Always Home 2025 C-Drama Review - In Case You Miss Your School Friends

C-Drama Review: Always Home (树下有片红房子) — A Cosy, Youthful Slice-of-Life That Grows on You

I’ll be honest, Always Home wasn’t even on my radar when it first aired in February 2025 on Tencent Video. It quietly ran its 30 episodes from the 15th to the 28th without much international buzz, but over on Weibo, it had a mini moment — charming poster, familiar coming-of-age vibe, and whispers of it being a sleeper hit. I wasn’t convinced. A 30-episode C-drama? I thought I’d lose steam halfway. Spoiler: I didn’t. I devoured the whole thing during Ramadan, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of comforting watch I didn’t know I needed.

First Impressions and Cast Vibes

I went in not knowing a single cast member. Not one. And that’s saying something because I do dabble in C-dramas now and then. But this time, I had zero expectations. And maybe that’s why it worked so well. The young actors — Zhai Xiao Wen, Daniel Zhou, Yang Xi Zi, He Qiu, and the rest — nailed that genuine high school energy. They felt like actual students. No glammed-up idols pretending to be 17. Just raw, warm performances that hit right in the feels.

What's It About?

At its core, Always Home is about three childhood friends — neighbours, schoolmates, and kindred spirits — who grow up together in a tightly-knit community. Their parents are mates from university, they all live in the same residential complex, and they basically share meals and study sessions like a big extended family. It follows their journey from high school to uni, and then into early adulthood.

If you're expecting melodrama, love triangles, or dramatic plot twists — look elsewhere. This is more about small, everyday moments. Studying late. Worrying about entrance exams. Eating dinner at each other’s houses because your mum’s on a night shift. It’s soft, it’s gentle, and very much slice-of-life.

Peak High School Vibes (And That’s a Compliment)

The show shines the most during their school years. The friendship dynamic is the heart of it all — and it’s blissfully romantic-free for most of the early episodes. You feel their bond before any hints of romance creep in, and even when feelings start to form (around their final year), it never overshadows the core friendships. It’s refreshing, really.

The Trio That Carried the Show

Chen Huan Er (Yang Xi Zi) is the gentle but quietly strong centre of the trio. She grew up with health issues, which made her parents a bit overprotective, especially her mum. But she’s full of determination. She starts off struggling at school, but with help from her friends (especially top student Song Cong), she finds her footing — and even starts dreaming of studying pharmacy.

Jing Xi Chi (Zhai Xiao Wen) is the football-loving boy-next-door with a big heart and even bigger dreams. He wants to be a professional player, despite his mum’s disapproval and a serious injury. His arc is bittersweet — chasing a dream, facing the reality of falling short, then finding a new path. His relationship with Huan Er is understated but lovely, full of care without veering into cliché territory.

Song Cong (Daniel Zhou) is the “golden boy” with a quiet rebellious streak. Top of the class, parent-approved, but not afraid to ditch the elite track to find happiness on his own terms. His story with his mum — especially when she gets into an accident — is one of the show’s more emotional threads. It’s tender and real, without being overly dramatic.

Qi Qi Deserves a Shoutout

He Qiu’s Qi Qi is another standout — the cold-seeming desk mate who slowly warms up and turns out to have layers. She’s a rich kid who just wants to write and be herself, stuck between her mum’s expectations and her own creative dreams. Her early dynamic with Huan Er is rocky but grows into something meaningful. Honestly, I could’ve watched a whole spin-off just about her.

Family, Food, and Found Homes

What makes Always Home so watchable is how grounded it is. The drama pays just as much attention to family dinners as it does to school milestones. The three households feel alive — every mum, dad, and sibling has their own personality and place in the story. And yes, there’s a running theme about food. Meals are a big part of how these characters bond, and I love that. (Also, special mention to Song Cong’s mum’s cooking — apparently the best in the neighbourhood.)

What Didn’t Work So Well?

Honestly? Once the story moves past high school, the pacing does lose a bit of its charm. The uni years and job-hunting bits are fine, but they don’t quite hit the same emotional rhythm as the school scenes. And the ending felt like it missed a trick — for a show titled Always Home, I expected the finale to circle back more strongly to that home-and-family feeling. Still good, just not the send-off I was hoping for.

Final Thoughts

Always Home — or Dear Us, as it’s sometimes called — doesn’t try to be flashy or groundbreaking. It’s heartfelt, easy to watch, and quietly impactful. If you're into found-family stories, soft friendships, and dramas that focus on the growing-up bits we often overlook, this one’s for you.

Also, major props to whoever named it Always Home. That red-roofed house under the tree in the opening scene? It’s more than just a title — it’s a feeling. And this drama captures that feeling beautifully.