I'll add in costume dramas :2017 The Glory of Tang Dynasty - RJL as ML : Li Chu (Tang Dynasty Emperor Daizong)…
For the wrap of the drama, it's endearing to see how RJL and the child actor who portrays ZaiZai, interacted as father and son even after end of shooting. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XQkwk7SWKcU
Of course, RJL is a dad in real life of a 7 year old boy born on or just before 2 February 2018 (date when he announced on Weibo his fatherhood with a small hand nestling into his), and in events where there are kids he shows his care and attention to them.
But he protects his family efficiently, as he should, not revealing his son's name, all the while having been so bold to let known early on his dating for 5 years Nie Huan 聂欢, whom he married probably in 2016. Her only involvement in c-ent is rumored to be monitoring her husband's contracts and forbidding too intimate kissing scenes 🤣 : RJL is known as the actor who only kisses with his eyes! With this not inconsiderable handicap, he is still an "idol" with 25.827 million followers on his Weibo social media and 1.5 million followers on his personal studio social media.
I have not seen any indication that he plans to retire? He has actually three albums released, some with video parts in "33" and "36". These days he is preparing for the end of year CCTV gala. He has appeared, singing and dancing, on quite a number of stages in 2025. More about him (mostly focusing on three dramas) on this already old 2021 "Ultra fan guide" from MDL : https://news.mydramalist.com/article/an-ultra-fan-guide-to-ren-jia-lun which could use some updating and completing info to be a true fan guide, but that is my opinion, it's an introduction which misses a lot ...
After One and only-forever and ever -Zhou Sheng ChenLove of nirvana- wei zhaoMiss crow with mr lizard - gu chuanThe…
I'll add in costume dramas : 2017 The Glory of Tang Dynasty - RJL as ML : Li Chu (Tang Dynasty Emperor Daizong) 2017 Detective Dee - RJL played ML role as Di Ren Jie 2018 The Destiny of White Snake - Zi Xuan / Xu Xuan 2019 Under The Power - Lu Yi 2020 Love of A Lifetime - Na Lan Yue / Lin Jing
and not to forget the Republican Era spy thriller 2020 Autumn Cicada - Ye Chong and the fantasy Republican Era immortal story (paired with with Li Qin) 2022 Thousand Years For You - Lu Yan
Of course, I have a particular soft spot for his Zhousheng Chen and his burning hot gazes in the duology One and Only + Forever and Ever. --- Besides which, I like his soft ballads and rap and hiphop songs and his personal albums since the first one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyJHkbbVlnE&list=PLyxLWKYPCuTgooalHdY1pyGpnSCSnvVUq)
--- Perhaps I am a 嘉人 fan? or more mildly, a 嘉人 fandom explorer... since I watched .... Avenue X's video about him🤣 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ngz2l8WYL0) although I don't agree with all her opinions about drama actors or actresses. She dislikes on principle "idols" such as Z.Tao who also was born in Qingdao (RJL and HZT both were trained as martial artists very young btw but not same time same place, Qingdao is not a small city), She also jabbed at Autumn Cicada, for which she made a disparaging video - but although I do agree Silent Tides is light years better than that old one, I think AC is not totally forgettable. Fun thing is AvX did not hate young RJL when she compiled her now old 2020 biographical video. She came out as a real fan of his, including her laughs about his unfiltered quotes from the past, and as positively idolizing -yes- his benevolent gazes🤣🤣🤣. There are some of those too in Silent Tides, of course. It's a pity AvX now only dismisses him after watching only a few episodes in her "collective review" of Dec18, because "there was a too long gap between episodes leaving weekends out" and she prefers heavier ones (which are also worth the watch in the "anti Japanese war memorial items" bag of 2025 dramas. Look for https://kisskh.at/785144-731 if you are in for really hard stuff - it's the same director as last year's Escape from the Trilateral slopes, which was quite good). So, to justify her skipping, she did not find better than to jab at Allen's portrayal of He Xian... while admitting that the opening episodes were good ways of introducing the character: go figure, well, everyone knows this lady has grown to hate some "idols" or "traffic actors" as she terms it. She is throwing everyone under the bus there, only mildly excepting Tan Jianci for his wonderful Filter of early 2025 and LYN for ADWAD (well, I agree that these two were on my rave list of the year too... Sometimes I reject AvX's opinions totally, sometimes we do see eye to eye.)
Too late for Merry Christmas or Hanukah, but let's wish all those who have time on their hands to enjoy this remarkable Silent Tides drama on first watch or rewatch, a very Happy New Year 🎆
Drama of the year for me. Perfect writing, acting and directing. I hope more Cdramas are written like this.
Agree. Totally gripping. A financial thriller so well made !! I caught it late, but am literally binge watching, hoping to catch up to express package tomorrow, lol. Although, as AleksandraSukur wrote below, pauses are needed between couples of episodes, designed to keep tension without abating.
Even though there're only 2-3 women involved, they hold their roles well. Guys are so good too. The drama gives me vibes of War of Faith (the other excellent 1940s war and economics+spy drama, which was also very much lauded last year, for which Wang Yibo should have got an award at the Golden Rooster, but had to bow to Wang Yang then - although Wang Yibo did take with him more than a handful other distinctions) . Silent Tides is a drama that not only entertains, but also enlightens about events in that important period which has repercussions in today's world affairs.
Also, it is another one that focuses on Macau in a more serious way than just painting it as a quaint colorful holiday and gambling den (I had started looking out for the dramas in the recent "Macau" series : I had liked the 2024 romcom Begin Again featuring Elvis Han and many places in the present day city) or a haven for gangsters (like in 2019 The Thunder, that featured Johnny Huang as police anti-drug officer) - Well, we also get gangs in Silent Tides, but they are not all bad there, they have ethics!! :)
Ok, pause finished, carrot cake and cup of tea sustaining my next episodes watching!
the box of gold , it's the standard or common procedure if one wanna married someone daughter ~ it's traditional…
not used in my (Chinese) family or social circle, lol Properties are more important than gold. Perhaps everyone is not that traditional in the later 20th and early 21st century to go for cups of tea and box of gold to propose in respectful manner.
The end episode tried to tie together some loose ends into reconciliation and getting the young people characters from ep.1-18 back together as bridesmaids and grooms. I thought it was a bit perfunctory, wondering why the parents did not budge from Canada, and the observatory colleagues seemed excluded from the wedding celebration.
So I agree with those who liked the first part for its sizzle that relatively well matched the drama title, whereas unfortunately, I was not really enthusiastic about the second part. It blurs together with repeated flashbacks.
I felt the age difference in first part and even the sudden barging into her father's family then was less problematic than the ghosting for.... SIX YEARS? No sane young lady would accept such a disrespectful way of treating her. Besides which, robbing her of her pet and of her dream of starting (herself) a café, only to hand it over almost perfunctorily after she got back with him despite her very understandable anger at the cold treatment (which even involved colluding with their friends to keep her in the dark). So, Mumu got an explanation and accepted that the reasons were that he was in too much pain and did not want to inflict that pain second hand on her. But it did not feel very plausible.
My attention was mildly awoken by Mumu's mention of her love for "phoenix trees" which are London plane trees (locally known as wutong trees in Nanjing, where they are indeed famous but just as much as those that line the avenues in the former French part of Shanghai) and the visit up Zhongshan steep and high hill, although the drama (and novel?) skipped MeiLing's mansion below the Sun Yatsen mausoleum. Of course, Soong ChingLing's sister remains controversial in China, since she was married to Jiang Jieshi (Tchang Kaishek) who built that mansion for her in the design of the heart of a jewel (best seen from above by drones today, which make the contrasting foliage apparent).
The visit to the observatory could have been longer, since that too was of some importance both visually and to the plot, since "ZhaoZhao" was as much drawn to space as "Mumu" - but that is not best shown there. The visuals related to space mostly rely on Lego rocket models, a sweet latte design in a coffee cup, and an observation (on top of the Nanjing City wall although they are supposed to climb in from the observatory - I suppose the drama blurred together Zhonghua gate and Purple Mountain Observatory?) of sun and moon together in the sky, but with eyes looking away from that moon.
The grocery buying at the (night?) market started funnily in ep27 with Jin Zhao and Lin Sui (who I would have liked to see more of; he was one of the really good looking hunks there): He Yu and Mike Angelo were same height, same pace, looking so purposeful that I felt let down when they ended mentioning having been purchasing... balut (what the symbolic relevance was at that mention, is beyond me, there? Also, I can't remember ever having seen balut as a common treat in Nanjing : it is decidedly a southern one, mostly all the way in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines.)
I was also a bit puzzled by the sudden appearance of dowry gold brought (in a medium size red box that was not even looked at by the parents of Jiang Mu). After all, the young man was perhaps reasonably wealthy but not like a royal from costume dramas or like an overbearing überrich CEO from vertical ones bringing in an army of bodyguards/assistants (oh: we did get one assistant dropped in before, to "help with moving") to overwhelm future in laws with his wealth, and the parents were not looking greedy, ready to pounce on the dowry to keep it for themselves as in common tropes there.
By the way, does he ever explain to her the significance of that necklace that she’s wearing and has worn since…
I seem to remember it was her observatory colleague-supervisor who explained it to her over coffee, noticing the necklace as something that was in fashion in elder generations (it was indeed Jin Zhao's only heirloom from his birth mother, whom he remembered faintly from before being adopted into the Jin family despite the opposition of Mumu's mother.)
he ghosted her for 6 years its kinda deserved actually 🤣 its his turn to chase and grovel.
well he abducted the dog. She had cried a lot over its supposed loss (a lie). And he did not answer when she directly asked about his marital status (since he had let spread the lie that he was married with a family abroad). That could be interpreted as someone trying to play a double game. So, it is totally understandable that she countered with a possible future wedding.
She also knew about the lies and deliberate snub of his visit to his family, as if he had something going on that he did not want to share with her.
Besides, he still felt reluctant to give his contact info, as he should even as "just a friend" instead of leaving her to ask through staff or demand the contact, unsure if it was true or another snub. Enough to break her heart again? But at 26, ladies are more level headed and if they break relations, it is not to come back like a dog or bitch to be called and shooed away at the whim of the young lord, even if there were treasured common memories. She may realize he wronged and slighted her, rather than letting her fly free (hate it when people do that "for the other party's good" : it is first and foremost selfish to lord it this way over someone's future, and ghosting as he did is not good behavior toward someone supposedly respected and liked).
Also, perhaps he thought he made her dream come true, when he had that coffee shop set up, but it was her dream, and he sold what she liked to anyone for coin. Even if it did not make money, she might feel like she had been stripped of more hopes and dreams by his unilateral actions.
Enough for the little lady to have the beginning of a temper and a grudge on top of mere doubts.
Plus, he does not look as hot at 30-some as he did in Thailand, lol, when he did the near or full shirtless scenes showing attractive muscles and abs, well oiled. (lol, I've been so spoiled by DGZ and CTK... I'm totally into the aesthetic value of that sort, especially in our wild day and age where bodies are looked at like treats and eye candy. The dun outfit in the first missed street encounter and the too bland one up on the terrace don't do He Yu much good).
It is time the daydreamer look more seriously into other options? Not to experience life but to live it at last, after having put it on hold because of her fantasies and memories? Find a hotter 27 guy closer to her age and her interests, like the guy who went to Beijing or somebody new? That's what realistically would happen in such case. But since this a fairy tale, I suppose they'll hitch back together after some psychodrama. 7 episodes. Well, since I started, I'll finish.
Oops. So apparently they dressed him up as a female when he was younger.
fleetingly seen in girly outfit and hair in one episode only? But that would not necessarily mean seriously "raised as female" except in the synopsis provided to fit with the matriarchy idea.
I have been waiting to add this on MDL!!Its super spicy! Never seen this Male lead so dangerously handsome! He…
FL is Zhāng Qiūzǐ 張楸梓 - no Douban or Baidu actress page, unknown on dramawiki and MDL, but another (Chinese) site mentions she graduated from Nanjing University of the Arts, is 166cm tall, debuted in 2024, and plays in vertical dramas since 2025.
The vibe absolutely is, and our male lead actor is a younger, prettier, and more intense Jerry Yan.
Oh yes, He Yu has me giggling, with curled toes, even though I've been spoiled with a regimen of micro dramas featuring actors with spectacular physiques (Cao Tiankai, Wang Nan, etc, after Dai Gaozheng, Jesse Ren etc in mini dramas ). I too valued the smoldering scenes in The Forbidden Flower : Xu Ruohan and Jerry Yan were perfect there 🤣🤣🤣
Enjoying Speed and Love drama, so far! Esther's outfits and hair clips are cute. Road rage and boxing fights are thrillingly depicted, and revived feelings of old Hong Kong martial arts movies, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, ... Kill Bill! 🤣 Watching Esther performing some "taekwondo" moves was also a funny surprise. Besides, as a night time long distance driver on fast motorways, or mountain roads, there is a lot that brings memories back to me and I agree with some of the observations and tips from the dad.
The setting in Mandalay (Man Shi) also drew my attention. I was worried for the crew when news broke on March 28 of the 7.7 temblor that caused thousands of death and many irremediable destruction, but fortunately shooting was already almost over by then and the drama had anyway been primarily filmed in Nanjing and Hainan, China, as well as in Bangkok, Thailand (which did suffer too from the earthquake, which had repercussions in a wide area : Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, India and Yunnan experienced damages). The crew did not shoot in Mandalay, I think, during the November 22, 2024 to April 2, 2025 filming, which drew lots of attention for almost drama-like gossip, including bad blood from car director and rumors of bullying, news that Victor Ma Boqian had prepared to play SML as boxer but was replaced by Casper (if I am not mistaken). Enough prior info to get cautiously curious.
About the characters, they are a bit childish, especially Jiang Mu, and the one who plays the dad of Jin Zhao /Brandy looks far too young, in my opinion. But there are a slew of young male actors with eye candy faces and physiques.
this one disappeared off of youtube immediately..title: 以他为陷 (the hidden snare)ml: huang boml: hu wenle…
Perhaps it's too early to get it in the list, since it aired on Dec.5 (70 eps.) Peruser's link is fine. 172 mins 29, Dual Ch + Eng subtitles
It is a revenge story that was quite appreciated. Huang Bo plays the villain. English title The Hidden Snare Chinese title :以他为陷 (Using him as a trap) Here is the plot according to Douban (translation): "Xin Lei was once Xie Yuchuan's "dog" to be summoned at will, trampled upon at his mercy. Three years earlier, her younger brother, Xin Yu, was tragically killed by the Xie family while trying to save her, and she vowed revenge. Xin Lei returned to the Xie family as their secretary, feigning compliance and using her beauty as a weapon, teaming up with Xie Yuchuan's assistant, Chi Mo, to gradually sow discord within their powerful alliance, leading to Lin Qiao's imprisonment, the housekeeper's dismissal, her father's loss of power, and her close friend Lü Yan's defection. When Xie Yuchuan was abandoned by everyone, Xin Lei revealed the truth at her brother's grave: all the gentleness was a trap. The devastated Xie Yuchuan attempted suicide, but was surrounded by the police. Finally, Xin Lei broke down in tears in Chi Mo's arms, sunlight filtering through the snow-covered sky, the revenge ending, and the beginning of a new life." Douban drama page : https://movie.douban.com/subject/37895723/ which also has the drama poster
There is a small mistake in the plot summary of the Xu Xu drama : it is a rookie female doctor who examines the patient , mistaking his request and looking further down when he was worried about his kidneys. Thank you for the links you shared, I had a go at the first one which is full version with dual Chinese and English subtitles 😊 btw I noticed that this vertical micro drama is now added in the filmography. So those who watch can also comment on it on that drama page and give it a rating. 😊
New link for this onehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZfzMQCdw-c
This one is: Barbell and Waves / 杠铃与浪花 (Sept.22, 2025) ML Zhao Guanyu / 赵冠宇 as Xu Canyang, the traumatized swimmer FL Lin Zirong / 林籽蓉 as Lin Xiafan, the weightlifter Plot : When a scumbag publicly humiliates Xiafan taunting her to be too muscular and ugly like a "dinosaur girl," who won't find a dancing partner for the school event, she bursts out that she has a more handsome suitor. She shows as proof a photograph she took at the swimming pool—only to be caught red-handed by Xu Canyang, the person in the photo! Forced to become his "little follower," in exchange for his promise to not let her lose face, she doesn't know that this sharp-tongued campus heartthrob is actually the skinny little monkey she used to bully when she was a child; nor does he recognize her as the "chubby devil" who once protected him.
2 
5 
1 
1 
1 
Of course, RJL is a dad in real life of a 7 year old boy born on or just before 2 February 2018 (date when he announced on Weibo his fatherhood with a small hand nestling into his), and in events where there are kids he shows his care and attention to them.
But he protects his family efficiently, as he should, not revealing his son's name, all the while having been so bold to let known early on his dating for 5 years Nie Huan 聂欢, whom he married probably in 2016. Her only involvement in c-ent is rumored to be monitoring her husband's contracts and forbidding too intimate kissing scenes 🤣 : RJL is known as the actor who only kisses with his eyes! With this not inconsiderable handicap, he is still an "idol" with 25.827 million followers on his Weibo social media and 1.5 million followers on his personal studio social media.
I have not seen any indication that he plans to retire?
He has actually three albums released, some with video parts in "33" and "36". These days he is preparing for the end of year CCTV gala. He has appeared, singing and dancing, on quite a number of stages in 2025.
More about him (mostly focusing on three dramas) on this already old 2021 "Ultra fan guide" from MDL : https://news.mydramalist.com/article/an-ultra-fan-guide-to-ren-jia-lun which could use some updating and completing info to be a true fan guide, but that is my opinion, it's an introduction which misses a lot ...
2017 The Glory of Tang Dynasty - RJL as ML : Li Chu (Tang Dynasty Emperor Daizong)
2017 Detective Dee - RJL played ML role as Di Ren Jie
2018 The Destiny of White Snake - Zi Xuan / Xu Xuan
2019 Under The Power - Lu Yi
2020 Love of A Lifetime - Na Lan Yue / Lin Jing
and not to forget the Republican Era spy thriller
2020 Autumn Cicada - Ye Chong
and the fantasy Republican Era immortal story (paired with with Li Qin)
2022 Thousand Years For You - Lu Yan
Of course, I have a particular soft spot for his Zhousheng Chen and his burning hot gazes in the duology One and Only + Forever and Ever.
---
Besides which, I like his soft ballads and rap and hiphop songs and his personal albums since the first one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyJHkbbVlnE&list=PLyxLWKYPCuTgooalHdY1pyGpnSCSnvVUq)
My favorites among his songs :
Who ? 谁 ? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrZFGcGYjtU) ;
He / 他, his wistful song about his family when he grew up as Ren Guochao (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDFvPsrG4k) ;
Youth Like You 少年如你 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hblS50-tHfM) ;
Diamond 钻石 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfIXCnja_g) ;
Dreamers Never Sleep (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnedy5BOrHo) ;
+ his take on Pipa Xing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HJYUrL6wU4) ;
his cover of the 葉里Ye Li gufeng song about Li Bai (I like the original too): 谪仙 Immortal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whjwgKSHpWU) ;
But also his OST songs :
荣耀 from The Glory of Tang Dynasty (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTcPBpkPKVU) ;
心牆 from Under The Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGV6nMWBoCc) ;
分身 from Autumn Cicada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CQLU7T-HNM) ;
如一 from One and Only (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgiGWwQQn7Q);
吾 from Thousand Years For You ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QwFnsVXyBE )
---
Perhaps I am a 嘉人 fan?
or more mildly, a 嘉人 fandom explorer... since I watched .... Avenue X's video about him🤣 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ngz2l8WYL0)
although I don't agree with all her opinions about drama actors or actresses. She dislikes on principle "idols" such as Z.Tao who also was born in Qingdao (RJL and HZT both were trained as martial artists very young btw but not same time same place, Qingdao is not a small city), She also jabbed at Autumn Cicada, for which she made a disparaging video - but although I do agree Silent Tides is light years better than that old one, I think AC is not totally forgettable.
Fun thing is AvX did not hate young RJL when she compiled her now old 2020 biographical video. She came out as a real fan of his, including her laughs about his unfiltered quotes from the past, and as positively idolizing -yes- his benevolent gazes🤣🤣🤣. There are some of those too in Silent Tides, of course.
It's a pity AvX now only dismisses him after watching only a few episodes in her "collective review" of Dec18, because "there was a too long gap between episodes leaving weekends out" and she prefers heavier ones (which are also worth the watch in the "anti Japanese war memorial items" bag of 2025 dramas. Look for https://kisskh.at/785144-731 if you are in for really hard stuff - it's the same director as last year's Escape from the Trilateral slopes, which was quite good).
So, to justify her skipping, she did not find better than to jab at Allen's portrayal of He Xian... while admitting that the opening episodes were good ways of introducing the character: go figure, well, everyone knows this lady has grown to hate some "idols" or "traffic actors" as she terms it. She is throwing everyone under the bus there, only mildly excepting Tan Jianci for his wonderful Filter of early 2025 and LYN for ADWAD (well, I agree that these two were on my rave list of the year too... Sometimes I reject AvX's opinions totally, sometimes we do see eye to eye.)
Too late for Merry Christmas or Hanukah, but let's wish all those who have time on their hands to enjoy this remarkable Silent Tides drama on first watch or rewatch, a very Happy New Year 🎆
Even though there're only 2-3 women involved, they hold their roles well. Guys are so good too. The drama gives me vibes of War of Faith (the other excellent 1940s war and economics+spy drama, which was also very much lauded last year, for which Wang Yibo should have got an award at the Golden Rooster, but had to bow to Wang Yang then - although Wang Yibo did take with him more than a handful other distinctions) .
Silent Tides is a drama that not only entertains, but also enlightens about events in that important period which has repercussions in today's world affairs.
Also, it is another one that focuses on Macau in a more serious way than just painting it as a quaint colorful holiday and gambling den (I had started looking out for the dramas in the recent "Macau" series : I had liked the 2024 romcom Begin Again featuring Elvis Han and many places in the present day city) or a haven for gangsters (like in 2019 The Thunder, that featured Johnny Huang as police anti-drug officer) - Well, we also get gangs in Silent Tides, but they are not all bad there, they have ethics!! :)
Ok, pause finished, carrot cake and cup of tea sustaining my next episodes watching!
Properties are more important than gold.
Perhaps everyone is not that traditional in the later 20th and early 21st century to go for cups of tea and box of gold to propose in respectful manner.
So I agree with those who liked the first part for its sizzle that relatively well matched the drama title, whereas unfortunately, I was not really enthusiastic about the second part. It blurs together with repeated flashbacks.
I felt the age difference in first part and even the sudden barging into her father's family then was less problematic than the ghosting for.... SIX YEARS? No sane young lady would accept such a disrespectful way of treating her. Besides which, robbing her of her pet and of her dream of starting (herself) a café, only to hand it over almost perfunctorily after she got back with him despite her very understandable anger at the cold treatment (which even involved colluding with their friends to keep her in the dark). So, Mumu got an explanation and accepted that the reasons were that he was in too much pain and did not want to inflict that pain second hand on her. But it did not feel very plausible.
My attention was mildly awoken by Mumu's mention of her love for "phoenix trees" which are London plane trees (locally known as wutong trees in Nanjing, where they are indeed famous but just as much as those that line the avenues in the former French part of Shanghai) and the visit up Zhongshan steep and high hill, although the drama (and novel?) skipped MeiLing's mansion below the Sun Yatsen mausoleum. Of course, Soong ChingLing's sister remains controversial in China, since she was married to Jiang Jieshi (Tchang Kaishek) who built that mansion for her in the design of the heart of a jewel (best seen from above by drones today, which make the contrasting foliage apparent).
The visit to the observatory could have been longer, since that too was of some importance both visually and to the plot, since "ZhaoZhao" was as much drawn to space as "Mumu" - but that is not best shown there. The visuals related to space mostly rely on Lego rocket models, a sweet latte design in a coffee cup, and an observation (on top of the Nanjing City wall although they are supposed to climb in from the observatory - I suppose the drama blurred together Zhonghua gate and Purple Mountain Observatory?) of sun and moon together in the sky, but with eyes looking away from that moon.
The grocery buying at the (night?) market started funnily in ep27 with Jin Zhao and Lin Sui (who I would have liked to see more of; he was one of the really good looking hunks there): He Yu and Mike Angelo were same height, same pace, looking so purposeful that I felt let down when they ended mentioning having been purchasing... balut (what the symbolic relevance was at that mention, is beyond me, there? Also, I can't remember ever having seen balut as a common treat in Nanjing : it is decidedly a southern one, mostly all the way in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines.)
I was also a bit puzzled by the sudden appearance of dowry gold brought (in a medium size red box that was not even looked at by the parents of Jiang Mu). After all, the young man was perhaps reasonably wealthy but not like a royal from costume dramas or like an overbearing überrich CEO from vertical ones bringing in an army of bodyguards/assistants (oh: we did get one assistant dropped in before, to "help with moving") to overwhelm future in laws with his wealth, and the parents were not looking greedy, ready to pounce on the dowry to keep it for themselves as in common tropes there.
And he did not answer when she directly asked about his marital status (since he had let spread the lie that he was married with a family abroad). That could be interpreted as someone trying to play a double game.
So, it is totally understandable that she countered with a possible future wedding.
She also knew about the lies and deliberate snub of his visit to his family, as if he had something going on that he did not want to share with her.
Besides, he still felt reluctant to give his contact info, as he should even as "just a friend" instead of leaving her to ask through staff or demand the contact, unsure if it was true or another snub. Enough to break her heart again? But at 26, ladies are more level headed and if they break relations, it is not to come back like a dog or bitch to be called and shooed away at the whim of the young lord, even if there were treasured common memories. She may realize he wronged and slighted her, rather than letting her fly free (hate it when people do that "for the other party's good" : it is first and foremost selfish to lord it this way over someone's future, and ghosting as he did is not good behavior toward someone supposedly respected and liked).
Also, perhaps he thought he made her dream come true, when he had that coffee shop set up, but it was her dream, and he sold what she liked to anyone for coin. Even if it did not make money, she might feel like she had been stripped of more hopes and dreams by his unilateral actions.
Enough for the little lady to have the beginning of a temper and a grudge on top of mere doubts.
Plus, he does not look as hot at 30-some as he did in Thailand, lol, when he did the near or full shirtless scenes showing attractive muscles and abs, well oiled. (lol, I've been so spoiled by DGZ and CTK... I'm totally into the aesthetic value of that sort, especially in our wild day and age where bodies are looked at like treats and eye candy. The dun outfit in the first missed street encounter and the too bland one up on the terrace don't do He Yu much good).
It is time the daydreamer look more seriously into other options? Not to experience life but to live it at last, after having put it on hold because of her fantasies and memories? Find a hotter 27 guy closer to her age and her interests, like the guy who went to Beijing or somebody new?
That's what realistically would happen in such case. But since this a fairy tale, I suppose they'll hitch back together after some psychodrama.
7 episodes. Well, since I started, I'll finish.
But that would not necessarily mean seriously "raised as female" except in the synopsis provided to fit with the matriarchy idea.
As for the other actress, I don't know.
8 episodes released on Dec.18
I too valued the smoldering scenes in The Forbidden Flower : Xu Ruohan and Jerry Yan were perfect there 🤣🤣🤣
Enjoying Speed and Love drama, so far! Esther's outfits and hair clips are cute. Road rage and boxing fights are thrillingly depicted, and revived feelings of old Hong Kong martial arts movies, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, ... Kill Bill! 🤣 Watching Esther performing some "taekwondo" moves was also a funny surprise. Besides, as a night time long distance driver on fast motorways, or mountain roads, there is a lot that brings memories back to me and I agree with some of the observations and tips from the dad.
The setting in Mandalay (Man Shi) also drew my attention. I was worried for the crew when news broke on March 28 of the 7.7 temblor that caused thousands of death and many irremediable destruction, but fortunately shooting was already almost over by then and the drama had anyway been primarily filmed in Nanjing and Hainan, China, as well as in Bangkok, Thailand (which did suffer too from the earthquake, which had repercussions in a wide area : Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, India and Yunnan experienced damages). The crew did not shoot in Mandalay, I think, during the November 22, 2024 to April 2, 2025 filming, which drew lots of attention for almost drama-like gossip, including bad blood from car director and rumors of bullying, news that Victor Ma Boqian had prepared to play SML as boxer but was replaced by Casper (if I am not mistaken). Enough prior info to get cautiously curious.
About the characters, they are a bit childish, especially Jiang Mu, and the one who plays the dad of Jin Zhao /Brandy looks far too young, in my opinion. But there are a slew of young male actors with eye candy faces and physiques.
Peruser's link is fine. 172 mins 29, Dual Ch + Eng subtitles
It is a revenge story that was quite appreciated. Huang Bo plays the villain.
English title The Hidden Snare
Chinese title :以他为陷 (Using him as a trap)
Here is the plot according to Douban (translation):
"Xin Lei was once Xie Yuchuan's "dog" to be summoned at will, trampled upon at his mercy. Three years earlier, her younger brother, Xin Yu, was tragically killed by the Xie family while trying to save her, and she vowed revenge. Xin Lei returned to the Xie family as their secretary, feigning compliance and using her beauty as a weapon, teaming up with Xie Yuchuan's assistant, Chi Mo, to gradually sow discord within their powerful alliance, leading to Lin Qiao's imprisonment, the housekeeper's dismissal, her father's loss of power, and her close friend Lü Yan's defection.
When Xie Yuchuan was abandoned by everyone, Xin Lei revealed the truth at her brother's grave: all the gentleness was a trap. The devastated Xie Yuchuan attempted suicide, but was surrounded by the police. Finally, Xin Lei broke down in tears in Chi Mo's arms, sunlight filtering through the snow-covered sky, the revenge ending, and the beginning of a new life."
Douban drama page : https://movie.douban.com/subject/37895723/
which also has the drama poster
as mentioned by kudzie01 in commentary above
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZBXGFd3v0Q&lc=Ugz4BDYwDMXb4UNTTGJ4AaABAg
Chinese + optional English cc subtitles 1h57'57
Characters/ Cast:
FL Jiang Zhizhi 姜栀枝: Tian Xinya 田欣雅 (Douyin name: Binggan Lala 饼干辣辣)
ML Pei Henian 裴鹤年 fiancé: Cao Tiankai 曹天恺
Lu Sinian 陆斯年 Backup Partner : Wu Tianhao 吴添豪
Xing Xing 邢醒 Childhood Sweetheart : Wei Jiayu 委佳宇
Gu Yuzhi 顾聿之: Yang Chenghan 杨承瀚
fiancé's brother: Mang Fu Xia 莽夫夏
Thank you and Black Peony for the links!
Thank you for the links you shared, I had a go at the first one which is full version with dual Chinese and English subtitles 😊
btw I noticed that this vertical micro drama is now added in the filmography. So those who watch can also comment on it on that drama page and give it a rating. 😊
ML Zhao Guanyu / 赵冠宇 as Xu Canyang, the traumatized swimmer
FL Lin Zirong / 林籽蓉 as Lin Xiafan, the weightlifter
Plot : When a scumbag publicly humiliates Xiafan taunting her to be too muscular and ugly like a "dinosaur girl," who won't find a dancing partner for the school event, she bursts out that she has a more handsome suitor. She shows as proof a photograph she took at the swimming pool—only to be caught red-handed by Xu Canyang, the person in the photo! Forced to become his "little follower," in exchange for his promise to not let her lose face, she doesn't know that this sharp-tongued campus heartthrob is actually the skinny little monkey she used to bully when she was a child; nor does he recognize her as the "chubby devil" who once protected him.
2h20'10 Chinese and English subtitles