Hands down, the drama version is better.

I’ll give you one example of the glaring difference in movie and drama version.

Their first meeting at the bridge.

In the movie version, Weiwei finishes the test early. She raises her hand to submit her work but the test proctor doesn’t permit her to turn it prior the end of the hour. As soon as time’s up, she runs to the proctor’s table and lays down the paper, making the proctor call out her name. Her paper falls to the floor as she rushes out of the classroom, creating a ruckus.

This is different from the drama version where Weiwei serenely finishes her test and neatly places it on the proctor’s desk. She walks out happily with Naihe’s cell phone number in hand.

In the movie version, Weiwei fixes her long, luxurious hair, pretties her self and practices her greetings in front of a rolled up window of a car on her way to her meeting with Naihe. To her embarrassment, the car window suddenly rolls down to reveal a driver inside who’s witnessed her antics.

What’s the whole point of that moment? Nothing. It has no added value to the story but it shows how pretty the actress Angelababy is. I would have edited it out if I were the director.

Weiwei then runs to the bridge and waits for her online spouse, Naihe. At the other end of the bridge, she spots the campus god, Xiao Nai, standing by himself. She wonders what he’s doing there.

WW: (silently) Is Xiao Nai waiting for someone?
XN smiles then walks over to her. He fixes his jacket as he walks slowly over to her.
WW: (silently) Why is he coming here while looking at me? So embarrassing. (she fidgets with her hair)
XN stops in front of her. Just then, a gust of wind blows her hair around like a shampoo commercial.
WW: (bowing slightly) Mr. Xiao, what a coincidence.
XN: It’s not a coincidence. I’m waiting for you.
Then time stood still.
WW: Naihe?!
XN: It’s me. I almost made you wait for me again.
WW fixes her hair again.
WW: Not exactly.
XN: Let’s go.

And she goes with him.

Frankly, the impression I got here is that there are THREE characters, instead of two: Weiwei, Naihe, and Weiwei’s hair (non-speaking role, though).

And the tone of the movie differs vastly from the kdrama scene. The movie version of Weiwei is cocky, self-aware, bold and showy.  I didn’t sense at all that she feels insecure that the “campus god” Xiao Nai is walking towards her.  The attitude I sensed from her is more of nuisance.  Like, “Oh crap! Why is he coming to talk to me of all time!”

hahaha.

In contrast, the tension of the tv drama version of Weiwei is palpable. She isn’t sure that the Xiao Nai’s her online spouse, Naihe, and she doesn’t know whether to walk over to him and not.

At the same time, it’s also patently clear in the tv drama that Xiao Nai is teasing her by not outright disclosing his identity. He’s trying to prolong Naihe’s mysterious persona a bit longer to watch what Weiwei’s going to do.

Unlike the movie version, he doesn’t approach Weiwei. Weiwei approaches him. For me, the movie XN looks like a wimp and a pushover, especially if he’s being pushed around by a brash character like Angelababy’s Weiwei.

Also in the tv drama version, Xiao Nai walks away from Weiwei without saying a word, further agitating her and making her cringe in embarrassment that she made a faux pas of chatting up the wrong guy. And the campus god at that!

I’m going to copy and paste what I’ve written before here:

source: https://bitchesoverdramas.com/2019/02/08/love-o2o-episode-10-swoon-moments/

2. The Meeting.

The next day she finished her exams early and rushed off to the meeting place at the East Gate. This is funny because, in the previous episode, she told him that she had exams but she’d be free after 11:30. Xiao Nai suggested meeting each other at noon but she promptly texted, “Let’s do 11:35 so we don’t have to wait for half an hour.” lol. She realized too late that she revealed how eager she was to meet him.

Despite that realization, she turned in her exam even earlier at 11:10am and smiled all the way to the East Gate, holding Yuxiao Naihe’s phone number like a talisman. She arrived early of course so she lingered around a bridge only to spot that legendary BMOC (or Big Man on Campus), Xiao Nai, waiting at the bottom of the bridge, under a willow tree.

lol. Of course, to us viewers, the visuals are obvious. This is supposed to duplicate their first meeting in the game. She had been standing on the bridge, too, when Yuxiao Naihe called her name from the bottom of the bridge.

This time around Xiao Nai just stared at her. She had one of her inner monologues, “It is Xiao Nai! What’s he doing here? He seems to be waiting for someone, too. Who could be so lucky? Who’d Master Xiao wait for? How come he looks familiar? It must be an illusion.”

lol. Girl!! He looks familiar because you’ve played this game before.

She continued, “Why does he keep looking at him? Maybe Lord Xiao Nai knows I’m a computer major? Is that why he’s looking at me? That makes more sense.”

Meanwhile, that Xiao Nai continued staring at her. I know he couldn’t call out her name because he supposedly didn’t know her. But couldn’t he at least smile at her? He sat down on the railing and gazed up at her. He looked like an avatar whose gamer temporarily moved away from the laptop. It was clear that he was waiting for her to make the first move.

She debated with herself, “Should I go say hi? We’re in the same department after all? But would he take that as a come-on?” And she walked down to greet him.

WW said, “Mr. Xiao? What a coincidence.”

He just stared at her. Internally, she was regretting her decision already. She thought, “I’m so jittery. I should’ve just walked over. What a terrible line! Now it’s so awkward.”

Silently, he stood up and walked passed her without acknowledging her. She closed her eyes in mortification. But from behind her, he spoke, “It’s not a coincidence. I’m waiting for you.”

Dumbass. Couldn’t he have said so earlier?

WW: Me?

Again, he stared at her again and gave her silent treatment. Okay, is he simulating his laptop buffering?? If I were Weiwei, I’d be suffering every time he “buffered.”

WW: Naihe?
XN: … It’s me….

Of course, she gasped. (That’s obligatory in kdramas and, I guess, in c-dramas, too.) She began processing this new information, “I’m so glad I didn’t buy the stiletto heels. I’m so shocked now, I would’ve broken the heels. Naihe = Xiao Nai. Xiao Nai = Naihe. How did Naihe turn out to be Xiao Nai?”

Fortunately, before her brains overheated, he interrupted her thoughts. I liked that he mentioned waiting. This should have told her that he was indeed Naihe because Naihe stood her up in the championship. But it didn’t connect with her….

XN: You finished the exam early? I almost made you wait again.
WW: You mean the finals? It’s fine.

But she was still questioning, “Is he really Naihe?”

XN: Come on. Let’s eat.

He turned to go but she hesitated. Processing. Processing. “Will another Naihe show up here later? If Xaio Nai is indeed Naihe, isn’t this all too unreal?”

He must have sensed her reluctance to follow him, because he stopped and finally owned up.

XN: Weiwei?
WW: Hmmm? (still lost in thought, processing.)
XN: Do you eat fish?
WW: Weiwei??

lol. When she realized that he called her by name, she accepted that he and Naihe were one and the same person.

He just smiled and walked. She followed, too.

Now, this is an excerpt from the novel version, translated by @tofudessert and @lilzah. 

here are the link: http://bookbychapters.com/a-slight-smile-is-very-charming-part-21/ and http://bookbychapters.com/a-slight-smile-is-very-charming-part-22/

Part 21:

…

The level 6th exam goes pretty smoothly for Wei Wei. There’s even a question on an article that she has happened to have read in an English newspaper recently; it saves Wei Wei quite a bit of time. She completes the exam, selectively reviews her answers, and the clock isn’t even at 5:10pm.

Therefore, Wei Wei dazes off while looking at her answer card. She starts feeling restless as her calm and quietness are gone from doing the exam. After fidgeting for a few minutes, she stands up and decides to hand in her exam early.

Wei Wei lets out a long breath as she leaves the examination room.

It’s getting closer and closer to 5:30pm. NaiHe is probably already on his way to University A. Is he…….just as nervous as she is right now?

On the school’s walkway, sparse with people, Wei Wei walks at an unsteady pace, just like how her heart feels; excited and nervous at the same time. She holds onto the piece of paper with NaiHe’s cell phone number written on it tightly. Although she can already memorize his number, she’s afraid that she’ll forget it and won’t be able to contact him.

Wei Wei’s examination room is not far from the East entrance; it’s in sight after walking for ten minutes. Even though she knows that NaiHe is most likely not here yet, she still searches for him from afar.

There aren’t many people at the entrance since the exam hasn’t finished yet. Only a few people are coming in and out of it. Wei Wei can’t see anyone that resembles NaiHe, but she is surprised to see an unexpected person.

Xiao Nai?

Isn’t the person standing beside the willow tree Xiao Nai?

Wei Wei can’t help but take a few more glances at him.

A willow tree grows healthily in front of the East entrance; its green branches dip down and sway gently. Under the diagonally shining sun, he is wearing a simple white shirt, standing under the tree quietly. From a distance, Wei Wei can only see his jet black hair.

But it is really Xiao Nai.

What is he doing here?

Is he waiting for someone? Who is it that can actually make Great Master Xiao Nai wait for?

As Wei Wei thinks in her head, she automatically stands on the other side of the entrance; she doesn’t have the guts to stand near Xiao Nai. After a few steps, she sees that there’s a big truck parked outside of the East entrance on the other side.

Uh……

There’s no helping it; she’ll have to move closer to Xiao Nai. At the same time, Xiao Nai notices her and fixes his gaze on her as she comes closer.

Wei Wei pauses her footstep, and their eyes meet.

Wei Wei doesn’t remember who is it that said this——wherever Xiao Nai stands immediately becomes scenery; not due to his looks, but from his aura.

This is exactly it. Xiao Nai is simply standing there quietly, and the atmosphere has suddenly become different; as if it’s an elegant and distant place, cut off from the rest of the world.

Deep in her mind, it feels familiar for Wei Wei.

The willow tree swaying in the gentle wind.

A handsome man stands freely underneath the tree.

Quietly waiting for someone.

Where has she seen this before? Wei Wei tries to recall her vague memory, shifts her gaze away, lowers her head, and continues walking. But it just feels……

She can’t help but raise her head.

Therefore, her eyes meet Xiao Nai’s again.

She looks quietly at him. He stares back at her apathetically, but doesn’t look away; making Wei Wei almost thinks that——he’s waiting for her to come closer.

But how is that possible? Wei Wei doesn’t dare to be so full of herself.

Then why does he keep staring at her? Could it be that Great Master Xiao Nai has seen her before? Could it be that he knows that she is also in the computer science department? Therefore, he’s taking a few more glances at her?

Mm, this makes more sense. So……should I go say hi to him? After all, they are from the same program.

But…..will she be mistaken for trying to strike up a conversation with him >o<

Wei Wei slows down her footsteps subconsciously. But slowly and gradually, she moves closer to him……

Wei Wei can’t stand the pressure of being stared at any longer. She prepares herself to be asked “who are you” as she stops her footsteps and says courageously, “Hi Senior Xiao, what a coincidence.”

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

……

No response.

Wei Wei lowers her head in defeat. Under extreme embarrassment, she scolds herself in her heart for not holding in; she should have just walked away, why did she greet him? It’s so awkward now.

Or maybe, she should drift away?

While her mind is in a mess, Wei Wei can’t help but lift her head to look at him. She sees the corners of Xiao Nai’s mouth turn upwards slightly. His dark eyes, which are looking at her, seem to contain a hint of a smile.

Wei Wei then hears his voice.

“Not a coincidence.” His cool sounding voice flows into her ears, “I was waiting for you.”

 

Part 22: It’s him

The exam has already ended and the number of people by the school gates gradually increases. Pretty much everyone who walks past these two remarkably good-looking man and woman will subconsciously slow down and take a few looks. However, Wei Wei doesn’t notice any of these glances, because the second Xiao Nai spoke, she had already crossed into outer space.

I was waiting for you…

I was waiting for you…

I was waiting for you…

……

This voice…

This voice…

This voice…

Wei Wei looks at the person in front her, confused. In his eyes is the reflection of the sunset making it all seem a bit surreal and gentle. His tranquil posture and patience…

Wei Wei moves her lips, but no sound comes out. She takes a deep breath, controls the chaos inside of her, and in complete disbelief, she says, “…NaiHe?”

The person in front of her gazes at her and indisputably answers, “It’s me.”
In that split second, Wei Wei’s mind only has one thought — So fortunate. So fortunate she didn’t buy that stiletto sandal. Otherwise, she will have, definitely, already broken its heel in her shock.

NaiHe, Xiao Nai, NaiHe, Xiao Nai, NaiHe, Xiao Nai…these two names continuously circle around in her mind, but she is just unable to match them together. How can NaiHe be Xiao Nai? How can it be, how can it be…Even though she feels that NaiHe is very Great Master-like, she never thought that he would be that great…

Moreover, how did he recognize her?

Too much astonishment, too many questions. But Wei Wei isn’t able to ask a single one of those questions. She even starts to think that the person in front of her isn’t real. The small slip of paper in her hand is about to break into pieces from her pinching it. Right now, the thing that she wants to do the most is rush to a telephone booth and dial that cell phone number; see if Xiao Nai’s cell phone will start ringing…

At this time, she also, finally, becomes aware of the increasingly obvious glances surrounding them.

Yet Xiao Nai turns a blind eye to those spectators watching. He lifts his wrist and looks at the time, “You turned in your exam early?”

Wei Wei slowly nodded.

Xiao Nai says, “I nearly made you wait again.”

Eh?

Wei Wei doesn’t really understand, so she looks at his smiling face. Only after a while does she understand that he means when he missed the finals. Wei Wei feels a bit embarrassed, shakes her head and says, “You didn’t…”

But she doesn’t even know what she is saying “you didn’t” about…

The smile deepens in Xiao Nai’s eyes and he says, “Let’s go eat first.”

He starts to walk into the school. Wei Wei hesitates a bit before following. Anyway, it is better than standing here for people to look at. But after walking a few steps, Wei Wei can’t help but turn and look at the East entrance.

In a moment…will another NaiHe appear there?

Even though things are already very clear, that Xiao Nai is NaiHe, but, but, it just feels very unreal…

Turning to look back like this, her steps slows down. By the time she turns back, Xiao Nai has already stopped walking and is waiting in front for her. Embarrassed, Wei Wei quickly walks forward. Xiao Nai waits for her to get closer and says very seriously,

“Wei Wei, do you eat fish?”

Alright, Wei Wei is startled by the natural way Xiao Nai says “Wei Wei.”

Do you see it now?

The tv drama version, not the movie version, is faithful to the text.  The Weiwei in the movie adaptation is NOT the Weiwei envisioned in the novel. The tv Weiwei comes closest to the original version, down to her doubts, her sensitivity, her inner monologues, and her introspection.

I’ll post more comparisons in the future when time allows. 🙂