Chair54

Thank you for the information. If they had a past romantic relationship, his words and behavior making more sense to me. *(Although I don't like the forced kiss trope, sigh)

Thanks for your insights. Now it make better sense to me why he did that.

Okay. Forgive me, but I am confused. The ML keeps saying things that hint he and FL were a romantic couple in the past, but it look to me like she just think of him as a younger brother with no romantic interest. So why the forced kiss in Ep. 3? Is the ML just have delusion? I know ML like FL from the beginning, but what about FL? Did they truly have a relationship in the past? Or is this a drama where ML have a crush since young, but the FL only like him when they meet again years later in present times?

yes, me, too.

I think one of Shi's messages mention that Fan Xiao said he was going to dump disgusting YSL. So YSL then mention in the scene to FX, something like why you hate me? FX say I don't hate you. And the YSLrespond something like, No, your disgust. So he was referring to the message sent to FX by Shi where Shi mentions FX call YSL disgusting.

You're welcome.

Someone post a Machine Translated English version of the novel in the Discussions above. The translation can be confusing because it is from machine and not a human, but you can give it a try.
https://kisskh.at/discussions/781606-city-of-the-sun/146326-complete-novel-four-faced-budha

Yes, Shu Lang and Zhen break up. Zhen is manipulated by Fan Xiao into thinking that Fan Xiao likes him, so Zhen decides to break up with Shu Lang. I wouldn't call it cheating, exactly, but Zhen does meet with Fan Xiao, but nothing happens at the meetings.

You're not alone. I don't like the character of FX either. I wish we could have a different plotline where YSL exits this toxic relationship and finds love and happiness with a nice person. That would be satisfying. But that's not the plot of this series. Of course, he will end up with FX. We can only hope that FX truly earns his redemption and it's not another case of a quick forgiveness by YSL. I notice that happens a lot in Asian dramas.

First Fully Consensual kiss Between Leads: Ep. 5
First Kiss Shown in Drama Between Leads: Ep. 3 (Nonconsensual)

No, it is not omegaverse. It is a regular contemporary drama, no fantasy elements. The spiked drink contained aphrodisiac drug which made Shu Lang feel burning hot and sexual arousal. Shu lang tries to fight the effects of the drug, so he asks to stop the car. He tries to get out of the car, but he can't because he is overwhelmed by the drug. So he ask for Fan Xiao to get out of the car and then he pleasure himself to stop the drug's effect. This is secretly filmed by Fan Xiao, who watches the video and becomes even more obsessed with Shu Lang.

Thank you

What is an NC scene?

I agree, it felt rushed. Especially the breakup scene. I felt it didn't have the emotional impact it should have because everything moved so fast.

No problem. I understand where you are coming from. Yes, it would make better sense if ZZ just called SL "Gege," since he's not that much older and it's more common nickname. I thought it was strange, too. Luckily, they had a note about it in the Ep. 2 at Viki to help explain.

It is used by Zhen Zhen as a term of endearment for You Shu Lang. In Chinese culture, people will often call older men "uncle" as a term of respect. In this drama, Zhen Zhen plays with that and calls You Shu Lang "uncle" as like a lover's nickname because You Shu Lang is a few years older than him and his personality is upright like an old uncle. They are not blood-related or anything like that.

Yes, they covered to Ch. 40 by end of Ep. 4 I think you have a good idea. I think it always works best when you watch the drama first, then read the book. I find I can get the most enjoyment out of both formats when I do it in that order.

The reasons were valid, but I felt like Zhen Zhen was still being self-serving. I lost my sympathy for him when he cancelled their wedding trip in order to spend time with XF at the park after HE had been the one to propose marriage to SL. ZZ had wanted to get married and pushed for it. If he had any issues with SL , they obviously were not that important or a dealbreaker because he still proposed marriage to SL. If he wanted SL to share more of himself, he could have mentioned it to him in years that they were together. ZZ had presented as an engaged man who was eager for marriage, but he cancels the wedding so casually to walk in a park with XF? This is not the action of a man who wants marriage. Usually, people do not postpone their weddings to go walk in a park with some guy you just met. It would be the opposite. Obviously, his love was not deep or sincere. I saw his mentioning of the reasons as more of a way to assuage his guilt.

I agree some things felt rushed in Ep. 4. I skimmed the source novel just to see how far the TV drama version has covered, and they have covered like 40% of the novel already. I think they cut some of the novel scenes out of the drama. We will have to wait and see what happens for next week in episodes 5 and 6 if they slow the pace down, because if they keep going at this rate, the novel material will be finished way before the 15 episodes.
I agree with you the drama breakup scene was too rushed. It lost some emotional impact. It will be interesting to see what happens next week. It may be that the drama producers shift away from the source novel and start having more original script content. I guess we will see.

No, because it's only Ep. 3. They have to build up and deepen the relationship between Xiao Fan and Shu Lang. Probably won't be caught until the midpoint of the drama.