CP fan service - A reflection to avoid dissapointments I think we have reached a point in the "history" of XuJin that it is important to reflect on what CP fan-service really is. In most cases, a CP (couple pairing) is a professional partnership created to promote a show, attract fans, and build chemistry that keeps audiences hooked. The sweet interactions, matching posts, or affectionate moments we see are often part of a marketing strategy: a blend of acting, friendship, and promotion; rarely a real romance off-screen.
Thailand has turned BL fan-service into a well established business model: actors openly engage in couple content, and fans generally know it’s part of the job. Taiwan, on the other hand, is surprisingly daring; it’s the only place where BL actors have actually kissed on stage during fan meetings pushing the bar even further. Meanwhile, China has massive CP fandoms but operates under strict regulation, so romantic presentation is often coded as “brotherhood.” Despite these differences, all three markets treat CP fan-service as professional performance mixed with marketing, not deception!!!
When a CP like Zhe Xu and Mi Jin move onto solo /hetero roles, it doesn’t mean what we saw was fake. It just means the actors are continuing their careers. This CP gave them exposure, opened new doors, and brought a lot of happiness to fans: that’s already a success story.
At this point, most fandom spaces are full of clear discussions about how CP marketing works. If we keep that awareness, we can still enjoy the ship without turning disappointment into hate when the fantasy fades.
So yes , let's keep shipping, keep enjoying the chemistry , but support both the lovely and funny XuJin CP, and also the individual actors. When we stay aware and rational, we can appreciate CP fan-service for what it truly is: part of the craft, and not a promise of real-life love.
Did we (the audience) manage to "read" the poem with ZiAng. I need to rewatch this part.
Thank you so much! and there is more to think of, to reflect on and to be moved again about it 🙂Come along, it would be really nice to read your comments too.
ZheXu martial arts scene - appreciation. This scene is done entirely by Xu, no stunts. He is amazing. http://xhslink.com/o/5q3hKBsepeL https://x.com/soulpotaetoe/status/1986346493176127581 Behind the scene - I would like to add a comment. I have seen lot of those "compromising" bts videos that people spoke about it, because these always will be filtered. Producers are no naive they know people will share them in social media. There is nothing compromising about it, I can guarantee you this. The "passionate" kiss by ZheXu was nothing else that him giving a forceful kiss in the confession scene, like the one they did in the bridge. The actual kiss was not daring at all. The final cut, the one we see is really lovely, then they separated and then it comes the "french kissing". Another video show them "French kissing" without zooming so again the final cut is much better! What is show is a terrible shy ZheXu with not much experience so he disengaged very quickly and could not look at MiJin in the eyes, but part of this bts, we already have seen. The same when in the second part they implied they made love so there are different approaches, we see them laying in bed hugging, nothing major. The final cut is ZheXu pushing MiJin on the bed, but it actually very sensual what he does. Directors/editors are professional for a reason, what they leave in the cut floor should be left there. We have their artistic vision in the final cut, the one we see. I think they all did an amazing job.
What's your interpretation: Why does Zi Ang care about the poem so much, knowing it was fake? I think that even…
Thank you for the beautiful poem Y. To ZiAn that poem awoke the buried memories of their cherished childhood friend. He was made an assassin, his tenderness was destroyed. But once, he was a good kid, with a heart of gold able to accept little ShuHe and protect him, share with him his secret "house" that was the house of his heart, and he remember this too. As the poem is so romantic, was also a revelation that that childhood warm feelings has made it to adulthood as other kind of love "the bamboo bow still carries the warmth of your fingertips" is a phrase with so much sensuality, no in accordance with a child feelings, but with a lover's one.
Did we (the audience) manage to "read" the poem with ZiAng. I need to rewatch this part.
Wow, that's romantic: The bamboo bow still carries the warmth of your fingertips. We crushed the spring grass on wild paths together. But suddenly, the rivers and mists of the world scattered us apart. Where the tender thread once wrapped my hand — I dare not touch again."
Awww the agency is terrible😔 they released the box set for money knowing that it could harm the artist. I am…
I believe that the bts may not be that "compromising" what is compromising is that BLs are forbidden in China! The series was not release in China but abroad, so Chinese people have been watching illegally through foreign VPNs that is forbidden in China. Just having cuts of a kissing scene/bed scene circulating openly in Chinese social media platforms can get them cancelled.
I hope is just a rumor, I can't imagine the agency releasing anything that could harm them. I hope is not the…
Indeed River, but this just come to prove what I always like to remind people that being gay is "incompatible" with being an actor in China. While the society at large is not homophobic, is very tolerant and homosexuality was decriminalised in China before than in any other Asian country, it is not in the "government agenda". The government is homophobic and associate being gay with improper behaviour and negative values, so it cannot be portrayed in mainstream media.
Last live and box set The link below has the full live. In TikTok there is automatic translation. By the end, somebody asked Jin Jin why his lips where swallow in the bed scene. He said the He doesnt know anything about the bts being released with the box set. They were not informed, but asked the fans not to spread it in case it is not good for them. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdTGDGTG/
Gossip about the Box Set - As soon as the series finished the production company decided to release a box set. My understanding was that it was only photocards about the series. This was the annoucement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaxbLZAYRT/?img_index=1 However, some fans are saying that the box set includes an USB with bts of the series that has not been released. To be honest, fans are creating all sort of gossips and half truths about it, but nobody have said that has actually seen it, not even in China. The gossip is that the bts is very compromising to the CP there is even the scene in which ZheXu broke MiJin lip but my understanding was it was accidental and nothing to do with kissing. Other people are saying that each card has comments about the bts but nobody is showing the actual phrases behind the cards. Anyway, if anybody knows more please share it here. This person is showing the box she has just received, where is the USB? https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985630072355897691
Warning: I have just seen a previous post, careful with those that ask you to join chats, and also careful with online/magazine "vote for" competition. Most of them have not relevance and some of them are a total scam.
The live series is a re-telling of the novel. Even the name of the characters have been changed. There is not…
DZA was dying. All the elite assassins die in their prime. Nobody understands what exactly they are given during their training to outperform themselves. He was kept alive by the doctor who managed to control the symptoms of his illness, but he was just about surviving. He died immediately after ShuHe because of the grief. It is a similar image to Romeo & Juliet.
does anyone know how the novel end? like did he follow him IMMEDIATELY.. was it suicide? .. what happend in novel…
The live series is a re-telling of the novel. Even the name of the characters have been changed. There is not an official English translation available. The most important is that the characters in the live drama, ShuHe and Duan ZiAng, are a exclusive gay couple who never took wives and/or lovers, which make for a very powerful love story. Additionally, in both courts (North and South) their relationship was not a secret. To answer your specific question, the ending is very similar in both the live and the novel.
XuJin "Polaroids" - Some images they took during filming are being giving away with the Arena magazine. They tell a story of their own. Everything could have gone different as Mi Jin was not the first choice to play ShuHe. ZheXu was chosen first than anybody else to play ZiAng but the other roles were yet to be decided. What was passing through ZheXu head when he already had his eyes on Jin Jin before he was elected. It was not up to him so it was a gamble. I am sure he will have taken the role anyway as he is a professional actor, but imagine, we would not have this perfect CP in the series. Here some links to these images https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985350185518825980 https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985304750477517265 https://x.com/soulpotaetoe/status/1985280280379465912
After the end of episode 8 — what should Zi Ang have done differently to get back together with Shu He?
I was looking for "inspiration" to answer your question Y. I have two scenarios: 1) Before ZiAng killed Crown Prince - In my opinion, ZiAng should have not killed him. He did it out of personal revenge disregarding ShuHe feelings. This was a deal breaker for Shuhe. It means he felt condemned to be the new King and also he has mixed feeling for his brother. ZiAng with his abilities could have stopped Crown Prince from hurting ShuHe ,just by injured him. In this case, Zi Ang should have knocked down ShuHe, took him with him and escaped. He would then spend what it was necessary until ShuHe forgave him and was able to accept him again. 2) As how the episode 8 finished - it was too late for the reasons I wrote above. Letitng the people rebel against ShuHe carry a death sentence. ShuHe was not going to escape. It was his sense of duty and guilt who kept him alive. Once he realised was all over, he would have killed himself. I think ZiAng could have planned taking him secretly captive without the war. E.g Sending double agents, put something in his drink to make him unconscious etc. Maybe in that case, ZiAng would stand a chance to recover ShuHe love, but it would have been really tiny. In this case, ShuHe did not own him nothing (not soldiers to be rescued) so he would have not put himself in a vulnerable position to be his lover again and reignited his feelings.
The more I think about his character development, the more I agree with you Y that his ultimate decision is more…
It is about taking control of his life when deciding over his death. It is also recovering his dignity. He wanted to be free not to escape ZiAng but to choose him for all eternity. I have written this phrase before, but for me that's the clue to understand how much he loved him. He did used this skills on planning the end, but he did it not to save himself pain, but to avoid the pain in others, mainly ZiAng.
1 
1 
I think we have reached a point in the "history" of XuJin that it is important to reflect on what CP fan-service really is. In most cases, a CP (couple pairing) is a professional partnership created to promote a show, attract fans, and build chemistry that keeps audiences hooked. The sweet interactions, matching posts, or affectionate moments we see are often part of a marketing strategy: a blend of acting, friendship, and promotion; rarely a real romance off-screen.
Thailand has turned BL fan-service into a well established business model: actors openly engage in couple content, and fans generally know it’s part of the job. Taiwan, on the other hand, is surprisingly daring; it’s the only place where BL actors have actually kissed on stage during fan meetings pushing the bar even further. Meanwhile, China has massive CP fandoms but operates under strict regulation, so romantic presentation is often coded as “brotherhood.” Despite these differences, all three markets treat CP fan-service as professional performance mixed with marketing, not deception!!!
When a CP like Zhe Xu and Mi Jin move onto solo /hetero roles, it doesn’t mean what we saw was fake. It just means the actors are continuing their careers. This CP gave them exposure, opened new doors, and brought a lot of happiness to fans: that’s already a success story.
At this point, most fandom spaces are full of clear discussions about how CP marketing works. If we keep that awareness, we can still enjoy the ship without turning disappointment into hate when the fantasy fades.
So yes , let's keep shipping, keep enjoying the chemistry , but support both the lovely and funny XuJin CP, and also the individual actors. When we stay aware and rational, we can appreciate CP fan-service for what it truly is: part of the craft, and not a promise of real-life love.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQtkXHyjSoW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://x.com/yunton37496913/status/1986380459803341215
http://xhslink.com/o/5q3hKBsepeL
https://x.com/soulpotaetoe/status/1986346493176127581
Behind the scene - I would like to add a comment. I have seen lot of those "compromising" bts videos that people spoke about it, because these always will be filtered. Producers are no naive they know people will share them in social media. There is nothing compromising about it, I can guarantee you this. The "passionate" kiss by ZheXu was nothing else that him giving a forceful kiss in the confession scene, like the one they did in the bridge. The actual kiss was not daring at all. The final cut, the one we see is really lovely, then they separated and then it comes the "french kissing". Another video show them "French kissing" without zooming so again the final cut is much better! What is show is a terrible shy ZheXu with not much experience so he disengaged very quickly and could not look at MiJin in the eyes, but part of this bts, we already have seen. The same when in the second part they implied they made love so there are different approaches, we see them laying in bed hugging, nothing major. The final cut is ZheXu pushing MiJin on the bed, but it actually very sensual what he does. Directors/editors are professional for a reason, what they leave in the cut floor should be left there. We have their artistic vision in the final cut, the one we see. I think they all did an amazing job.
The bamboo bow still carries the warmth of your fingertips.
We crushed the spring grass on wild paths together.
But suddenly, the rivers and mists of the world scattered us apart.
Where the tender thread once wrapped my hand — I dare not touch again."
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQq7haskb0S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The link below has the full live. In TikTok there is automatic translation. By the end, somebody asked Jin Jin why his lips where swallow in the bed scene. He said the He doesnt know anything about the bts being released with the box set. They were not informed, but asked the fans not to spread it in case it is not good for them.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdTGDGTG/
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQoboeBj4Jk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
another video from Arena magazine? I tried to locate it in Weibo but I could not find it. This is the clip that is circulating in X
https://x.com/nubvgant/status/1985742382210650250
Another mesmerising behind the scene photo with a beautiful fan art
https://x.com/soulpotaetoe/status/1985715807511314886
Gossip about the Box Set - As soon as the series finished the production company decided to release a box set. My understanding was that it was only photocards about the series. This was the annoucement: https://www.instagram.com/p/DOaxbLZAYRT/?img_index=1
However, some fans are saying that the box set includes an USB with bts of the series that has not been released. To be honest, fans are creating all sort of gossips and half truths about it, but nobody have said that has actually seen it, not even in China. The gossip is that the bts is very compromising to the CP there is even the scene in which ZheXu broke MiJin lip but my understanding was it was accidental and nothing to do with kissing. Other people are saying that each card has comments about the bts but nobody is showing the actual phrases behind the cards. Anyway, if anybody knows more please share it here.
This person is showing the box she has just received, where is the USB?
https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985630072355897691
Warning: I have just seen a previous post, careful with those that ask you to join chats, and also careful with online/magazine "vote for" competition. Most of them have not relevance and some of them are a total scam.
https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985350185518825980
https://x.com/naayizhan/status/1985304750477517265
https://x.com/soulpotaetoe/status/1985280280379465912
1) Before ZiAng killed Crown Prince - In my opinion, ZiAng should have not killed him. He did it out of personal revenge disregarding ShuHe feelings. This was a deal breaker for Shuhe. It means he felt condemned to be the new King and also he has mixed feeling for his brother. ZiAng with his abilities could have stopped Crown Prince from hurting ShuHe ,just by injured him. In this case, Zi Ang should have knocked down ShuHe, took him with him and escaped. He would then spend what it was necessary until ShuHe forgave him and was able to accept him again.
2) As how the episode 8 finished - it was too late for the reasons I wrote above. Letitng the people rebel against ShuHe carry a death sentence. ShuHe was not going to escape. It was his sense of duty and guilt who kept him alive. Once he realised was all over, he would have killed himself. I think ZiAng could have planned taking him secretly captive without the war. E.g Sending double agents, put something in his drink to make him unconscious etc. Maybe in that case, ZiAng would stand a chance to recover ShuHe love, but it would have been really tiny. In this case, ShuHe did not own him nothing (not soldiers to be rescued) so he would have not put himself in a vulnerable position to be his lover again and reignited his feelings.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQlyBh0kUxw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://x.com/wizcrizzz/status/1985290625445708173