Still watching the final episodes and currently on ep. 36 and had to pause just to say: Liu Yi Hong’s performance as Prince Yan Qi is absolutely phenomenal! He may be one of the antagonist, but his acting in this episode is flawless. Even made me pity him. Truly impressive!
Honestly, the whole cast is amazing. I’m genuinely grateful for such a talented ensemble!
Just started to watch ep. 32 and the Emperor is sooo incredibly fake!!! ugh I want to puke at his fake melo acting 🤮 I didn't spoil myself, so I really don't know how this will end... How will they be able to bring the Emperor down? I'm really scared to watch this till the end >_<
How is it possible that I actually love all 3 couples dearly and enjoy all of their scenes?! I would be so heartbroken if anyone of them get a sad ending. Pls writers... don't hurt any of my babies 😭 I rarely even like the secondary couples in Cdramas, but this one made me enjoy all of them lol
Such an unhealthy relationship… if you can even call it that. Qiao Xi really didn’t need to lie so blatantly to her face. Saying “When have I ever lied to you?” while spinning more lies and feeding her empty plans about the future? That was a massive red flag. Even if he’s struggling, he’s basically keeping her on a leash. “Don’t forget me.” He’s starved for love and desperate to hold on to hers and that’s so unfair to her.
Honestly, I don’t think they can be together right now. He needs therapy. He’s carrying too much unresolved trauma and right now, he just doesn’t seem capable of a healthy relationship or open communication. That’s not to say people with trauma can’t have relationships but healing has to come from within. And the least he could do is be honest with her.
As for Ying Tao… her emotional state depends way too much on Qiao Xi. Don't know if it's obsession, but it’s definitely not healthy. If this were real life, I’d be one of those friends or family members quietly hoping she forgets him. Loving someone who keeps lying and ghosting you... that kind of pain sticks. No one deserves that. And even if they do end up together, that anxiety will always be there… because this isn’t the first time he’s done this (even if the first was not his choice).
Honestly, a 10-year time skip suddenly doesn’t sound so bad. Both of them need to focus on their own growth and healing first. Maybe then, just maybe, they’d have a real chance at something healthy.
I haven’t seen the latest episodes yet, but I guess I’m still stuck on the fact that I just don’t get where their deep bond, affection and romantic feelings suddenly came from by ep 2 onwards as teens.
Ep. 1 was really beautiful and I think it’s still my favorite so far. But I feel like the writers didn’t manage to show "why" they longed for each other’s friendship after so many years of no contact or why they both suddenly caught feelings as teens after barely having interacted as teens.
Sure, there were tiny moments when Ying Tao got shy after touching Qiao Xi’s hand as a kid, but they were literally just kids.
Then suddenly, as teenagers, there’s this instant romantic tension. After all those years apart, wouldn’t it make more sense if they slowly rebuilt their friendship first? Like, get to know each other again, see who they are now and then maybe start to catch feelings... and then fall deeply in love?
But nope. Didn't click for me. I guess I’d be able to relate more to both of their behaviour if the relationship had any kind of real development, but to me, it didn’t. I’m still enjoying the drama, don’t get me wrong, but their relationship arc just feels pretty underwhelming and not all that believable.
Just my opinion, pls don't attack...
Honestly, I think the number of episodes just isn’t enough for the kind of emotional buildup their story actually needed. There also should’ve been more meaningful childhood memories to help us understand why they’re so unforgettable to each other after all these years.
The emperor's reaction was a bit suspicious, when Yan Chi was spitting facts by telling that Beidai prince, who tried to murder his bro, the Beidai crown prince: "...you're nothing but a hypocritical schemer trying to steal the throne." The emperor looked genuinely offended. Did he feel personally attacked, maybe? lol If the shoe fits, I guess.
Just binge-watched 12 episodes and I’m really hooked! Got chills down my spine during the second case when they uncovered all those young girls’ skeletons… absolutely horrifying and disturbing. But honestly, I’ve really liked all the cases so far. And the slow romance feels genuine and well-developed :D I love this kind of couple, where they develop feelings while working together and building trust along the way. It just feels the most genuine to me.
Got to be one of the cutest and funniest love triangles I've ever seen to date! Because Ji Ho is crushing on both Seong Ah and Gyeon U hahaha Ji Ho is such a great character! The character writing is so good in this drama, that they even made us soft for an evil spirit. Even Bong Su is so lovable and funny hahaha Kinda another love triangle, but also not slightly annoying at all 😂
Hmm… maybe it’s because I can’t really relate to how extremely conservative and gossipy Chinese schools or society are (if that’s even accurate and not just exaggerated in this drama), but the gossip in this show feels so over-the-top and ridiculous. It’s like no one in this story has their own life or anything better to do than spread rumors. I’d get it if the teasing came from direct classmates, but the entire school? Townspeople? Even the Olympiad students?? As if everyone’s got that much free time…
And why is it such a big deal that Yingtao is hanging out with Qiao Xi? She’s always been friends with guys, so what makes this situation any different?
So far, this drama leans heavily into clichés… and we’ve got the classic abusive tiger mom. I doubt she’ll get the proper character arc she deserves and will probably be let off the hook like most terrible parents in Chinese dramas.
I’m still enjoying it but honestly, this school phase isn’t offering anything I haven’t already seen in a dozen other youth dramas.
Piled up some episodes hoping there’d finally be a shift, but nope…
This drama has honestly started to feel like a chore to watch. Ep. 26 and it’s still spinning in the same loop of tired tropes. While I can understand the FL’s perspective to some extent, her treatment of the ML is unnecessarily harsh. It’s so painful to watch, I have to skip sometimes... I usually like some kind of angst, but this is just too much for me. She constantly interrupts him, throws such hateful and cruel words at him while he’s already completely down and remains blind to the pain he’s endured and the sacrifices he’s made. She just gives him the rest to knock him down. Don't get me started on all the others who wants him down at all cost while pretending to be righteous...
There's only so much suffering you can pile onto one character before it becomes too much. Nan Heng is exactly that kind of character. He's been written to be so miserable and pitiful that I'm even starting to dislike him for still pining after her, even though she treats him so horribly.
I didn’t intend to add to the sea of negative comments, but I guess I’m just not the type who can sit through endless emotional torment without any relief.
And honestly, I can't understand how he's still in love with her. Well, maybe, I can. He's been starved of love for so long that he clings to the tiniest scraps of affection. It's heartbreaking. But also exhausting and frustrating...
At this point, the only characters I find likable are the Night Walkers...
I'm avoiding the comments to stay spoiler-free, but how frustrating were today's episodes on a scale from 1 to 10? 😄 Should I let a few episodes pile up before watching again?
Edit: Thank you for the comments! Still unsure tho. I guess I will wait at least until tomorrow 😂
I think I skip-watched so much in todays episodes... I absolutely hate this misunderstanding trope which is going on for 22 episodes and getting worse by each ep. They make the ML so incredibly miserable that all the other characters start to get unlikable too.
I mean, I kind of get that they use the key points of the original script, but it's just no fun anymore. I think I'm gonna put this on-hold 🙈
Honestly, the whole cast is amazing. I’m genuinely grateful for such a talented ensemble!
Yue Ning & Yan Li
Fu Ling & Bai Feng
Honestly, I don’t think they can be together right now. He needs therapy. He’s carrying too much unresolved trauma and right now, he just doesn’t seem capable of a healthy relationship or open communication. That’s not to say people with trauma can’t have relationships but healing has to come from within. And the least he could do is be honest with her.
As for Ying Tao… her emotional state depends way too much on Qiao Xi. Don't know if it's obsession, but it’s definitely not healthy. If this were real life, I’d be one of those friends or family members quietly hoping she forgets him. Loving someone who keeps lying and ghosting you... that kind of pain sticks. No one deserves that. And even if they do end up together, that anxiety will always be there… because this isn’t the first time he’s done this (even if the first was not his choice).
Honestly, a 10-year time skip suddenly doesn’t sound so bad. Both of them need to focus on their own growth and healing first. Maybe then, just maybe, they’d have a real chance at something healthy.
Ep. 1 was really beautiful and I think it’s still my favorite so far. But I feel like the writers didn’t manage to show "why" they longed for each other’s friendship after so many years of no contact or why they both suddenly caught feelings as teens after barely having interacted as teens.
Sure, there were tiny moments when Ying Tao got shy after touching Qiao Xi’s hand as a kid, but they were literally just kids.
Then suddenly, as teenagers, there’s this instant romantic tension. After all those years apart, wouldn’t it make more sense if they slowly rebuilt their friendship first? Like, get to know each other again, see who they are now and then maybe start to catch feelings... and then fall deeply in love?
But nope. Didn't click for me. I guess I’d be able to relate more to both of their behaviour if the relationship had any kind of real development, but to me, it didn’t. I’m still enjoying the drama, don’t get me wrong, but their relationship arc just feels pretty underwhelming and not all that believable.
Just my opinion, pls don't attack...
Honestly, I think the number of episodes just isn’t enough for the kind of emotional buildup their story actually needed. There also should’ve been more meaningful childhood memories to help us understand why they’re so unforgettable to each other after all these years.
YC: "Get lost. She doesn't need you for that."
YL: "Fair point. She won't need to ride me with you around."
👁️👄👁️ what the..?! what did I just read? loool Is the translation wrong or am I just too dirty-minded?
And why is it such a big deal that Yingtao is hanging out with Qiao Xi? She’s always been friends with guys, so what makes this situation any different?
So far, this drama leans heavily into clichés… and we’ve got the classic abusive tiger mom. I doubt she’ll get the proper character arc she deserves and will probably be let off the hook like most terrible parents in Chinese dramas.
I’m still enjoying it but honestly, this school phase isn’t offering anything I haven’t already seen in a dozen other youth dramas.
This drama has honestly started to feel like a chore to watch. Ep. 26 and it’s still spinning in the same loop of tired tropes. While I can understand the FL’s perspective to some extent, her treatment of the ML is unnecessarily harsh. It’s so painful to watch, I have to skip sometimes... I usually like some kind of angst, but this is just too much for me. She constantly interrupts him, throws such hateful and cruel words at him while he’s already completely down and remains blind to the pain he’s endured and the sacrifices he’s made. She just gives him the rest to knock him down. Don't get me started on all the others who wants him down at all cost while pretending to be righteous...
There's only so much suffering you can pile onto one character before it becomes too much. Nan Heng is exactly that kind of character. He's been written to be so miserable and pitiful that I'm even starting to dislike him for still pining after her, even though she treats him so horribly.
I didn’t intend to add to the sea of negative comments, but I guess I’m just not the type who can sit through endless emotional torment without any relief.
And honestly, I can't understand how he's still in love with her. Well, maybe, I can. He's been starved of love for so long that he clings to the tiniest scraps of affection. It's heartbreaking. But also exhausting and frustrating...
At this point, the only characters I find likable are the Night Walkers...
Edit: Thank you for the comments! Still unsure tho. I guess I will wait at least until tomorrow 😂
I mean, I kind of get that they use the key points of the original script, but it's just no fun anymore. I think I'm gonna put this on-hold 🙈