Smile Code is a Chinese drama released in 2024. It is a standard television series with 34 episodes, each running for around 45 minutes. The drama aired from November 8 to November 23, 2024, and was broadcast daily from Monday to Sunday. It falls under the comedy, romance, life, and youth genres and carries a 13+ rating, making it suitable for teen and older viewers.
📌 Synopsis
Gu Yi is a struggling part-time talk show actress trying to survive in Shanghai. Her career is unstable, her life feels stuck, and she often hides her pain behind humor. On stage, she makes people laugh. Off stage, she deals with disappointment, pressure, and self-doubt.
Liang Dai Wen is the complete opposite. He is quiet, distant, and emotionally closed off. He suffers from alexithymia, a condition that makes it difficult for him to understand and express emotions. He rarely laughs and keeps people at a distance, even though he carries his own emotional wounds.
The two meet as performer and audience member. Slowly, their lives begin to overlap. Through awkward encounters, honest conversations, and shared silence, they start to understand each other. Gu Yi’s warmth challenges Liang Dai Wen’s emotional barriers, while his calm presence gives her a sense of stability.
As their relationship grows, the drama shows the reality of urban youth life in Shanghai. Career pressure, emotional loneliness, family expectations, and the search for meaning are all part of their journey. Humor becomes a shield, love becomes a risk, and healing becomes possible.
The story moves between the stage and real life, mixing sharp comedy with quiet emotional moments. It paints a bittersweet but hopeful picture of modern relationships and personal growth.
🎠Main Roles
- Shen Yue as Gu Yi
- Lin Yi as Liang Dai Wen
🟦 Supporting Roles
- Ye Xiao Wei as Xu Guan Rui
- Zhang Tian Ai as Guan Xing Xin
- Zhao Hai Yan as Wang Mei Xia
- Ophelia Yang as Jie Kui Lin / Jacqueline
- Han Ye as Zhang Qing Ya
- Zuo Xiao Long as Shen Zhi Min
- Zheng Yu Jia as Lindsey
- Zou Ting Wei as Yu Du Le
- Zhang Cheng He as Huang Wen Da
- Fang Zi Bin as Liang Xun
- Tang Xu as Chen’s father
- Wang Shan Shui as Lu Ming
- Lin Ye as Penny
- Luo Yan as Gu Xiao Mei
- Yang Yu Ting as Stepmother
- Yan Qin as Chen’s mother
- Lu Xin as Li Ai
- Sun Kai as Zhao Huai Zhi
- Dao Dao as Dao Dao
- Zuo Xiao Guang as He Yun Jun
- Kevin Hou as Liu Ran
- Chen Chuan Kai as Chen Yi Jin
🟨 Guest Roles
- Jerry Gong as Liang Dai Wen (Young)
💠Final Thoughts
Smile Code is a warm and healing youth drama that blends comedy with emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of modern Shanghai, it captures the struggles, loneliness, and quiet hope of city life. With relatable characters, gentle romance, and thoughtful humor, the drama delivers a comforting and meaningful story about learning how to feel, love, and smile again.
