SCPY

I know how you feel, I'm trying to look for him in another drama, where he doesn't die. LOL

I have a feeling that pushing him away, was a little bit of noble idiocy. She knows he's trying his level best to woo her. Part of her can't quite forget (not sure about forgive) the drama she experienced in the last few episodes and part of her doesn't want him to change for her sake, even if it's a boost to her ego - let's face it, who won't? The egoistical LYZ stooping to that level to cajole you?
I think what was going on in her head was, "I don't want you to change for my sake, it's not right, I can't do that to you because I love and I want you to be happy being you." [which she did articulate as well to him, a few times.]
You are absolutely right about her expressions: everytime he turns around to leave, her face is so torn that he actually left (her face to me, said, "Dude, you actually believed me and left?" My reaction is to shout at the computer monitor (where I am watching the drama) to LYZ, "Turn around and just hold her for heaven's sake. And no matter what she says or does to push you away, just hold onto her and let her get it out of system." I have this feeling, that if he had done that, the walls would have come crumbling down, her insecurities would have melted somewhat, whatever left over resentment would have dissipated. I know it's a bit unfair to put in all on him, but someone's got to do it, otherwise it's just not going anywhere. So if you're going to do it, just get it done right. [sigh]

I sacrificed sleep to binge watch E37-41. As you put it, it was a HE, but that ending made me feel like we got short-changed. They ran out of time, and couldn't even let us savour a scene after they left the island, perhaps 1 year later after she returns from Paris, and their relationship is now on firmer ground?
I agree a lot of time was spent on the Fan Lu and the hubby (the so-call villain, who wasn't really one at all, just someone really driven to succeed and having self-esteem issues about his ability to succeed, so badly that he would take the owner's son down?)
On the plus side, DXS' bestie had a fairly good character development and made up for whatever she put HQF through. The way he ran away from her when she tried to propose to him could really have been done better, it was quick shocking even for me as a viewer. The least he could have told her was say "Wait here, I'm going to get something and will be back shortly. " Was that too difficult to say for his character/ out of place?
There were scenes which felt a little disjointed? Editing? Censorship? Take for example, at Fan Lu and the bestie's wedding, DXS and LYZ have caught the floral bouquet, she's hiding her face abashedly, and smiling like a school girl in love. And then it ends, we know nothing of what happens next, following episode starts from LYZ's POV about his father. Why show us her facial expressions if it doesn't add value at all to the storyline? I'll just blame it on censorship and give the editing team the benefit of the doubt. The other example is either editing/ censorship and post-production add-ons, the scenes where DXS and LYZ talk, (at the harbour/ riverside) and they look at each other but don't talk, but you hear the voice-overs; I was confused, were those their thoughts or were they recaps of what was said, but why can't we hear them talk, why does it have to be shown this way?
I'm trying to hold my comments about LYZ as a character. I wish the scriptwriter could have blessed him with a little more EQ and wisdom on how to handle the relationship, as part of character growth. You invite someone to dinner, forget to show up and only look for the person the next morning? Logically won't you have texted the person ASAP when you realised you had forgotten or gone immediately to look for the person you stood up? [note to scriptwriter, please make a little more sense.] As for 'pursuing her', sure he was candid, he was persistent, he was assertive, but each time DXS said no, he left. If something isn't working out the way you've tried it, you've got to change your approach. And for DXS' character, we get you are insecure and conflicted. But don't you think you are giving the guy mixed messages by allowing him to 'serve' you for 10 days? And then on the 10th day, you turn him away? Emotional maturity? Secretly deriving the satisfaction from all that attention but unwilling to commit to it? [note to scriptwriter, it would be great to see her grow, not regress by becoming more skeptical, this is E40, not E25.]
I'll just try to make believe that such characters would have been more acceptable in 2017, than it is now in 2021. I'd conclude by saying that the angst was purposely put in to qualify as a melodrama. The lead actors played their parts well, especially for Li Qin, she does the emotional scenes rather well and I feel what she's trying to portray. I just wish more justice had been done to the lead characters in terms of their growth. And that censorship hadn't butchered certain scenes.

i haven't really watched, putting it off till all episodes are out. But judging from the youtube summaries thus far, LYZ was attacked by some people and he was fearful of DXS's safety. So he did put up a show as if he were getting back together with his ex-GF to drive DXS away, in case she got harmed by being with him. You can call it noble idiocy? He could have explained to her to keep her distance till he sorted things out? I don't think she is that unreasonable? But then a gain, there won't be enuf angst to qualify as being a melodrama?

who is the 'he' you are referring to?
If you mean LYZ, he was chatting with an ex-GF, during the dinner which his friends threw for him after he got out of jail. I don't think he explained but there really wasn't anything to explain as the ex was the one who asked to speak to him. And his behaviour was above board, there wasn't anything improper.

I like the storyline from Renascence, something different. The ML looks a bit strange to me (his huge eyes) but overall it was a fun watch. And seriously I can't get that face of the king out of my head, everytime I hear LYZ speak (laughing will crying). Thanks for letting me know I am not alone in enjoying the other costume drama.

Actually the bad guy image he had in the bar was really something he was putting on for show, to get DXS to leave. He is cold, uncaring looking, egoistical, very corporate I-mean -business-kinda-look, prolly has low EQ, but I don't think he's really, really the bad guy sort. Sigh, I really wish they hadn't written SZR's character off so early and let me enjoy a few more episodes of him.

thanks for sharing the article, yah I was too lazy to go dig up his name though I've read somewhere before. LOL . He has tons of works under his belt.

sounds a bit like Ye Hua, but am pretty darn sure it's from the drama I cited. As a friend of mine pointed out, the voice dubber for Ye Hua has done a gazillion of other dramas. So, no big surprise, LOL

Fingers crossed if one of the youtuber/content maker is right, then there should be one.

Perhaps it's cultural? A toast is seen as wishing someone well and accepting that toast is deemed polite. This was an age where chilvary was revered. Of course in today's context where people are free to refuse and make a stand for their values, this would be taken differently.

Well, scriptwriters ain't perfect. As viewers, we may question the decisions that the characters make while having to realise that this is the scriptwriter's POV, and take on things. If the scriptwriter deems it so, then the character behaves so. LOL
So, I guess we shouldn't have to crack our brains so hard and try to figure out why someone does something even if it doesn't seem logical to us.

tbh I have an issue with the voice dubber, it's the voice of the King (the antagonist) from Renascence. And the first few episodes, I had the image of the King playing in my mind. LOL

I guess love and hate have a fine line? She intrigues him? She defies the prejudices he had about her? You know there was this line in Dating in the Kitchen where the uncle gives advice to the FL, and tells her that the more she is like the ML, the more he finds it boring. The more different she is from him, the more he will be fascinated by her. I guess that's why?

because she's the one person who has been able to make him understand what it is to love someone else, and thus experience happiness. Prior to this, he said that he had work, he enjoyed success, wealth and power but had never really had the time to examine why he wasn't happy. Until she showed up and somehow their interactions made him love her. In caring for her, in protecting her, I guess he got to experience happiness. So, despite all the noble idiocy, corporate drama, in his heart, he had never wanted to give her up. And he knows that deep down inside she does love him, despite it all.

Same reply I gave someone else.

It's a melodrama. So if you have the stomach for will we or won't we, plus obstacles being thrown at the relationship (either externally imposed or self-imposed), then do start watching this. Also, be prepared for copious amounts of grief from EP06 for a good few episodes, self-sacrificing acts (FL), noble idiocy (a fairly good dose by ML), peppered by a few episodes of light-heartedness, occasional moments of tenderness, and eventually a HE (looks like it from preview). And it helps if you like watching Shawn Dou or Li Qin.
In short, if you want to be entertained, won't get too upset with storyline, editing, then jump on the bandwagon.

I know right, I was ranting earlier on that she should get a medal for putting up with his bad behaviour. Even if he was doing it (he thinks) for her own good, as he ain't worthy of her anymore. Typical noble idiocy. [And even if she has her own self-esteem issues that she's got to deal with herself, it takes two to tango.]
If it's any consolation, EP40-41 previews show him trying hard to win her back. So if you need subs and to 'feel good' that what she's put up with is worth it, I would recommend you wait till all subs are out to start watching.

It's a melodrama. So if you have the stomach for will we or won't we, plus obstacles being thrown at the relationship (either externally imposed or self-imposed), then do start watching this. Also, it helps if you like watching Shawn Dou or Li Qin.

not really, there's no love triangle, first love died, FL grieved, then came to realise she had some feelings for first love's good friend (Shawn Dou) who had mutual feelings for her. He made it known to his friends that she was his girlfriend in EP30 but erh, things didn't go too well from then on. Social status issues, FL's insecurities, ML's family business issues.

schoolmates, DXS was his junior (likely in Uni)