moonrabbit1005

Umbrellas have never looked better as when Shi Ying uses them LOL

I love that the special effects here are not overtly colorful or fake looking. The flower bridge scene was so well done and really helped develop their relationship. It was a show-not-tell of how different SY and ZY are in terms of their personalities and also childhood/environment. When SY asked if meeting him was a happy moment and ZY pulled him back to the other side, but then the bridge extended - my heart!! The plot is way more refreshing than I expected; I thought it was going to be a typical xianxia but so far it's managed to keep things feeling different enough. I'm so excited for new eps each day!

I've watched 6 eps and so far so good! Obviously we're just in the worldbuilding and character introduction stage, but it's doing a nice job of setting up the main plot and conflicts. There are already memorable scenes that make me feel engrossed in the drama due to XZ's and RM's acting, as well as the stirring OST. I love it when emotional scenes actually evoke emotions in the viewer as intended instead of falling flat lol. XZ is doing wonderfully as Shi Ying; he gives layers to his character instead of simply portraying him as a cold person. RM is also nuanced in her emotional scenes, not over the top or pretentious. I'm looking forward to the plot and relationship development!

Happy birthday Xiao Zhan! May this year bring you good health, fulfillment, and success. Hoping to see your works soon!

Thank you for this lovely article on Xiao Zhan! Like a lot of people, I discovered him through The Untamed and thought it would only be a three-month phase. It's now been almost three years since I've been a fan (or stan, let's be real). I fell in love with his smile, his acting, and then his character. He works hard, continually improves and challenges himself, and stays true to his original intentions. I just finished The Oath of Love and cannot wait to see him as Shi Ying in The Longest Promise, and Xiao Chun Sheng in Where Dreams Begin. Once you get to know him, you'll find that his looks are just one of the many things to love about him!

Popping back on to say that I got my mom to watch TOOL and I rewatched a second time with her. We finished today :) It was such a beautiful experience watching it this time on a big screen. I felt the emotions all over again. I still remember when TOOL was in its earliest days of filming back in Aug 2019, and my mom said she'll watch it when it comes out. Fast forward to 2022 where my wish of her watching XZ in a drama finally came true. She really enjoyed the drama, the leads, and their chemistry. She doesn't watch many cdramas and this is one of the rare ones she watched from beginning to end without any skips :) I also got my friend to watch TOOL and she loved it as well. This is one of my comfort dramas now, it's just so good. Happy watching to all our new watchers!

i think i read somewhere that in certain countries the year is the starting year of college. so here he started college in 2006 and graduated in 2010 with bachelor’s degree. so he would’ve been 22 years old in 2010 and the drama is set in 2019, so current age would be around 31.

Now that TOOL is over I’m focusing my energy on waiting for TLP. I hope it’ll come this summer as I need another XZ drama.

The withdrawal symptoms are real y'all. TOOL is still heavy on my mind. I've been listening to the OST and rewatching some scenes. I miss this drama so much and it just finished airing two days ago. I'm so glad this little gem is now ours to rewatch anytime we want.

This is going to be a love letter of sorts for TOOL. I became a fan of Xiao Zhan in August of 2019 through The Untamed, which was also the time when TOOL began filming. It was the first drama of his that I followed from the first days of filming until the final day of airing. In addition, it was also his first serious modern drama, so TOOL had been special to me from the beginning. I was there through every benchmark in TOOL's long journey to meeting with us - all the posters, trailers, various airing date rumors pretty much every month, Tencent Starlight Awards 2020, Weibo Nights. Throughout 2020 and 2021, every time TOOL was rumored to air, my heart would get excited even though I knew it was 99% fake. It was always in the back of my mind, as I watched other dramas and got distracted with other things. I never forgot about it, and it was the one thing I wished for every day. There were stretches of time when I agonized over it not airing while other dramas that finished filming recently got to air. I still remembered checking Twitter in August of 2021 to find out TOOL was scheduled to air a month later, 9/8. I thought finally, finally we were going to see it. I took a week off from work so I could devote my time to watching it. I made a countdown on my phone. Then as everyone knows, three days before it was supposed to air, it was postponed. The morning I found out the postponement was official, I bawled my eyes out. I was looking forward to it so much to get me through my routine life and at the very last minute, it got taken away. It took me a few days to move on. In the months that followed, I tried to not think about it too much. I thought reverse psychology would work - if I pretended I didn't care, it'd arrive one day. When it was rumored to air on 3/15, I told myself to not get excited even as my heart started beating faster. Even when it was officially announced, I was still traumatized and couldn't believe it completely until I saw ep 1. For the past sixteen days, I lived and breathed TOOL. I watched 1-2 eps every day and posted on MDL. I kept up with all the BTS and interviews. Even now that it's over, I still find it surreal that we actually got to watch it. After all these years, it is here and we can watch it any time we want. Good things do come to those who wait. TOOL met and exceeded my expectations. I expected a sweet little romance drama and got that. But I also got a drama about family and life. Watching TOOL made me think that I need to cherish my family and live so that there would be no regrets. Life isn't perfect; sometimes it can be cruel. But that is precisely why we need to treasure what we have. I experienced so many emotions as the characters were feeling them. I got so immersed in the world of LZX and GW that I hope they'll be happy forever. XZ brought GW to life in a way that I don't want to say goodbye. He made GW feel real, like he exists somewhere in the world. I was already a stan, but my love for XZ grew even more after this drama. I can't wait for his future projects so I can fall in love with his characters again. I'd seen YZ in previous dramas but LZX is probably my favorite character of hers. Her acting really drew me in to the drama and made LZX special. Together, GW and LZX were magic. One of the biggest surprises was the insane chemistry XZ and YZ had. I am in love with GuLin's love. The supporting cast was wonderful, especially Mr. Lin and Ms. Li. I'm going to miss the entire cast and the atmosphere of this drama. I laughed, cried, got frustrated, cheered, and fell in love. Thank you to the TOOL team for gifting us with this priceless gem. Thank you to everyone for your comments; I've had so much fun reading them every night. Wishing LZX and GW happiness for the rest of their lives.

Ep 29 (DVD version) Thoughts: Let me stop crying! But no, the tear ducts were out in full force. The ice cream scene between Mr. Lin and LZX was so sad. How she said she wanted him to teach her child all the way until he takes the college entrance exam. Their acting was on point. How they walked together arm in arm - that scene was filmed so beautifully. The WEDDING SCENE. OMG. They really went all out. I adore the entire setting, how it was outdoors with the prettiest decorations. It looked like an actual wedding set. I'm glad they took their time starting with LZX walking with Mr. Lin down the aisle, then walking up the steps with GW, and exchanging the sincerest wedding vows ever. YZ looked so pretty and XZ looked like a dream groom. Lord. Let me fangirl a bit here because WHEW, he looked so dashing. GW reading LZX's original vows/drags was so hilarious! The scene where Mr. Lin/Ms. Li and GW/LZX sat on the sofa was perfectly done. Dimples couple indeed! LOL. Mr. Lin's letters for LZX each year up to seven years was very well done. I loved how they tackled his passing in such a delicate, poignant way. Although he may no longer be there in person, he was always there in spirit, and in the hearts of his loved ones. Just incredibly touching. And awww, them watching their wedding footage while their son plays is adorable. I think we need that entire footage lol. The final scene was perfect. Thank you TOOL team for giving us kisses right up until the end. I love how seven years have passed but they've barely aged lolll. Just absolutely stunning last scene. While I would've loved for more eps because I'm greedy, I thought it was still a very good ending. The last two eps were the perfect mix of happy and sad. Shoutout to Mr. Lin in particular for making these two eps have so much extra weight and importance. XZ and YZ were incredible in their roles. I couldn't have asked for more.

Ep 28 (DVD version) Thoughts: From spoilers and comments I knew it was going to be emotional, but I didn't expect to cry this much. I don't think I've ever cried watching a cdrama, and I certainly wasn't expecting to here. I loved how LZX knew there was something wrong about GW and that he planned to tell her at the same time. After what they had been through, they were on the same page. I thought that was great character development. The scene when GW told her that Mr. Lin's cancer had spread was so emotional. I could feel both of their emotions so well. YZ had many crying scenes in this drama and she did great in all of them. The scene where LZX went to the hospice ward and then meeting GW afterward was like her growing up all over again. GW telling her about Frank was to say that what instead of grieving, that we should cherish the remaining moments we have with our loved ones and to celebrate their life, and the memories we make. The dream LZX had where Mr. Lin disappeared into the light and she called out "Dad" was heart-wrenching. That one word is so poignant considering how she's called him "Mr. Lin" most of the time. Mr. Lin's private talk with GW represents the feelings of all fathers who have daughters. It was a moment between two of the most important men in LZX's life who loved and cared for her deeply. What GW couldn't promise Mr. Lin at the dinner, he could now promise, and it was a promise between men. I felt that was when Mr. Lin truly acknowledged GW as his son-in-law. The scene where Mr. Lin vomited and Ms. Li had to contain her tears was so freaking sad. She was losing her husband, but both of them agreed to be strong to not worry LZX. The relationship between LZX and Mr. Lin is like a waterfall - strong and explosive but full of love, while the relationship between her and Ms. Li is like a deep river - constant, nurturing, full of unwavering support. The scene where she tried on the wedding dress was both beautiful and sad. GW's eyes looking at LZX was like the whole world just had her in it. XZ, you're killing me with your acting! GW was LZX's rock during this entire process. It's so bittersweet because right as she found the man of her life, her father was leaving. But isn't that life? You win some, you lose some. I was teary eyed throughout the entire episode, with scenes where I cried hard and had to get up to grab a tissue. Gosh TOOL, I was not expecting to be this emotional! Such a roller coaster of emotions.

i know 😭😭😭 it went by so fast but now we can rewatch anytime

I have some sentimental things to say but I'll wait to post them tomorrow when TOOL ends. I'm really gonna miss following the drama's news on Twitter, watching, commenting on MDL, and just being there for the entire ride. Gonna miss this cast and it will be great to see them again in future projects. Shoutout to the actors of Mr. Lin and Ms. Li who played the roles of LZX's parents very memorably. I've seen the actress for Ms. Li in other dramas previously but this is my favorite role of hers yet. My first time seeing the actor for Mr. Lin and props to whoever casted him to be LZX's dad. They mentioned this in the drama too but him and YZ both have dimples which I thought was a brilliant casting decision/attention to detail. XZ and YZ did such a fantastic job with their roles and had ridiculous chemistry. I didn't think their chemistry would be this good but they proved me so wrong. Their acting made me immersed in the world of TOOL and I'm going to be sad when it's over. But it'll be there whenever I want to rewatch. It's been crazy fun reading everyone's comments here as well; our comment section is increasing so much thanks to this drama's power. Onward to the last day TOOL Nation!

Ep 27 (DVD version) Thoughts: I say this too much but THEIR CHEMISTRY. OMG. I freaking adore the scene where she says he looks handsome cooking and they just rub each other's noses and kiss. They're really going to go for 50 kisses huh? Not that I mind. We got so many within these two eps and I say continue that lol. Don't even get me started on the chapstick kiss scene. That was smooooth as hell Gu Wei. And extremely hot. Are we sure he was single before this? Cuz dayum he's giving all boyfriends a run for their money lol. The proposal was very touching as well. I loved their outfits in this scene. LZX's white dress really fits with the vibe. Their acting was so good here. Normally in other dramas I'd say she's too young to get married (or in real life haha) but their love is so sincere that I'm like yes wedding here we go! They're already calling each other wife/husband omg. I also feel a bit sad for Gao Xi and hope she'll find someone too. She's definitely not as annoying of a SFL as in other dramas, and we got growth from her. I'm getting foreshadowing vibes with Mr. Lin (and from spoilers I know what's coming) when he's easily agreeing for her to get married and tells her how to pay the bills. The parents meeting scene got me teary. Mr. Lin really stepped up today when he spoke about LZX. Mama Lin is best momma ever and I love the actress too. I'm glad they didn't make GW's parents unreasonable. LZX crying throughout it all was a mood. YZ always does well in crying scenes where you really feel along with her. GW being a supportive boyfriend/husband to be makes my heart swell. I really really hope we get a complete happy ending. They better not go nuts and make Mr. Lin die *cries*

Ep 26 (DVD version) Thoughts: Makes sense for LZX to decide not to go to Germany. Like she said, even if she goes, her heart will still be at home. I thought it was very in character for her to go directly to the patient's family to talk to them. She's always been the type to actively do something instead of keeping it inside. I loved the scene in the hallway where GW knew she still cared and was flirting/being up in her space. And her giving in at last lol. Thank goodness they made up. Also, is Dr. Gao and Dr. Yan gonna be an item? LOL, that wouldn't be a bad idea. GW being a baby and lying on LZX's lap is everything. Their kisses are everything. The "bed scene" after that was so heart-fluttering as well. They have such natural, effortless chemistry, one of the best I've seen in any drama. It's so funny how GW is usually serious but in front of LZX he turns into a puppy. I also liked the conversation between Mama Lin and LZX when she guessed that LZX was going to see GW, not her friends. And LZX being very clear that she wants to be with him and that he's not that kind of person. Yes girl stand up for your man. GW coming home and finding LZX asleep on the couch waiting for him was so sweet. Like he said, he now felt like he was home, because she was here. I can't stand people in love LMAO!

Everyone has their own opinions and interpretations based on their own experiences, age, personality, etc. And we're all free to express our thoughts in a respectful way. It's been interesting to see where we're all at on this spectrum of opinions, and there's no "right" or "wrong." From a positive angle, just the fact that the drama is generating this much discussion means we're invested and it's bringing out our emotions. We care enough to sit here to type all this out which I think is a success in itself. Also props to XZ and YZ for acting their roles in such a way that we're invested in GuLin's journey to being better people, as individuals and as each other's half. I think the title of the drama is fitting too - Please Advise for the Rest of My Life. They aren't perfect, and what matters is what they learn during their process. It doesn't happen overnight either, but through the years and with accumulation of experience. Happy watching y'all, I can't believe we're almost at the end!

Ep 25 (DVD version) thoughts: YES GU WEI for taking responsibility for the patient despite the shit he had to put up with. He prioritized the patient's health instead of his career because he knows the job of a doctor is to first and foremost save lives. I did roll my eyes when the dad kneeled though - pleaseee dude you were threatening to end this man's career and spreading misinformation on the internet. Anyway GW badass for completing another successful operation. I feel secondhand shame for the parents because GW just focused on the patient instead of trying to explain things for himself to avoid the lawsuit. He's the prime example of "let the truth speak for itself." LZX showed up to the hospital because obviously she still cares. When she's alone, you can see how sad she is. I think YZ is a very convincing crier. She's not afraid to look "ugly." I do think they dragged it out with her being mad but this is a drama so I'm not surprised they'd want to extend it for dramatics. But I can also see why she's mad for longer than usual. When he knocked on her door the first thing she asked was if he'd resolved things at the hospital. She was the most worried about that because she knows he's a good doctor and that he's being wrongly blamed. But from a relationship POV, she's insecure after what happened. She still thinks he didn't initially tell her because she wasn't ready to handle it with him, or that he thought she was only there to see a perfect GW. And now that she signed the contract to go to Germany for her career, the doubts and insecurities continue to pile up. She's probably wondering if they can do long distance if he didn't tell her this problem while they were both in the same city. Basically, she's in her head and having doubts about whether they can continue to be in a relationship with all their differences. And it's also a pride thing maybe. I know I've stayed mad at people for longer even though inside I've pretty much calmed down. I do think she can be spoiled at times because she's her parents' only daughter and GW has been pampering her all this time. It's a bit of princess syndrome but it's very typical in Asian dramas. It's a common trope for the guy to chase the girl and try to win her back. But OMG, GW pretending to be sick is one of the cutest scenes ever. XZ was soooo good and if it were me, I'd pamper him right away lmao. He looked like a puppy and so sly at the same time. Poor guy when she discovered he was pretending. LZX was worried and caring for him until she found out he was pretending. That and her uncertainties about their compatibility made her say they should break up. And yeah, scriptwriters wanted to drag out conflict before we get the sugar back, sure sure. I'm so ready for tomorrow's eps so I can see them get back together. This conflict was enough. Give me my sweet GuLin moments please!

Ep 24 (DVD version) Thoughts: I've seen many spoilers/analyses of the conflict but I'll contribute my two cents. I'm pretty neutral in that I see where they both were wrong but also why they reacted the way they did. I feel very bad for GW at the dinner scene because he couldn't tell them what was happening. He's the type to keep it inside because he doesn't want to worry LZX. XZ's acting was very good here; I could feel his pain through the screen. I also sympathized with LZX. GW suggested that he meet with her parents so that they could have reassurance of his commitment before they go to Germany alone. She had expectations and then he said he couldn't promise, and she had no idea why he couldn't. It really sucks when you have expectations because you're setting yourself up for potential disappointment. In Asian culture, meeting your parents is a very big deal because it shows that the couple is serious about the relationship. That all came crashing down in front of her dad who she knew took some convincing before he would give GW a chance. GW said there doesn't have to be a why to everything and he's right, but not in this case. When he doesn't give a reason, he's causing her to be confused and to overthink. LZX, as a young girl in love for the first time, tends to overthink and be in her head. I'm 25 and I'm still this way so I relate. I get that as an introvert and at his age, he tends to withdraw into his shell and want to carry the burden alone. But he's in a relationship, and by not telling her, he's unintentionally hurting her. I just feel for both of them. Then he went away for a break without getting in touch with anyone, which furthers the conflict. I understand him wanting to be alone to think things through, but the patient's parents are causing a scene. Everyone is scrambling to find him to resolve the hot mess. I don't think he's running away, but rather needing some space to just step away from it all. I do think LZX was harsh when she found him. Perhaps she should've been more gentle. However, would coaxing him to go back work? The others tried to convince him it wasn't his fault but he still ran off to be alone. LZX wanted him to come back to deal with the trouble head on, but he held back. He said he didn't hurt anyone, but he did hurt LZX and made his colleagues worry. The way GW disappeared was similar to how her dad disappeared when he found out he had cancer, so that may have triggered things for LZX even more. We saw how she lashed out at her dad but then cried afterward. She does have a temper and with her age and personality, reacts based on her emotions in the moment. She said he failed as a boyfriend because she was angry and hurt that he didn't trust her to tell her such a big thing. She's always been insecure in the relationship, and had a knee-jerk reaction. But she then said as a doctor he can still be saved and to remember why he wanted to be a doctor. I do think she could've handled it better, but isn't that us in real life? Don't we have situations we look back on once we've calmed down and think, "I totally reacted too strongly. I regret it?" Also, when you're young, you tend to be self-centered. Only when you gain more life experience do you gain more empathy and can place yourself in other people's shoes. Given her age, life experience, personality, and only child status, it kind of makes sense for her to let the steam get to her head and to just say whatever comes to mind. And we know how that goes - when you let anger take over, all logic/reasoning crumbles. When you're angry, you lose your cool and behave irrationally. Her intention may have been to give him a push, but the execution could've been better. I think that's very realistic - you can intend for something to happen this way in your head and then when it actually happens, you react completely differently. Also it's for drama's sake lol. Scriptwriter wanted the dramatic scene of GW chasing after her car 'cause it's cinema. Regardless, GW did say her scolding gave him the push to come back to deal with things head-on. I empathize with GW as well because he's human, not a robot. Even someone strong and mature can have a crack in their armor at times. Once he's had enough time to think, and with the extra push from LZX, my mans is back to get things done. So, this long ass post was just to say I see things from both sides. They both had flawed moments and can learn from this to grow as individuals and as a couple. GW needs to communicate with LZX when things go wrong, and LZX needs to mature and not let anger/self-centeredness dictate her reactions.

This was supposed to be a sweet fluffy romance drama so why is there so much pain? And the pain feels realistic, not just relying on overly used tropes to create conflict for the sake of conflict. I didn't expect for them to go deeper than a standard romcom and yes, it hurts but I'm here for it because of their acting. And after the pain, the sweetness will be even more satisfying. That's what's keeping me sane while I wait for next eps. TOOL really has me out here writing mini-essays every night; my teachers would be so proud haha. And I love that the characters aren't flawless. Neither GW or LZX are perfect individuals. They both have their strengths and areas for growth, which is what humans are like. What's important is that they love each other and will overcome their obstacles eventually. Can't wait to see GuLin CP happy again though!