‘Wind Direction’ Ending from the Writer of “I Don’t Want to be Friends with You’ Leaves Fans Disappointed [SPOILERS]

Wind Direction (迎风的青春), starring Sun Qian and Zhai Zilu, has finally come to a close, leaving viewers with mixed emotions—especially towards its ending. Originally thought to be a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s oilfield community, taking viewers through the trials of youth, family, and romance, the series took an unexpected turn towards tragedy, leaving fans disappointed by its final twist. [SPOILERS AHEAD]

If you thought what happened to Yang Songbai—whose work accident leaves him paralyzed—was bad, things get worse with the fate of the main character, Li Si, played by Zhai Zilu. The quirky, good-hearted young man, who was definitely a highlight of the show, faces a plot twist no one saw coming: Li Si is diagnosed with terminal cancer and doesn’t live to see adulthood. His death left fans outraged, as it seemed unnecessary, thrown in just for the sake of killing off the male lead. Sure, his “diarrhoea” explained that he was sick, but still…

Equally sad was the fate of the female lead, Cheng Miaomiao, played by Sun Qian. Years later, we see her as a writer, still reminiscing about her lost love, whose life tragically ended at 17. Fans were heartbroken as it’s a sad ending for the main couple all while other characters have moved on with their happy ending.

The writer of Wind Direction, Cheng Xiaomao, received criticism for the show’s ending. Fans realized she was also the writer behind the youth drama I Don’t Want to Be Friends with You. While that series did well, some viewers similarly disliked its ending and its explanation of the “time traveling” aspect.

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