Revenged Love

LOVE WON OVER REVENGE

Revenged Love, also known as Counter Attack (逆袭) and written by Chai Ji Dan (柴鸡蛋), is a Chinese BL drama adapted from a web novel. It starts with a revenge plot that slowly turns into real love, genuine, different, and heart-touching. The story has misunderstandings, happy scenes, sad moments, and funny parts. It’s more than just revenge; it also shows friendships, family issues, personality differences, toxic traits, and how one can influence another person’s life.

STORYLINE SUMMARY ⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆
The drama opens with a stylish introduction of its characters. Wu Qi Qiong is a nerdy, financially struggling young man devoted to his girlfriend Yue Yue, but she breaks up with him over his lack of money and looks. At work, his efforts go unrecognized until he finally quits. Soon, we meet Chi Cheng, who passionately cares for snakes, his playful rival and best friend Guo Cheng Yu, and Dr. Jiang, who supports Wu Qi Qiong’s scheme. Yet even after transforming, Yue Yue does not return, leaving him heartbroken. While working multiple jobs, Wu Qi Qiong (later renamed Wu Suo Wei) crosses paths with Chi Cheng. Their early encounters are awkward, and by the third meeting, Wu Suo Wei mistakenly thinks Chi Cheng is Yue Yue’s new boyfriend. Believing Chi Cheng seeks revenge, he plots to make him fall in love, only to dump him. Instead, the plan turns into an unexpected love story. Meanwhile, Guo Cheng Yu becomes interested in Dr. Jiang’s charm and aims to win him over.

The story starts off sweet, funny, and engaging. Watching Wu Suo Wei interact with Chi Cheng, sometimes manipulatively, was entertaining. Though uneasy at first as a straight man, he grows comfortable and develops genuine feelings, always wanting to be near him. Despite their differences, Wu Suo Wei understands Chi Cheng’s directness and acts of service, while Chi Cheng understands Wu Suo Wei’s clever ways. The drama mixes humor with some other stories like the snake story and market scenes, which some might find confusing, but I understood. Before the second half of the story, we see a clear contrast between Wu So Wei’s family and Chi Cheng’s. Wu So Wei was raised by a single mother after his father passed away, while Chi Cheng comes from a wealthy but emotionally cold home. Wu So Wei’s mother is warm and welcoming; she cooks for Chi Cheng, offers him the kind of care he never receives at home, and treats him like family. Chi Cheng finds comfort in her presence, often visiting, bringing her gifts, and happily eating any food she sends his way. This genuine warmth amazes Wu So Wei, he realizes that Chi Cheng values a welcoming home and kind personalities far more than wealth or status.

In the second half, the main leads finally come together with the help of the support characters. Chi Cheng encourages Wu So Wei to open an art installation company, and Wu So Wei proudly shows off their relationship. Guo Chengyu and Dr. Jiang also grow closer through little moments of care.

When Chi Cheng’s ex Wang Shuo shows up, misunderstandings hit hard, made worse by Wu So Wei’s mother being secretly sick. The breakup was heartbreaking, and their distance hurt just as much as their love. When they finally reunite, WsW and chi cheng promised each other not to dwell on the past. The final part mixed comedy, heartache, and devotion with the jail arc, showing Wu Suo Wei’s determination to bring Chi Cheng back home. A deleted scene that was posted added more meaning to the ending. Wu Suo Wei took Chi Cheng to visit his parents’ grave, where they made a final promise about their future. Meanwhile, Guo Cheng Yu committed to always being there for Shuai.

────୨ৎ────CHARACTERS ────୨ৎ────
Tian Xu Ning as Chi Cheng ✩₊˚.⋆☾𓃦☽⋆⁺₊✧ 🚬🍋

Tian Xu Ning brought Chi Cheng to life in such a natural and effortlessly charming way. Chi Cheng is a rich, strikingly handsome man with the charisma of a dark mafia don. A snake lover with his own set of flaws, he comes from a wealthy family that is far from warm or accepting especially regarding his sexuality. Before meeting Wu So Wei, his free time was often spent with his best friend, competing in snake battles. The scene where their snakes fought was especially intense, and Chi Cheng’s confidence in his own snake’s victory came from his sharp observation of the opponent’s attack style.

Chi Cheng is a character often misunderstood not because his intentions are bad, but because the timing of his choices sometimes paints him in the wrong light, he is skilled in other areas too aside from having a snake business and snake pets. Meeting Wu So Wei shifted something in him Though he is always dominant, straightforward, and outgoing, he became genuinely fascinated by Wu So Wei not only for intimacy, but because he had truly fallen in love after years of holding onto thoughts of his ex. Wu So Wei’s mother also melted Chi Cheng’s heart. He showed genuine care for her, especially when she was ill.

Over time, Chi Cheng transformed into someone more caring, food-loving (thanks to Wu So Wei), and a true yearner. I also really liked Chi Cheng’s outfits, it made him appear even more manly and confident, he carried an aura so captivating it could make someone weak in the knees. Tian Xu Ning didn’t just deliver his lines, he was immersed in the role. Whether in subtle moments or intimate scenes, his performance was flawless. When Chi Cheng broke up with Wu So Wei, it hit so hard that the scene trended number one on Weibo because after the breakup Chi Cheng cried so much, shaking, unable to even light his cigarette, and the subtle shift in his eyes told the whole story. That moment shattered me; it felt like a weight had crashed into him.

I didn’t fully talk about some things in my review because I had to cut down my words. But in some parts of Chi Cheng’s character, there were major flaws like the consent issue at first and the gang assault in episode one even though it wasn’t fully shown, it was still the red flag in him . I honestly feel it would have been better if they just exempted that part from the drama, and I also think it’s best not to relate that situation to real life.

Tian Xu Ning is one of the first male leads to make me cry simply because of how beautiful he was, especially when he wore white looking almost angelic. I also admired that chi cheng was unapologetically open about his relationship once he and Wu So Wei were truly together. Tian Xu Ning’s portrayal left a mark on me his aura was captivating, unforgettable, and it changed something in me. Tian shined in every episode of this drama, his spotlight never deemed.

Ziyu As Wu Suo Wei ♡(˃͈ ˂͈ ) 🐟

Ziyu played Wu Suo Wei so naturally, and his character was humorous, bold, and charming. Wu Suo Wei, originally named Wu Qi Qiong, comes from a poor family and was raised by a single mother. Back then, when he was dating his ex-girlfriend, he was nerdy and had what she called a “cheap” mentality. Because of this, she broke up with him, leaving Wu Qi Qiong determined to get back at her. With the help of his friend Dr. Jiang, he crafted a smart revenge plan, relying mostly on his own wit and determination. Wu Suo Wei came across as sassy, outgoing, and fearless; he never backed down from anyone, not even Chi Cheng.
But as he carried out his plan and grew closer to Chi Cheng, things began to shift. Wu Suo Wei slowly started falling in love with him, and though he struggled psychologically with accepting himself as a gay man, his feelings grew undeniable. He also came to realize that his view of Chi Cheng was wrong, that Chi Cheng was not only a good person but a true man who would do anything for him. He also became a true man who would do anything to save Chi cheng.

One of the most moving aspects of Wu Suo Wei’s story is his relationship with his mother Although her was always busy, he tried his best to make time for her, and their bond as mother and son was incredibly special. It was so strong that she even kept her deadly illness from him because she couldn’t bear to let him worry. Beneath Wu Suo Wei’s tough and sassy behavior was a soft side full of compassion not just for Chi Cheng but also for his close friend Dr. Jiang. His intelligence, dedication, and hardworking nature made him admirable.

Ziyu truly shined in portraying Wu Suo Wei. He captured the comedy, romantic, and emotional depth of the character beautifully. His eye acting stood out for me, and he made every funny moment and heartbreaking scene feel real. Ziyu’s performance was phenomenal. I laughed because of him, I cried because of him, and Wu Suo Wei will always stay with me because of how wonderfully Ziyu brought him to life.


Zhan Xuan as Guo Cheng Yu 🧠💚

Zhan Xuan portrayed Guo Cheng Yu with charisma that shone right through the screen. His charm was undeniable, and his acting felt flawless. Guo Cheng Yu owns a snake farm and is always in playful competition with his best friend, though beneath it all, he genuinely cares for him. Raised in a household that wanted daughters but got him instead, he grew up being treated like one something that shaped his unique way of caring for people.
Smart, observant, and dependable, Guo Cheng Yu played an important role in helping Chi Cheng and Wu So Wei come together. He’s also a talented cook and a sharp observer, qualities that stood out especially in the way he cared for Jiang Shuai and gradually showed his interest in him.
Guo Cheng Yu was such a comforting and funny character to watch handsome, caring, and impressively calculative at the same time. Zhan Xuan brought him to life with focus and style, and I admired not only the way he carried himself but also how much warmth came through in his smile and the way he spoke.

Liu Xuan Cheng as Jiang Xiao Shui 🤓⭐

Liu Xuan Cheng portrayed Xiao Shui effortlessly and naturally. Xiao Shui is a doctor who once went through a hard time in the past , struggling with trauma and nearly ending it all yet thanks to one of his patients, he was saved and chose to keep living. After that turning point, he met Wu So Wei and became his teacher in plotting against Chi Cheng, though later he shifted roles, advising and encouraging Wu So Wei to be with Chi Cheng instead.
Xiao Shui is a gentle, kind soul, someone who doesn’t easily place his trust, but whose life slowly began to change after meeting Guo Cheng Yu. As a doctor, he was deeply caring and dedicated, always putting his patients first because their lives mattered most to him. Liu Xuan Cheng portrayed Xiao Shui’s character and emotions in a way that never felt forced. He is one of my fav characters in this drama.

All of the supporting characters performed well, each adding something meaningful to the drama. Their stories weren’t just fillers but played an important role in shaping the main leads’ journey. I enjoyed watching every scene with Gangzi, he was always fun to watch. Yue Yue’s role also worked well for me, and considering this was the actress’s debut drama, she did a good job. Other characters like Wang Shuo and Wang Zhen also delivered decently.

Romance Between the Characters (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)
I was really amazed at how much chemistry both the main leads and second leads had. Chiwei (Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei) were fierce, outgoing, and cared for each other in their own ways. Even with their different personalities, they matched each other’s freaks perfectly. From the very first time Tian and Ziyu met, the chemistry was already there. I could see it off screen, in the script reading videos I watched. On screen, their connection felt so natural and explosive, nothing like a forced performance or actors just reading lines.
Guo Chengyu and Chi Cheng showed love differently, but both loved with such intensity that they would go to any lengths for their partners. The contrast between the main couple and the second couple really added depth to the story’s writing. One thing I noticed is that from the very first day they met their lovers, both Chi Cheng and Guo Chengyu chose to pursue them wholeheartedly. Even when Wu Suo Wei was scheming, Chi Cheng’s interest in him was already strong, just like Guo Chengyu’s determination.The last episode of chi cheng remembering everything about the tree in wu so wei’s house made me feel so emotional.

FAV SCENES >⩊<
Chi Wei and Wu Suo Wei meeting for the first time
The character introductions
All the romantic moments between Chi Wei and Wu Suo Wei
Key moments in episodes 11 and 12
Guo Chengyu taking care of Shuai
Wu Suo Wei building the vivarium for chi cheng's snake 🐍
The swimming pool kiss between Chi Wei (Really Romantic)
Every hug shared between Chi Wei
The way Chi Cheng affectionately calls Wu So Wei “Da Bao”
The hilarious kidnapping scene
All wu suo wei’s Crashout
DouDou Scenes
The ending scene and so many more unforgettable moments

OST And CINEMATOGRAPHY (੭˃ᴗ˂)੭
The OST is excellent. Ziyu's theme blends perfectly in the intro, and “Just the Beginning” made ChiWei’s romantic scenes even more touching. The cinematography is beautiful and captures each scene well, even when the budget wasn't high.

OVERALL IMPRESSION ⋆˚✿˖°🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
Revenged Love was a very good watch for me despite any flaws or cuts in the drama. It’s my first BL/CBL drama that truly got me hooked and left a deep impact not because of the actor’s looks, but because I was emotionally invested. The directing and natural acting were so well done that I felt I really understood the characters. This drama is more than just romantic scenes; it’s about how the characters care for each other, their friendships, family struggles, and personal challenges in relationships. I loved the dynamics between all the characters, they all matched together perfectly.

This drama might be a hit or miss for some, because no drama can satisfy everyone, but it definitely raised my expectations for BL shows. I loved how the actors were calm and friendly with each other behind the scenes their great chemistry and positive relationship with the director really made the drama shine even more.

Revenged Love made me excited to watch every episode, including the BTS. It taught me to respect others’ sexuality, make time for my loved ones, practice forgiveness, and communicate better. The journey of watching Revenged Love is unforgettable, I never planned to watch this drama yet it touched my heart in unexpected ways. It left a mark on my summer, and I will always remember the summer of 2025 because of it. They turned my ordinary nights into beautiful memories and i always think about them, Tianziyu and Xuanxuan .I would say give this drama a try after the first few episodes it keeps getting better till the end.



FAV QUOTES (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ
“ Men are like mensuration, you think about it when it hasn’t come but annoying when it’s here “ - Dr Jiang
“ I don’t care about Luxury all i want is you” - Wu suo wei
" Who the hell dares to bully you, i will be the first to chop him up"- Chi Cheng 𓁹‿𓁹 HEH.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆Thanks for reading! I really enjoyed watching Revenged Love and won’t forget this drama anytime soon. I understand it might not be for everyone ⊹₊⟡⋆, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. One last summer in Wuxi, one I will always remember

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The Chinese BL that Bit Me & I Love It!!!

I just loved Revenged Love! It's that classic enemies-to-lovers trope which I’m a total sucker for but with a fresh twist. The whole snake element is actually so cool (even though I’m lowkey terrified of snakes, haha 🐍). The tension and intense stares when the main leads first meet? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the side couple? Also surprisingly good!

Honestly, the cast has such great chemistry that you could mix and match them, and it would still work. The main leads are adorable on their own, but together? Next level. Wu Suo Wei trying so hard to insert himself into Chi Cheng’s world is hilarious like bro even learned how to breed and raise snakes just to get closer to him! At this point, I’m not even sure it’s about revenge anymore.

And his attempts at seducing Chi Cheng? A total fail, Chi Cheng ends up seducing him instead! It’s chaotic, funny, and weirdly addictive. I think Suo Wei doesn’t even realize he’s already fallen for him. This show just gets how to keep viewers hooked.

The cinematography is absolutely stunning something I wish more Taiwanese BLs would take notes on. The production looks like limited but they didn't compromise the quality of the series and the of course the acting, especially from the actor who plays Suo Wei, is top-tier. He’s effortlessly funny. The OST? Absolute perfection.

While the concept isn’t new, this series is definitely well executed. Chinese BL dramas really hit different, and Revenged Love is a game changer for sure. It’s a bit long though, so I’ve been watching it weekly instead of bingingsuper rare for me! But totally worth it. This show lives up to the hype, no doubt.

Updating my review since it has now ended:

Although Wei Wei and Chi Cheng look adorable together and their chemistry is absolutely palpable, this series is far from fluffy—and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s a roller coaster of emotions filled with heartbreaking events.

I’ve read so many comments from viewers saying they skipped Episode 18—the breakup scene—while others admitted they got so emotionally affected that they couldn’t bring themselves to watch any further. The story is full of misunderstandings, miscommunication, and two people who are both victims of their circumstances.

It’s also a morally grey relationship. For me, while Wei Wei’s character is endearing, he’s also manipulative at times. I do feel the ending was a bit rushed, but I still loved the mix of emotions this series delivered—the angst, the joy, the sparks, and those fleeting moments of happiness.

The chemistry, emotional depth, and authenticity didn’t just make the story believable—they made it unforgettable. Revenged Love gave us Chi Cheng, Wei Wei, and the rest of the supporting characters we rooted for, cried with, and, yes, sometimes yelled at (with love).

Overall, Revenged Love is a masterpiece. It wasn’t just a story—it was an experience that touched hearts, sparked conversations, and left a lasting impact on its audience.

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Entertaining to watch but red flags...

Let me start with all the red flags that show has:
While I get to be pissed off if you are betrayed, there is no reason to get someone raped. The toxic behaviour of Chi Cheng who forced the rape is also disturbing. The elefant in the room is the "hetero to gay" tropé which at least is disrespectful to all gays out in the world and of course complete bullshit. To let Wu Suo Wei be called "aunt" by his bf nephew is also disrespectful and unnecessary.

Because this is a chinese show, they lip-sync everything because there are hundreths of dialects of Mandarin and that causes inconsistencies with fore/background audio and sometimes it felt off. Also I felt the quality of the writing declined and the last episodes fell flat. I'm also not happy that they cut the "top" thing from the book. Chi Cheng let Wei top him to prove his love for him which made it a powerful statement, but we don't get to see that in the finale which was also unusual short.

I can't agree that all the red flags are a reason to rate this show with a 1.0. Compared to "My Stubborn" this was on the mild side in the toxic behaviour. In said show the ML forced his sexual drive on his partner but Chi Cheng at least restrained himself..

The production quality was very good indeed. Of course all the MLs are also eye-candy and their acting was good, but due the lip-syncing some of the acting felt a bit cringe and unnatural (the little nephew of Chi Cheng was horrible for example). The most impressive acting was by a side character Wang Shou played by Liu Jun which really had an impact, but his story felt it does not have a real closure. The same goes with dad & son or if the family did finally embrace Wei. So all in all, it was still entertaining to watch, but storywise this show does not even come close to other chinese BLs like "Stay With Me (2023)", "Blue Canvas of Youthful Days (2024)" and "Secrets Happened on the Litchi Island (2025)".

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Crazy how a whole community is ignoring the lack of consent

Let me start bt saying, the casting director did an insane job in casting fitting people for the different roles. And I mean no hate to the actors at all (love them)
I also find the way they incorporated snakes to show different sides of Chi Chengs personality an amazing idea.

Now, how is it, that this show is at a whopping 8.9 rating, when Da Bao is literally SA’d at least twice every episode?

He is putting on an act of liking Chi Cheng. Yes. Fair.
However, Chi Cheng is ignoring and overstepping Da Bao’s COMMUNICATED boundaries more than I want to count.

There literally is a scene in the beginning (Episode 1, I think) where Chi Cheng gives his Men the ‘ok’ to gang R* someone that did him wrong.

That’s not a morally grey character. That’s an abuser. And, what, everyone happens to be ok with it?

Why, genuinely? I cannot wrap my head around a whole community sitting and watching comfortably, even praising a character that repeatedly SAs his ‘lover’…I literally cannot watch this any longer because it makes me feel insanely uncomfortable

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A hot mess that was worth every minute for me! A long essay on why I love it!

My brain and heart have been playing tug of war over this drama. My rating for this is extremely subjective. 100% vibes, but I will try to keep my review objective and present through a split lens- one with rose-tinted glasses who saw flaws from miles away but still loved every second of this and will also try to balance it for the “facts over feelings” crowd. ("TRY" xD)

Revenged Love is an adaptation from the novel "Counter attack" by Chai Jidan. The source material was full of glorious mess and props to this adaptation for trimming out most of the toxic parts. There are still very questionable traits the characters displayed that would be ethically questionable in the real world. Still, in drama-land, I think they pulled off the adaptation from the source material quite well.
From start to finish, it delivered on all the big emotions for me...angst to laughter to comfort. It made it clear from the very start that we should expect the unexpected, exactly as expected. Imagine a revenge plan that was so over the top with fake coincidences everywhere and executed with the petty perfection that the mastermind didn’t even notice the exact moment he fell in love.

✨ Character descriptions (Based on the universe the drama was set in, not how I judge the actions in real life):

★ Wu Suo Wei, the chaos generator: For me, he was the walking definition of lovable chaos. He is the type of character who walks into a room and immediately changes the vibe... whether you want it or not. He starts out running a petty revenge plan after being dumped in a way that wounded his dignity, but there is more to him than just wild schemes. Now, while some of his plans were bad on paper, drama gods were on his side and all of them ended up working.
But under all that noise and deceit, there is a softer side of him that I couldn't help but root for. A side where he tries his best to change his bad luck with effort. He has been through things, and while his ways may not be "normal" and it might look like he thrives in mess, now and then, we see a side of him that somehow made his journey endearing even with all the imperfections.

★ Chi Cheng, the silk-tongued snake: He is the character that made me feel safe and somehow mildly concerned at the same time. He is confident, decisive and unfazed to make the first move... or the second or the third. He can be a step too pushy at times but then he will do something small but very thoughtful like being Weiwei's SPF (iykyk) or paying attention to even the smallest of the details.
Then there was his love for snakes and not just as pets but as his children, and if you ask me, there was this unspoken reflection of himself. This man was graceful, calculated, deceptive and knew when it was time to slither into the act. He wasn't just playing to win, but also making sure people don't forget how he won over (Both Weiwei and Us).

★ Cheng Yu, the charming gentleman: He is also a snake enthusiast, Chi Cheng's frenemy (more friend than enemy), also a flirt and always three steps ahead in whatever game he is playing( not that I say this in a bad way, more like street smart). I mean, technically and literally, he felt like the only green flag out of all 4 leads. He was playful but when it comes to consent, he has got it down to a T. He will prank, tease, but will stand by his close ones when it matters the most.

★ Jiang Xiao Shuai, the real grandmaster of chaos: If gossip were a career path, XiaoShuai would be the CEO. He somehow knows when to let things crash for character development and when to swoop in to stop the self-destruction. He is attentive, smart and has solutions for all the problems of Weiwei (At least that is what they both like to think)

★ The Wang Brothers, the conflict creators: Wang Shuo is the jealous ex and his jealousy isn't subtle, nor is his manipulation. One might argue that both Weiwei and he are manipulators, but we see a lot of times where Weiwei is conflicted and doesn't intentionally try to hurt. But I can't say the same about Wang Shuo. I was sympathetic to him to a point, but he just came off as delusional. Wang Zhen was more of an opportunist lurking in the background. The jury is still put on him, whether I like him or not.
Neither of them had a fleshed-out character arc. They just served to stir the pot and bring in the drama and angst for our leads and they did a darn good job at it.

✨ Relationship dynamics:
★ Wu Suo Wei & Chi Cheng: Their chemistry was like watching two magnets that keep pretending they don't stick but the harder they pull them away, the stronger they come closer. Suo Wei comes in hot with his petty schemes while Chi Cheng acts cool, like he has zero interest but lowkey cares more than he lets on. Their interactions were full of snark, shade and bickering that might make you roll your eyes into oblivion quite a few times, but under all that clowning and teasing, we had small moments of care and genuine fondness despite everything being a hoax. Weiwei's fiery spirit challenged Chi Cheng to break out of his shell, and Chi Cheng's sincerity towards him just softened his stubbornness, and somehow, the penny pincher turns his whole world upside down for him. Even though their relationship is far from perfect, but it felt real.
Wu Suo Wei's journey goes from spiteful schemer to conflicted pretender to cautious lover to being Xiaocuboa's dad.

★ Cheng Yu & Xiao Shuai: In contrast to the main couple, they were less chaotic and the pace of their love story felt much more grounded. They were on the sweeter side and had more of a cute than messy dynamics. I was less invested in them compared to the mains, but they were like comforting vanilla ice cream. Very familiar and reliable but still vanilla.

★ Not only did I enjoy the romantic part of the drama, but also the friendship between Doc and Weiwei & in the latter half, our very own long-lost friends. They all share 1 brain cell but somehow both friendships were iconic, sometimes stupid, endearing and memorable in their own ways. Even throwaway interactions were ridiculously watchable. Somehow, I got attached to everyone.

But but but...the drama isn't without flaws. If one starts looking at it objectively, one sees them from 1000 miles away. While the below didn't hinder my watching experience at all, it needs to be acknowledged for the fairness of it all.

★ The Dubbing and the editing: It gave 2005 vibes and not 2025. I am not a native Chinese speaker and I don't understand the concept of different accents, but dubbing in a few scenes just fell off, especially in the emotional ones. And a few fades to black transitions felt too awkward and disconnected sometimes.

★ Last-minute conflict: I am not a fan of keeping issues till the very last episode or introducing new ones in the final stretch. I felt the pacing did suffer because of that and it also kind of gave the whole thing a bit of tonal whiplash.

★ The infamous miscommunication trope: The title is self-explanatory. Yes, they could have talked earlier, but if that were the case, we wouldn't be where we are. xD

★ While I do can separate fiction from reality and don't mind red flags on screen, there was this one tone deaf scene in the first episode that literally didn't serve any purpose and doesn't even come up again. It was an odd choice and in my humble opinion, could have been just omitted.

★ The entire snake business math was very difficult for me to comprehend. I just suspended my disbelief and just went with the flow.
Now, while I did notice them all, I acknowledged them but it never tainted my viewing experience.

✨ Acting: I was seeing all the leads for the first time, and I feel everyone did a good job. Tian Xuning as Chi Cheng was most impressive for me. He nailed that hopeless lover look and seeing how his character is so different from how he is in real life is definitely praiseworthy. Ziyu, as Wu Suo wei also surprised me in the best way, pulling that bratty defiance but balancing it with genuineness. I read somewhere that the director asked 3 times to TXN to play the role, and now I understand why they chose them.

Coming to the second couple, Zhan Xuan as Chengyu, there was an undeniable charm he brought to his role. He played it with such ease. And honestly, his smile could light up any room. Liu Xuan Cheng as Xiaoshuai
would pass the bar when it came to being cute and nosy but in the emotional scenes, especially his confrontation scene he was lacking the intensity. The rest of the supporting cast performed decently. I don't have any specific comment. It wasn't bad but nothing out of the ordinary.

✨ Production value: It is definitely on a modest budget at its best and on a smaller scale, but I found the direction and performance making up for it. I can go on and objectively describe how visuals could have better but with the limited resources they had and the sword of censorship looming over their heads, they did a decent job in my eyes.

The color grading was nice and nature shots were beautiful. I have seen dramas with a better budget and still underwhelming visuals. This was made with a lot of heart, and it showed.
While I also didn't like the choice of cutting the intimate scene, it's understandable. I would rather have those scenes in BTS or in my imagination (lol), if it safe keeps the actors.

Overall, while the drama is far from flawless but for me, everything was part of its charm. I thrived on the ridiculousness of the plot and all the leads were flawed and messy enough to keep things interesting. I would 100% recommend it!

Thank you for reading my novel-length review! <3 Honestly, I didn’t plan on writing an essay but once I started, there was no stopping me. If you have made it this far without running away, I hope you end up loving the drama as much as I did with all the chaos, flaws and everything!

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So refreshing

This is literally the best bl I’ve seen in a while that doesn’t have a heavy plot but isn’t filled with poor acting and random fluff. The story clearly follows a plot and has done a really good job at developing the characters thus far. None of the relationships feel rushed, especially the second couple which is burning SLOWWW. It also does a really good job at keeping everything moving forwards, like while the main couple is still trying to work out their feelings, there’s not too much pushing and pulling to where it feels inconsistent. I literally cannot wait to finish the show because I’m HOOKED.

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the love teams

this series is to nice and I love how it flows, im so obsessed with this and not just me but also a fandom came from Philippines the fandom in our country is waving and waiting for next episode, that's why I'm so glad and happy I find this series!!! hope there's more series or drama for TIAN XU NING and ZI YU you'll given to them and they are still a couple. THANK YOU🫶🏼🫶🏼 I'm so glad and also happy!!!! this might be the best bl series I've ever watched. I love those main character/others they prove that They really played their roles THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME HAPPY FOR THIS SERIES🫶🏼🫶🏼😭 I'm crying right now not for sadness but for joy.

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Good storyline, great acting!

it’s an early review cause the show is only halfway done but damn it’s good. A friend of mine was watching along from the beginning and highly recommended it but I hadn’t gotten around to it until now and boy was I mad at myself for that. at the same time, I’ve now been able to binge watch the whole first half of the show and it’s been great! Not the biggest budget but it’s well made, the acting is on point, not really a spoiler but it has snakes in it too and I’m an avid reptile lover. I highly recommend if you enjoy quality shows with a good balance of drama, comedy and solid storytelling!

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Smoking, Scheming, Sexual (ASSult)and Snakes

I have so many issues with this drama its scary but at the same time a part of me just wants to celebrate the fact that this BL made it out in China... A drama where manipulation and sexual assault are means to help ones partner let loos.... and where friends that scheme together stay together. A drama where no means work harder and air without a mist of smoke just does not seem to exists, and nothings says I love you as much as a box (filled with cartons) of cigarettes. Entertaining at times sure, but a part of me wonders if this actually was Chinese anti LGBTQ+ propaganda disguised as a romance BL...

The acting in this drama is so bad the only thing worse in it is the dubbing, while one of the male leads and his freind do seem to be able to deliver a line or two the others acting goes from bad to worse to okay back to really bad.

I personally love snakes but if you have ophidiophobia you will wither be cured, scared to death or have to skip the firs 12 episodes or so.

As for the characters and the story, there is not a single character (okay maybe the poor mom, but she also makes some bad decisions) that is good, pure, kind as they are highly problematic do a lot of shady stuff and deliver such great lines as.

"You killed the snake (that was strangling another person to death) are you even human"

Not to mention a complete lack of acknowledging the B in LGBTQ....

Oh and seriously, mouth blown sugar figurines, that can not be hygienic, at all.

So what can I say, expect highly questionable actions, moral decay, steam, lots of steam, smoke and snakes. But oddly entertaining friendships and obsessions.

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What is this overrated trash i just watched?

Excuse me for the title but it just expresses my disappointment with this drama.

Twitter people were buzzing about the new BL in town so I had to check it out.
I had expected that the production quality will be bad so I am not disappointed by that. This is reminiscent of the worst kind of BLs from Thailand years ago when the quality and content used to unwatchably bad and traumatic. Thailand's dramas have developed so much since then and chinese bromances, at least from what I remember, had some beautiful plots.

One of the lead actors is terribly bad with his comic timing and the other one is too stiff to be called good.

Is it watchable? Yes! You can finish it if you don't care much about the painfully cringy plot or you have it in you to give the horrific toxicity a pass and still see the relationship as love but honestly, its just far worse than most BLs people have openly trashed upon. So, I am confused about why it is overrated. I see some people shipping actors (not characters, but actors and talking about off screen chemistry). Something about the direction, the shipping culture and the style screams fetishization to me. So, if you get uncomfortable by that,this is not for you.

I felt the need to write that other that the acting that I didn't like, I mostly consider the writer as well as the director to be responsible for ruining this drama beyond redemption. This wasn't as simple as showing a bad character but this was about showing an abuser and then trying to turn him into a prince...bad,repeated exposure to abusive and criminal behavior in the guise of romance is a good example of the writer as well as director requiring some therapy. When you write such characters, you don't color them bright. They are supposed to be seen as abusers and not romantics

Let's say that I will prefer watching my favorite "your name engraved herein" hundred times than watching one more episode of this cringefest. It might actually work out for the very younh audience but I guess 🤷 not because its 18+ ?

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Thank you TianZiyu for bringing out the best Chi Cheng and Wei Wei for me, you will be missed!

It actually took me a lot of hours and time to put my feelings into this review, so bear with me, it's going to be long. I actually never intended my review to be long, but it always just happens when I come to expressing things I love, and how I just wanted this review to really express how I feel about my overall journey while chasing this drama.

FIRST IMPRESSION ₊ ⊹❀
When I first started this drama, I didn't think I will love it this much. I started with low expectations since I know this was a Chinese BL, so with that in mind, I thought the best we will ever get was just a peck on the lips or just hugs etc, and I was even mentally prepared we wouldn't get any of that, but how they portrayed the character relationship between the main pairing Chi Cheng and Wei Wei right from the beginning, just really make me question 'how did this even pass censorship'? I am not saying this is bad, because quite the contrary, I was pleasantly surprise, because I didn't think it would be possible for Chinese actors to film this. This was then, around the same time, I realized that this drama was not aired in the Chinese Platform, but was aired internationally instead.

So in terms of first impression, it really started on a very good note for me, what I didn't expect to get, I got at the beginning, and this drama really did hook me into the story, because I was really captivated by the main pairing: Chi Cheng and Wei Wei (ChengWei) chemistry, and it made me really look forward to their developments story, and how they will be developed as a pairing as the story progresses.

I also really like and enjoy the 2nd Pairing: Guo Chengyu and Jiang Xiao Shuai story as well and I have a soft spot when it comes to pairing being developed as '2 Best Friends on one side getting into a relationship with 2 Best Friends on the other side'. Because, I like the that concept where all 4 (the 2 pairing) can be happy, like a happy family kind of sense, without the unnecessary LT.

Although Revenged Love isn't the first BL adaptation I watched, considering I have watched The Untamed, Word of Honour and The Spirealm before, but Revenged Love is actually the first Real Boys Love drama I watched. So, this will always hold a special place in my heart. What I mean by ‘First Real Boys Love Drama?’, when I said that, I meant there is an actual on-screen kiss scene between two male actors, and it completely took me by surprise by the beginning half of the story, because they were so bold with the whole passion between Chi Cheng and Wei Wei, that you can really feel their chemistry right from the start. Like how can two people just standing next to each other and the way they look at each other can radiate so much chemistry between them? But hey! I am so not complaining here! This just makes it all the more enjoyable and why I love the main pairing (ChengWei) so much!

CHARACTERS & ACTING ₊ ⊹❀
The Casting is also completely new to me as well, since I have never seen any of their previous works before. Maybe I would have for Tian Xuning if Eternal Faith ever gets released since he did play as my favourite character, He Xuan (Earth Master) which is a drama adapted from the novel Tian Gu Ci Fu

Tian Xuning as Chi Cheng
Chi Cheng is the Male Lead in Revenged Love, where his character introduction at the beginning was presented to be like a 'mafia' type of aura, and he doesn't tolerate those who betrays him. He was also raised from a very wealthy family, and from the beginning, he was also shown to really love snakes on his side, and he keeps them like they are his precious babies.

While some may have problems with snakes in this drama, I personally don't find anything off-putting about it, I mean, I even came to like Xiao Cubao a lot.

Tian Xuning portrayal of Chi Cheng had proven how he was made for this role. His acting ability is praise worthy. I found no problems with his acting performance as he delivered his character well. I fell in love with Tian as Chi Cheng on my side from the beginning, I found his character interesting and charismatic, although I will be honest, I don't like people who smoke but for Tian I am totally fine with him, maybe because I am bias :P, or he looks so hot when he does it? I don't know but he has this magnetic charm that pulls me in, and his character overall is my favourite in this drama. He also has a lot of layers that I love, and I felt like he is quite misunderstood where people don’t understand this from his perspective why he did what he did, but Tian really did an amazing job bringing the character Chi Cheng to life, and I am forever grateful I came to love him in this drama, because I will always remember him through this drama!

Also, I felt like Chi Cheng is not an easy character to portray, but with how Tian played this character, you really can’t hate Chi Cheng! I certainly don’t because he made me feel for this character, his micro expression and how he expresses those scenes really made me love/appreciate that he was the one chosen to play as Chi Cheng. No doubt in my mind that there is anyone who can play a better Chi Cheng than Tian Xuning did! Tian Xuning is THE perfect Chi Cheng for me!

One of my favourite scenes from Chi Cheng, is the scene when he first cried in the drama, it felt so real/genuine with how he expresses his heartbreak/sadness and how he wanted to hold back his tears (in the car), yet he couldn’t in the end, I really can feel those emotions and how hurt he felt in that moment. If people don’t see Tian’s acting capabilities, then they surely can feel it in that scene alone!

Zi Yu as Wu Suo Wei | Wei Wei
Wu Suo Wei is the Main Character, and the Protagonist in this story. He actually has like 4 names in this drama, his real character name: Wu Qi Qiong (which he hardly used), his changed name: Wu Suo Wei, Da Bao(which is the first nickname Chi Cheng calls him), and Wei Wei.

For me, since out of all 4 names, I personally love to call him "Wei Wei" better, so I will just refer him as Wei Wei in my review.

Wei Wei was raised in a single-family house-hold from his mother, and at the beginning when he found out that Chi Cheng was dating his ex girlfriend and those situations where Chi Cheng ruined his plan, which was not intentional on Chi Cheng side, but because Wei Wei misunderstood, he actually formed this misconception on him, and he plotted a revenge to get back at Chi Cheng and also Yue Yue for breaking up with him. His plan was to have Chi Cheng fall in love with him, chase after him and then dump him. Well, that was his original intention, but we know it won't always go as plan especially when you know they are going to be a couple in this drama.

What appears to have started with ill intention from Wei Wei side had evolved into something more when he came to fall in love with Chi Cheng. His character actually has a lot of growth in that sense, because he went from someone who he thinks is straight to someone who is gay for Chi Cheng.

When I first found out that Zi Yu was just a backup actor to play this role, because he wasn't originally chosen for this character, it actually made me feel sorry for him, but I am glad that he persisted and tried again, and in the end, we got him to play as Wei Wei in this drama, because he really lightens up the atmosphere, he can be so goofy at times, but in a very hilarious way, and despite his young age, his acting was very good when he played out those emotional scenes. He really sold me to his character as Wei Wei. I love how he brings out his own version of Wei Wei, that made him loveable to me when compared to the Novel. So, similar to how I feel for Tian as Chi Cheng, no one can replace how I feel, that Ziyu is the perfect choice to play as Wei Wei in Revenged Love! I am glad though, since Ziyu and Tian really have that natural chemistry that I really love!

PAIRING CHEMISTRY ₊ ⊹❀
Tian Xuning (Chi Cheng) and Zi Yu (Wei Wei) ~
Chi Cheng and Wei Wei, as a pairing really has been through A LOT in this drama. Their story started off as two individuals, where Wei Wei was the one who made Chi Cheng fall for him due to his Revenged Plot, and yes, Chi Cheng did fell in love with him, where you can see these subtle changes in Chi Cheng's character, when he falls deeper and deeper in love with Wei Wei, to the point that he went from someone who started off by saying "I want to sleep with you", to someone who will restrain himself because of what Wei Wei said to him "If you and I have sex, then this will only be a physical thing, you will never have my heart", and "We are not even dating, so why should I let you do what you want with me". I think one of the main reason Chi Cheng loves Wei Wei so much is because Wei Wei actually challenges Chi Cheng, he was also the first person who said "No" to sleeping with him, despite Wei Wei was the one who make Chi Cheng falls in love with him at first.

They have chemistry I tell you! Whether it's onscreen when they're in character, or in the BTS! Their chemistry is what makes it a big hit for this drama. I am not usually someone who will want to go watch the BTS, but I don't know why Revenged Love, I just am so captivated with the BTS, watching it just makes me love TianZiyu even more. I felt like the BTS can be a drama entirely on its own because it is more bold when compared to the Drama for me.

While in the Drama, I do agree with some people in here/and other social media, that the feeling ChengWei gives off after the whole Wang Shuo Arc, really felt like their relationship has changed, I actually have mixed feelings to how I feel about this. I mean in this changed, you can really see a contrast between how Chi Cheng was like at the beginning when compared to how he had evolved into in the end. And, if I have to say this in simplified terms then, "the beginning is fiery passion between the two, whereas the latter half is more passion but in a more ‘silent or gentle’ manner where it is left offscreen(not for viewers)".

In terms of TianZiyu chemistry, their chemistry never diminished for me, it has always been there and that is why I will always love TianZiyu chemistry as ChengWei but a part of me still misses and wanted to see that ‘fiery passion’ like how they were seen in the beginning but when I didn’t get even one final passionate kiss between them in the final episode, that did left me feeling a bit sad and disappointed that we never get to have the one last final kiss in the last episode.

This is why I have mixed feelings, because that part/side to me, wish we could have that, and that will be a good way to end the drama, I mean, it's not like I am asking for another NC scene but considering all they've been through, especially after the whole angst, and Chi Cheng coming back into Wei Wei's life, I really expected like a passionate kiss between them if that makes sense.

I can't say whether this was intentional or not, because we will never know, but you definitely can see the change in ChengWei relationship changing in the second half of the story, after they got back together. Maybe this was to show a contrast from beginning vs ending, how the character, Chi Cheng has evolved/developed into someone soft/sweet when it comes to his love for Wei Wei. He may be a red flag in the novel, but to me, he is a green flag when it comes to Wei Wei in the Drama, especially after they got back together, Chi Cheng is very sweet/loving and domestic with Wei Wei, where you can really see/feel it in the way they look at each other, even their hugs can be powerful enough that make me swoon/fangirl for them. Yes, I love them that much!

I guess in a way it works out better for them, because I got sick and tired of people saying ChengWei is toxic at the beginning (when they weren’t to me, each to their own I guess), but at least with how they made it like that after they got back together, is filled with sweetness, where their love is shown in a more gentle/passionate way and you don’t really need those kisses to show how much they love each other, but you can feel it through their actions, and honestly, for me, while I wanted 1 final passionate kiss, I’ve made terms with it, because I can still feel ChengWei love for each other has grown into something more deeper in that sense, and if I ever wanted to see those passionate kiss scenes, I will just go back and watch it in the beginning, since we got more than we could have asked for when it comes to a Chinese BL Drama. I never think we would get this much when I first started this drama, it’s just when they give me so much in the beginning, I did get my hopes up and want them to show me more towards the end, especially after they got back together, this is why I was left a bit unsatisfied at first when I saw the ending.

OVERALL IMPRESSION ₊ ⊹❀
Despite my original gripe at how episode 24 was only a 33 minutes episode (since I still wish it was a full 45 minute episode, 50+ minutes would have been better!!), I am still surprised they managed to give us so much in the span of 33 minutes at the end.

While it isn’t entirely perfect since I wish there were some parts that was done better, but this, to me, is definitely better than the novel for me with those changes, I have read the novel to certain parts, and I didn’t like what was shown, that is why I didn’t continue with the Novel. I love the changes to Chi Cheng and Wei Wei’s character in the Drama. For me, despite I wish certain plot points could have been better, and how I wish that those scenes weren’t deleted, but I still want to give this an overall 10/10, because I am emotionally connected to the characters/pairing and the story on my end. This overall is 10/10 is coming from my heart, how much I came to love this drama despite its flaws, and this ending really left me wanting more!!!

It hurts to say goodbye, and I don't want to say goodbye to Chi Cheng, Wei Wei and ChengWei.... I am going to miss them so much!!! but I still want to say a big thank you to you, Tian Xuning and Ziyu for the beauty you've given us and giving me the perfect Chi Cheng and Wei Wei. Nothing can diminish the glory of your work, not even the shameful editing towards the end, fans who paid and watched this in official platform deserves better, but most importantly, you deserve better. You will certainly be missed, no matter what happens in the future, I hope you will always be happy and protected away from any unnecessary toxic attention.

Thank you for taking the time to read my review, I know it's long!

P.S: I actually did added GCY and JXS and other parts to my review, but due to the character limit, I have to remove it, so I will post them in my review comment instead for those who is interested

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The production as rough as the relationship between Wu Suo Wei and Chi Cheng.

Why of why did they not keep it short and simple? You truly do not have to adapt everything that is in the novel plot line. You can in fact just pick one aspect and make it happen. We had so much going on, but somehow nothing really was happening.

Revenge Wu Suo Wei planned, Chi Cheng family drama, whatever was going on between Chi Cheng and Cheng Yu, second leads romance, Yue Yue and whatever she was doing, the snake business, the art business, Wang Shuo and his drama, Wang Shuo’s bro who was there to look hot, make Chi Cheng jealous and make us hope they would develop his not so bro like relationship with Wang Shuo, Wu Suo Wei’s mother’s health issues… I am sure I am missing some other side plots.

I could feel that people involved in this production actually cared about it, but maybe they cared a little bit too much so they were not able to let go some aspect that would in fact improve overall quality. The actions and decisions were as misguided as the ones of the characters.

If we just focus on the love and chemistry between Chi Cheng and Wu Suo Wei, it would be perfect. I adored the love and devotion I saw in Chi Cheng’s eyes when he was looking at Wu Suo Wei. The way on his side the connection moved from pure curiosity, to last and then to love was done in a perfect manner - be it performance or pacing wise.

And then we have Wu Suo Wei who not only had to deal with his unexpected growing fondness towards Chi Cheng who was by all means his enemy, but also his newly discovered interest in men. Baby boy went into complete panic mode more than once. But the fact these two ended up completely in love is undenied.

Then we had a second couple and I’m only left with disappointment. I love Guo Cheng Yu, I love him the most out of all the characters. He was the true man of the story. Every new scene with him made me just love him more and more. The way he did not take advantage of Doc being drugged, the way he took revenge on Doc’s ex - how patient he was during the relationship - he kept gaining points from me.

But then we had Doc - Xiao Shuai… oh boy. He did not deliver on the romance at all. First of all, I rather have no kissing scenes than watch a scene where one clearly is not enjoying whatever is happening. I could sense how awkward Liu Xuan Cheng felt while filming it, and I should not be feeling what actors are feeling, I should be feeling what the characters were supposed to feel. Liu Xuan Cheng did the best in the silly down to earth scenes between him and Zi Yu and their friendship baby girl energy. But when we talk about any more serious scenes, emotionally heavy ones or romantic ones - he failed, over and over again.

Yes, Chu Cheng did a number of questionable things, so did Wu Suo Wei - that’s not the issue. The bigger problem was how writing wise they were not always consistent with how the characters were written in the first place. Example: Chi Cheng could not bear to actually hurt Wu Suo Wei and he did not want to force Wu Suo Wei to sleep with him. And yet that’s exactly what he did by scheming and manipulating Doc. If your lover's reasoning for going to sleep with you is anything other than them actually wanting to sleep with you, you are doing something wrong.

Any other dynamics worth mentioning? Whatever was going on between Chi Cheng and Cheng Yu. I am sure these two characters at least once thought about sleeping with each other. No way their feelings were not even slightly complicated in their past. I loved it. I also loved the friendship between Wu Suo Wei and Xiao Shuai, even if some of their schemes “against” each other that were aiming for their own good, would for sure cross my personal boundary.

And here comes the biggest surprise, I actually ended up adoring Wang Shuo. This idol snake stole my heart. He was the greatest source of never ending entertainment. The cheekiness and boldness that was covering up his deep sense of insecurity was one of the best aspects of the drama. I wish we saw more of him and his “bro not really bro” with whom he clearly did not have bro chemistry going on.

Yue Yue was boring, the off screen conclusion of her character was boring.

The sick mother plotline was annoying and I wish it was shorter. The lack of communication and the whole plot was so poorly written and annoying, I was rolling my eyes so hard I could see the neurons dying in my brain. That said, the actual conclusion and the death of the mother was shot in a beautiful and touching way - cannot deny that.

Production wise… questionable? The dubbing was painful. But it is something you can get used to. By episode 3 I was not bothered by it at all. Honestly, compared to others the dubbing did not bother me that much. What bothered me was the song choices, especially two tracks. One gave Twilight vibes, the other gave me hallmark christmas movie vibes. It does not matter what scene they were playing for, I could not stop laughing. On the better side - I actually liked the set design and the outfits the characters were wearing matched their personalities perfectly. Yes, a bit too… on the nose? But somehow it matched the overall tone of the story - it was cliche and over the top, but fun.

On the sad note: not even the strongest toxic gege can fight censorship. It is a proper BL, don’t get me wrong. We get plenty of kisses and intimate scenes. But we also get less and less of them as the show progresses. In later episodes we could see how they cut the scenes shorter and the transitions were not smooth at all. I get that external limitations of what they can show are something they could not do anything about, but you can always be smart while filming. Film scenes in a way that even if you are later forced to cut short, they still feel completed.

Then there is the issue of them being casual about really serious topics: Chi Cheng making gang rape happen. Wu Suo Wei pretending he wants to kill himself in front of Doc, who in fact in the past tried to off himself. I know they tidied up a lot of "problematic" things from the novel, but then why leave these few scenes that are simply not necessary anyway? It's like you deep clean your house, but leave a shit in the middle of a living room. I’m not necessarily against dark romance and I enjoy problematic relationships as forms of entertainment too, but they need to be presented in a proper context. Here they made the story more cute, at times even wholesome, but still left some bits of that typical darker story. It just did not mix well at all.

Overall, it was fun, but so unnecessarily long. Maybe if they actually kept the plot more tight and made the show shorter, the censorship police would not have caught them fast enough and we’ve got the whole show without the obvious re-edits and cuts done in the second half.

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