When living in a high-pressure environment, having the choice to act morally is often overlooked. Many assume that everyone can easily choose morality, but this choice is actually a privilege. So, when survival is at risk, especially for humanity, can morality truly be a viable option?

Better Days is a coming-of-age Chinese drama that looks at societal pressures and the fight for justice by those who are most disadvantaged. After Che Nian’s classmate takes her own life due to bullying, Che Nian becomes the new target of bullying. She later encounters Xiao Bei while dealing with a street thug. While outsiders may see them as an unlikely pair, they begin to form a unique connection. When Che Nian tells the police about her classmate’s suicide, the bullying worsens. Seeking safety, she turns to Xiao Bei for help as she studies for the Gaokao Exams. Despite their different backgrounds and initial clashes, Xiao Bei promises to protect Che Nian for as long as she needs. With Che Nian having an unstable mother and facing daily bullying, trust does not come easily. However, she gradually lets Xiao Bei into her life. As their bond deepens and the bullying intensifies, one of Che Nian’s bullies dies, and suspicion is cast on her. To protect her, Xiao Bei takes the blame, sacrificing his life so she can have a brighter future.

Che Nian does not report Wei Lai or the other bullies, even though it would be the right thing to do after everything Xiaodie endured. She chooses silence to avoid retaliation or jeopardizing her college prospects, which would trap her in a destructive life. The Gaokao exam determines which universities students can attend, and legal troubles could disrupt her focus, harming her chances for a good score. Though Wei Lai’s death was accidental, Che Nian does not confess; she lets Xiao Bei handle it and stays silent about her involvement. Admitting her role would ruin her future. Xiao Bei, too, steals and fights just to survive; he cannot afford to think about morality. He lacks parental support and financial stability, so he fights and steals to avoid becoming a victim. He stands up to protect Che Nian. Although modern thinking suggests not to stoop to the level of one’s enemies, Che Nian and Xiao Bei see no other option. One of the bullies is the principal’s child, which means she would likely escape any consequences. Che Nian comes from a poor background, so Xiao Bei lies to the police and takes the heat for the bully’s death. He knows at least one of them should break free from the system, and Che Nian has the best chance for a successful future. This act demonstrates how morality becomes a privilege under pressure. Xiao Bei sacrifices himself not because it’s the right choice by law, but because the system offers no alternative. His decision reveals that in a world where survival is not fairly distributed, morality is something only the privileged can afford.