Gale

Waaait where did they confirm it? I want this to be real so badly because I'd d1e for a zhao lusi x chen feiyu pairing 😭

Exactly. I remember watching that drama and got confused over why it's on the list. The ML can be extremely jealous to the point that their fight just blows up into something big and they don't communicate well enough to resolve it right away. I don't think it's a healthy relationship but yes, for entertaintment, it was a fun watch.

Oh it makes sense now. Checked the novel again and the FL in the novel is more reserved while in the manga, she really finds ways to spend time with the ML. Thanks again!

Oh thank you for correcting me. I probably got the idea and mixed it up after reading the manga where the FL looks so obvious with her crush on the ML.

Yup, I hope so too. While I understand that she likes being busy, she now has more freedom to be picky with the projects she's doing after WRTW and LLTG. I hope she picks scripts based on quality, rather than quantity and her friendship with producers/directors because otherwise, it would drag her down.

Yup, that's the case. In the novel, after college, the ML became busy with his life and also dated someone else (at least from what the FL knows so she had to move on). Then they reunited when the FL was already in college.

Oh thank you! I have to prepare myself for the pain then. 🥲

I was worried about that too--whether it would romanticize grooming because I already knew that the ML knew the FL since she was young and paid special attention to her. So I re-read the novel again, the ML seemed to have a clue that she had a crush on him when she was young but thought of it as a crush she would outgrow when she gets older so he just treated her like a little sister.

Can you tell me why they broke up? I haven't read the novel and did they get married already that time they broke up?

Like what I said in my other comment above, I don't necessarily support XYY's actions towards CSS. I do understand where she's coming from so I understand that she loves CSS and protects her in her own way. But then again, I wish she also knew that her way isn't effective with CSS. She should have taken the hint when CSS decided to get married with someone she doesn't truly love just to get away from her family.

Also, I really want to understand XYY's reason for not trying to meet CSS half-way. Is it stubborness? Pride? Or she doesn't want to admit that CSS grew up like that because of her (their) absence and negligence?

Is it because of LBY's complicated life? I do think they like LBY because he's good, competent, and obviously loves their daughter. But based on CSS's parents' discussion, they seem worried that if CSS would marry LBY, she would suffer because of his complicated life.

I don't think it's guilt-tripping. I do understand XYY's sentiments as a mother but still sympathize with CSS more. The drama first unfolded in the perspective of CSS so we know how her mother's words made her feel like she's nothing. It's one thing coming out of other' mouths, it's another to hear it straight from your mother. In real life, what her mother's doing (i.e. embarrassing her in public, not siding with her, etc.) wouldn't have been acceptable because imagine saying such harsh words that your daughter ended up settling with an incompetent man just because she doesn't feel worthy enough of a competent one? I think you feeling guilty of liking CSS even though you understand her mom is just you empathizing with her. And that's okay. You can understand XYY while empathizing with CSS because their characters are supposed to have those complexities. In the standpoint of the daughter, XYY was being way too harsh unreasonably and XYY does tend to think immediately that her daughter is always the one at fault.

I do agree that she didn't take the time to understand her daughter's feelings and she treats CSS like her soldier that's why she expects CSS to obey her at any cost. However, I still think she does love CSS, her way of showing it is just wrong. Because otherwise, she wouldn't be hurt everytime CSS says something like, "How do you expect me to learn this when I didn't have a mom to teach me?" There's this thought at the back of my mind that XYY is actually angry at herself for making the wrong decision in the past and leaving CSS. But she's taking out her anger on CSS instead because of how she grew up without guidance. That's why XYY refuses to admit she's wrong every time they argue. By doing so, she would have to admit that she doesn't really know her own daughter and she failed as a mom.

I do wish XYY would take time to understand CSS's feelings instead of constantly attacking her own daughter. Considering XYY's absence her whole life, I don't think she's in the position to just waltz back into CSS's life and impose on her without even getting to know her.

I really feel for Cheng Shao Shang whenever she gets embarrassed by her mom. As a viewer, it's easy to think that her mom is annoying because we see everything unfold from Shao Shang's perspective. But if we look at the bigger picture, her mom's doing those things to protect her from the world because she knows Shaoshang will be bullied because they neglected her before. She's being so much stricter with Shao Shang because of this. On the other hand, Shao Shang grew up alone and without parental authority. It would be hard for her to adjust to her parents who suddenly came back and her mom started imposing on her. Shao Shang obviously seeks words of affirmation, validation, and affection from her parents but her mom's way of loving her is forcing her to conform to the norms so she wouldn't get bullied. Does it mean Shao Shang or her mom's way of loving is wrong? No. They just have different approaches in showing their love so they keep clashing.

I binge-watched the first 12 episodes and cried like a baby. I felt Shaoshang's pain everytime she would secretly look at her mother interacting with her cousin. I also agree with the comment down below that Ling Buyi is being too mysterious and ambiguous with Shaoshang. Even though he admitted to her that he likes her, he's not doing anything to pursue her--at least something that she CAN see because he's been doing a lot of things for her without her knowledge.

Anyway, I did not expect to like this drama because I thought this would be just another male-centric c-drama with the female lead being used as a plot device for the male lead's character development. So I was not that hyped up for this, but I ended up staying awake until 4AM to watch the first 12 eps. The writing did great in fleshing out shaoshang's character early on. She was not treated as a plot device but as a separate character with her own complexities. I didn't expect to be invested in this drama but here I am.

Great choices! I've been thinking of Zhang Ling He, most specially, because I watched him in Flourish in Time and other modern dramas and his acting whether in drama or rom-com is so great. Definitely one of the younger and newer actors to look forward to. If not in this drama, I hope he gets paired with Lusi in another.

Tbh if it's Li Xian and Zhao Lusi, I hope it's another drama, a modern huge drama, something like Love is Sweet (can't think of other modern dramas I like at the top of my head right now, sorry). But I definitely want to see Li Xian with Lusi.

About Hidden Love, I hope they cast Lin Yi for this one opposite of Lusi. I finished the novel before and if I would try to think of a perfect male lead based on the character, I thimk he'd be perfect because the character is an older guy who has some problems and insecurities but is very reliable when it comes to the female lead. Lin Yi has such the perfect reliable gege vibe. As for the novel, it's not boring but it's not exactly thrilling at every moment either. The two leads spent a lot of time getting to know each other more (the male lead is the best friend of the female lead's brother) so they have a calm friendship to relationship progress. Overall, they have a healthy relationship so I enjoyed it as a reader.

Tbh i feel like this drama can last for like 50 episodes. There are certain scenes that viewers like me would have loved to dwell on more, characters that are intriguing and deserve more screentime, and scenarios that have been glossed over but are a big deal. I still like the drama in its entirety because of the tug-of-war in politics and the main leads' healthy relationship but I wish it didn't feel rushed.

I got goosebumps when the camera zoomed in on her while she's leading the battle. I've watched Lusi in her other dramas which are mostly rom-com (enjoyed it a lot!) and damn, she nailed a totally different role.