Desires (2025)

Ximen Lichen + Bo Wang = Ling Shi Jin

I’ve been waiting for this to be in MDL for F O R E V E R and it’s finally here! I’m currently in a Zhao Zhendong binge and when I saw him with Zhang Shan, I instantly looked for it (and boy it was so hard to find).

LIKES:
1. ML - this is my kind of Zhao Zhendong roles. The flirty, shameless kind who will do anything for the person he loves. Like what I wrote in the headline, Ling Shi Jin has Ximen Lichen’s shamelessness when clinging onto the female lead and he also has Bo Wang ruthlessness when dealing punishments to others and even towards himself. You’ll see this when watch the scene of him dealing with the antagonist and when he was proving his love for FL.

What I also like about his character is even when he hated FL for leaving him, he never really hurt her. BUT FL did say that he was a controlling bastard when she and him used to be together so if that was shown then I wouldn’t have liked him as much. On the bright side, after FL came back to him, he learned to compromise and let FL be her own person so yay growth.

2. FL - I liked that even when Jian Cheng hated ML, she will side with him against others. Also, never really gave in to ML until he learned to compromise. She used to be ML’s canary/kept lover and when she ran away, she was forced to become independent since ML was hunting her. And when they reunited, you could still see the familiarity of two people growing up together even when they spent years apart. I also like that she’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty. Like the scene where ML’s assistant asked FL to persuade ML to hold back in dealing his revenge and she’s like “why should i?” Queen behavior. Zhang Shan’s pulled off the independent, playful and dark vibe which matched well with her character.

3. Chemistry - It’s not as spicy as his drama with Han Jia Hui BUT there’s something very natural about his chemistry with Zhang Shan. Like friends to lovers kind of chemistry and it just established more the idea of their characters growing up together that they know each other very well. There’s one scene where ML was punishing himself and FL immediately freed him even when ML is yelling at her to leave him alone. PLUS, I’ve read somewhere that some of the bts/bloopers were actually put in the drama. Off cam chemistry was so great it made into the final cut.

4. Story - I’ve always been a sucker for husband chasing wife trope. I was a bit worried since there’s usually abuse involved with the “i hate you for leaving me so this is my payback” but surprise surprise there’s none. Even ML found out the secret FL kept from him, it just showed that he was more hurt than angry. The plot itself was not unique but I like that their backstory was shown through dialogues. Like the grandpa dropping off the bomb that FL was taken in by their family and she even used to call ML “little uncle”. I was like “?? That trope is also included??” To be fair, I don’t think the age gap is too big but it wasn’t confirmed so just use your imagination.

5. Supporting characters - they also need recognition especially ML’s brother, assistant and the kid. ML’s brother was the villain. Characterization was average but his acting on the confrontation part was phenomenal. Him provoking Zhao Zhendong’s character and slowly realizing what ML would actually do was A M A Z I N G. He matched Zhao Zhendong’s energy so well. ML’s assistant was hilarious. He fits all the qualities of cdrama assistants. The long suffering yet still loyal and willing to serve ML. The kid was also great. I felt sad and proud for his character since he matured so quickly. Like kids shouldn’t be too understanding. It’s good that when ML and FL got together, he finally acted his age.

DISLIKE:
I wished they gave more details on how FL ended up in ML’s family. Or maybe it’s in the drama and the subs failed me.

FAVE SCENE (so many):
- confrontation between ML and brother
- FL protecting and comforting ML when he had a breakdown
- ML: I punished both his legs // FL: isn’t he lame on his right leg? // ML: baby, don’t you know men have three legs (LMAO)

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Romanticizing abuse like it’s the 1980s, when red flags were just...fashion choices.

This one kicks off with a tone that’s shockingly risqué for a mainstream Chinese drama. The opening scenes toe the line of softcore, and I’ll admit—I bit. Curiosity overrode caution. It promised heat, tension, and emotional chaos, and for a moment, it looked like it might deliver something unhinged but gripping. Instead, it pulled a bait-and-trauma switch, spiraling into a disturbing mess that wasn’t horrifying because of gore—but because of its retrograde view of love.

The real villain here isn’t the antagonist—it’s the toxic romance masquerading as depth. The male lead’s behavior reads like a walking red flag convention, but the script insists it’s all just passion. Psychological manipulation, coercion, obsession—wrapped in sleek direction and moody music to disguise how wildly outdated it all is. It’s 2025, and we’re still pretending that abuse is romantic? I’ve seen hostage situations with more emotional honesty.

And then there’s the kid. God bless him. He’s left to roam the streets like a Dickensian orphan while his mother plays spy games with her trauma, hiding behind her flimsy excuse of a mask like she’s Caroline Kent. She’s not fooling anyone, least of all her child—who’s clearly not the story’s priority. He’s emotional roadkill in a plot too enamored with its own dysfunction to notice.

The cherry on top? I wasted precious time scouring the internet for a working link, suckered in by a handful of glowing reviews that clearly skipped the part where the story devolves into a glorified hostage fantasy. If surrender is the only escape, I regret ever clicking play.

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