this Chinese drama made me realized a lot of things
your "long term crush" is not considered as first love.
if you're slow, you'll lose someone.
don't be too confident when someone likes you.
waiting is nothing when the right one comes.
sometimes, efforts work, and sometimes it won't work.
if you're meant to be, fate will always make a way.
The female main character here Su Can Can liked a guy for almost 7 years (owo saem) but unconsciously, her feelings changed.
Su Can Can likes Lin Jia Ze. She sent a loveletter to Lin Jia Ze but she assumed that her love is just a one sided.
Lin Jia Ze likes Can Can too but he never responded on her love letter and assumed that she'll still get the girl.
Lan Tian Ye likes Su Can Can. A guy who made an effort to win Can Can's heart knowing that he doesn't actually have an advantage at everything, the fact that they're like high school frenemies (they started hating at each other) and also he knows that Can Can eyes are only for Jia Ze.
this drama's actually a relatable one.
I have an unrequited love before. I liked that guy and I think that guy knows that I like him though I never made a move unlike Can Can. Even though he found a girlfriend in college and we separated our ways, I still have feelings for him. He's the only guy that I liked this much and I think he's my first love but nah it turns out that "oh I haven't experienced what first love is".
I've never been in a relationship so maybe my definition of love is just shallow but this drama made me feel and realized that first love is "when both of you started to go out and when someone gives the same love".
During Can Can's teacher's wedding, they asked her to describe her first love, she referred to Lan Tian Ye instead of Lin Jia Ze which is his long term crush and this is the reason why I think your long term crush isn't your first love.
Salute to my Youth resembles "A Love so Beautiful" these kind of classic dramas, puppy love, highschool crush and also growing up with friends while facing struggles and reality is really worth watching. But I will still recommend this drama. Hey don't worry they're not the same.
p. s. STMY OP themesong is really cute for me idk that song made me feel "LSS" specially the intro beats hahaha 🤣.