WistfulThinking

Have to agree with you on the chemistry between Lin Yi and Zhou Ye. I didn't feel the tingly butterflies that you can see ostensibly between other leads in other dramas...I felt like this is where Lin Yi did a better job trying to display in subtle gestures like touching her hair, the way he held onto her and hugged her...it seemed like Zhou Ye barely met him halfway and did what she needed for the scene.
Did you watch Zhou Ye in Back from The Brink? I think she had better chemistry with Hou Minghao. Otherwise hard to beat the chemistry I think in Hidden Love (Chen Zheyuan, Zhao Lusi)

👏🏻 well summarized, and agree. I think the pace was choppy, some of the plotlines forced just to make the ending work (i.e. Stella's dad a security officer owning 10% stock in HC Games?)

You mention the censorship: can you help point out where this is happening? Maybe I missed something, I always figured it was bad editing but I'm curious what is being censored ...

**Also noting what saved the Drama and kept me watching to 24:
> Watching Gu Xun come out of his shell, and demonstrate his feelings to QL. His tender moments with her were believable and Lin Yi's natural charisma came through esp. in his love confession
> Zhou Ye seems to play sassy female leads well. That kept me hooked too- strong, direct and "spitfire" passion. I loved the change between her forcing "feminine wiles" to try to win GX in the beginning of the series and her finally getting into her natural personality, and the real acts of love connecting her to GX in the later portions of the episodes.

Your review captures everything I was trying to figure out was wrong with the drama. And completely agree, Dylan and BL did the best they could with the script they had and trying to make their characters more dimensional, but her character in particular just was not believable in so many ways. Again, if the script was developed more to paint that picture for the audience that FL is supposed to be that clueless when it comes to romance and love (which could be, considering her ex-BF was a total loser and gold digger), I would have believed her character more. But I felt stuck wondering so many times whether her character was being sincere or still pretending. And could not stand ShanShan and her passive aggressive attitude the first half towards GuanJi but so quick to dispensing often misguided advice to ZSY. ✌️🙏🏻

I loved their kiss when she was looking for him at Simin hall and he appeared behind her and kissed her before disappearing…so swoon worthy!

Agree with you, I just finished watching it. Some plot holes and things I couldn’t follow like the Tai Sui god, and how it was revealed at the end..and why DFQC could change XLH destiny book? Even if it is to set up the rest of the story, I think that was the only improvement I would have like to see, more ability to set up plot lines and make gentler inferences for the viewer to explain why.

Just reading reviews and appreciate your review so far. I felt the same about this drama,.there is a draw to the ML and FL...and there is time in between to hope for growth in both but I felt there was not enough redemption in the ML. Hope to see what you say about "The Bad" 🙏🏻

I appreciate your review, I am in nearly the same camp as you

Nicely composed and comprehensive review. The quality of storytelling is so high level, particularly in early portion of the series when Sang Zhi is in middle and high school. But I couldn't help but wonder...are 17 year olds really as shy and vulnerable as she portrayed? Perhaps it is my preconceived notion, and not fully knowing cultural differences between Western youth and East Asian youth nowadays. Nevertheless Zhao Lusi aced the character. I am curious to read the novel but have a pet peeve about reading translations...sometimes it simply is not the same as reading it in the original language.