I was surprised to see Chu Zhao pop up yet again in the latest battle but he ended up being helpful in multiple ways. XJ (and most viewers 😅) might not like his presence but so far he’s been all right.
At least, he’s not like many SMLs where they just become obsessive for no good reason. He fell for HY for legit reasons but it seems like he will slowly realize that she’s beyond his reach. Hopefully his very gray character will choose HY’s side in the end, and will leave us viewers hoping that he will get his own HE.
He figured out the truth on his own?? without funding out dramatically or being told by someone else???
Yes, he got the report about what He Rufei did in the Huaiyuan battle and realized the similarities to the Mingshan one (when he lost his father), and determined that it must have been He Rufei who schemed against them, and not He Yan.
As soon as he realized it, he went looking for HY 🥰 He also knew that HY must be hurting because of what happened in Huaiyuan.
XJ did not disappoint - brilliant enough to come to his own conclusion and realize the truth. He is also such a green flag, he's the only one who truly knows HY and can emphathize with her.
I actually don’t mind Chu Zhao. His ambition to rise to a high position makes sense—just like He Yan, he understands that power is the key to reaching his goal that is related to his mother.
He doesn't seem to be blindly loyal to that traitor Xu...he's playing the long game to bring him down, it seems. I kind of feel bad for him everytime he has to deal with the daughter...she is just so cringey.
As the third wheel in the love triangle, he’s not irritating (yet), mostly because I enjoyed seeing He Yan “school” him. And to his credit, he’s been respectful overall and even tries to lift her up every change he gets. Plus I like his face :D
This was a pretty heavy show, especially for just 23 episodes. It squeezed in quite a bit — a mystery around a death, complicated family relationships, a slow-building romance, and tough topics like suicide and family abuse. At times, it even felt like a slice-of-life drama, with its focus on high schoolers chasing their dreams and figuring out what matters to them.
The pacing dragged a little here and there, but overall, I stayed engaged. I liked the quiet romantic undercurrent between the leads and wished they’d get together sooner, with promises for the future. Still, the ending was handled well, and I respect the “no romance during school years” message.
The acting was top-notch, especially Liu Dan as the mother — she absolutely nailed it. The characters felt authentic, and their struggles with family conflict, bullying, and grief were relatable.
I felt that with her experience from before, if she plans to be a general again, she should be cultivating potential…
As they fight alongside each other, she will get there as their leader and not just their hero. Now that the truth is out, I think she will not have to hold back from hiding her true skills from XJ, and will form her own formidable team from her fellow recruitees.
The misunderstanding wasn’t too bad, plus the truth is finally out. While things are tense right now, it feels like things will turn around soon. In his usual quiet way, XJ still shows how much he cares about her.
HY is just amazing—rather than moping or trying to talk XJ into anything, she’s poured all her energy into getting better at what she does and gathering solid evidence. That’s a strong female lead!
Xiao Jue is so hopelessly whipped— ripping his own clothes 😂 But I love his brand of whipped: still all commanding and in control, yet quietly simping in subtle, “I’m not simping” ways.
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At least, he’s not like many SMLs where they just become obsessive for no good reason. He fell for HY for legit reasons but it seems like he will slowly realize that she’s beyond his reach. Hopefully his very gray character will choose HY’s side in the end, and will leave us viewers hoping that he will get his own HE.
As soon as he realized it, he went looking for HY 🥰 He also knew that HY must be hurting because of what happened in Huaiyuan.
He doesn't seem to be blindly loyal to that traitor Xu...he's playing the long game to bring him down, it seems. I kind of feel bad for him everytime he has to deal with the daughter...she is just so cringey.
As the third wheel in the love triangle, he’s not irritating (yet), mostly because I enjoyed seeing He Yan “school” him. And to his credit, he’s been respectful overall and even tries to lift her up every change he gets. Plus I like his face :D
The pacing dragged a little here and there, but overall, I stayed engaged. I liked the quiet romantic undercurrent between the leads and wished they’d get together sooner, with promises for the future. Still, the ending was handled well, and I respect the “no romance during school years” message.
The acting was top-notch, especially Liu Dan as the mother — she absolutely nailed it. The characters felt authentic, and their struggles with family conflict, bullying, and grief were relatable.
HY is just amazing—rather than moping or trying to talk XJ into anything, she’s poured all her energy into getting better at what she does and gathering solid evidence. That’s a strong female lead!
Maybe Novel readers can spoil me? Please?
But I love his brand of whipped: still all commanding and in control, yet quietly simping in subtle, “I’m not simping” ways.