Ackery

A ML that acknowledged his mistakes and insecurities? A FL that was honest with her telling him she can't just try to understand him and she needs certainty and she can find someone else if he's not there for her? *standing ovation

Love a man that's jealous of a fake marriage certificate

I read below it will also be available on iqiyi. Viki will probably get it for Europe so I don't think it's unlikely iQiyi will have it for the US.

Romance aside, Hu Xiu's and Xiao Rou's friendship is so beautiful. I love how they are always there for each other no matter what. They truly care for one another and communicate. They don't judge, they are just there and that goes both ways.

I get your pov. I can't truly dislike him though, mostly because I think that his characters "adds" much to the series.

About their childhood, I feel like both of them had none. He also seems to have a bad relationship with the family or to be more precise a superficial relationship that never involved any love and care.

I agree, but I think those two are kind of interconnected. It's like he's not allowing himself to be happy, cause he is also scared he will harm her. For me the core of this is just his self punishment. His goal for justice is a prison he created for himself and he can't get out of. Even though this is a drama and things will get resolved at some point, in reality, maybe he'd never manage to get justice or find out the whole truth and that would lead him to being alone.

I agree about the SML. I personally wouldn't like to see that since it would seem out of character. SML may seem to be only manipulative, selfish etc, but I also see a hurt kid that no one really cares about. He has no one around him that cares about him. His family included.

It is definitely not completely irrational, especially taking into consideration their connection. At the same time though, he truly doesn't allow himself any actual happiness in anything.

Plus ML is an overthinker especially when it comes to her. Even in today's episode he almost apologized to her about the list of suppliers while in reality he was doing his job.

Of course this could ruin them, and there will be angst for sure, but I feel the ML generally just avoids his feelings. He has no connection with his family, has only one close friend and we don't know if he was ever in a relationship. After what happened, he basically had no supportive setting to express himself and he ended up trying to make it on his own. He's constantly working either being an architect or an NPC.
When someone is not used to express his feelings and he is overthinking that he will make everyone sad if he acts a specific way for whatever reason, he ends up avoiding situations and marginalizing himself.

Yes I get that. You have a point.

I like how the ML is portrayed in general. Even though the series uses some standard cliches and tropes they are very well done and feel quite fresh.

Anyone with such trauma would act like that or well even worse probably. He is avoidant, cause it is difficult for him to act any other way.

I think Hu Xiu is quite well written in general. Her reaction was valid and the way she acted too. Plus in episode 17, she understood that he was scared of walking into that corridor again. She has empathy, sth that can be seen by the way she deals with her friend, but at the same time this situation with the ML is so complicated, that it is impossible to truly understand if they never talk about it.

He cares about her feelings and thinks way too much. Even in todays episode he tried to apologize and justify why he needed the list of suppliers, while she spoke professionaly understanding the situation and why it was mentioned. ML just has some avoidant personality traits.

Yes, I agree. You are right. From my pov, his self punishment is the "core" and the main reason for his actions and the way he feels.
That part is "coming out" from the fact that he believes he can't have any happy thing in his life, cause at the end of the day he will ruin it. They are interconnected.

Imo, it is an act of "care/love" from his pov, but in reality he is just scared. He is making this decision thinking it is the best for the both of them, but he doesn't want to know about her thoughts on the matter nor does he want to tell her the truth. He is thinking he'll ruin her, when in reality staying away from her, brings her sadness. It is the typical trope of "I will get away from you, cause I am not good enough for you, but I won't ask about your feelings on the matter cause I have already decided". I must say it's exceptionally well done though.

I get what you are saying. But again it is impossible to see what the actual reason he acted like that is.
She thought it was about his family. If I am not mistaken in the same episode when her parents asked about his family, she saw that he felt sad/awkward and lied to them.

Later, they ate together and he even wished her the best like they were all alone. They were speaking on the "rooftop" and it's not like that kiss suddenly happened. They were looking at each other for two minutes straight before she approached for that kiss.

Even if that was kiss/rejection was both of their mistake, he was the one avoiding her afterwards. If he loved her and his state of mind was the problem that day, he could express that to her the next day. Instead he avoided her. I don't see how she would magically understand that that wasn't a pure rejection and only his psychological state was the problem at that day. It makes sense she didn't pursue the matter afterwards.

I personally love this trope, so it is okay for me, especially since it feels quite different. Usually, the 2ML truly cares about the FL, but here it is just the ML suffering and the 2ML having a blast provoking him.

About the trauma, I like how we get some bits here and there. Unfortunately irl too traumas are not easy to deal with or confront and people usually avoid doing it. I mean, we all know that there will be a revelation about his past at some point that it may ''damage'' their relationship. However, I think the drama is dealing with everything pretty well and I don't feel bored at all, so I don't mind whatever tropes and cliches may follow.

ML is getting jealous for no actual reason, cause Hu Xiu doesn't like Pei Zhen and ML knows why Pei Zhen is acting that way, but well I love some jealousy in dramas so not a problem for me.

About the kiss. FL is not a medium. He rejected her kiss that was the only act that truly affirmed her feelings to him. He didn't even come to pick his things from her apartment. He send his friend. She waited for him to get his things and confront her and he never came.

How is she supposed to know his complicated past and feelings if he is unable to communicate anything to her? How is she supposed to comfort him if she barely knows anything about his (may I add "secret") past?

They cohabitated for three months, they shared so many moments together. They constantly do romantic things. She cares and she tried to show him by kissing him and he walked away without saying anything.

Hu Xiu is not supposed to be his therapist or understand his complicated feelings, when he is making no effort to express himself. He comforted her about her parents and the ex fiancee, but he knew the situation. He was there when she almost started crying in the wedding, she told him. He was there when the fight with her dad happened. He knew it was a big deal for her. Is it still amazing? Yes and he's great for doing so.

But he has a hidden past that no one knows. How is she supposed to deal with that rejection if she is kept in complete darkness? Plus his situation is much more complicated. It is impossible to guess something like that or understand it if you have 0 info.
At the end of the day, ML is self punishing himself. He said so himself "I have no right to pursue happiness". But he wants happiness and pursues her, but when he has to "seal" that happiness, he's unable to and that hurts her.

I understand. His past is traumatic and I get why he acts that way. But understanding and justifying something are different things. I get why he rejected that kiss, but I don't justify the fact he left like that and avoided her. So for me, it is his fault. He has trauma and he is punishing himself cause of it and in the meantime he hurt her too.

I genuinely don't think anyone believes she'll end up with the 2ML. I mean, this is a romance drama and we know who the mains are. They are even in the above poster.

At the same time though, I don't understand the hate about the 2ML. He's an interesting character and FL knows why he approached her.

If it is someone's falt that they are not together, then it is the ML's. He is afraid to deal with his feelings. He rejected her kiss. He made his friend pick up his things and he is acting all jealous after he took a step back. He said it himself. He doesn't think he deserves happiness and for him she is happiness. But he has to deal with his own feelings, cause Pei Zhen may be manipulative, but he is not afraid to act.

Can we give some credit to Hu Xiu? She's such a great character. She resigned to pursue her dream. She saw her own potential. She rejected a great job offer to pursue what she loves. She knows how she feels. She expressed it and was rejected. She was sad and disappointed, but didn't get clingy and tried to focus on her job and the project.

The ML is repeatedly getting jealous for no reason at all, cause Hu Xiu doesn't like Pei Zhen and he knows Pei Zhen is acting like that to get on his nerves. Pei Zhen can't even be considered a typical second male lead, cause FL doesn't like him and he doesn't like her. Yes maybe he is attracted to her and finds her interesting and will slowly fall for her, but for at least 14 eps that wasn't the case...

All ML has to do is act, but he doesn't, even when he has the chance, cause he is just too scared to be happy and he thinks he doesn't deserve it. He says it himself in episode 15 "I am not entitled to pursue happiness".

She's making all the moves when they matter. ML is being all green flag and great. Giving her comfort, listening and understanding her, but when he has to show what exactly it is that he is feeling, he chooses to suffer. So I am not sure why so many people hate Pei Zhen like he's trying to steal the girl from the ML. All ML had to do was kiss her back, but he choose not to and now he's suffering all by himself like that wasn't his fault.

He's pulling away cause he thinks he doesn't deserve happiness. I wouldn't say it us love. He's just scared to be happy.

Thanks. I thought it wasn't made by netflix. It doesn't appear for me for the time being, hope that changes.

I didn't notice honestly. Maybe he's too tall and can't handle it lol.
I love all the mains and their dynamics so far, but well I always fell faster for the red flag ones

I personally liked it from the get go, but like everyone said give it around 4 eps, that they are less in the VR world. Maybe you'll enjoy it more then.

That is for sure. And he gave her mixed signals and basically rejected her.

I think he finds her super interesting and I love their dynamics and their scenes. I also love some jealousy and angst in my dramas so there is also that.
I am not sure if they will be friends, but at least I hope Pei makes the actual ML act on his feelings.

He's indeed amazing