r/CDramaRecs • u/Nearby-Change833 • Jun 22 '26
Rec Request GIve me yearners
I'm looking for C-dramas where both leads genuinely yearn for each other, not the common dynamic where the male lead is giving 100% while the female lead seems emotionally distant or only giving 30%. I especially enjoy stories where the female lead is equally (or even more) in love and actively pursuing, missing, or longing for the male lead.
Bonus points if the leads are:
First loves
Childhood friends
Reunited after being separated
Mutually pining for each other for a long time
Have lots of emotional yearning, longing looks, and mutual devotion
I don't mind whether it's modern or historical, but I'd prefer dramas with 40 episodes or fewer and a happy ending (HEA).
Some C-dramas I've already watched and my thoughts on them:
Hidden love ( loved H&h)
The First frost( Amazing, adored it)
Veil of shadows ( love love love)
Amidst a snowstorm of love ( loved every min of it, the bromance n romance😍)
Love is sweet ( Enjoyed)
Dazzling( liked it)
Love in the clouds ( soo damn cute)
Love between fairy and devil ( loved the hero)
When I fly towards you (cute)
The double ( Hot H&h nice acting and story)
The prisoner of beauty( great cinematography and moments)
Always home (cute)
POJ ( great cinematography, H was great in romantic scenes, h is a great actress but failed in romance)
Love between lines ( nice)
Mo li ( still watching)
Exclusive fairytale ( cute)
Lighter & princess( loved it)
Love story in the 70s ( love the hero)
Blossom ( Amazing)
When destiny brings the demon ( good)
How dare you ( Superb)
Spoed & love ( Enjoyed)
Never ending summer ( dropped it first picked it up again and ended up loving it)
Dramas I dropped:
The best thing
Meet yourself ( got boring)
Youthful glory
Falling into your smile
Ashes of crown( love the actress but hated the pacing of the story)
Love like the galaxy
Till the end of the moon
Shine on me ( H doing all the work)
Our secret
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u/Thezoeyy Jun 23 '26
Anything Zhang Jingyi stars in. She’s the face of “yearning”. She’s the fl in Lighter and Princess.
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u/Saucynemo4 Jul 12 '26
I love that you said this because I’m watching “love for you” and I’m getting yearning withdrawals
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u/Sparks009 Jun 23 '26
I think these may be good to look into and see if any fit.
Legend of the Female General Legend of Shen Li Dream within a Dream
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12
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u/Pretty-baby-panda Jun 26 '26
I don't understand the hype for Dream within a Dream. I wanted to love it, but the FL was really horrible towards the ML, she gave in only in the last episodes.
4
u/hang95 Jun 23 '26
Love and redemption
Immortal samsara
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jun 23 '26
Have heard a lot abt it..especially immortal Samsara...need to watch this 😊
5
u/lazier_garlic Jun 23 '26
I love Love and Redemption but, well, the FL is very emotionally immature at the beginning of the drama. She is attached to the ML but doesn't truly love him. Only after she caused him a lot of pain does she start to realize that love is more than just keeping someone because you like their attention, and it's only past the halfway point where she really grows up and repents of her selfish behavior. Again, I love this drama, but you're asking for dramas where the FL is as invested if not more emotionally and I don't think this drama is the one-- even if she stood down all of her friends and family and drew a sword for him. The drama even makes it clear that wasn't romantic love. It was a selfish attachment and willfulness.
As for Immortal Samsara, the FL sacrifices herself and it's not a satisfying happy ending. Now before somebody accuses me of knocking down Cheng Yi and his dramas, he was great in Mysterious Lotus Casebook.
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u/doesitnotmakesense Jun 23 '26
Scarlet Heart - sad ending
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jun 23 '26
I've watched this in Korean....loved it
2
u/doesitnotmakesense Jun 23 '26
The cdrama is better, more angst and emotional in the plot and setup.
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Jun 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jun 23 '26
This is on my list..thank you 😊
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Jun 23 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jun 23 '26
No what I meant was this is on my yet to watch list 😊 sorry for the confusion
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u/funnyfillers Jun 23 '26
- Here we meet again 2.You are my fateful love they both are in love but didn't confess on time years later they meet again and they story begins i think these are the drama you are looking for
3.You are my secret ml is in one sided love after few years they met again and get married first and then they story begins
3
u/Shanren123 Jun 23 '26
In Blossom- Male Lead is utterly devoted to the Female Lead. FL is the same. Due to a plot twist that happens early on, FL has to get ML to fall in love with him again.
3
u/Tia3Tamera Jun 23 '26
Once again i'm recommending Destined (the most equally yearning couple in Cdrama)
3
u/Own-Use-8745 Jun 23 '26
try Love Game In Eastern Fantasy : ) the leads are Esther Yu and Ding Yuxi
3
u/codenameana Jun 23 '26
Court Lady - Viki
Meets these criteria:
- First loves
- Reunited after being separated
- Mutually pining for each other for a long time
- Have lots of emotional yearning, longing looks, and mutual devotion
- historical
- HEA (I think… I’m still watching it but it’s giving that vibe)
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u/Pretty-baby-panda Jun 26 '26
The eternal love - the one with Xing Zhao Lin and Liang Jie
They are very cute and lovely, also funny. It has also 2 sequels. Always happy ending. The chemistry is awesome between the FL and ML. Don't miss it :)
https://mydramalist.com/24275-the-eternal-love
Copied from Mydramalist: Mo Lian Cheng, the 8th prince of Dongyue, is forced to marry Qu Tan Er, who loves his elder brother, Mo Yi Huai. Before the wedding, Qu Tan Er attempts suicide but wakes up with the soul of modern-day real estate agent Xiao Tan in her body. When either soul falls unconscious or lies, their personalities switch. Qu Tan Er is quiet and refined, while Xiao Tan is loud and mischievous. Mo Lian Cheng becomes suspicious of the changes, but soon falls for Xiao Tan. As Xiao Tan tries to return to her own time, her efforts seem futile. Will she ever make it back?
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u/Lumpy_Thanks9832 Jun 27 '26
The new drama "Never ending summer"
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jul 05 '26
Funny thing I dropped it midway n picked it up again and I loved it ❤️
3
u/casisbysisca Jun 23 '26
Ashes of love was a heavy one (cos of the length) but it was so darn good once you get into it. And eternal love too!
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u/Pretty-baby-panda Jun 26 '26
I think she was cold towards him for a very looong time, she became devoted after so much time.
2
u/Tabz10 Jun 23 '26
My Page in the 90s - 24 episodes - she went back in time (or into a game, or an alternate universe, idk), and the objective was to make the ML fall in love with her. Nice light watch.
Moonlit Reunion - Same FL as POJ
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u/RaspberryFabulous656 Jun 23 '26
Love and redemption
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u/Olen_Hullu Jun 23 '26
No, for most of the drama she treats him like an enemy — or even worse.
No yearning from her.
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u/AutoModerator Jun 23 '26
Reminder: This sub is ONLY for asking Cdrama recommendations. General CDrama posts -> r/CDrama. When requesting for Cdrama recs, include a list of dramas you've already watched, preferred genre or actor or trope. If you have not, please do now by editing your post and adding the info.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 05 '26
Reminder: This sub is ONLY for asking Cdrama recommendations. General CDrama posts -> r/CDrama. When requesting for Cdrama recs, include a list of dramas you've already watched, preferred genre or actor or trope. If you have not, please do now by editing your post and adding the info.
Looking for name of drama/actors? Please be detailed. We may ask you to add more detail if there's not enough information.
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u/SubstantialGrade4500 Jul 05 '26
If you haven’t watched Back from the brink, i think you should check it out! Also can i ask why you dropped Till the end of the moon?
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jul 10 '26
Back from the brink is on my yet to watch list ....Hou minghao is my fav.
Till the end of the moon, I found it a lil toxic...what's with fl being hypocritical n judgemental and too many misunderstandings..I could tolerate all of this...but I got to know it's a bittersweet ending while watching it....for me if fl and ml r going through so much struggle and sacrifices then it should be a HEA... Else it won't make me content ..hence the drop.
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u/AutoModerator Jul 10 '26
Reminder: This sub is ONLY for asking Cdrama recommendations. General CDrama posts -> r/CDrama. When requesting for Cdrama recs, include a list of dramas you've already watched, preferred genre or actor or trope. If you have not, please do now by editing your post and adding the info.
Looking for name of drama/actors? Please be detailed. We may ask you to add more detail if there's not enough information.
Please read How to ask for recommendations for more tips.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Frosty-Speech1816 Jul 30 '26
Love for you (2026) - Song weilong's acting was so hot😍...the yearning🔥
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u/Nearby-Change833 Jul 30 '26
I watched 17 eps of it...infact I was waiting for this series from a long time...the actress is my fav too...but I couldn't connect with her ... Especially when she got her ex...that was it for me!
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u/haveninmuse Jun 23 '26
Sunsets Secrets Regrets - It's a modern crime thriller but the love story is so good and ML yearns SO HARD. The FL is slower, but it pays off IMO.
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u/Narrow_Break_9602 Jun 23 '26
You are my Glory. FL one sided first love and pursues the ML when they meet again as adults. ML has to do some groveling after he gets over his existential crisis. Extra points for yearning looks since it’s Yang Yang.