Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

 Kokuto:

It actually started almost the moment they met.  Remember, XY left Jing to die the first day.  It was another day when she went back, and saw the flower, that she decided to help him, but she deliberately stepped on 'his' flat bread to make it a transaction, that she 'owed' healing him for that.

Lol. She's a funny one, XY. If only she retained some of the sass and spiritedness. 

She was quick to brush XL's actions off as transactional, but she didn't seem to realize how transactional her relationship with Jing was. 

 MountainPine:

But then the soldier claims that no matter what, he still doesn't love her. For me, this is a real example of how many things can look like love, but they are not and never will be love.

People start and stay in relationships for a multitude of reasons that have nothing to do with love. Sometimes you stay out of convenience, out of obligations, out of gratitude, out of compassion/pity or out of fear. For most of history, love wasn't the basis of marriage - romantic love as the basis of marriage is quite a recent development.  And it takes more than romantic love to sustain a marriage. Sometimes, love can develop after, but often it doesn't, but people have to try to make it work. Particularly, back when divorces were rare. Tian Er and Chun Zi's marriage was like that, while Ma Zi and Chun Tao's marriage started with love and affection. It's not a coincidence that Xiao Yao took her advice from Tian Er.

 MountainPine:

Is there anything in Jing's life that is not a transaction? All of his life activities are transactions for HIS OWN benefit.

His family are merchants, so that's the basis of how they operate, and that would have been what he'd learn. This doesn't make him a bad person. However, when he brought this into his personal relationship with someone whom he claimed to love and who was his saviour, it didn't gel with his sweet, kind, and devoted image, did it?

 MountainPine:

In opposite, Xiang Liu's all lives were devoted and given away for others. Nothing at all for himself. So Jingers saying he was transactional is such a nonsense!  Transaction always means you have got something for yourself.

Jing and Xiang Liu are designed to be opposites. Jingers seemed selectively blind when it comes to Jing. Or they'll justify it somehow. The 15-year promise was such a clear transaction that was clearly for Jing's benefit, and yet, it was somehow so romantic and sweet. I don't understand it at all. I wouldn't even hold this against Jing if he didn't fail subsequently and put Xiao Yao through so much crap with his complete uselessness. 

 MountainPine:

And summing up - she was the main cause of his death. He could have killed Xuan several times and very likely won the war. 

I don't think Xiao Yao caused Xiang Liu's death. Her protection of Xuan from assassination attempts and her support of him contributed to his ascension to power and subsequent showdown with Shen Nong's army. But it was only part of the process, a big part, but not the only part. As long as Xiang Liu continued to stay with Shen Nong's army, his death was probably only a matter of when, not if. 

 Jade:

I have a few questions about Wen Xiaoliu & Xiang Liu in the Lost You Forever Season 1 because I wanted to get know more about their relationship and that would be great appreciated if you could help me by answering all of them so that I could understand better. Please write me the details. Thank you so much.

Welcome to the topic!

I will try to answer your questions, but the reason why this topic is so long, is there are often various interpretations of the scenes or characters or dialog ... or just about everything.  So, this is just my interpretation, and others may / will have different opinions.

 Jade:

(Episode 5-10)
Why did Xiang Liu turned the bite mark into a kiss mark on Wen Xiaoliu’s neck every time he drank her blood all the time and what was the reason for this?

Interesting.  I don't think that has come up before.  Maybe it was stated in the novel?  But I would guess that Xiang Liu didn't want it revealed that he was drinking her blood.  No one knew that her blood was basically a magical healing potion, and everyone would want to have that, so it would make her a target.  Much like when the demons were hunting her after she left Jade Mountain, because eating her increase their powers / cultivation.

Of course, one would think that XL could just heal her entirely and leave no mark.  Which, if that was the case, I'd argue he left the hickey to make sure that Jing knew WXL was 'his man.'  ;p

 Jade:

(Episode 5)
What is the reason for Xiang Liu left his one white hair in Wen Xiaoliu’s bed? Was it because Xiang Liu’s action was expressing a love for Wen Xiaoliu?

Hmmm.  Did he do that on purpose?  I mean, I leave hair all over the place.  If he did it on purpose, I don't think it was to express love.  I mean wasn't that the episode where she drew on his face?  He was furious over that.  Perhaps it was more a reminder that he would not forget that humiliation, if he left it on purpose.

 Jade:

(Episode 6)
Why was Xiang Liu angry at Wen Xiaoliu when he kicked her out of the tree to cause her to fall and her legs to be broken so what did she do to him earlier?

There's some debate about this.  I think it had to do with WXL humiliating him by drawing on his face when he couldn't move.

 Jade:

(Episode 7)
Was Xiang Liu jealous when Wen Xiaoliu hung out with Ye Shiqi and he forced her to come with him so what would happen if she refused to obey him?

I'm not sure if jealous is the right word, but let's say he considered WXL his man, and he expected them to follow his orders.  Was that the scene where he manifested the ice daggers?  If so, I think he would have used them on Jing or WXL.

 Jade:

(Episode 7)
Why did Xiang Liu took Wen Xiaoliu away from Ye Shiqi and was it because he had unspoken feelings for her a secret crush or what are his reasons?

No.  It's kind of hard to tell the sequence of events of that episode, but I think XL was in a bad mood because he had heard some of the troops trashing him and his loyalty to Hong Jiang because he was a demon.  He had been invited to the wedding, but didn't show up, for some reason, but as WXL says, he likes to torture / spend time with them when he is in a bad mood.  I think, usually, they make him feel better.

 Jade:

(Episode 8)
Why did Xiang Liu seek and used Wen Xiaoliu to get herbs from Ye Shiqi (Tushan Jing) but not himself? What did it mean when Xiang Liu said, “I’m more familiar with you,” to Wen Xiaoliu and what did it mean?

Because XL knew that Ye Shiqi was Jing and could easily get the herbs, but he had no leverage or money to buy them.  He also knew that Ye Shiqi was WXL's servant, and would do as WXL asked, and WXL would do as XL ordered, i.e. was 'more familiar with you.'

 Jade:

(Episode 8)
It looks like Xiang Liu’s action & outfit is very sexy to me because he acted like he flirting with Wen Xiaoliu while his fangs threaten to bite her neck off and grabbed her neck a third time. Was Xiang Liu flirted with Wen Xiaoliu on purpose?

No, I don't think he was flirting.  I think he was trying to intimidate WXL.

 Jade:

Was Xiang Liu falling in love with Wen Xiaoliu at first sight because he knew that she was a woman when they met for the first time in episode 3? I asked it if it is confirm because I've watched that Fangfeng Bei (Xiang Liu) revealed it to Xiao Yao (Wen Xiaoliu) in episode 22 so that was why.

I think this was discussed just recently here:

https://kisskh.at/discussions/lost-you-forever/110123-xl-and-xy-story-and-romance-warning-spoilers?pid=3382260&page=752#p3382260

I also do not think XL fell in love at first sight ... I don't think he knew what romantic love was at that time.  I think there was a connection between them when WXL answered his question about her identity, because he had felt the same at one time.  I'm not sure what Fang Feng Bei revealed in episod 22.  What did he say?

There's also the metaphor of XL = Fei Fei, since he also was lured to her by the song, and ended up being the person who alleviated her worries and gave her comfort.  That would also indicate that their connection was from their first meeting.

 MountainPine:

So, it looks like Xiang Liu fell victim to Tong Hua's transaction with the public... But didn't she say in her interview that she writes the way she wants, not the way the public likes?.. She created someone absolutely exceptional in world's literature and then, in her interviews and film adaptation, neglected him for the sake of money...

Not many people can resist the lure of money or complain that they have too much money :-).

That said, I wouldn't draw that as an absolute conclusion. She sold the rights to her novel, so there were things that were not in her hands. There were things in the drama that made the Xiang Liu/Xiao Yao relationship more obvious. The scene of them wearing the matching red outfit, for instance. However, the YaoLiu relationship was downplayed overall. 

Another thing is that, unlike with a novel, where the author has total control (unless their publisher made demands), with a drama, the final product depends on a combination of factors, including script, directing and acting. The script may show one thing, but unless the directing and acting sync up, the effect will be twisted. An actor who doesn't have a good grasp of the character will change the character with their interpretation. 

For me, the drama is not a good adaptation of the novel because it didn't keep the integrity of the novel. You have read the novel and watched the drama. What do you think, is the drama a good adaptation?

 primaspe:

I always thought that he got angry not because  WXL painted on his face last time or to "even up the score", but because he asked what that woman's name was and he was going to offer his help to WXL, when WXL brushed him off saying that he doesn't need XL's help

That was part of it, but it wasn't a retaliation. WXL used the Tian Er topic as the excuse to call for a meeting. When he came, she told him that he could do 3 things: lash her 40 times, kick her out of the three or listen to the serious matter that she had. He listened, she said she didn't need his help - a confirmation that the matter was just an excuse. So he kicked her out of the tree. 

Since this was about the face drawing matter, he gave her a response to clear the debt. And Xiang Liu knows that WXL is a "slippery loach", and he wasn't going to let her get away with pulling bullshit on him. One stone, two birds. 

 primaspe:

Actually, remember that we were never told about hiccups later when WXL becomes XY? So looks like he wasn't leaving any hiccups later and just healing the marks?

In the drama, Xiang Liu never drew blood from her neck once she became Xiao Yao. 

 primaspe:

I'm wondering why she never tried to hide her true feelings from Jing, but she did hide them from all other people. It feels like she never really cared what Jing thought about that, right?

Jing, more than anyone, had a front row seat to the Xiang Liu/Xiao Yao's relationship. This was very clear in the novel. 

Your interpretation of this will depend on how you view this love triangle. 

Have you read the novel, or is this purely from the drama? 

 primaspe:

I'm wondering why she never tried to hide her true feelings from Jing, but she did hide them from all other people. It feels like she never really cared what Jing thought about that, right?

I share your vision on this.

Just think of the moment when, already on a late stage of the relationship between Jing and Xiao Yao, he suddenly discovers that she is still preparing poison for Xiang Liu. He asks her anxiously about it, and she is like: "Yeah, so what?" And then she is completely indifferent and ignoring his emotions at that moment. She does not even try to reassure him in any way.

 HeadInTheClouds:

In the drama, Xiang Liu never drew blood from her neck once she became Xiao Yao. 

I apologize for "invading" your dialogue🙏🙂, but I have questions on this matter. Those physical sensations his bites had caused in her - was it an effect beyond his control, or was he somehow doing it on purpose? If unintentional, was he even aware of it? He must have felt what she felt when he bit her hand, in her princess's chambers. She probably had no idea that these sensations were being transmitted to him...

Also, is it said somewhere in the novel (I can't remember or conclude) that he drank blood from people on a regular basis, or is this something he only did with Xiao Yao? 😏

 MountainPine:

I apologize for "invading" your dialogue🙏🙂, but I have questions on this matter. Those physical sensations his bites had caused in her - was it an effect beyond his control, or was he somehow doing it on purpose? If unintentional, was he even aware of it? He must have felt what she felt when he bit her hand, in her princess's chambers. She probably had no idea that these sensations were being transmitted to him...

That's a good question ...  I would guess that whatever he could control, he did, to make it pleasurable.

Whether intentional or not, yes, they both knew the other knew of the physical sensations.  Remember, when Cang Xuan had the bug, he told her he could feel XL biting her neck and she should avoid those sort of encounters (sexual) when wounded.