Chinese Drama 2023

The Forbidden Flower (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 

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• Genre: Age Gap/May-December Relationship
• Release Date: 13 February 2023
• Origin: China
• Cdrama: 24 Episodes

 

Cast

• Jerry Yan as Xiao Han
• Xu Ruo Han as He Ran
• Huang Yi as Chou Jia Rong
• Wu Ya Heng as Fatty
• Yu Xiang as Zhang Yuan Xi (Jia Rong’s toyboy)
• Yu Xin He as Zhang Xiao Li (Fatty’s girlfriend and Yuan Xi’s sister)
• Tang Zeng as Mr Han (Han Yu’s Uncle)
• Kido Ma as Han Yu

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Quick Precis

An 18-year-old girl falls for a sexy middle age man.  The girl has an illness.

The trailer is hot! 🥵

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Episode 1

I love the first episode.  Good casting. Ruo Han is such an under rated young actress.  Her casting in this drama is inspired.  She has that freshness but could be wild.

Speaking about being wild.  Jerry Yan is only getting sexier as time goes by. Hot 🥵 hot 🥵

The story started with He Ran going to a salon for a hair wash.  The cubicle she was taken to was dimly lit and was so surprised that a man was washing her hair.  He was so tender though with the most soothing sexy voice.  He Ran could not help but comment that he had the sexiest voice she has ever heard.

She asked him for his name so she could become his regular client but all he said was that they were given number titles and he is no. 33.

Anyway, the experience left He Ran obsessing about this guy with the sexy voice.  She went back to the salon and asked for No 33 but it was a girl who came to wash her hair.

He Ran was disappointed and told them that No 33 was a man.  They told her that the salon was manned by female staff.  But then someone remembered that Xiao Han came to substitute for a girl who had a family emergency.  He Ran was told that Xiao Han has his own salon in Xiaozhou Village.  He Ran did not waste any time.  She went to find him in the village.

He was as sexy and even more gorgeous in the brighter light of his salon.  He Ran was falling in love.  She purposely left her phone so she has a reason to return.

It looks like the attraction she felt for the carefree Xiao Yan was a counter-reaction to the repressive upbringing she received from her overly protective mother.  He Ran has an illness and relies on medication and a lifestyle that is rather dull and monotonous.  She has to watch every morsel she eats, even the clothes she wears.  At home, she is dressed in white cotton Victorian style.

The sleeveless dress she especially bought to see Xiao Han to get her mobile phone back was confiscated and thrown away in the bin.  In her loneliness, she sleeps with the umbrella Xiao Han gave her the last time he saw her when it was raining.

It was He Ran’s birthday.  Thinking that it would just be one and the same as other days, He Ran was gobsmacked when she saw their new gardener or was it the next-door gardener?!!!

The story seemed to have turned into young Lady Chatterley’s Lover🔥🔥🔥

Episode 2

He Ran stalked Xiao Han.

For his part, he was not really averse to her attention.

He Ran used her childhood sweetheart, Han Yu as an excuse to see Xiao Han so her mother would not find out what she has been up to.

Now, she asked Xiao Han to model during her next day at art class, she told him that she was a teacher.

Episode 3

Xiao Han was a hit with the girls and asked him if he could also model for the next class.

He Ran asked him if he would but he turned it down when she told him that he had to be naked for the next class. Oh go on, please!🤣

He said that he had no time because he was going back to his hometown.

He Ran went to see him at his salon but it was all packed up and was told that Xiao Han had gone to his hometown.

He Ran would not give up easily so she visited the salon each day hoping for Xiao Han’s return.

After a few more days, Xiao Han was back and they ended up going to Fatty’s restaurant for dinner.  It turned out that it was Xiao Han’s birthday.  He Ran stayed till late and ended up staying in a motel/hotel run by Xiao Li who told her everything she knew about Xiao Han.

He Ran was always with Xiao Han.  She asked him if she could draw him.  He agreed and started their flirtation.  She kissed him but she said she was not good at it so he was about to kiss her but stopped and asked her if it was her first time.

He Ran quickly denied that she was a novice, a virgin.  She was so embarrassed she left immediately but she was so excited.

So hot.🔥🔥🔥🔥

Episode 4

The housekeeper was waiting for He Ran when she got home.  She wanted to know where He Ran had been.

He Ran blackmailed the housekeeper not to tell on her to her mother, who was away on business, otherwise, she will tell her mother that the housekeeper would often disappear to be with her boyfriend next door.

They agreed to keep each other’s secret.

As to secrets, Xiao Han was not happy to find out that He Ran is 20 rather than the 25 she told him.

But then later on He Ran came across a passage in a book which gave her renewed hope and understanding on the psyche of Xiao Han

“The first symptom of true love in a man is timidity, in a young woman, boldness.
Victor Hugo,”Les Misérables”

She seduced him and he was seduced but before he fully surrenders to her wanton desire 🤣🔥🔥, he asked her if she was really sure because if he accepts her love, he will be responsible for her.  It would not be a quick fumble it would be a relationship.

He Ran had to think about that.

But Xiao Han disappeared again.

He Ran met a little girl who was shoplifting.  In her rucksack, she had the monkey king that He Ran drew for Xiao Han.

Through the girl, He Ran found Xiao Han who the girl called, Papa!

Episode 5

It turned out the little girl, Xiao Tong, is not Xiao Han’s daughter but his older brother’s.

Anyway, as Xiao Han is busy at work, He Ran offered to look after Xiao Tong in her studio.

He Ran sometimes would disappear when the housekeeper needed her to be home.

Anyway, Han Yu is getting closer and closer to finding out what He Ran was up to as his uncle had just hired Xiao Han to manage his garden.

He Ran went to get a drink at the vending machine but when she got back Xiao Tong was gone.

Episode 6

Xiao Tong was wandering the street when Hanyu noticed her.  He took her to eat cake and then brought her home where he met Xiao Han.

Xiao Tong said that Hanyu was He Ran’s friend.

When He Ran finally turned up, she apologised for having lost Xiao Tong but the girl was behind Xiao Han.

She was told that it was her boyfriend who Xiao Tong back.

Xiao Han was not very happy about it.  Xiao Tong though said that Hanyu is not He Ran’s boyfriend.

When He Ran and Xiao Han were finally alone, Xiao Han wanted to know what other secrets He Ran has.

He Ran said she would only tell a boyfriend her secrets.  Xiao Han was about to kiss her but changed his mind at the last minute.

He Ran said that he had his own secrets.

When He Ran returned the next day, Xiao Han was gone again.  She was told that Xiao Han had gone back to his hometown with Xiao Tong.  The lady friend advised He Ran to be more interested with plants if she wanted to stay with Xiao Han.

He Ran’s mother had returned from her business trip.  She is still controlling and even chooses frilly young girl dresses for He Ran.  But `He Ran knew her mother would be completely lost if something happens to He Ran.

He Ran’s mother saw her reading gardening books. To please her daughter, she hired someone to do their garden.  Their new garden designer is Xiao Han.

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Episode 19

This drama has the most beautiful OST.

He Ran’s mother finally found out He Ran’s relationship with Xiao Han.  The mother went to see He Ran in the hospital.  She told He Ran to break up with Xiao Han.

He Ran said that she really loves Xiao Han.

Mother was inconsolable and asked He Ran if love was more important than her life.

He Ran said that she does not know but she knows that she can’t live without Xiao Han.  She then promised to go for the treatment in Xijing.

Episode 20

He Ran went to Xijing for treatment in March.  She ignored all the phone calls from Xiao Han but by June she finally spoke to him over the phone.

He asked her why she had not answered any of his calls before.  He felt that their relationship was fake, her feelings for him must also be fake.

All she had to do was tell him the truth but she just cried silently so Xiao Han told her that as there is really nothing between them, then they should break up.

He Ran was very upset but she can’t allow him to put his life on hold for her.

Though they broke up they continued to think about each other.  A year on, Xiao Han remembered that it was her birthday.

Han Yu continued to be He Ran’s companion in Xijing.  One day, he offered to make her healthy gourmet food like a duck with its long neck and head still attached.  He also produced a big turtle in pink soup.  Thank goodness He Ran did not have any of it but instead watch him slurp the pink turtle soup.  He later asked He Ran to call for an ambulance.

Poor Han Yu had food poisoning.

On their way back, He Ran saw a figure watching her who looked like Xiao Han.  She run after him but could not find him. She ended up sobbing in despair.  Han Yu found her and they both cried.

Hanyu was so worried for her and told her that he will look after her and do whatever she ask as long as he could stay by her side.

Xiao Han was listening in the dark.

Episode 21

This episode is about Jia Rong and her toy boy, Yuan Qi.

Jia Rong gets lonely as a single mother and stressed from He Ran’s recurring illness.

Yuan Qi asked for a date, even just once.  Jia Rong complied and they had a lovely carefree time.  She felt young again being with him but she knew it couldn’t last.

Jia Rong left the date early. One date and it was all over.  Yuan Qi was heartbroken but happy as well in his own way.

Meanwhile, He Ran’s dorm roommate was telling them that she fell in love at first sight with a man at the flower shop who had the most divine voice.

Episode 22

As can be expected the man with the gorgeous voice was Xiao Han.  Xiao Han had to come to find He Ran because he can’t live without her.

But when He Ran found out about Xiao Han and had come face to face with him, she was anything but happy.  She was so upset that they were in the same city.  She told him why come to Xijing.  They parted from each other with He Ran behaving irrationally.

She then had an attack of her illness on the street.  She was just about to take her medication but a couple of girls bumped into her which made her drop her tablets on the ground.  Feeling defeated, she just sat down on the pavement in the rain.  Someone held an umbrella over her.  It was Yuan Qi.

They were like kindred spirits, both having just broken up with their boyfriend and girlfriends.

It was Yuan Qi’s graduation day.  He Ran came to support him with her dormmates.

It was a small world.  It turned out that Zhang Xiao Li was Yuan Qi’s sister.  Xiao Li’s is Fatty’s girlfriend.  She came to her brother’s graduation and told him to keep away from He Ran because she was Xiao Han’s girl.  Yuan Qi assured her that He Ran is just a friend.  His girlfriend was someone else.  His girlfriend was He Ran’s mother. He Ran doesn’t know that he is her mother’s boyfriend nor he knew that she is his girlfriend’s ailing daughter.

The world got even smaller when Xiao Li invited everyone to a graduation celebration for her brother.

Fatty turned up and was surprised to see He Ran because behind him was Xiao Han.

Episode 23

Xiao Han sat next to He Ran who grabbed his hand under the table and would not let go.  She held on to him so he can’t eat.  As he was rather upset with her for leaving without a goodbye, he felt taken for granted, he told her to let go but she mutinously said no.

So he pulled her out which surprised everyone including Han Yu who did not know of the relationship between He Ran with Xiao Han.

Anyway, Xiao Han took He Ran into a hotel room and asked her if sex is what she wanted. She just looked at him which made him feel ashamed,  He then left.

But he heard a girl asking her boyfriend at the lift why give her chrysanthemums and not roses. This reminded him of his promise to He Ran that she was his last woman and he will never leave her.  So he went back to the room and found He Ran crying by the bathtub.

Xiao Han told her that he loves her so much.  He will not leave her but if she leaves, he will be waiting for her even for a year, two years,  three years … ten years.

They ended up in bed.  The next morning He Ran woke up first and gaze lovingly at the sleeping Xiao Han.

When he woke up she was gone except for clumps of her hair all over the bed.  He also found the bottle of her medication.

He knew something was wrong with her and he was heartbroken.  He went to. find answers and visited Mr Han.

Mr Han confirmed that He Ran is very sick, she was diagnosed with leukemia at 16.  They did not think that she will live but her mother would not give up and He Ran was a very strong-willed girl as well.  She was able to withstand every treatment including 2 years of chemotherapy unlike her father, a very famous painter, who had the same medical condition.  But he chose to commit suicide when the going got tough with the treatment.

Anyway, Mr Han also said that He Ran had a relapse.

That same day, Xiao Han called Jia Rong who was in America.  Jia Rong told him that she had him investigated but stopped because Mr Han vouched for him and she knows her daughter is a good judge of character.

A tearful Xiao Han told Jia Rong to let him look after He Ran.

The next day, Xiao Han was waiting for He Ran at uni.  He Ran told him that he does not have to feel responsible for what happened the other night.  They are both grown up.  But Xiao Han said that he will not let her go. She is his last woman.

They hugged but then He Ran said that it was unfair that she was letting him off when she pursued him doggedly before.

Xiao Han promised that he will pursue her.

Episode 24

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Xiao Han pursued He Ran so lovingly and gave her a happy exciting time that culminated with him proposing to her and promising to give her a wedding.

He Ran cannot be happier.  She bade Han Yu the saddest goodbye because she was leaving to go to Xiao Han’s village to get married.

Han Yu was so upset and asked why she picked Xiao Han over him.  She said that the first time she saw Xiao Han, she knew he was for her.

Han Yu gave her his blessing and told her to be happy and healthy.

Xiao Han gave He Ran a traditional Qiang culture wedding.  It was so beautiful and colourful.

He then drove her to the snowy river where He Ran made him promise to only love her and be the last woman in his life.

Xiao Han agreed.

He Ran said that if she leaves…

Xiao Han said he will wait for her to return.

He Ran wanted to know how long will he wait for her.

He said until she returns.

Of all things, they ended up spending the last hour of He Ran’s waking moment lying on the snow together head to head.  Then they were both tearful.  He Ran said that she suddenly felt very tired.  She closed her eyes and became lifeless.

Xiao Han said that they would both rest for a while.😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Are they both dead; frozen to death?😲😲😲

One year later…

Jia Rong was eating fried chicken wings in a restaurant like she was starving but absolutely detest the action.

Yuan Qi saw how unhappy she was.  They said hello and then goodbye to each other.  But then they both turn back.  Jia Rong asked if what he said at the studio was still true to date.

Yuan Qi cried that he had been waiting for her. Awww

At Xiao Han’s house, a businessman came in.  Xiao Han came down to the salon and asked what the man wanted.

The man said that he wanted to buy the painting by Mr Twinkle.

Xiao Han said the painting was just a decorative painting.

The man said that Xiao Han’s painting is the original and he was willing to pay 8 figures for it.

Xiao Han asked what was the Chinese name of Mr Twinkle.  He was told that it was He Litao.

It finally clicked on him why He Ran was so interested in the flower painting the first time she came to his salon.  He realised that He Ran must have replaced his reproduction copy of the flower painting with her father’s original painting.  He told the businessman that he was not selling the painting.

The business agent said to contact him if he changes his mind.

Xiao Han got ready to go to the park to do his gardening.

He heard someone calling his name.

Then the credit.  After the final credit, there is a final ending.

Is it real or a figment of imagination because the voice was from a very much alive He Ran wearing the same halter neck polka dot dress she wore before.

They smiled happily at each other.

The End

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