From Lingo

爱情当然很重要，但友情是远一点的，你会发现保持友情比保持爱情容易。巧妙之处是当你将所爱的人变成亲人的话，你会很容易过分要求。所以中国人有一句话叫‘相敬如宾’，与爱人保持小小的距离便能像包着保鲜纸一样历久常新。
通常越爱一个人便越想拥有他，但要明白，要拥有必须要放开；保持一段爱情，一定要将他放得最松，他才会贴得你最紧；问得最少，他才会对你讲得最多。

No doubt, romantic love is very important, but it is also a little more than in-your-face than friendship. Hence, you'll find that it is easier to keep friendships than romantic love. The interesting part is: when someone you love becomes someone very intimate in your life, you tend to demand things that are out of line, and take them for granted-- you would only say the least courteous things to them. That's why the Chinese has a saying: 'To respect your loved one as if they were your guests.'
To love someone from a respectful distance is like somewhat like wrapping your relationship in a Seran wrap, keeping your love afresh. The more you love someone, the more you would want ot possess them, but you must understand that in order to hold, you must learn t let go. In love, one must relax one's clutches, in order for your love to stick closer to you. When you ask less, they will open up and tell you even more.