He also stars as Fu Sinan the ML in "Please Love Me Not" on iqiyi. A change for the typical ML, he plays a convincing wishywashy coward in this revenge drama that has tones similar to Marry My Husband (without the time travel). The FL is absolutely fantastic.
"Love me, Charm Me" on IQIYI, adapted from the novel "Openly Flirting, Secretly Luring—Master Duan Is Too Wild" by author Shi Qiqi He plays the ML named Duan Heye
I just watched this for the first time, and while I enjoyed your review (thank you for the background film and casting details. So interesting! I especially loved your soundtrack suggestions. I found myself searching for specific songs I liked while watching, without much luck until I saw them listed in your review. 🥰)
I do, however, have to disagree with you here: "...it has nothing to do with her being rebellious (except maybe against her father), but rather everything to do with her being the loving wife who could “do no wrong” in an epic romance."
Yes and no. She actively rebels against authority and social norms (escaping the palace with the baby, encouraging other women to nonconformity, etc.) But the main rebellions are internalized. While she is always stubborn and gets away with unrealisticly too much, she has a great character arc that goes from spoiled naive princess to bitterly enlightened realist who sees and plans for the bad but still hopes for the good and fights for peace and justice.
1 
A change for the typical ML, he plays a convincing wishywashy coward in this revenge drama that has tones similar to Marry My Husband (without the time travel). The FL is absolutely fantastic.
He plays the ML named Duan Heye
I do, however, have to disagree with you here:
"...it has nothing to do with her being rebellious (except maybe against her father), but rather everything to do with her being the loving wife who could “do no wrong” in an epic romance."
Yes and no. She actively rebels against authority and social norms (escaping the palace with the baby, encouraging other women to nonconformity, etc.) But the main rebellions are internalized. While she is always stubborn and gets away with unrealisticly too much, she has a great character arc that goes from spoiled naive princess to bitterly enlightened realist who sees and plans for the bad but still hopes for the good and fights for peace and justice.
https://www.iq.com/share-short/13dzquo27n4?isShort=1&lang=en_us&sh_pltf=4