Yeeeessss!!! A reverse harem that actually earns the title of a reverse harem!Arclei:
Finally! Why is that so hard to find?
This is why I usually avoid reverse harem stories, but I'm glad I gave this one a try because she truly has what it takes to control her men and plays them effortlessly.
Yesssss! Yun Qi is so charismatic and full of life, you can see why multiple men would be attracted to her. When the FL is mousy and bland, I struggle to believe she'd have a harem of willing men. This is often a result of the screenwriter not putting any work into the FL's characterization while pouring everything into the male characters. But that doesn't happen in Hong Luan Yin. Yun Qi is engaging, and she has agency. She drives the plot instead of the plot happening to her.
I actually find Yun Qi to be better than the FLs in a lot of full-length dramas, so again, kudos to the screenwriter.
Also... It's a PHOENIX holding a PEARL, omg, I can't believe you'd ever think it was something else... smh
You know what?! I'm gonna book an appointment with my eye doctor right now because how dare I?????
In all seriousness, every time the camera zoomed into the painting, I lost it. I still can't believe what's his face spent so much money on it.
The Jinchen simping is REAL- I'm so downbad for him 🤝🤝
DOWN BAD. He's perfect!
Your screenshot compilation is my computer wallpaper btw.
But I'm still not sure which one is your favorite. The one you wrote 5 paragraphs about or the one your wrote two sentences about?
Sorry, I wasn't clear at all smh.
(I didn't realize I'd written that much about him. Dude has got me writing ESSAYS LOL.)
To be seen is to be loved xD
She got me good.
100000% agree!!!! And it's not just because he was my favorite!
Thank you, I feel like this is an objective fact!
Who else dried her feet? Received medicine directly for HER MOUTH? Nuzzled her chest? Kissed HER KNEE? WORE A COLLAR FOR HER? It was intimate scene after intimate scene after intimate scene with them.
Their dynamic is just so unique. Because they're both in a somewhat similar position in the family. They're both mistreated by the others, constantly fighting for survival, so despite their 'mutual dislike' (if you can even call it that), they're the only ones who can care about and understand the other. It's the "I don't like you, but you still deserve better" sort of love that eventually brings them closer into more open and genuine affection. Idk... I've basically not seen that and I thought it was a very unusual and intimate dynamic to explore.
Well said! I'd love to see more of this dynamic with leads or even with more FL and SFL characters. It has the potential to serve both romantic and platonic relationships well.
And when she's applying medicine to his back and lowkey manhandling him and he's seriously worked up??? I am unwell.
When he had to hold onto that wooden thing for support????? UGH. Save me a hospital bed next to yours because I am unwell too.
My preferred kind!
I tend to like slow and intense passion/intimacy more than the explosive, tumultuous kind that's so prevalent in dramas (although, there are times when I like that too).
After being bratty and saying he would NEVER, btw. Augh, yes- the taming was delicious 🔥 That scene was scrumptious! And how she toys with his collar? Adorable
His eyes really drew me in during that scene. Part of it was the red eyeshadow they put on his waterline to make it look like he'd been crying, but the rest was Yi Hang simply activating his "pitiful" puppy dog eyes. They were so big, watery, and beseeching. I wanted Yun Qi to pamper him so bad.
Told you the jiejie scenes were good 😌😏
It was the fact that she didn't even explicitly need to say, "Call me jie." She was just basically like, "You know what to do" and he whispers "Jie". Ahhhhhh! Sis has got him TRAINED.
I think it's just not the kinda hurt/roughness that's hot... It's the kind that's more humiliating and cruel than rough hot, which is the issue I had. Like, steaminess aside, she's 100% manipulating the fuck out of him. The hot and cold, the coercion, the humiliation, etc. Like, sure, he chose to stay with her regardless, but it does feel a lot like he's being taken advantage of, because really, where else can he go? She leads him on, makes him dependent on her, treats him nicely and cares for him, then switches her attitude, distances herself, and treats him cruelly. It's the hot and cold situation (even in another drama with similar dom/sub dynamics QYBDHQG, it didn't feel as harsh). Now, admittedly, she does this to all the MLs to a certain extent, with maybe the exception of the courtesan prince, but Jinchen is far more disadvantaged and vulnerable than the others (and her treatment of him is still the worst, methinks) so it's harder to watch. Wish she would've been a bit more gentle and respectful with him. But I guess that was just her way of manipulating him. Each guy she manipulated differently which I do appreciate.
I wholeheartedly agree. It wasn't the hurt/roughness that comes from cute aggression or extreme fondness for someone/something cute. That, I can handle, and even relate to. But I have a hard time with roughness that stems solely from the desire to control and use.
But like you said, she has a different manipulation tactic for each man, so it's not like she's singling out Jin Chen. I find the exploration of each tactic interesting too. Hopefully she eases up on him if there's a next season.
I also really appreciated that they didn't go into mdom with him but actually allowed him to be assertive and still flustered and submissive.
Yes, they struck the perfect balance with him. I'm glad they didn't take the opportunity to include mdom and run with it.
Honestly, yes 100% I think they're the most compatible. I also get the feeling that she liked him the most xD I mean, she definitely spent the most nights with him, that's for sure.
Agreed.
But I don't want my puppy to be ignored 😭 I hope she keeps all of them.
GIRL my JAW WAS ON THE FLOOR- WTFFF and in front of her ex AND her pet at that, too!!! I couldn't believe it. What a legend.
I just thought she was gonna do a little quick make out, THEN THE CARRIAGE STARTED SHAKING!!!
but then the literal crown prince visits him, so... idk anymore
Okay, because why did the crown prince stroll in there like, "Hey, just visiting my bro at work." This isn't a Wendy's.
His face jewelry has me in a chokehold; that shit is majestic.
It's breath-taking. Why don't we see it in more historical dramas???
I feel like we basically had the same experience cuz I was also team Didi at #1 and Courtesan as #2 with the ex at #3 and the ex-friend at #4 XD
Again, it's about to be the first of the month. Your rent is due XD
I'm also hoping for a season 2, but I'm definitely not holding my breath. It would be really based to see the story continue, and like you said, that she eventually officially builds her harem.
Ugh, I know. Verticals are so unreliable. I really hope we get more though. If they can create multiple seasons of that popular time-traveling granny one, they can give us a season 2 for Hong Luan Yin.
I'm really glad you enjoyed it so much!!! 💕 I loved reading through all your elaborate notes! Also glad that the lack of audio didn't dissuade you from checking it out, haha.
I LOVED it, and thanks for reading :) It's so nice talking to someone that also likes getting into the nitty gritty of dramas, and enjoys discussions.
I also saw that MDL just added all the other versions of the story, and I skimmed them a bit (*cough* watched the didi's scenes, lol). I still think this one is the best.
Which one was the next best after Hong Luan Yin? Who'd you give the #2 spot?
It wasn't too bad watching it without full audio because it still had the sound effects, and some Chinese songs. (I've noticed verticals on YouTube aren't as careful about ripping off Chinese artists—especially if it's a historical drama).
you have to watch the first 30 seconds! https://youtube.com/shorts/MM4YZiYu30E?si=s5F-EjYLHx4O-zI3dindin:
This looks soooo entertaining! Thanks for sharing!
Got me in the first 10 seconds tbh- ML looks stonning.
LOLLLL. As I was watching, I was like Arclei is going to be WHEEZING. This is so her-coded.
Beautiful, feminine ML, my beloved <3
He's absolutely gorgeous, and the drama looks really entertaining. I love that the FL is the prize, and the other girl is trying to fight him for her instead of both of them fighting over him.
I also went ahead and skimmed this drama a bit, and wow- I mean- wow. Talk about a princess ML. FL also seems like such a gentlewoman and badass 🥺 Gotta hurry up and finish some of the ones I'm already watching so I can binge this 😋
Beautiful screenshots as always. Looks like there are gonna be lots of RR moments 😍
Can I just say that I'm loving the rise of green-tea MLs in these verticals.
Omg he's a green tea ML? LOL. Makes it even better!
Edit: Oops, accidentally watched two more eps...
Love that you're just binging the show hahaha. Will reply to all your Sniper Butterfly musings tomorrow.
Hi friends! I just wanted to stop by and say hello, and see how you all are doing. I ho
pe everything is going smoothly. I'm sorry for not being around much lately. I've been in a bit of a drama rut and have shifted my focus to catching up on seasonal anime. I ordered some art supplies and thought it could be fun to work on some landscape scenes from some of your favorite RR dramas. So I got some Gouache; I usually paint with acrylics, but I wanted to try practicing with a new medium? Is anyone willing to share a screenshot of a lush green landscape from a drama? It could also include a house or a building if you prefer. This is an example of my usual art style
how you all are doing. I hope everything is going smoothly.Simi_Tutu:
Can't complain, haha. Hope you're doing well too ^^
Sorry to hear you're in a slump. Hopefully, it will pass soon. If you come across any interesting RR animes, let us know!
Is anyone willing to share a screenshot of a lush green landscape from a drama?
Sounds like a fun project! I'll go through my screenshots later and see what I can find!
Also omg, your art is so beautiful!! 🤩🤩
me watching yet another J-drama that turns out to be wildly misogynisticpotatocouch:
No cause, I watched 10Dance and Two Husbands One Wife, and both were somehow misogynistic??? So far, Japan has not impressed me this year with its media... 😭 Jdramas do struggle with writing their FLs, usually making them wet-blankets, but I've still found some good ones.
Here are some that have tasteful and pretty well-written FLs with noona romance. All three tackle women who are learning to embrace their strength rather than keep suppressing it, so it's a bit of a doormat to girlboss pipeline.
- Learning to Love - 12 year age gap
- Shijukara - 18 year age gap
- Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryori Cho - 15 year age gap
I actually loved all three a lot 😭 Even tho none are all that RR. Also got non-noona reccs too if you ever want
Bet @Simi's got reccs too.
All it did was countdown the vertical drama actors and actresses that are dating/married.
Ahhh, I see! Very interesting!
Same, I don't feel guilty about the double standard since it's so often done/accepted the other way around.
Exactly!!!
So true! Or "Peach".
Hadn't noticed too many peaches, but I did a search, and yeah, there are quite a few O-O But a lot seem older titles, so not quite the chokehold that the word "Blossom" has had on the industry for the past couple of years. It really is every other drama, istg.
From my experience, that's the case as well, and I've never understood it either. It makes me sad.
It's really messed up
So I started this because of you, and it's solid so far!
Oh wow, that's so cool!!
Interesting, so it's more like inspired by than a rip-off. Not bad! A bit unfortunate that FL is a tsundere and not flirty, but I guess that can also be interesting. I'll add it to my PTW!
Bet @Simi's got reccs too.
Hold on, did I overlook something? Haha, I apologize, I'm a bit confused.
Sounds like a fun project! I'll go through my screenshots later
Oh yay! I'm excited!
Also omg, your art is so beautiful!! 🤩🤩
Aww, thank you! I created this painting for my grandparents. My grandma had it framed, and now it's displayed in her kitchen. Haha!
I don't paint all the time, but occasionally, I feel the urge to grab a paintbrush again. It's so relaxing.
No cause, I watched 10Dance
I have a friend IRL who hates 10Dance with a passion LOL. She's been ranting up and down about how surface level it was despite the nice camera work.
I was surprised because it seems to be highly rated.
Shijukara - 18 year age gap
Adding this to The Buffet alongside Learning to Love. Thanks :)
I wouldn't mind non-noona recs. It would be nice to watch a J-drama to completion. It's been so long. The last one I finished + liked one of the FLs was Jiu. And that was back in 2011/2012 🥹.
Interesting, so it's more like inspired by than a rip-off.
Basically.
A bit unfortunate that FL is a tsundere and not flirty, but I guess that can also be interesting.
Yeah, and honestly, since it's a vertical she warms up pretty quickly.
Hold on, did I overlook something? Haha, I apologize, I'm a bit confused.
I haven't been able to make it through a J-drama in a while because of the way they usually portray women, so Arclei was recommending me some with strong FLs, and said you'd probably have some recommendations too. I actually remember you and I having a similar conversation when I first joined the club.
The last J-drama I made it through where I liked one of the FLs was Jiu.
Hi, Simi! Hope you've been well.
Hey there, dear! So great to hear from you! I hope you’re thriving too. As for me, I’m hanging in there. We’ve been hit with a lot of snow lately. One morning, I woke up to find my kitchen pipes frozen solid—no water for dishes or coffee! I had to resort to using the shower water and heating it on the stove, haha. It gave me something to do, at least . I splurged on some new art supplies; because I was going stir-crazy just binge-watching TV for days. It got so dull that even my fur baby decided to join the fun! She’s usually a professional napper, but suddenly she was zooming around, demanding pets and cuddles. Who knew she had it in her? LOL!
What anime have you been watching?
I’m not sure if I should strut around like a peacock or crawl under a rock in embarrassment, but I’ve managed to binge three dramas since the year kicked off! Oh, and I’ve also been glued to a couple of winter 2026 series that are airing. My ambitious goal for this year? To devour at least five anime each season while they’re hot off the press. I’ve got this ancient list of anime that’s been gathering dust in my ‘to watch’ pile for ages. It’s like a museum exhibit at this point! I usually stick to Slice of Life and Romance but I might dip my toes into more action and fantasy. I say that now, but almost likely by the end of the year, I’ll probably still be swooning over romance. LOL, what can I say? I’m a total love junkie!
I whipped up a Spotify playlist for all the romance anime I’ve finished. That kind of music just hits differently for me. If you’re curious to vibe with my playlist, here’s the link! I barely crawled into 2009 before I hit the snooze button on life. So, just a little heads up, I’ll be tossing more songs onto the list in the next few days—probably tomorrow if I can drag myself out of bed, haha.
Completed January Titles:
⤞ The Troubled Life of Miss Kotoura
⤞ Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl + the OVA
⤞ Love Through A Prism
Currently Watching:
⤞ The World is Still Beautiful
⤞ HUGtto! Precure
⤞ In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
⤞ Hana-Kimi
⤞ The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom ( This one is terrible, DO NOT RECOMMEND. I lament my inability to drop a series; enduring this one is pure torture)
⤞ Isekai Office Worker
⤞ SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table
⤞ Medalist Season 2
⤞ DIGIMON BEATBREAK
How tense pookie was during the food conversation. Like he wasn't sure if FL was angry because he was eating or because he wasn't, so he's just kinda staring at her trying to figure it out. And his lil smile when he got her to eat to prove him wrong xD
He's so adorable when he gets tense. He can't meet Cen Jin's eyes, and he speaks really slowly. I like that he essentially stood up for himself in that conversation. It was a cute "gotcha" moment even though Cen Jin had good intentions.
Ex: "you look beautiful today" FL: "Thanks. I look beautiful every day" You tell him.
You see why I love her?
"nothing, bro, I don't need to be told that you suck" is a hilarious response, and I love it every time
It's funny how horrible people think they're covert. That mask slips eventually, and people around them become aware of how they operate. Li Wu could easily see how crappy Cen Jin's ex was to her.
I also loved when Li Wu wouldn't let him into the apartment, and when he stepped outside the door to intimidate him, the framing of the shot made sure to show us his head almost touching the top of the door lol. The subtle height flex was delightful. And when the ex said, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell her you're like this", Li Wu admitted, "I am, but I want you to know even more." Ooooh! Such a good piece of dialogue. A real mic drop moment.
Wait, that's so refreshing!! In dramas they always manage to figure out the bday from the most random and convenient clues, and it's like this emotional moment, and this time it was emotional in a diff way, and that's adorable.
Yeah, wasn't it cool how they turned that cliche on its head? This drama does that a lot.
NAH BRO he was pushing himself to make it to the top 30 because of an off remark she made?!?! T-T omg bb's fear of disappointing his loved ones is next lvl
Yes! He makes getting into the top 30 a whole thing! Totally unnecessary since it's not what Cen Jin actually expects of him, but adorable nevertheless. It shows you how much he wants to prove to her that she's not wasting time and resources on him. Of course, it's sad that he's been made to feel that way in the first place, but he's in good hands now.
"Can you stop treating me like a child?" he says in the deepest voice possible xD
He truly reminds me of puppies from big dog breeds that'll be like a year old, but already 80 pounds.
Great Dane Puppy if it could talk: I'm not a puppy
You can't imagine how I was kicking my feet when she went to pick him up after he said he was leaving himself. Bb knew and wanted her to show up :P
Every time she comes through for him in a small way, he smiles, I smile, we all smile.
Wearing platform sneakers to go to a rural mountain area is definitely a bold choice. We love you in your stylish aunt era, FL, but maybe... don't do that next time 😭
I thought the same thing. She's a city girl through and through 😩
Yooooo it's bro from The Other Half of Me and You!!!
Yeah! I couldn't wait for you to see him ^.^
He's got a pretty subby dynamic in this too.
He's way more bearable when he's sober.
Yay! The tides are shifting 🥹
My heart hurt for him at the end of ep 7 when he mentioned her not contacting him during the pandemic though. I was like ouch! People were dying. Not even a text or an email to make sure he wasn't one of them? It would've destroyed her if he'd died in the U.S. and she didn't know.
"You've triggered my competitive spirit." bro is cooked.
Absolutely. He never stood a chance.
ML did not... fall asleep in front of FL's apartment, did he? 💀 bbg what is this stalker-ahh behaviour- bbg have you considered therapy?
He was just...uh...early. Yeah, we'll say he was just a whole day early for their appointment to go see the doctor.
So many times there's the "oh but ML went through a lot, so he's more mature"- this ML is the perfect example that trauma =/= acting like a middle-aged man.
This is such a great point. Li Wu's mature...FOR HIS AGE. He is still young, and it shows sometimes. He's not suddenly 35 because of his trauma, and he doesn't get the respect an older "love rival" would've gotten from the doctor. It's realistic.
Okay, I'm starting to warm up to the present-day arc more. I like his cheeky scheming.
I KNEWWWWW IIIITTTT!
His present day scheming arc is highly entertaining.
Not sure what they were doing in those first couple o' eps.
They were just trying to angst it up, and show the audience how angry/miserable he was. Glad it only lasted a quarter of the drama, and not half or seventy-five percent. From here on out, the present day arc is just gonna be Li Wu scheming, taking care of Cen Jin, and being clingy (with her time, not her body).
I really appreciate how she's the one doing the apartment inspections and quality checks while they go apartment hunting for him. I love it when FLs have skills!!!
That's something I appreciated too. In some jie jie romances, they make the FL incompetent to highlight how competent the ML is even though he's younger. Sniper Butterfly doesn't do that. Cen Jin knows how to handle countless things, and she's intelligent.
BRO DID NOT ORCHESTRATE ALL THIS TO LITERALLY BE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOURS WITH HER, OMG WTF-
BAHAHAHAHA, YES HE DID! He came back from the states DIABOLICAL. He put on quite the show. Giving her puppy dog faces and going, "I guess I'll just have a longer commute to work 🥺" KNOWING he was going to be moving across the hall from her from the start.
I imagine he spoke to the real estate agent beforehand and knew the apartment across from Cen Jin was empty, but wanted her to think they found it organically. The little imp.
"He's changed. He knows how to play the victim now," and who's fault is that, hm? Falling for his uwu puppy eyes very single time. (not that I'm any better 💀)
Oh, he would be pulling a fast one on me all the time because of those eyes LOL.
Isn't he coming around a bit too quickly tho? Just the prev ep he was still resentful, and now he's all smiles and apologies? Like... all it took was apartment hunting and shopping? 🤨 this man is too easy
I feel like how quickly he came around made sense after I saw how they separated in the past. He was angry and resentful, but he never stopped loving her for one second. Honestly, as soon as she asked for him to accept her WeChat invite, she'd won him back. I think it's cute he can't really stay mad at her. We see this a lot with FLs, so it's cute to see with MLs too.
He waited for her all night... No wonder bro has insomnia when he keeps pulling pointless all-nighters...
He really can't sleep if things aren't right with Cen Jin :( Hence why he had such a hard time in the states.
Oh my god.... she didn't go to pick him up.... NO MY HEART and then he got sick... :((((
He waited outside THE WHOLE DAY. I was like nooooo T . T Go back inside and wait. Go and rest! And of course he doesn't, so he ends up getting sick smh.
love how giddy he gets when he's being taken care of. Babygirl just wants to be pampered.
And he deserves it 🥺
Ohhhhhh yessssss protective JIEJIE TO THE RESCUEEE, LETSGOOOO!!!!! Augh, the wrist grab across the entire school and threatening the class to never dare bully him again... And the whole class finding her peak xD I love it
One of my favorite scenes!!! RR wrist grabs are right up there with piggy back rides for me. She was like his knight in shining armor. She was so cool! Even the teacher was too scared to stop her from telling off the entire class.
I also loved how she handled the mean moms of the bullies. She stood her guard and refused to let them twist things around.
Tbh, his friends got on my nerves during this storyline. It was realistic because that's how kids their age would act, but still. If Li Wu covered for you unprompted when the teacher was doing room checks, why would he maliciously turn around and tell the teacher? Parents do things you don't want them to do sometimes. Duh.
He can't possibly be the abusive father...
No, not at all. He's basically who Li Wu's friend relies on since his actual father is abusive.
I love ML utilizing his didi status to the max in front of the doctor. I'm cackling
Me too! He's such a brat, and I love it.
FL's friend is a menace, omg.... Did she just join bro's camping club??? T_T And then get his friends' benefits in exchange for info about him? I can't with her 😭 She got him peer-presumed into accepting her friend request-
I'm telling you, he never stood a chance lol. She eats guys like him for breakfast.
But they ended up surprising me as a couple. They have good chemistry, and she kind of runs things. I liked them way more than I thought. (I usually don't care for the side couples in C-dramas.)
Sorry for the super long post.
No worries at all! I'm really enjoying your reactions and dissecting the drama with you. Your reactions are pretty similar to mine when I watched. God, I wish I could erase my memory, and watch the drama again for the first time.
I'm glad you're warming up to the present day storyline too. He's such a mischievous simp in that timeline, I had a feeling he'd win you over.
What ep are you on now?
As for me, I’m hanging in there. We’ve been hit with a lot of snow lately.
Same here :-/ We got around a foot of snow. I did not have fun digging my car out.
One morning, I woke up to find my kitchen pipes frozen solid—no water for dishes or coffee!
Oh no! That's horrible! D: I hope they thawed pretty quickly.
We're expecting to get hit with more snow, so I did a ton of grocery shopping the other day. Looks like it's going to be the frigid winter meteorologists predicted. My friends in Florida are even complaining about the cold.
I splurged on some new art supplies; because I was going stir-crazy just binge-watching TV for days.
Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself! I hope you post some more of your work here so we can appreciate it <3
It got so dull that even my fur baby decided to join the fun!
Awww. I'm glad your fur baby's there keeping you company.
I’ve got this ancient list of anime that’s been gathering dust in my ‘to watch’ pile for ages.
Hahahaha! So you've rediscovered ancient scrolls you once buried.
I usually stick to Slice of Life and Romance but I might dip my toes into more action and fantasy. I say that now, but almost likely by the end of the year, I’ll probably still be swooning over romance. LOL, what can I say? I’m a total love junkie!
I've always loved romance, and liked action, but as I get older I find myself really liking slice of life. They're generally cozy, comforting, and funny.
⤞ Love Through A Prism
Ooh, this looks very intriguing. Especially since it's from the BoF manga-ka. The art makes me so nostalgic.
⤞ In the Clear Moonlit Dusk
I devoured the manga! I was so excited to hear it was getting an anime because I think Ichimura is quite literally one of the most beautiful manga characters I've ever seen. When I saw the trailer, I didn't think they managed to fully animate his beauty, but I'm still excited to watch.
⤞ Hana-Kimi
Omg!!!! This is how I know I'm not fully in the anime loop like I used to be. I had NO IDEA Hana Kimi was finally getting an anime! That's HISTORIC. I've always thought it was weird that it's had such a significant cultural impact, and had multiple live action adaptations, but never an anime.
How is it so far?
⤞ The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom ( This one is terrible, DO NOT RECOMMEND. I lament my inability to drop a series; enduring this one is pure torture)
Noted lol.
Villainess anime/manga/webtoons are really hit or miss for me, but I watched "I’ll Become A Villainess Who Goes Down in History" (Rekishi ni Nokoru Akujo ni Naruzo) last year, and thought it was funny and cute.
⤞ DIGIMON BEATBREAK
Ugh, Digimon-anything makes me so nostalgic, but I have an irrational sense of loyalty to Tai and the gang, so I can't find it in my heart to watch anything after TK and Kari's season.
Does Digimon Beatbreak have any ties to the original?
I did not have fun digging my car out.
One of the best aspects of where I live is the sheer amount of public transportation available—no car necessary! In fact, just the parking fees would probably cost me three months' rent for one month of car payments! Many people I know have ditched their cars after moving to my area for this reason; it’s simply cheaper to ride the train or bus, and it’s a lot faster too! The car congestion here is awful. Haha, I do long for the days of my youth when snowstorms would hit, and I’d earn a ton of cash cleaning off cars and shoveling snow. LOL
I hope they thawed pretty quickly.
It typically takes a few days, but hey, I'm not complaining! There's always water in the bathroom. It could definitely be worse. Sure, it takes a few extra hops to grab my morning coffee, but I've got a little secret for that. I'm not a fan of hot coffee, so as long as there's chilly water in the fridge, my iced coffee is always on standby. Haha! And I can always just stroll down the block to the grocery store and grab some water. I tried to picture folks who don’t even have that little luxury of water, and suddenly my mood lifts—silver lining, right?
My friends in Florida are even complaining about the cold.
I have a few family members who are soaking up the sun in Florida, and my best buddy along with his mom are also enjoying the sunshine state, albeit not in the same neighborhood. Whenever they start whining about the chilly weather, we dive into this hilarious debate about their frosty conditions versus the icy tundra of New York. Spoiler alert: it’s not even a contest! Just the other day, I was chatting with my mom, and she was going on about how cold it was. I asked her the temperature, and she said it was in the 40s. I was like, 'What are you smoking? It feels like the teens here!' Meanwhile, it’s snowing like a winter wonderland, and they’re over there with their rain and sunshine. LOL, it’s like comparing apples to oranges! Then my mom chimes in, saying that after all that heat, her bones can’t handle anything below 70°. I’m sitting here thinking, '70°? That’s not cold, lady!' For me, anything above 65 is a sauna, and if it dips below 30, I’m a popsicle. I guess you just have to find that magical temperature sweet spot.
I hope you post some more of your work here
I’m not sure if you caught my previous post, but I’m itching to dive into some landscape paintings! So, if you’ve got a stunning scene from your favorite drama, anime, or even just a snapshot from your neighborhood /flowers at home that you’d love to see transformed into a painting, just toss me a link to the photo or screenshot, and I’ll see what I can whip up!
but as I get older I find myself really liking slice of life.
Oh boy, they are super cozy! You know, with age comes great responsibility—sorry, I had to throw that in there! But on a serious note, we really ought to take care of our minds and bodies and not let anxiety crash the party. I used to dive headfirst into those adrenaline-pumping games, but then I realized my anxiety levels were through the roof! Now, I just want to chill with cozy games, paint, and live my best life through characters in their slice-of-life adventures, all while coloring in an adult coloring book. Gardening? Ha! I’d love to, but my green thumb is more like a brown thumb, unlike my mom’s! So, I’ll just leave the planting to her. Haha!
Villainess anime/manga/webtoons are really hit or miss for me,
I totally agree, it's either adorably cute or the storyline is so absurd and hurried that it feels like a solid three out of ten. I've got a few favorite villainess series, and let me tell you, 7th Time Loop Rishe is such a delightful lead! She's incredibly clever and full of empathy. Fingers crossed for a season 2! Another one that has stolen my heart is Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion.
⤞ Love Through A Prism - I strongly suggest this one if you're searching for something to enjoy this season. I was surprised by how much I loved it, especially since it's a Netflix production. However, I haven't encountered an anime this breathtaking in quite some time. Every single frame set in this art school appears as if it was taken from a painting; the landscapes throughout London blend watercolor with acrylic and ink. It's hard to articulate, but my eyes were treated to a visual feast while watching each episode of this drama. The character development is commendable, and although it's categorized as a romance, I feel it leans more towards slice of life, emphasizing the friendships among the art students and exploring what it truly means to be an artist. It delves into finding your unique style and coping with the pressures of being so passionate that you risk losing your way, only to discover a new passion. It was incredibly beautiful, and I genuinely wish more people would give it a chance instead of running away just because they see Netflix, which is quite unfortunate.
⤞ In the Clear Moonlit Dusk - I can't believe the animation let you down at first! The very first episode I saw made me want to dash to Barnes & Noble and grab the manga off the shelf . I thought it was just another run-of-the-mill romance that wouldn't catch my eye, but seeing it come alive on screen? Wow, these two are absolutely stunning! The animation is so vibrant, it practically yells at you! Those sparkling eyes? I'm in love! I'm really glad I decided to give the anime a shot. I'm not usually into male characters with white hair, but this guy is doing something to me! My heart races every time he appears! Normally, I’m all about the blondes, but I think I might have just discovered a new type! :p
⤞ Hana-Kimi- We owe a big thank you to fruits basket for this monumental moment in history because, oh my goodness, did it feel like I was waiting for an eternity for this adaptation! And let’s be real, I’m crossing my fingers that Ouran High School Host Club gets a remake too, because that ending? It hit me like a ton of bricks, and not in a good way! But back to the anime at hand—while I’m thrilled it finally got an adaptation, I have to confess it’s leaving me a tad disappointed in the emotional department. Personally, I think the 2007 Japanese live-adaptation of the Mongol did a much better job of tugging at the heartstrings and showcasing the bonds between classmates, not to mention the overall comedic vibe of the series. Still, it’s an anime version, and I feel obligated to support it since I’ve been waiting ages for this to come to life, and I really don’t want to bail on it. I still adore the characters, so I’m just going to stick it out until the end. Here’s hoping it improves, but honestly, the emotions of our main trio feel as flat as a pancake to me, which is a bummer. But hey, don’t let my opinion rain on your parade—go ahead and watch it! You might experience something totally different than I did. And just to throw in a little negativity, I’m really not a fan of the animation style. I miss the good old days when anime was bursting with color and texture in the panels; everything feels so AI-generated now, and I just don’t know what to think about that.
Does Digimon Beatbreak have any ties to the original?
No, it doesn't; instead, it is crafted as a standalone experience. It introduces a new setting in the year 2050, utilizing a distinctive system rather than the conventional Digivices, along with a new ensemble of characters, emphasizing a more sophisticated, cyberpunk storyline.
Yun Qi is so charismatic and full of life, you can see why multiple men would be attracted to her.
Absolutely, yeeeessss!!! I have the same thing with the usual reverse harem FLs that are just a blank paper (and I agree that it's because the love interests are the focus, not the FL...)
She drives the plot instead of the plot happening to her.
Something that is surprisingly hard to find these days, lmao. WE LOVE YUN QI!!!
In all seriousness, every time the camera zoomed into the painting, I lost it.
It was absolutely hysterical, omg!!! And the fact that not one but TWO people were betting on it, and she KNEW that would happen!! The icon!
Your screenshot compilation is my computer wallpaper btw.
No waaaayyyyyyy- You're so real for that!!! He's stunning. And I'm flattered 😌
(I didn't realize I'd written that much about him. Dude has got me writing ESSAYS LOL.)
The kinda muse poets always yap about.
It was intimate scene after intimate scene after intimate scene with them.
TRULYYYYY- We ate so good!!
It has the potential to serve both romantic and platonic relationships well.
Yes!!! I need just a lot more of those kinda dynamics regardless of who it's between!!
When he had to hold onto that wooden thing for support????? UGH. Save me a hospital bed next to yours because I am unwell too.
They knew what they were doing... idk who directed this but THEY KNEW!!!!
I tend to like slow and intense passion/intimacy more than the explosive, tumultuous kind that's so prevalent in dramas (although, there are times when I like that too).
I'm the same. I like both, but there's something that's just so raw and intimate about those slow and intense loves that just hits different.
They were so big, watery, and beseeching. I wanted Yun Qi to pamper him so bad.
You get me... You get me SO GOOD because YESSSS OMG!!! Big pleading puppy eyes and I'm GONE.
ALSO- I forgot to mention it, but did you notice that when she slaps him, he smiles?
She was just basically like, "You know what to do" and he whispers "Jie". Ahhhhhh!
YES that detail did not escape me!!!! They read each other like a book!!
so it's not like she's singling out Jin Chen.
Yeah, that does make it a bit better. I loved the approach and how she toys with each of them in a different way. Here's to hoping she treats puppy bbg better next season
But I don't want my puppy to be ignored 😭 I hope she keeps all of them.
OBVVIIIIII!! Tho I'm fine if she just wants to keep courtesan and puppy :P I don't think either of them would mind that arrangement, but the other two seem far more jealous, haha xD It would be extra funny to see them have to cope and seethe with it, tho
THEN THE CARRIAGE STARTED SHAKING!!!
I CAN'T!!!! IN PUBLIC OMG
because why did the crown prince stroll in there like, "Hey, just visiting my bro at work." This isn't a Wendy's
That's what I'm saying!!! Like, people are gonna get the wrong idea about the crown prince if he keeps visiting some courtesan at the brothel. There's not enough "no, but he's my brother"s that can save you!!! xD I wanted to know way more.
It's breath-taking. Why don't we see it in more historical dramas???
Because they HATE us and we can't ever have nice things!!!
Again, it's about to be the first of the month. Your rent is due XD
Aren't my screenshots pay enough?! I'm BROKE!! 😩
I LOVED it, and thanks for reading :) It's so nice talking to someone that also likes getting into the nitty gritty of dramas, and enjoys discussions.
Likewise!!! I really enjoy our conversations and discussions! 🥺
Which one was the next best after Hong Luan Yin? Who'd you give the #2 spot?
Hmmmmm... probably Shu Se Xun Ye from what very little I saw xD Her scene with the general is pretty nice... Then she dominates the puppy out in the fricking garden by commanding him to kneel, and he immediately does so, and then she proceeds to sit on his back O-O And only AFTER that is there the foot drying scene and the bed warming scene. Like they just sprinkled that in for lols. It's just noticeably less sensual than HLY, lol. The collar scene is different but still nice... he deadass says "Jiejie, don't ignore me and don't leave me behind please" while he holds onto her arm with both his hands and it has me weak. He uses both hands for a lot, and it's just rlly increasing the cuteness for me-
Zhang Gong Zhu Zhuan Zhi Bu Fu appears to have made the didi character a literal child? So... that's weird. But it has this scene which is nice.
My Princess seems overall decent, but nothing about it stood out to me fsr xD Doesn't seem like it rlly lingers on anything for too long.
Again, I barely skimmed through them to find the steamy scenes and found most to be lacking, lol.
It wasn't too bad watching it without full audio because it still had the sound effects, and some Chinese songs.
Eyyy, I'm glad to hear that!! Interesting about the Chinese songs thing...
