absurd

Yes, she did. And how does it make what he did better? It's a relationship, not a competition of who hurts the other worse. He's breaking up with her out of duty, not because he does not love her anymore or out of revenge. Relationship means mutual respect and support, not trying to get even for past mistakes.

The choice of whether she wants to hate him for his decision and never see him again or if she respects it, and, after some time passes and it's less painful, would like preserve her relationship. Instead he just kicked her out of his life, because it was easier, than having a conversation. He just unanimously decided that it's better if she hates him. I love Gu Yiye, but he's a complete disaster when it comes to people and relationships.

Have to say, while I don't share your somewhat aggressive position towards this drama (nothing against it, don't take me wrong, just an impression I got from your comments), this is the one thing I definitely agree with. The less I see of that "sacrifice relationship" the better. Whatever they try, they are not going to sell me on the idea that anything good can come out of marriage like this. And they are not even married yet. After six years. The kid has grown up, what's the point?

I just think that he owed her the dignity of allowing her to make her own decision. She is not a child and knowing the truth she would have also eventually moved on. If he says he'll marry A Xiu, what is there to wait for? It's not like he's going to divorce he after the kid grows up.

You know, in this situation, it's his own decision. Even his father told him he should not do it, but he still feels like it's his responsibility. 24 was actually the first episode where I agreed with Zheng Yuan, at last partially. I actually thought that he and Gu Yiye were very much alike from the very beginning and that's why I did not understand why he took a liking to Gao Liang, but not GYY. I also thought that JNZ and GYY would break up exactly because he's so similar to her father and she will not want to go through the same thing her mother did. But ZY is not wrong, men like Gu Yiye are very difficult to love. When they get something into their head it is impossible to change their mind, they don't seek help, they go "I'm a man, it's my responsibility" and it's like knocking your head on the brick wall.
As for Gu Yiye not explaining, I guess, it's just my personal experience. I hated being given silent treatment or placating lies, instead of an actual explanation, so looking at this scene, I kind of wanted to kick his ass out of sheer frustration.

Ok, you know what. This time I'm mad at Gu Yiye. I hate. When men do that. Just god damn tell the truth and explain. But no. It's much better to just stand there and let her scream herself out. And she Will find out later on anyway. Not saying anything is just a cowards way out, it's easier that's what it is.
And I still think his idea is dumb, nothing good can come out of this self sacrificing crap.

Ah, I can now see where this whole thing is going and I don't really like it or find plot lines like this interesting (tragic duty marriage and sacrificing your whole life out of guilt), but here's hoping that after the next couple of episodes this won't be the focus of the story and we'll move on to military operations and training.

It's ok, I understand that it's uncomfortable that the character, your favorite actor is playing, is so hated and he's not even the villain of the story. I don't understand what the writer was thinking, writing him the way they did. Sometimes it seems like Gao Liang was written by two different people: one who shows his growth and idealism, and the other who makes him annoying for the sake of comedy or whatever the reasons are. I hope we will see more of the first one as the story goes. I was looking forward to the story about friendship between Gu Yiye and Gao Liang.

Yes. His actions and the way he always gets everything through connections, were they not present as innocent mistake of the great male lead, would have put him as the obvious villain of the story. I kind of wonder what people in China, who don't care about idols think. Maybe there's some cultural differences that we're not getting. Maybe there is some point to all of this, I'm despairing at this point.

Bipolar. That was the word I was looking for, it describes the way Gao Liang is written perfectly. It's like different episodes were written and filmed by different people. So one moment I can see the character progress and the next he's back in square one.

I have to support previous comments. Except for the one comment at the very beginning of the drama no one has ever commented on Huang Jingyi acting, all the comments were about the character. You need to remember that actor and a character are not the same. You might even take it as a compliment towards the actor, that his character has managed to provoke such strong reaction - that means that he acted him very well. Honestly, if Gao Liang was played by Xiao Zhan I would be twice as annoyed, first at the way the character is written and then at the fact that my favorite actor was given such an unlikable role.

You know the way some people play at helpfulness, where they go all "we're in this together. you know you can always come to me for help. etc.". But when it comes to actually helping, they find excuses why they can't. That's Gao Liang. He is the perfect example of this.

What I want to see the least in the next episode is that Gao Liang is probably going to go ballistic on Gu Yiye. Even though it's none of his business. Tbh, at this point I just hope that they won't make GYY quit or sacrifice his career. That he just marries her, but continues to work his way up in the army. In the dramas like this (where there's an actual storyline besides romantic one) I really prefer if there's no romance at all, sometimes it just spoils everything.

Yes, he needs to end it definitely. If he's trying to do the right thing here, he has to do right by everyone. JNZ deserves to know the truth and move on.

They are trying to present it as cute, Gao Liang's need to one up Gu Yiye in everything. JNZ saying that she finds it funny. But even though GYY agreed with her at the time, it's obvious that later even he was at the end of his rope with GL. Finally told him off for meddling in their relationship, I was so proud of him. And GL... says "I won't be pursuing JNZ anymore" and the next thing we see is him stepping in front of GYY on the basketball court. He just can't help himself.

Fair. It happens to me too sometimes :)

Yes, have to agree here. Though maybe he could not make a decision and that's why he didn't? Idk. But that situation is awful, I feel very sad for all three of them (including A Xiu).

I'm kind of confused too, but I think it's been a year in the academy and now it's 1986? But I can be wrong, they really need to either write a year and month in the beginning of the episode or somehow mention it.

I have to say episodes 22-23 gave me an enormous amount of respect for Jiang Nanzheng. She handled the quota withdrawal like man. 10 times better than Gao Liang did. She refused when her sergeant tried to give it up, said that she can't accept it if she takes it away from someone. And then got into academy all on her own, without any help, after telling her dad, in no uncertain terms, that she would not accept his help. No false modesty or sob stories preceding. She is, I think, the most grown up out the 3 of the leads.
I feel sad seeing the way the reason for Gu Yiye to marry A Xiu is being set up. I am sure, as it is a drama, we will be shown a happy ending between them. But, imho, marriages out of sense of duty are set up for failure: years ahead people start blaming their partner for keeping them away from what they wanted and it never ends well. I don't actually care much at this point about JNZ and GYY being together, but A Xiu and Gu Yiye? Sorry, I don't see that (he called himself a sacrifice for gods sake). Maybe the drama will show me their relationship development and how it will work out, but so far the only thing I can feel for both of them is sad.
PS: I'm starting to feel sorry for Huang Jingyi, honestly. The writers managed to give him a character, that no one, except for people who are already his fans, will like. They created a perfect set up for people to get into academy on their own merit, but in the end still made GL to go the nepotism route. It's like they are doing it on purpose.. Would it not have been better to show how much work he put in reading all those books, by letting him sit through examination? Maybe they wanted it to be historically accurate (about candidates having to finish high school), but even if he got to go through exam as an exception or through favor, it would have still have been 10 times better than him getting accepted into an elite training program because "someone recommended him"

Sorry, but about JNZ, I have to disagree with you on practically everything. How can she be a love rival to A Xiu when neither Gu Yiye, nor A Xiu actually have any feelings for each other? Yes, I can see that it's setting up that they will be together, but right now the only reason GYY is doing this is his sense of duty. He even called himself a sacrifice. That's as far from love as you can get.
And JNZ, unlike GL, actually got to academy on her own merit, passing the exam. 3d out of everyone, without any help.
It is of course your right to dislike her :) But I feel like it's a little unfounded.