Love Is Always Online Review – A Nostalgic CEO Romance Blending Gaming and Old-School Love

Love Is Always Online is a 37-episode Chinese modern romance drama starring Xiong Ziqi and Cai Wenjing. This Love Is Always Online review takes a closer look at a drama that deliberately leans into familiar tropes: a domineering CEO, a long-lost first love, and an online gaming connection that brings two adults back together.

Rather than attempting to reinvent the genre, the drama embraces a classic storytelling approach that will feel immediately recognizable to long-time C-drama viewers. For audiences who miss traditional CEO romances, Love Is Always Online offers a surprisingly nostalgic experience.

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Cast Impressions and First Reactions

Before watching this drama, I was already familiar with Cai Wenjing through her performances in Unanticipated, Fake It Till You Make It, and Burning Sin. She consistently brings emotional restraint and maturity to her roles, which suits modern romance dramas well.

This was my first time seeing Xiong Ziqi in a scripted drama, though I had previously watched him on Call Me by Fire – Season 4. Even though he was eliminated early in the competition, his emotional farewell and visible tears left a lasting impression. His background as a former member of the Taiwanese idol group SpeXial, as well as his role in My Mr. Mermaid alongside Tan Songyun, adds an interesting layer to his career trajectory.

In Love Is Always Online, both leads project a calm, composed presence—something that becomes both a strength and a weakness as the story unfolds.

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Love Is Always Online Plot Summary

Jiang Anlan is the CEO of Ruishi Corporation, a man who has quietly carried his first love for years. During high school, he was saved by Yao Yuan, a moment that left a deep emotional mark on him. However, poor timing, overseas studies, and youthful hesitation prevented him from ever confessing his feelings. Eventually, he resigned himself to letting that love fade.

Years later, fate intervenes. Jiang Anlan unexpectedly encounters Yao Yuan again at an art exhibition and quickly realizes that his feelings never truly disappeared. This time, he decides not to repeat his past mistakes.

When he discovers that Yao Yuan is deeply invested in an online game, Jiang Anlan commits himself fully—training relentlessly until he reaches a master level within the game. Once he finally appears in front of her avatar, he does something completely unexpected: he proposes marriage.

Yao Yuan is understandably shocked and confused. Yet through Jiang Anlan’s repeated confessions, unwavering persistence, and emotional sincerity, she gradually finds herself unable to resist his feelings.

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Love Is Always Online Review – A Classic CEO Romance

At its core, Love Is Always Online is a textbook example of a traditional domineering-CEO romance—a subgenre that has become increasingly rare in recent Chinese dramas. This Love Is Always Online review emphasizes how unapologetically classic the narrative structure is, relying on familiar emotional beats rather than innovation.

The drama does feel slightly awkward in its early episodes. Both lead actors are nearing their forties, yet they portray a romance that is remarkably pure and almost innocent. This contrast can feel jarring at first. Additionally, the online gaming elements—while central to the premise—are somewhat underdeveloped and occasionally feel disconnected from the emotional core of the story.

Despite these issues, the simplicity of the romance is what kept me watching. The sweet phase between the leads lasts unusually long, allowing viewers to settle into the comfort of predictable emotional rhythms. When external conflicts finally emerge—differences in social status and the death of a parent—the drama leans fully into melodrama.

The ending reinforces a timeless message: love, when persistent and sincere, ultimately overcomes all obstacles. While the final wedding scene may prompt a second glance, it remains consistent with the drama’s old-school tone.

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Themes and Overall Atmosphere

One of the most striking aspects of the drama is how dated it feels—not in a negative sense, but in a distinctly nostalgic way. While writing this Love Is Always Online review, I discovered that the drama was actually filmed in 2018, which immediately explained its overall atmosphere.

The series clearly spent years on the shelf before airing. Interestingly, the lead actors themselves look almost unchanged, yet their mature presence makes it difficult to believe they are portraying characters in their mid-twenties. This creates a subtle sense of dissonance: the actors feel contemporary, while the storytelling and visual details feel frozen in an earlier era.

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Final Thoughts – Is Love Is Always Online Worth Watching?

Despite its flaws, Love Is Always Online remains a sincere and emotionally straightforward modern romance drama. Its appeal lies not in innovation, but in familiarity. For viewers who miss classic CEO romances and uncomplicated love stories, this drama delivers exactly what it promises.

The delayed release may have worked in its favor. In an era dominated by fast-paced plots and high-concept storytelling, Love Is Always Online feels like a quiet throwback—a reminder of a style that has largely disappeared from modern Chinese dramas.

If you’re looking for something nostalgic, emotionally gentle, and unapologetically traditional, Love Is Always Online is worth adding to your watchlist.