Novella

The name "Xiao Yin Tang" is not used in the drama. It seems that Chen Ruo Xuan's character Zhu Zhan He is more or less the "Xiao Yin Tang" of the drama.

I take most theories with a grain of salt but I do think this one has merit. It doesn't seem like production would photoshop out LYN's mole accidentally. And there's the sunglasses icon too...

If those viewers got a drama without all the tropes and archetypes and confusing narratives they claim to hate, they would complain that it was boring. (Reading through complaints about "bad writing" has made me very grateful that most consumers of media are not creators of media.)

I think they were pointing out that "Nan Feng" in the posters does not have LNY's mole under his eye while "Nan Heng" has LYN's mole. So "Nan Feng" is wearing sunglasses to cover up Nan Heng's mole.

It's two episodes per day through ep. 36 then one episode per day until the end, ep. 40.

Yes, I think it's almost certain that she only closely read the scenes that she was in so, even though she does have a certain edge, she lacks a "god-like" perspective of the world. Right now, she sees him as the villain but, as a ML, he probably comes across more as a tragic and/or misunderstood figure in the context of the original script. If she'd read all of Nan Heng's scenes, she'd have a broader/more nuanced understanding of his past and his motives and she would approach her interactions with him very differently. Certain viewers may like that sort of FL more but I really like the drama as written. It's very funny.

The screenwriter was in the first (modern-day) scene. I assume that "Mr. Screenwriter" simply refers to him. In that scene, he was told to revise the script so that may explain why the script has changed. I think the keyboard sound effects represent him. Also, "Yi Meng"s (I can't remember her modern-day name) presence has an effect on the script as well.

I just finished reading a translation of the book. It's a short book (only 11 chapters) and a pretty good read so I recommend checking it out.

If the drama follows the book, the FL is a bookish marriage counselor and the ML is in cybersecurity. The FL has a crush on the 2ML, a handsome surgeon who volunteers at a community center. The FL often goes to the community center just to watch the 2ML. She never approaches him to introduce herself, content to just look at him. However, unbeknownst to her, the 2ML has actually noticed the strange woman staring at him all the time and has asked his friend, the ML, to investigate. While the ML is following the FL around like a private detective he develops feelings for her.

I think I have a different take...

To be honest, (I hate censorship so I'm only about 5% serious), I wish the Chinese government would just ban these aphrodisiac scenes. I guess they are supposed to be sensual so the audience is conditioned to have certain expectations about these scenes but the set-up itself is inherently "forced and even rapey." So it makes sense to me that the characters were awkward and uncomfortable. I think that, unless you are already physical/emotional intimate with a person, this situation would feel very awkward and uncomfortable.

I think this scene had more to do with vulnerability and trust than sensuality.

That said, I imagine that the direction and editing of the scene could have been improved. It'd rare to find a Chinese drama that doesn't have wonky editing here and there.

I thought that scene might be personal for GJM considering his history...but I don't think he wrote that dialogue as he's not credited as a screenwriter for FoF. Actually, I'm interested too about the origins of the drama. GJM and two co-collaborators are credited with the original story (along with Classic of Mountain and Seas) so maybe they were simply inspired by the mythology. Only one of the three credited with the original story is also credited as a screenwriter. There are 6 (!) credited screenwriters, actually. I figure if GJM wrote any dialogue he would've slapped his name on it too. With this many cooks in the kitchen, we might avoid his usual BE/OE and get a HE for once! (fingers crossed)

ETA: I'm actually kind of confused about the credits because I've had the impression that GJM didn't initiate the production, he stepped in after the first treatment. That is, there was already a screenplay written before he was attached to the project. That makes sense when you compare the credits of the first three screenwriters to the last three (who have all previously worked with GJM). If this is the case, I suspect the first screenplay had a happy ending but who knows what happened after GJM got his hands on it. (again, fingers crossed.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbveb202y5Q

Ha, I agree with your last sentence. As someone also on the ace spectrum, I'm often puzzled by viewers interpretation of "chemistry" (chemistry doesn't have to be romantic or sexual!) and analysis of loving relationships. I think it's because my default interpretation is platonic if there is any ambiguity. I really need to be (figuratively) slapped across the face with romantic or sexual gestures to definitively see romantic or sexual intent.

I think that WX's "deer in headlights" "glued to the floor" poses have more to do with GJM's sense of aesthetics than WX's character. While not physically strong, WX's overall character is pretty well-balanced by her other attributes (wit, compassion, etc.) But GJM likes to use slo-mo, dramatic poses, close-ups, "screenshot-able" visual compositions, etc with a lot of emphasis on highlighting the actors' beauty. People complain a lot about CDL crying all the time in her roles but I don't think that's coincidental. I think she just ... looks aesthetically pleasing in emotional scenes. I do agree that the "glued to the floor" pose looks awkward in wide shots, but, if you looked at it as a still photo, it would be an attractive composition. I suspect these directional choices (in favor of looking beautiful) are overemphasizing her physical weakness.

I was just thinking that GJM owes them a third life with a HE.

I don't entirely understand the "too slow" complaints either. Storytelling-wise, the show, as you point out, isn't slow. Subplots/side stories are inherent to this type of storytelling. If a viewer thinks these are just "filler" then this type of storytelling simply isn't for them.

I guess some of the directional/stylistic choices are "slow" (slo-mo, lingering shots, slow talking, etc.) but, personally, I'm not bothered by them. (Though, I'll admit that the "superhero" pose and pan out shots can get repetitive!)

I'm glad to have been introduced to LWM in FoF. He really has a wonderful voice. It's so nice to hear the actors' own voices. For the most part, I've gotten used to the voice actor dubbing in ancient dramas but, after you watch a few dramas, you start to hear the same voice coming out of different faces and it can be distracting especially when you begin to associate a certain voice with a certain actor.

You're right. On one of the relationship charts, they are described as something like "enemies to friends." (And Zhao Yuan Zhou and Li Lun are described as the opposite :"friends to enemies.")

As far as I know everyone is using their own voice.

No, but that actor will play a different character later on in the show.

Yeah, I feel like the main purpose of his character is to make you love him so that the first major character death feels even worse!

Very silly that his biggest dream is to be a chef. I doubt that he even needs to eat food.