Love Is a Strange-Flavored Candy tells the story of Zhong Jiaqing and Tang Li, from their awkward teenage years through adulthood.
In middle school, they were classmates in neighboring classes, and their few near encounters left faint impressions. They were assigned to the same class in their first year of high school, sitting one behind the other, and gradually developed feelings for each other. But after they were split into arts and sciences, they ended up in different places. At their high school reunion in their senior year, Tang Li took the initiative to help Zhong Jiaqing with a difficult math problem. Their feelings grew mutual, and they secretly held hands. Throughout high school, Zhong Jiaqing tucked her affection for Tang Li into the little things: choosing a seat by the window, saving him a place in the cafeteria, and sneaking extra glances at him during morning exercises. It was all sweet and innocent.
After high school, Tang Li went to a military academy. The distance and dwindling communication drove them further apart. During graduation season, they clashed over their families, and “I'm doing this for your own good” versus “Think about how I feel” became the heart of their conflict.
Later, after Tang Li was injured and was preparing to transfer jobs, Zhong Jiaqing laid out her terms for getting back together. Tang Li would have to move to her city and truly understand the problems between them. After Jiaqing left, Tang Li tossed and turned all night. In the end, after talking it over with his father, he made his decision.
