Deci16

I totally understand, and honestly, I feel the same. I’d love to see QT drop the formality and just call him Fugui with warmth and ease. It would signal a shift in their dynamic, something more personal, more emotionally open. But I sense that QT’s at this moment is still trying to reach him. His name carries weight to her because it represents a quiet plea to bridge the distance between them. She hasn’t been given permission to call him anything more familiar, and she’s not presumptuous enough to push it, but I’m rooting for that moment.

Fu Gui is a demon slayer and QT knows that. She also knows that QC isn’t just her brother anymore, he’s a vessel for something dangerous, something that’s already hurt people. QT had no guarantee that Fu Gui wouldn’t make a split-second decision to kill QC if the Black Fox stirred. And why should she? It’s not about doubting Fu Gui’s heart, it’s about recognizing the impossible position he’s in. QT’s leaving with QC was a desperate act of agency and not romantic at all. She’s lived with the guilt of letting QC fall once already. This time, she chose to bear the risk herself. To take responsibility.

QT's romantic choice has always been Fugui, and the story shows it through her actions, not just words. She chose to stay with him after he turned her human, went into seclusion to nurse him back to health, and never once reached out to her brother during that time. When it mattered most, she gave up her demon core to protect Fugui from Madame Yin this was her act of love.

When QT says, “our dream,” she’s not talking about the version of QC who murdered and manipulated. She’s remembering the time when they were just two spider demons trapped under Madame Yin, dreaming of a world where they could live freely and safely. QT recalling this dream isn’t excusing him; it’s her way of grieving the brother she lost long before he died. She’s not saying he deserved that dream, she’s saying she still believes in it, even if he didn’t.

She’s not honoring what QC became, she’s mourning who he once was. That “our dream” line isn’t romantic or forgiving; it’s a nod to the bond they shared as spider demons surviving Madame Yin captivity and dreaming of freedom. QC twisted that dream into something monstrous, but QT still believes in it. She’s reclaiming it, not for QC, but for herself, for Fugui, and for everyone. So, she’s not romanticizing QC; she’s reckoning with the heartbreak of watching someone she once protected become someone she had to escape.

What you’re seeing isn’t romantic longing, it’s grief. QT isn’t “missing” QC because she secretly loved him in that way. She’s mourning the brother she grew up with, the one she survived Madame Yin’s captivity with, the one she couldn’t save from the Black Fox’s manipulation. That kind of guilt runs deep. QC’s obsession with her was clearly romantic and controlling, but QT never reciprocated. She consistently chose Fugui, emotionally, spiritually, and narratively.

That’s a fair critique about screen time distribution, I didn’t like it either, but I’d gently push back on the idea that the emotional weight between QT and QC is misplaced or poorly written. You’re right that spider demons wouldn’t mirror human family dynamics. But that doesn’t mean they don’t feel a deep sense of familyhood. QT and QC survived Madame Yin’s captivity together. That kind of shared trauma creates a bond that’s instinctive and protective. So, while the screen time may feel imbalanced, it’s narratively justified.

What’s so wrong about reminiscing a dream shared with a deceased brother? Her recalling their shared dream in that moment isn’t a sign of romantic longing, it’s a sign of mourning a brother she couldn’t save. It’s her way of honoring what they once hoped for.

I think it’s only fair that Qingtong is allowed space to grieve. She had consistently chosen Fugui when it truly mattered, over and over again, even when the stakes were life and death. So, her brother’s death naturally weighs on her, because she feels the guilt of not being there to guide him when the Black Fox twisted his path.

Just some thoughts I want to share. QT’s decision not to reach out to her brother during her time with Fugui wasn’t necessarily due to neglect. She was operating under the belief that Madame Yin still saw her as a pawn, and that maintaining that illusion was the only way to keep her brother safe. In that context, silence to her was strategic.

The two months she spent nursing Fugui were meant to be a pause in a life of constant threat. Fugui had just sacrificed greatly for her, and QT, shaped by years of captivity and survival, responded with loyalty and care. That doesn’t mean she forgot her brother; it means she was prioritizing Fugui safety and peace. We see this same instinct again when she was confronted by Madame Yin. QT willingly sacrificed her demon core to ensure that Fugui remained safe. Her choices were always about shielding those she loved, even at great personal cost.

She consistently refers to him as “Master Fugui” throughout the original manhua. This dynamic isn’t uncommon in C-dramas. Sometimes, “Master” is simply a respectful term for someone who has served as a mentor or teacher, though the power imbalance it implies can still feel jarring depending on context.

Thank goodness there are still reasonable viewers here.

I still have faith that the best parts are still ahead in the remaining episodes. I’m taking a break from Weibo this week to enjoy the story in peace.

The constant fandom bickering is really making it hard to enjoy the show. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with the script, the story is unfolding just fine. What frustrates me is the knee-jerk reaction some fans have after watching short previews. They jump to conclusions, make assumptions, and then use those assumptions to attack the actors. They claim to be criticizing the script, but underneath it all, there’s this subtle blame placed on the leads, as if they somehow failed to portray their roles.

I’m a fan of both Cheng Yi and Li Yi Tong and have supported them equally. Both are genuinely kind, hardworking, and humble people who usually stay out of drama, yet some fans somehow keep dragging them into it.

This is an unverified rumor meant to stir fan wars between fandoms. Let’s not spread baseless claims.

Aside from her brother’s unhealthy attachment and desire to keep her close, she has no real reason to believe he would physically harm her and she does confront him when he lies.

The Chinese entertainment industry doesn’t always reward skill alone; marketing, agency push, timing, and project choices all play massive roles in who “blows up.” There are plenty of very popular actors with limited acting range, and equally many talented ones who build slower, steadier careers.

Li Yitong may not have skyrocketed in fame overnight, but she’s consistently earned praise from directors, industry professionals, and audiences who value nuanced acting. Discrediting her ability simply because she didn’t become a household name as fast as others feels unfair. Longevity and steady growth, without scandals or hype machines can also speak to an actor’s strength and professionalism.

I hear you, not every performance lands the same way for everyone, especially in emotional scenes, and your reaction is valid.

That said, A Dream Within a Dream is just one type of role for Li Yitong. That character is written to be restrained and slowly revealing, so the emotions aren’t always big or immediate, some viewers connect with that subtlety, some don’t.

To judge her range fairly, it really helps to see her in works like Royal Nirvana, Bloody Romance, or Sword and Beloved, where she shows very different emotional colors and depth. That’s why so many people in the industry consider her extremely versatile.

My only intent was to point out that her range becomes much clearer across her body of work, and even later in this drama as the emotional beats deepen. It wasn’t meant as a “you’re wrong,” but more of a “there’s more context you might enjoy discovering.”

I’m glad you’re open to seeing how her performance evolves and I hope some of her other roles surprise you in a good way.

I hear you, and I do agree that everyone can have different perceptions.

My point isn’t to shut down opinions, it’s just to highlight that forming a definitive judgment about an actor’s range after only seeing one drama is naturally going to be incomplete. That’s not invalidating someone’s view, it’s a reasonable reminder that context matters.

People are absolutely free to feel differently about a performance, but when someone states something as a conclusion rather than a personal impression, it’s fair to respond with examples and perspective. I’m not trying to convince everyone to love her, just encouraging a broader view before labeling her range.