his homework. However, Jiang Chen remains aloof and distant towards her.

Xiaoxi's friends try to persuade her to give up on Jiang Chen, but she refuses to let go of her feelings for him. Xiaoxi believes that with enough effort, she can break through Jiang Chen's tough exterior and get to know the real him.

Amidst the push and pull of Xiaoxi's relationship with Jiang Chen, we also see the close bond between the three friends. Lin Jingxiao and Wu Bosong are always there for each other, offering support and encouragement, even when they don't agree with each other's choices.

The episode ends with Xiaoxi finally gaining a glimmer of hope that there might be something more between her and Jiang Chen. He casually mentions that he likes the new pencil she gave him, which is a significant breakthrough, as he rarely shows interest in anything that isn't related to school.

Overall, A Love so Beautiful season 1 episode 1, Dear Jiang Chen, is a perfect introduction to the series. It sets up the main characters, their relationships, and the central conflict that drives the story. With excellent acting, witty dialogue, and playful music, the show captures the emotions and experiences of high school students in a way that is both heartwarming and relatable.