Pincolino

Good observation ;)

It's a while since I enjoyed commenting on a series so much, but here I am again:
I really enjoy how they portray Qian's attitude towards romantic relationships. Since he was abused by his mother (hopefully not sexually, but we have seen he was abused physically and emotionally), he doesn't seem to be interested in women, in sex or in romance. Of course, there are people like him in real life, who didn't experience abuse, but are also aromantic and asexual. Since this series will become very romantic and sexual, I assume they make Qian the kind of character who will only open up to someone, when there is a deep emotional connection.
I just wanted to say, that I find it refreshing to see a character who prioritizes his family over romantic relationships. He said to the woman: Sometimes two isn't better than one, implying being alone isn't so bad. So he himself doesn't plan to get married, while telling Yuan "Don't you want to get married?" He is a lone wolf after all, whose life purpose is to create the best life for his siblings (meaning a traditional life). It's really a unique character.

And despite the problematic premise (adoptive-brothers-love) this isn't toxic and sold to us as some fetish story (obsessive lover/ top-bottom stereotypes etc.) to get more views. From the childhood abuse to the problematic love, everything is portrayed in a very serious and emotionally mature way so we can really feel for those characters.

"However, the topic of homosexuality was a nuanced one for them. ... They thought the best way to address it would be to send XY away so he could have more freedom."

I really don't think that homosexuality is the biggest issue here. Qian was planning for a long time to send Yuan abroad, they talked about it in bed. He wasn't happy when Yuan told him he likes boys, but he didn't push him away. Since Qian knows he is the guy Yuan likes, he doesn't even look him in the eye anymore.
The biggest issue still remains that Yuan is in love with his brother/father figure. There was a scene in the earliest episodes with the teacher, who told Qian that Yuan should be more social and participating in club activities. When Qian was sick, and Yuan cared for him, he told him to go out and meet friends. This is a topic that was talked about often, that Yuan is too fixated on Qian. Even Lili, who doesn't know anything yet, said to San Pang that Yuan has only eyes for Qian. I just feel that at this point, both Qian and San Pang think, Yuan's love is nothing else than an unhealthy fixation of a young confused boy whose hormones are out of control. So I assume, they decided to send him away, so this fixation will end, and he will meet new people and see how big the world really is.

I agree with everything else you said, though.

I don't know ... I'm sure he has feelings for Yuan, but I think they are buried so deep ... he himself is not aware of them at this point. I think when Yuan comes back and is an adult, so Qian finally can drop his father/older brother role, he starts to realizing things and will look at their relationship differently. They even said something like this in an interview.

Reminds me of Addicted (hence the title!). It seems some old school popular Chinese novels (maybe even recent ones, I have no idea) are fixated on the concept of obsessive love. I'm not a fan of that, and I'm really glad they are moving away from it.

I have no issues with San Pang. He is the voice of reason, and since Qian was cowardly hiding, someone had to talk to Yuan, and I'm glad he did. Yuan was desperately wishing for a reaction from Qian, and San Pang was the messenger. Since Yuan is still young, for an outsider, this may really look like he is just confused about his feelings. San Pang didn't put into words, what's wrong with the whole relationship, but he didn't have to. He saw them growing up, Qian cared for Yuan much more like a father than an older brother, it's just weird. I think everyone can agree on that. San Pang is protective of both: Qian and Yuan. I especially like how much he thinks about Qian's hardships. There is a scene in the trailer, where he asks Qian if he has feelings too. San Pang is quick to understand the situation. At the moment, it's obvious Qian doesn't want to be involved romantically with Yuan, but later on, when that changes, I'm pretty sure San Pang will support their relationship. They can be glad that they have him. He wants the best for both.

I'm a big fan of the writing and the characters, but Qian not talking to Yuan was very, very questionable and childish. Not even looking at him? I mean, I get Qian 100%. There are some things you just can't deal with. Nobody is perfect, I don't blame him. But I'm surprised about Yuan's strength. His love seems so pure, but that rejection was brutal. Qian should have found a better way to deal with the situation. I'm pretty sure he knows that himself, but again, that was brutal. How is Yuan supposed to feel after that? At least he got him the bracelet.
I loved how Lili was holding onto Qian and not letting him go, until they both talk. How Yuan stepped in and tried to calm her down, so Qian could go. He protected Qian. He behaved much more mature in this situation than his older brother. I also love that, when he kissed him, he was not only drunk, he was also feverish. So he really wasn't right in his head. When watching this scene in the trailer, it looked like the younger brother is obsessive and forceful. He isn't.
And seriously, when he was sitting at the table, Qian came down the stairs, how he immediately looked at him like a puppy, so hopeful he would talk to him - it broke my heart.
Great acting from Kurt Huang throughout the whole episode.

lol, for real?

Good to hear! I honestly don't remember when I watched the last time a Korean Drama with kisses. I'm more into the action/horror genre lately.

I was responding to the wrong person. I just wanted to say that there are some good kisses in Korean BL, very rare, but since even in hetero Korean drama we get fish kisses, they are doing not so bad.

Semantic Error had good kisses, and there is this couple (watch it to the end):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5dVybNsmFs&ab_channel=TaotiLychee

Oh, I honestly can think of many good actors. First (Moonlight Chicken, The Eclipse, Only Friends, Not Me) is a favorite of mine, Krist is also good (though BL isn't really for him), Sam Lin and YU did a good job in We Best Love, Louis in Kiseki Dear to Me is very talented, War from Love Mechanics is good, Gun and Off are good (Off was exceptional in Not Me), Fourth caught my eye in My School President, Mark and Neo are also pretty versatile in their acting ... I wonder who I forgot?

But Kurt Huang's performance in this series as Yuan is really on another level. I'm normally not a superficial person, but I disliked him from the trailer, I don't find him very attractive and something about him was very off-putting, but my opinion about him changed completely. Best casting ever. I like Chris too, but Kurt is stealing the show.

Well, that explains it. Because no, I think we haven't seen that before. But the scenes in MODC were pretty heavy as far as I remember. Especially that first scene between the 2nd couple took me by surprise.

After watching KinnPorsche, Love in The Air, Only Friends I wouldn't know what's the next level ... But those were Thai BLs of course.

Their claims that they will show us such hot scenes like never seen before in Taiwan BL is confusing me a bit, to be honest. I mean, we have seen a lot in other BLs ... how will they top that?

Not sure about best acting (I have seen many good actors), but best script, without a doubt. No competition at this point. The emotions are raw, the characters realistic, the story deep. You're on the edge of your seat and feel with those characters. Their inner turmoil is real, the problems are real, how they handle them is real.

??
You mean it gets worse?
He has a lung issue because of the beating, does he have some brain issues too?
Hopefully not!

The only thing I dislike about this series is how they portray Qian as someone who is in his mid 40s and his bad lifestyle in the past is now catching up to him. He constantly looks tired, has headaches, takes pills, doesn't sleep enough, can't take alcohol and is miserable, because of that. I personally think they are just overdoing it. He is supposed to be in his mid or late 20, come on! Even the worst life doesn't take such a toll on you until you're at least 35. I hope they make him stronger in the later episodes.

Let me guess, they are vaccinated?

Nice to see people have finally woken up. I remember a year ago after such news everyone would be "Stay safe!" "Hopefully she gets better" "Covid is dangerous!"