Hong Luan Yin (2025)

Candy Eye Male Leads and Dog Trainer Female Lead.

There is 4 Version for this adaptation story and I watched 3 of them including this version (Tian Jiu Luo, Jinzi and Wang Yunyun). For the Stellar Male Cast, This one wins for sure when you can see Lan Bo, Yi Hang, Huang Youtian and Liu Ziheng on the same drama It's like F4 for costume drama in vertical short drama.

All of plot are same with same open ending (There is hint for season 2 as the novel still ongoing) so there is nothing to compare between the version. I will make notes for the main cast.

-Wang Yunyun stills play safe like her usual costume drama. Not too bad but also not great either. At least she are not making Female Lead look like bratty princess and still got the 'dog-trainer' literal meaning. For Yun Qi character, I still like Tian Jiao Luo boldness and she still wins over Jin Zi characterization.

-Lan Bo plays as general who was FL ex husband for two days. For the characterization most of all version are same with forceful attitude. I disliked ML characterization even there is season 2 i wont hope FL ends with him. in all the version. Ming Chuan and Zhang Tingrui are losing with slightly difference with Lan Bo.

-Huang Youtian plays as crippled prince for all the version i quite like FL with him despite calculating attitude and he never force FL and just getting along with her antics. He still win over the three version. I am rooting for FL and this ML to end together.

-Yi Hang well i quite like him in here and he plays FL 'adopted' brother aka Yun Jin Chen while actually he just slave for her family. He suits playing dog prince. For this i favored Yi Hang over other previous versions.

-Liu Zi Heng compares to all these male lead here has most weak advantage due his acting skills and the Xie Lin Yu was supposed to be comedic character while he lack the fun part compared to previous version (The Jin Zi one is the funniest followed by Tian Jiao Luo version).

I enjoy FL can kiss all the MLs like the original version even still lacks of seductress feeling. But I like her chemistry with Huang Youtian in here.

Overall, I recommended to watch this first if you haven't watch the Tian Jiu Luo one.

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The 4 MLs should sing Backstreet Boys' “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” to FL

I had been on a Lan Bo kick lately — I adored his modern dramas but had never touched his historical ones. I reached out to my buddy from r/CShortDramas for a buddy watch and oh we had fun watching and writing a joint review.

What I liked:
1. Dynamics - So far, I have only watched 3 reverse harem vertical dramas including this one and I must say I enjoy the amount of screentime given to each FL-ML pairing. There are 4 different dynamics at play - estranged married couple (Yun Qi-General Huo Xiao), childhood buddies (Yun Qi-Prince Xie Lin Yu), relatives (Yun Qi-Yun Jin Chen) and hhhm I am not sure what to call the dynamic between Yun Qi and Prince Qi Zhuo.
2. Acting - Superb performances. All five excelled in their roles - this is my first time watching Hyde & Yi Hang. Wow, all four men were devilishly handsome even in wigs. The actor I felt has the highest level of chemistry with Wang Yun Yun is Lan Bo.
3. ML characterisation - Four men with different but “lethal” charms - the jealous ex-husband General Huo Xiao (played by Lan Bo), the submissive younger relative Yun Jin Chen (played by Yi Hang), the alluring peacock Prince Qi Zhuo (played by Huang You Tian aka Hyde) and the childhood buddy Prince Xie Lin Yu (played by Liu Zi Heng). My favourite ML is Prince Xie Lin Yu - he is sweet, lovable and playful. Most of his scenes are funny.
4. Styling - Vibrant & beautiful clothes worn by all 5 leads. I love the vivid, contrasting colours! I feel like each character’s personality is represented by the colour of their costumes.
5. Kisses - Wow, she kissed them all but my favourite kissing scene is FL & General Hao. The tension was electric!
6. Supporting characters - Her maid Sul He was good character.

What I disliked:
1. Antagonists - FL's family was horrible with FL's half sister being pathetic and nosy.
2. Duration - At 3 hours 30 minutes, the drama was too long for me. I found certain parts of the drama draggy / too slow paced.
3. FL's actions - I felt bad for MLs because she toyed with their feelings. So the four men should band together and sing “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” by Backstreet Boys to FL.

Favourite scene
When Yun Qi entered the carriage of Prince Qi Zhuo almost at the end of the drama. And when she exited the carriage 😉

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