Saffy88

Ep 13 is really where I think CXZ falls completely in love with her because of the stark contrast between his "dear" cousin and LMT.

And what sort of indestructible divorce letter is that? 🤣🤣

Feed them to the wolves 💪

Think it's cos of the slow burn in the Lingquan part and also cos that's when LMT is still quite passive - it's been getting better in the last few eps. We're now moving to the battle field and the great reveal so should become more engaging.

Not married yet, but cousin thinks they are as good as married and behaves presumptuously.

Poor Li Mama, she has to make up more and more stories on the spot - she almost deserves a Pulitzer🤣

Finally, moving out of Lingquan into the battlefield.

And love love love the way LMT stabs her enemies without hesitation - the bandit leader is reemerging.

It is a bit slow especially as there’s so much more good stuff to come. The whole thing with the trade chamber and those marriage obsessed girls could have been sped up, especially as they seem to have made He Zhen weaker and wussier than she is in the novel.

From discussion above: https://mydramanovel.com/hidden-charm/

Well, there’s a bit of each trying to run away for eg CXZ at the end of the Lingquan interlude - she just follows him to the war front regardless. LMT leaving after finding out the truth about the sham marriage and getting pursued and coaxed into a real marriage by CXZ. Or at the end when LMT gets kidnapped by an obsessed Jap ronin pirate - she manages to rescue herself of course since she is a former bandit/guerilla leader - but that also leads to a second bout of amnesia and LMT forgets the time she spends with CXZ so they have some all-out fights as former mortal enemies and hot makeup sessions.....

But this is also the crucial difference between CXZ and ZY cos ZY is willing to sacrifice her in his quest for power, thinking that when he has gotten what he wants he can then casually pick her up again. But CXZ once committed never abandons her even when he finds out he’s been sleeping with his sworn enemy, nor when she goes back to thinking he’s still her sworn enemy.

This is the novel of course, not sure how or what they are going to change for the drama. I hope not too much cos the plot in the novel was pretty satisfying as the two leads are well-matched opponents/confidants (in and out of bed) 😆 Also can't wait for LMT's bandit characteristics to reemerge as she moves on from the obedient and loving wife in Lingquan phase.

A very exciting relationship, two equals chasing each other, losing each other, dealing with each other’s deceptions (deliberate and inadvertent), lots of hot reunions, villains get whacked as they deserve and a beautiful ending - if the drama stays true to the novel.

Just finished reading the novel, and have to say ZWY is really ideal for this sort of role. Hope they can wrap up this first part in Lingquan soon as there's tons of entertaining stuff ahead.

What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive - ep 3 was hilarious.

The people around Huaiyang Wang are really pulling out all the stops making up stories about him and his “inadequacies” 🤣

Loving the shades of Xie Wei when ZLH shoots death glares at YY 😂

Also not feeling the chemistry between them. It's strange cos I would have thought they would be a super pairing, but something not quite clicking yet.

11.30 pm tonight? What a strange time to air.

Standing ovation for Yang Zi's performance in these last few eps. She really makes us feel XY's deep and poignant heartbreak.

That and YZ at her wedding and the morning after - amazing performance.

And now XY's hair goes white - this couple is really symmetrical.

And CX forgets that he didn't protect her either when she needed it the most. Plus all those times he injured her, broke her legs etc...........in the end, arguably XY has suffered more through her relationship with him than with TSJ or XL.

Cang Xuan, ah, Cang Xuan, what have you done? And all in the name of love? So utterly, utterly cruel.

Umm why do you even take the MDL ratings to heart? Actually a lot of movies, esp arthouse type movies get relatively low ratings on MDL.

I loved LR cos I thought the chemistry was great and it always left me with a goofy smile watching them. Does this mean that it is on the same level as Parasite or Zhang Yimou, Wong Kar Wai films? It's apples and oranges - they all bring different things into my life and I enjoy them all.

Put the ratings into context. If you think the ratings here are not objective, then look elsewhere for example at time.com: Lovely Runner's Finale Makes It the Year's Best K-Drama https://time.com/6983798/lovely-runner-ending-explained/