itsariaselenecruz

he's a closet masochist. lol

He is also orchestrating something that will make him a member of the board of his father's company.... and his father doesn't look thrilled.

True, the beginning of their relationship wasn't ideal or about love... at least not on his side. XY first landed on his radar when she tricked her way for that first interview, and from there he reeled her in with his “perfect gentleman” act—the cool a/c moment, the rescue, taking care of her at the hospital, the whole chivalry package. The mother was the ultimate trial, showing just how far XY would go (or fall) for him.

However, for him to realize that he has always loved her and vow to win her back, somewhere between the vows and the divorce papers, his feelings had to quietly shift—growing roots he never acknowledged or realized until it was too late. We need to see the chain of events through his pov in order to believe that change of heart.

So... does that mean he didn't want to let go of her because he was curious to see what type of bloom she'll be, because she became so vicious, or both? 🤭lol

Life is short, don't waste it on a drama that you find boring.

Xu Yan walking away without a second glance must’ve knocked the wind right out of Shen Haoming. From his smug little speeches, he clearly thought she was nothing more than a gold digger—oh, how gloriously wrong he was. He really underestimated her on every level. I even underestimated her, thinking that since Xu Yan was the one with the emotional ties, I assumed it'll be Shen Haoming who would drop her and walk away once she outlived her purpose. But Xu Yan values her dignity more than any career. She's smart, hard working, and talented, she'll get it all back and then some.

As for SHM's grand scheme? Is he trying to snatch away the very thing his parents poured their love and devotion into (over spending time, loving, and raising him)? Is it all for revenge? Greed?

If this is just the setup, what on earth do the writers have planned for his actual rock bottom? Because for a man this cunning and calculated, the fall has to be spectacular. I’m talking smoke, explosion, emotional carnage, the kind of moment that makes even the audience gasp, “Oh, that’s what it takes to break Shen Haoming."

Oooh, I haven't seen ep 11 yet. That's another twist. I love the twists in this drama. And SHM is such a contradictory character, making me think and rethink my theories.

Yes! He learned human connections from his parents who treats everything like a transaction. They didn't have the time to spend and raise SHM so he was probably given gifts and things as compensation or rewards.

That's part of the reason I don’t actually think Shen Haoming is completely toxic. He’s a businessman—an opportunist through and through, or at least that’s the persona he sells.

Then along comes Xu Yan, a gorgeous scam artist in her own right. She was running her little con— trying to interview him under false pretenses, cozying up to his family so they’d welcome her in. Classic playbook. That’s what scammers do: slip past your defenses and into your life. But —Xu Yan wasn’t scamming for money, power, or revenge. Her con was built on something softer, almost tragic: she just wanted acceptance, a place to belong, and maybe even love. Noble intent wrapped in a dubious method. Now, the big question is—would the guy on the receiving end ever see it that way?

Nope, probably not. Because Xu Yan’s “victim” turned out to be an even bigger scammer—and one who happens to treat human connections like business deals. To Shen Haoming, Xu Yan wasn’t some tragic heroine. She was a fellow hustler, another player on the board. And what do opportunists do when they recognize one of their own? They cut a deal. He figured—why not? Xu Yan wants her dream of becoming an anchor, he wants to tick off his own objectives, and if both can get what they want through a little transactional arrangement, where he, of course, has the control and the upper hand... well… in his mind, that’s not betrayal, that’s just good business.

That would be gross... not only because Fang Lei's nasty but mainly because I think Fang Lei is like a junior, in her 20's, and would probably be very young when Haochen was born, who is now 12 years old. lol

I think Fang Lei's using her nephew as her ace in the hole because she knew SHM and his parents hid Haochen true identity from not only the world but also from Xu Yan and Haochen. That's why she's one very nasty big B.

Honestly, I don’t think SHM fully believes XY is capable of truly loving him. He’s not buying into her “motivations” either. Sure, he had her investigated—very thorough, very Sherlock of him—but at the end of the day, what does an investigation actually reveal? Facts, timelines, shady little details here and there. What it can’t reveal are emotions, intentions, or the secret script running inside her head and heart. And that’s the missing puzzle piece.

And yes—SHM’s no saint. He’s a master liar, manipulative, controlling, smooth as a conman at a poker table.... but he's not a mind reader. And like any person, once someone’s lied to them, it’s like permanent damage to the trust-meter—they can’t just hit reset. Words feel cheap, and only consistent actions can slowly rebuild that credit. From what I’ve seen in the episodes, SHM is basically poking and prodding at XY’s past like a surgeon looking for a hidden infection—asking to meet her grandmother, her cousin, setting up family interrogations disguised as “bonding time.” He already knows the fake-parents backstory, the fake info on her sister, her lies about her acquaintances—so why dig? Because he wasn’t chasing facts anymore. He was chasing her (probably subconsciously). Her emotions, her real motives, the stuff no dossier could deliver.

To me, it feels like he’s not trying to catch her; he’s waiting for her. Hoping she’ll finally drop the mask and confess, not because he needs the truth, but because he needs her to choose honesty over the performance.

SHM frames it like a ledger: “I lied, you lied, let’s balance the books. We're even.” He's trying to downplay his heartless motivations for choosing her. Meanwhile XY is like, “Hold on. My lies weren’t about money or malice, so your betrayal is way heavier.” But at the end of the day, both of them lied, conned, and hurt each other—but in different currencies. The only way forward is dropping the scorecards, owning their mess, apologizing, and choosing to grow past it. Until then, they’re basically two brilliant scam artists playing house.

The ML? Too early to tell but not really a villain, more like Christian Grey vibe.

That was devastating. Lusi crying always makes me cry.

Hopefully... he'll be okay. I keep thinking about Who Rules The World and Story of Pearl Girl... 😟

He's a good kid and promising child actor. I wonder how Haochen will react when he finds out that his beloved brother is actually his father. Poor kid.

No cheating shown in the teaser (thank heavens for small mercies), but when he starts laying his cards on the table with Xu Yan, his intensity is practically combustible. Some folks here have mentioned that he’s giving off Christian Grey vibes, and I can’t deny that. The trailers have been masterclasses in misdirection, and from how I interpreted episode 14 teaser, he’s pulling every emotional, psychological, and strategic move possible—short of actually chaining her to the bedpost—to keep her tethered to him. And for someone who prides himself on logic and calculation, his obsession with holding onto her, even while doubting her love and knowing his initial reasons were purely transactional, is deliciously irrational. Oh what drama it will be to watch a man who can conquer the boardroom completely lose his grip when it comes to matters of the heart.

2nd Theory: Shen Haoming is the reason she drowned.

Theory: Fang Lei's older sister who drowned.

Xu Yan checks off his entire wish list. She’s gorgeous and brilliant—so of course he wants her. She’s submissive and financially powerless—so of course he thinks he can control her. And then, she’s manipulative and deceitful enough that he doesn’t even have to wrestle with guilt about his own scheming. To Shen Haoming, Xu Yan looks like the perfect fit. The irony? The “perfect molds” crack the fastest, and what you think is an ideal match often becomes your sharpest downfall.

Your humor is priceless! If the writers dare take the cheating route, it won’t just be his belongings going up in smoke—it’ll be his eyebrows, hair, and every ounce of dignity he thought he had.

He knows. He has one or a couple of his little minions keeping tabs on her.