new_year

Oh, I agree, I think they have a touching and beautiful relationship. They supported each other and they can share their deepest fears with one another. I just think that their relationship is more brotherly/sisterly, that's all. So I don't consider him one of XY's main romantic interests, even though he is definitely a male lead.

I saw a comment from "AH" a couple days ago that explained this. The Royal Mother of Jade Mountain was sworn siblings with the Queen of Xiyan, Cang Xuan's grandmother. Xiao Yao's mother Ah Heng lived with her for 60 years once, long before XY was born. Remember, Xiao Yao was sent to Mount Jade as a child (I believe after her mother went to battle), but after 70 years XY ran away from the mountain and then subsequently went through the hardships that she did. Royal Mother was technically her "master." I believe it was also the Royal Mother who restored XY's appearance back in season 1.

As for the details on where Mount Jade is located and what its role is in the kingdom, I'm not quite sure. It seemed quite independent to me while watching the drama.

Biggest character growth of this drama is Ah Nian. She went from being an unbearably spoiled little girl to a woman who knows what (and who) she's fighting for. Her relationships, her self confidence, her capabilities... they've all developed greatly. She's come so far-- I'm so proud of her.

To those that ship CX and XY, why? I genuinely want to know.

I feel the same, really! It's as if none of the other male leads have flaws... especially XL, whom they've put high up on a pedestal.

The irony is all the YaoJing fans I've seen don't harbour any hate towards XL! But many XL fans have this bizarre intense hatred for Jing. I wonder why we can't just have our own opinions and share our love for LYF.

You're right, it might be over-simplifying it to call it second male lead syndrome. It IS slightly different with this drama. I actually think it was marketed as having FOUR main male leads, so the lines get a little blurry! I wonder how the author herself categorized her characters. But either way, I genuinely enjoyed watching the scenes of all our male leads.

I've seen a LOT of second male lead syndrome in my time as a drama watcher. But I ain't seen NOTHING like this comment section 😂

I mean look, we all have our biases, but I think it's actually a testament to the screenwriting and acting that we're pretty much split down the middle rooting for these guys. There are pros and cons to XY ending up with either of them, and it's interesting to think about, regardless of the ending. Moreover, the actors themselves just exude this charisma that makes you unable to NOT root for them!

If we look at LYF as a whole, I think all of our main leads did a really good job embodying their characters. It's unfortunate that the drama got split between two years- I think it almost would've had even better ratings if they had kept the momentum of the first season going.

I FULLY agree with this. They already planted the seeds, and they should've just followed it through to the end. The ending was inconsistent with his character and his absolute obsession with XY/reluctance to let her go.

It's those we love the most who have the greatest power to emotionally wound us.

Regardless of LYF's characters and their many flaws (because we both know there's stuff we'd change about ALL of the characters, as none of them are perfect), I'm personally happy with the ending of the drama. Its plot followed the vision of the book author, who also had Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao as endgame. She saw that he was best for her in that moment. And frankly, it doesn't matter whether we're happy or not, it matters that Xiao Yao is happy! She got to make the ultimate choice for herself.

Oh absolutely! They should definitely do another project together. I think they have great chemistry, and although I'm already familiar with Yang Zi, I've enjoyed discovering Tan Jian Ci and watching him act. He's great at showing subtle emotions.

Well, that's the thing about human nature. People have many layers. Jing has demonstrated his selflessness many times, but I suppose it was also selfish of him to stop her wedding. However, he did the right thing in the long run, because she didn't actually like CFL at all and wouldn't have been happy with him. Cang Xuan is selfish to the point of being controlling and obsessive with anything that has to do with Xiao Yao. He's got like 1000 wives and yet he'd rather Xiao Yao stay with him forever instead of being happy with the guy she actually likes. Xiang Liu is controlling, manipulative, and abusive! What a guy. He started their whole relationship off with him whipping and lashing her, and then forcing her to work for him. Even if he had changed, and even if he grew to love her, he still couldn't place her before Hong Jiang & Chenrong army in terms of importance. He could've abandoned everything and rode off into the sunset with her as Fangfeng Bei, but he didn't. He made a choice and he chose his own end.

Jing simply couldn't have gotten out of marrying a pregnant FFYY without killing her or something, and he's not that kind of person. Yes, Jing tortured XY emotionally, but she also tortured him emotionally, to the point of HIM developing a heart condition and vomiting blood 24/7. At least he didn't torture her PHYSICALLY like XL and CX!

I do agree that dying because you can't live without someone isn't admirable. But this is a drama we're talking about, not real life. I simply used it as an example of his dedication, loyalty, and utmost commitment to XY.

Well, that's pretty sad then, but XL honestly could have chosen a different ending! I think ultimately this is how he wanted things to go, or how he thought things should end. Otherwise he would have rode off with XY into the sunset as Fangfeng Bei!

I'm only on episode 9 but I honestly think she knows how he feels deep down! She definitely would've agreed to travel the world with him if he had just given up on the whole "head of the resistance army" thing. She knew he loved her, but she also knew he didn't love her enough to give up on his past affiliations and start anew. That's why she couldn't be with him.

I know there are a lot of people who have read the novel, but I must say it's been a while since I watched an airing drama with SO MANY spoilers in the comments sections (that aren't tagged as spoilers). Please people save some suspense for the rest of us 😭😭

You can say "just don't look at the comments" all you want, but for many people it's a place of community & discussion & it gives them joy to interact with others who are watching the same content. I see people in LYF S1 comment section who just started watching the drama and have never read the book are saying that they've seen major spoilers as to S2's ending!!

I'm on episode 49 right now, thanks for giving me hope about the ending! I was worried it would be all suffering and no happy ending!

You've just summarized my thoughts exactly! Rooting for Xiao Yao and Tushan Jing-- after all they've suffered, they deserve to be with each other in a peaceful and stable relationship.

They're technically cousins in the novel, but to make it a little less incestuous I think they made Xiao Yao's mother adopted in the drama? So they're not actually blood related?

Yeah I don't love Cang Xuan for Xiao Yao. He's obsessed, and quite selfish with how he wants to keep her all to himself. Makes me wonder how anyone could root for them as a romantic pairing.

If he went around agreeing to everything, as you say, then he would've just let FFYY and TSH walk all over him forever instead of getting himself the justice he deserved. If he's such a passive character, then he wouldn't have tried to save XY when she was captured and tortured by XL. He wouldn't have intervened and stopped XY's wedding because he knew she didn't love CFL. Jing is literally the only main love interest who puts XY before anything else. XL can't let go of Chenrong Army even though he already paid Hong Jiang back, CX can't let go of his selfishness and obsession, and CFL values his pride and reputation more than her. Jing on the other hand would rather sacrifice himself and his feelings before seeing her hurt, and the pain of her being seriously injured is enough to make him want to accompany her in death. This man is loyal to a fault, and so self-sacrificial that sometimes I just wanna yell "DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF FOR ONCE" so I don't have to see him in pain constantly. I know others may see him as a wimp compared to aggressive guys like XL or CX, but once again I see his restraint and gentle nature as a strength.

I can see how other people might prefer XL, because deep down he really does love her (even though he can't give up on his past affiliations for her). However I see Jing as the best fit for XY right now. She doesn't need more strife after all she has suffered, she needs a peaceful life and stability. Jing can give her that.

/ep47/ I love my man TSJ and his commitment to XY but couldn't he have just shimmied down the tree trunk instead of jumping in the water and absolutely DRENCHING himself and all those beautiful robes with water? 😭😭😭

Great idea!!