Hello, I need to ask a question; this board is active, so hopefully someone can give me an answer. 

What was the timespan of the story? I'm having trouble pinpoint how much time has passed. And how old are these characters if we are talking normal human ages?

As for the mark left on the neck that others could see - why was it a problem for her when Fang Feng Bei begged her in her princess chambers and not a problem for her after Xiang Liu saved her"

Because back then she was still on guard of XL falling into her dreams, while by the time XL saved her, she already accepted her feelings and their choices. It would have been ok, because she was at peace with everything that happened, she wasn't scared anymore, because she wasn't a "girl who dreams" anymore, as CX told her once. She let go of her hopes of being with XL, the only think she kept of wanting was for him to live, regardless of them not being togheter. Kind of "I love you, but I understand why we can't be togheter" versus "I am afraid that if I let him kiss me, I won't be able to let him go anymore". That's my interpretation at least. 

 HeadInTheClouds:
OMG, you guys! My poor man has been accused of controlling Xiao Yao

Oh no, no, no that's not what I meant!!! Actually, in my head it looks like this:
Xiang Liu: "Hmm, under the pretext of biting, I'll try to give her pleasure. I'll see how she reacts and if she accepts it from me. If she does, then I'm not disgusting to her."

Ha-ha, there's a lot of weird explanations in my head! 🫠

 HeadInTheClouds:
I don't think drinking blood is something that he has a habit of doing.  

 I'd like to think he only had this experience with Xiao Yao...

 HeadInTheClouds:
Was it ignorant, or did she simply not care?  If she was aware and still did what she did and did not care, then she is a total b****. Sorry, that's just f*** up.  

The worst thing is that she is aware of everything. She is so smart, intelligent and understands EVERYTHING between man and woman.  She even started flirting with Xiang Liu  the FIRST minute they met (being still in man's body, what a mess this girl is!).

 HeadInTheClouds:
the clues can be slapping you across the face, and you would still find another explanation for them

Her hysterical self-assurance that that kiss on the forehead from Xiang Liu didn't exist and was an illusion.

 HeadInTheClouds:
Feng Long got run over when he was behaving appropriately and honestly.

I was shocked how cruel and ignorant she was to him, just using him for her own benefit and throwing him away like garbage, when situation turned unexpected way. He always treated her with dignity and even asked her once again if she really sure she wants to marry him. She said yes and then left him at the altar, ruining man's reputation forever. And his feelings.


 HeadInTheClouds:
she hurts other people because of her cowardice and immaturity. Jing

I forgot to ask, did Jing know that other feelings except for pain were transferred to Xiang Liu through Lovers Bugs?


 primaspe:
She knew Jing loved her, and she cared about him but didn't think that her feelings for XL would/could hurt Jing. 


 HeadInTheClouds:
Oh, well! She should have tortured him some more :-).

Going on a honeymoon to a place where she was happy with another man. Seriously? And she wasn't even embarrassed to mention Xiang Liu's name for this reason. I'm not defending Jing - that's what he deserved. And these are just the first "alarm bells", the first red flags from Xiao Yao. More is ahead, when fake feelings will lose the battle with everyday routine.


 Kokuto:
Yes, that's why he continued to drink her blood.
But he drank her blood not only to heal, but sometimes for no reason at all. Like on that "date" on the tree. Their "preparations"  and actions regarding the blood-sucking process were very coordinated and harmonious there. No questions, no explanations.

 HeadInTheClouds:
The downplaying, the playing dumb, the deflecting.

Here, we call it " the artist of the burnt-out theater". 🤪

 blabla100:
The way I see it, XY was never certain or at least was always confused about XL's feelings for her, so I don't believe she thought that XL would care or even pay much attention to her moments with jing. În fact I believe that, for most of the story, XY thought that her love was one sided.
I suddenly came up with a short and stupid explanation 🫣. She was furious with Xiang Liu for rejecting her and thought this way: "You will feel everything I have with Jing. That's good! Know what you've lost, you idiot!". 😆
I apologize, that's just a joke. But seriously, she was using Xiang Liu to "stir up" Jing and fuel his jealousy. Maybe she was doing it both ways? (In the beginning of the novel it looks like that).


 blabla100:
Bottom line, to me the question is had XY known for sure that XL always loved her, would she have made the same choice?

I always thought she should have asked him directly. Not through some crystal ball, poison, koi fish, and lotus... no, just directly with words. Everyone always accuses Xiang Liu of not being able to express himself with words. But Xiao Yao has the same problem (in addition to constantly lying, hehe). In the show, when he tells her about Fang Feng Bei's death, he asks her a question: "Have you opened your heart to him?" He asks a LEADING question. This question brings her as close to the opportunity to confess her feelings for him as possible. Perfect moment. But instead she spouts some evasive nonsense. At that moment, I wanted to kill her with a flyswatter, like some fly!

I like the explanations you wrote.

I suddenly came up with a short and stupid explanation 🫣. She was furious with Xiang Liu for rejecting her and thought this way: "You will feel everything I have with Jing.

Well that's what I think happened the last time she sang the ballad, while on the boat. XL triggered her by saying that he regrets tying his life to a weak woman like her and asked her for the bug to be removed before putting her life at risk again and în return she starts singing the ballad to Jing. That serves as both a slap on the face, but also as  means to assure him that she won't put herself în danger anymore. Why? Obviously because she didn't want their bug removed.

I always thought she should have asked him directly. Not through some crystal ball, poison, koi fish, and lotus... no, just directly with words.

Well that's part of her trauma. She finds it wrong to take the first step. I recall a conversation she had with CX about how both of them are reactive people who hopes for the choice to pick them instead. I disagree though that XY didn't take the initiative în regards to XL, IMO she did take the initiative în regards to both XL and Ah Nian. Giving the context of the story and the heroine's mentality, the crystal ball was such a powerful act from her part. I believe that even a person with no trauma would find it pretty difficult to declare herself to someone who most of the times keeps you at arms lenght, so for XY to take this step was more than anyone could ask for,  especially since she kept testing the waters quite a few times before, with no positive response.

"the clues can be slapping you across the face, and you would still find another explanation for them"


"Her hysterical self-assurance that that kiss on the forehead from Xiang Liu didn't exist and was an illusion."


Again, my interpretation is different. I do not believe she tried to deny that forehead kiss, let's just say that similar to the way she acted when she first met Bei after their 37 years underwater, she deliberately pretended not to have happened not as means to lie to herself, but because she knew that XL didn't want the kiss to be acknowledged by neither of them or to get her entangled again.  


"He reached out and stroked her, closing her eyes: "I'm leaving! "
Xiaotian suddenly covered his forehead and opened her eyes to look. There was no one in front of her.
Illusion! It must be an illusion!"


"Xiang Liu didn’t want her to know that when she was unconscious the things he did with her, and she didn’t want him to know that she already knew. Their embraces and companionship, just let it be buried deep in the dark ocean depths!" 

I do not believe that a person who's în denial takes the initiative to test the waters as XY did so many times. If she willingly refuses to recognize XL's feelings for her, than what's the point of always wanting to find out what's on his mind? 

"In the show, when he tells her about Fang Feng Bei's death, he asks her a question: "Have you opened your heart to him?" He asks a LEADING question. This question brings her as close to the opportunity to confess her feelings for him as possible. "

I haven't rewatched the drama since it aired, but I believe this scene is pretty debatable. Depending of what has been said before, it could been seen as a leading question, as you said, but I can also interpret it as" could you have been so stupid as to take Bei for real and actually opened your heart to him? If he was genuinely curious or if he was mocking her I am not so sure.

 strawberrymatchalatte:

Hello, I need to ask a question; this board is active, so hopefully someone can give me an answer. 

What was the timespan of the story? I'm having trouble pinpoint how much time has passed. And how old are these characters if we are talking normal human ages?

Someone figured it out before in this thread, but I'll have to go digging for it.  But they don't have normal human ages.  I mean, I think XL is 200 or 300 years older than Xiao Yao.  And I think Jing is older than Xiang Liu.  The gods also age slower as children.  For example, IIRC, Xiao Yao arrived at Jade Mountain a child and stayed for 70 years, before running away when she still looked like a child.

I'll have to double check, but if she spent 70 years on Jade Mountain, and 300 years lost after she ran away, and 30 years imprisoned by the 8 tailed fox, and I'm thinking she spent 100 to 150 years from meeting Xiang Liu to his death .... so at the end of the drama she's 500 to 600 years old?

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?
"

I don't believe XL left his hair on her bed on purpose, more like it fell off. I don't recall how this scene was în the novel, but I know there is  a similar scene with Jing, so if I'd have to make a guess, I'd say XL's hair on WXL's bed was meant to highlight the interactions they had during the night. While sleeping next to Jing, she liked to touch and play with his hair, so maybe she did the same with XL while he was sleeping next to her, especially since she was obsessed with his hair. 

"Xiaoyao tugged at Jing, "Lie down, I want to touch your hair."
    Jing lay down on his side, and Xiaoyao's fingers curled around his hair, "Will you disappear when I open my eyes tomorrow?"

I'll come to see you after you arrive in Central Plains."
    Xiaoyao closed her eyes, "Give me news, no matter what method you use, just don't make me wait too long."
    "Okay."
Jing mustered up his courage for a long while before he dared to ask in a low voice: "Xiaoyao, are you, are you thinking about me?"
    No one answered him.
    Jing was dejected. After a while, he suddenly came to his senses and whispered: "Xiaoyao"
Xiaoyao's eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, and she was sleeping soundly. Jing couldn't help but sigh and smile slightly.
    In the morning, when Xiaoyao woke up, she was covered with a quilt.
    She looked at the desk. Everything was neatly arranged, and there were only three silk handkerchiefs left.
Xiaoyao sat up and wanted to take the silk handkerchief. She felt something in her hand. She looked down and saw a strand of black hair, softly wrapped around her fingers. It was probably because Jing didn't want her to wake up when he was about to leave, so he simply cut off his hair."

 blabla100:
I don't believe XL left his hair on her bed on purpose, more like it fell off. I don't recall how this scene was în the novel, but I know there is a similar scene with Jing, so if I'd have to make a guess, I'd say XL's hair on WXL's bed was meant to highlight the interactions they had during the night. While sleeping next to Jing, she liked to touch and play with his hair, so maybe she did the same with XL while he was sleeping next to her, especially since she was obsessed with his hair.

Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao didn't have any interactions during the night, though, in the drama.  He slept on the bed and she slept on the floor.... except for when she was drawing on his face with charcoal.  Of course, in the novel, I believe she climbed up on him and straddled his body while he was immobilized and drew on face.   Yeah, we was robbed. ;p

Did we ever see her touch XL's hair?  I don't think so.