Scent of Time

A dream within a Dream and Reality, Hua Qian and Zhong Xiwu ultimate couple , Happy ending

====SPOILER ALERT , THE ENDING IS WRITTEN====



In the anticipated conclusion of the 2023 Chinese drama "Scent of Time," a surprising twist awaits the audience. Hua Qian, after going through the ups and downs of her journey, arrives at a heartfelt revelation.

As the story unfolds, Hua Qian wakes up in a small village after a staged fire incident meant to deceive Lord Hua. In this idyllic village, she finds solace and forms close bonds with the local residents, living the life she's always desired. Meanwhile, Hua Rongzhou continues his relentless quest to locate her, promising to never give up.

Ultimately, Hua Rongzhou succeeds in finding Hua Qian, fulfilling his mission. He declares, "I finally lived up to my expectations and found Hua Qian," and then inexplicably vanishes before her eyes.

Initially believing that she had altered her destiny, Hua Qian awakens from a dream within a dream, realizing her parents are still alive, and she has returned to her past. The plot thickens as a secret fragrance emerges, signaling the beginning of the final act.

In this new reality, Hua Qian discovers that, in fact, she is already married to Zhong Xiwu, and not the supposed Yelan. Despite her initial resistance, she begins to acknowledge her deep affection for Zhong Xiwu, and he reciprocates those feelings. However, Lord Hua's interference leads to Hua Qian's escape from her wedding day, resulting in a serious injury and a coma.

With his profound love for Hua Qian, Zhong Xiwu utilizes the unique Jiayin Menggui Pill to save her life. Hua Qian enters yet another dream, where she reevaluates her feelings and recognizes the sincerity of Zhong Xiwu's love. Their bond grows stronger as they both learn from past misunderstandings and the dreams that have shaped them.

This dream journey becomes a means of salvation for the two of them. It helps them to understand each other better and let go of their past mistakes. Hua Qian comes to realize that love should not be imposed upon someone; it should grow naturally. The dream world has brought clarity to their feelings.

Finally, Hua Qian awakens from her coma, having been cared for by Zhong Xiwu for over two years. She courageously reaches for his hand, and Zhong Xiwu confesses his feelings, saying, "I like you, and it happened earlier than when you fell in love with senior brother. No matter what, I won't give up."

The drama concludes with a heartwarming note, highlighting the blossoming love story between Hua Qian and Zhong Xiwu. It underscores that love, patience, and understanding can overcome even the most formidable obstacles. As they hold hands and anticipate their shared future, viewers are left with a sense of fulfillment and hope, realizing that the most beautiful love stories often feature unexpected twists and dreams within dreams.

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My first Cdrama that I watched until the very end.

First of all, Yes yes yes
I've watched over 50 Chinese dramas and I completed none of them, I just skimmed through the episodes. But with this one, I enjoyed every single minute-second moment.
The story was mind-blowing and made me pull all-nighters to finish it 😭
The ending could be better if they just showed a little tiny hug or hand-holding moment but nvm I loved it.
The chemistry was fire. Lord xiwu made me giggle everytime he smiled and yup he was so downnn for Hua Qian.
Zhou ye did an amazing job along with xingyue
Both of their characters were written beautifully.
I would recommend this drama hundreds of time no thousands of time🥹✨🫶

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Wow!

I did not expect this drama to be so good. It was interesting from the get go.

The female lead pretty much carried the whole show, it was focused on her story and suffering.

It also included her relationships with:
It began with her ill-fated one-sided relationship with Zhong Ye Lan, who she tricked into marrying her.
They she ended up tangled with Zhong Xi Wu, who just controlled her life and decided to make major decisions that included life and death. (Spoiler alert: The real him did seem a bit different than the dream control freak)
She also met Hua Rong Zhou, who was greenest flag, her confidante, savior, and a person who loved her without asking for anything other than her company.

I didn't expect the ending. It was a bit abrupt and I want to see more of FL's journey once she wakes up. Hopefully, there will be a season 2.

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A dream from start to finish

It was a good series. I watched it with pleasure. Of course, even if there were minor mistakes or things that were far from reality, they were forgivable. It didn't stand out. To me, it was Zhou Ye's performance show. It was really successful. It was as if he wasn't playing, he was living. Such realistic fluency. Acting that never reveals anything. It suits me too. It suits the role too. It's nice too. Everything was perfect. He's now one of my favorite players. Wang Xing Yue is a very young actor. The role was a heavy one for him. In other words, it was a personality role that had to look heavy, that appeared above everyone else. He looked older than he really was. I felt it. Is this kid 19 years old? made me say. In my opinion, they were a bit inexperienced. Or the players he played with were dominant. You would definitely be crushed in the face of a perfectionist like Zhou Ye. I felt so. Because he is a rookie lead among so many valuable actors. It's too much for this player. My opinion. But there is no grin in the overall game. As I said, he is older than he is, and the director handled the situation well. I also liked Zhang Yi Jie. Well done. He was also very good in the activation scenes. I also watched Ai Mi in many dramas. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but they're always in maid roles. Let her know that being a servant will stick to her. A very good leading role can be achieved with slightly different roles. He is very young. The child comes from acting. He is considered experienced. Her face is very beautiful and clear. Clean. I found it suitable for the lead role. Cevval can play characters. Can be tried in dominant character roles. It is announced to the directors and screenwriters. The veteran players were very, very good. Princesshood suits Xu Fan very well. We also witnessed the beauty and good acting of our famous leading actors who were included in the last episodes, albeit for a short time. It was a good show. Our series was just a dream. When we came to the end, we understood. At first I experienced confusion in my mind. Then, I was as surprised as our dreaming daughter by what was said. Finally I faced the truth. I understand It seemed interesting. So are the explanations. What a scent does. However, I didn't like the ending. It looked like there would be a sequel. Or it surprised us. It was said, "Imagine what happens next." Such an ending. The truth is very sad. His parents and siblings were all executed. Their servants were beaten to death. He created a non-existent character that he can only trust, and he messed around with him, even if it was a dream, and ultimately he accepts the truth. He is together with his savior who saved him. I guess this is the ending I understand.

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Mixed feeling with this drama

I love this drama enough to write a review for it.
Perfect score for the acting. Story pacing was also great, OST was also amazing too. I dont hate secondary couple, for me they are not annoying, acting is superb for everyone, especially for ZY and WXY.
And I can say it's a happy ending. Just not a very satisfying one. If the director and storyboard can change so much from the novel, they might as well change how the story was told.
This is why I have mixed feeling with this drama. I don't want to spoil the ending for those who read my review.
TBH, I don't know if I like it or not. IT IS the ending that I wanted.
If there is one drama that you should go in watching it knowing the ending, it's this one. So you won't be so disappointed.

As much as I love ZY and WXY, this drama has zero rewatch value for me, not even any sweet scene clips because this drama has almost none. And because of that, I downrate this drama to a 7.

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What just happened. The story and acting were compelling but the ending just wiped out everything. Okay, I'll admit that the ending was more logical and realistic than the whole "one more chance to do over" storyline but...what? (sputters to oneself.)

Because the ending wiped out most of what happened before (ironic since the initial premise was to wipe out one's past mistakes and start over), it felt as if all of the emotions developed over the course of the story became empty. But I don't hate this drama because it completely fooled me and I have a grudging admiration for that. Plus the ride was fun while it lasted.

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If you wanna know about the 3 male leads, here's an honest review focused on that

I finished watching the 30 episodes and overall it's actually a very good drama. Despite there were no kissing scene the affection and attachment of all the characters are delivered on point. Do not be discouraged by other viewers who didn't like the ending, honestly the ending got me sort of conflicted on what to feel. As I was watching this cdrama i'm rooting for all 3 male leads. First let's talk about Hua Qian's first love interest whom she resorted to all means just to marry him, "Master Yelan" although it was clear that the one he truly loved was "Mu Yao" when Hua Qian went back to the past (or shall I say in her dreams when she was in coma for 26months) even Mu Yao acknowledged that indeed Yelan had grew feelings for his first wife in spite of all the wicked things her past self had done he had some love for her... she had space in his heart, it is clearly shown when Hua Qian proposed for divorce several times to make amends to all the bad things she'd done to the Mu Family, Yelan profusely refused because he knew to himself if he divorced Hua Qian (just like in the reality) Hua Qian would be out of his protection and would be implicated by the time the Hua family will be sent to exile, in his heart he would deal with divorcing her but before that he must protect her first. And now, about Hua Rongzhou it's difficult to process that he's just a result of the Jiayin Pill or our female lead's wishful thinking he had so much potential and chemistry and all throughout the time he was unconditional to her, as a viewer I felt for him I liked that he always protected her and followed after her, heed about the smallest details of things she liked and disliked and in the scene when he fought with Zhong Xiwu's personal guards in order to inquire information about Hua qian's death he never stopped to look for her even by means of death he wasn't fazed at all he had never given up on her, no wonder Hua Qian uttered in ep 30, "You're that someone who will never leave me, no matter what I did" and it hurts that although he's just a character in her dreams, he sensed that it's time for the one he loved to wake up into the reality he's not in. As for Zhong Xiwu, I mentioned that I felt conflicted and it's between him and Hua Rongzhou, I was conflicted of... I felt bad for him too in episodes before 30 because no matter how much he took the initiative...disclosing his feelings to Hua Qian (something the Lord wasn't able to do in real life) but Hua Qian although feels mutual for Xiwu she can't because of the situation she's in and as per her Highness' plea (Xiwu's mother) when Xiwu told his deployed spy on Hua qian to go back because Hua Rongzhou already knows her whereabouts he said, "someone else will take care of her now, she no longer.. needs my protection" it cuts deep through my soul how he paved the way for them, when he looked at their simple life, something he could never give... and A'Qian sighting him from a distance in the woods where he saw him watching them doing the laundry happily like a married couple seeing him choose Hua qian's happiness over his unbeknownst to him that all along before the incident Hua qian used to carry a medicine bottle just like him indicating they loved each other. And just like one of Xiwu's personal guard(a Eunuch, or somewhat a personal counselor) came to hear about Qian's personal maid that her owner used to carry a bottle of medicine just like the lord he mentioned not to talk about this with the lord 'cause it will only hurt him even more as he was never aware with Qian's feelings towards him. Hence, it ended with Qian uttering "Zhong Xiwu..." which is once and for all, a happy ending.

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A surprisingly healing and beautiful drama

I have literally just finished the last episode, and I am in floods of tears for so many reasons! I never write reviews, but I felt like I needed to get this out of my system to move on. There will be spoilers to follow. You have been warned!
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I almost didn’t watch the end of this drama because of the comments section. I reached episode 27 and, unable to resist, went hunting for spoilers (big mistake, lol). The overwhelming negativity about the ending lowered my expectations significantly. But despite all that, I found the finale truly touching and beautiful.

When I started this show, I thought it would be your typical reborn revenge drama, with the unique twist of the antagonist being sent back. That premise intrigued me, and I was curious to see how it would play out.

To be honest, the first half of the series tested my patience. Some characters were so irredeemable I almost dropped the show. Yelan and Yao’s overly saccharine moments grated on my nerves—I couldn’t stand their relationship and skipped many of their scenes. The father and mother felt like shallow, two-dimensional characters whose only role was to create obstacles for the plot. Yet, something about the story kept pulling me back, and I’m so glad I stuck with it.

The turning point for me, emotionally, was the death of Qian’s brother. Until that moment, he felt like an annoying and unnecessary side character. But his sacrifice and that gut-wrenching scene where he’s screaming for Qian as she’s dragged away hit me so hard. I was in floods of tears.

Another moment that completely broke me was when Qian and her father desperately tried to take the blame for the Mu family’s downfall. It was such a raw and beautiful display of love and sacrifice. And then the funeral, where the mother turned on Qian? That was devastating. Yet, it served as a pivotal moment for the family dynamic.

The father’s eventual redemption arc felt earned. It wasn’t rushed or overly idealised—it was grounded and believable, which made it all the more satisfying.

This drama, for me, wasn’t about romance. It was about familial love and redemption. The lack of overt romantic displays allowed the family bonds and personal growth to take centre stage. That focus suited Qian’s character perfectly. After everything she endured, it made sense that her priorities would shift. Her focus was on survival and protecting her family, not finding love.

Zhou Ye’s performance deserves a special mention. This is the second drama I’ve seen her in (the first being Everyone Loves Me), and I think she’s criminally underrated. She completely drew me into Qian’s journey. I felt her heartbreak, frustration, and triumphs. When the other characters doubted her, I was right there, shouting in her defence! Zhou Ye made me care deeply about Qian and her story.

Now, let’s talk about the ending. I understand why it might not have been what some viewers hoped for, but I found it perfect. The twist of Qian being in a coma was spoiled for me by the episode guides (seriously, why put major spoilers there?), so I went into the finale expecting one of two outcomes:

1. She’d wake up and get an unrealistically happy ending.
2. She’d stay in the coma forever.

What we got was neither, and I’m so glad about it. The revelation that Hua Rong Zhou was actually Qian all along, protecting and loving herself unconditionally, was profoundly moving. It wasn’t a traditional happy ending but a bittersweet, beautiful resolution that felt right for the story.

In the end, this drama left a deep impression on me. It’s a character-driven, cathartic journey, prioritising emotional realism over flashy plot twists. If you’re looking for something thoughtful and heartfelt, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

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I’ve seen a couple of clips of this show on Chinese tiktok and it really made me want to watch it so I did. The story moves pretty fast and it’s also a it confusing as to what the plot of the story is really telling. I love how Hua Qian tries her best to turn the tables and change how the story ends.

The drama does a really good job of adding in some mysterious parts like why Hua Qian keeps smelling that scent even though there is no I sense and then we learn that this entire drama was honestly just a dream. The drama also does a really good job of explaining that once you change history. Change anything, change everything.

The ost of the drama is actually pretty good. This is probably one of those dramas where I really only had to hear the song once or twice to really enjoy and like the song. The costuming is a little strange, I’m not used to seeing how these people are dressed. But overall a pretty good and short drama to watch and love.

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Writing My First Review Because Scent of Time Surprised Me

It is very RARE that I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the drop of every new episode of a costume drama series. Typically I drudge through all the filler episodes to get to the exciting good parts, and most of the time I get very disappointed with an anti-climatic ending. The ONLY other drama series that defied all expectations was Joy of Life Season 1. I eagerly await for Season 2, but while waiting, I stumble upon this "Scent of Time" series. Seemed pretty contrived and over-played storyline in the beginning, but very quickly I was drawn into the unpredictable plot, and the twists and turns of events in every new episode. I have NO idea what the FL is going to do next, and THAT is why I have rated this series so highly - It is very difficult to achieve what "Joy of Life" and "Scent of Time" have done - keep you engaged, make you care about what will happen to the people in the story, and surprise you again and again. I haven't finish watching the end of this drama yet, BUT I can't wait!

PS - Of course, Joy of Life is still better than Scent of Time, but that is a high bar to overcome, and you can tell that a whole lot more money were spent on the production of Joy of Life than Scent of Time.

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You cannot change the future

All 30 episodes are said to be a dream of the FL while she was in a coma for 2 years. The FL chooses to wake up from her coma or dream and confront the past in reality rather than stay in the ideal dream happily.

The ending made me furious. I did not watch 30 episodes of 3 days just see that everything was just a dream. The ending pretty much says that you cannot change the future, there is no second chance and the only thing you can do is face the future and try to make up for past regrets even if you cannot.

The ending also is quite open with the prince who love the FL taking care of the FL for two whole years and hoping she wakes up. He loved her both in the dream and in reality. In my view they pretty much end up together due to the influence from the dreams influence on the FL and since the ML always did love her.

You can only live out your life in this cursed reality and change nothing.

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Loved the acting

This drama overall was enjoyable to watch. From the beginning it caught my attention and kept me wanting to watch the next episode but it reached a point to where I felt what was the point if it was all a dream. I know there is a greater message that no matter what you do you can’t go back in time and change the pass but move forward and learn from the past but this drama for me just lacked a satisfying ending. Part of that was because of all that build up of romance beteen the lead couple and we didn’t really get any sort of affection between the two. If this drama focused a little more on the romance aspect I think I would have liked it better but thats just my opinion.

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