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This review may contain spoilers
The answer to the title: She's allergic to chemistry.
Transmigration and Chinese short dramas—name a more chaotic combo. It’s like every heroine has a punch card for reincarnation, but with barely enough runtime to unpack one lifetime, let alone two. This drama sets up a promising revenge plot with a reborn general, scheming royals, and a wedding night rewind. But the delivery? More ho-hum than high drama. The acting isn’t outright bad, but the chemistry between the leads is… well, not chemistrifying.
Wu Ming Jing as Qiu Yu looks like she’s emotionally clocked out. Whether her romantic partner is Brian Chang or a decorative pine tree, she barely spares either a glance. And considering they’re supposed to be the central couple, it gives major “I’m just here for the paycheck” energy. Meanwhile, Brian Chang’s Li Jian spends most of the runtime trying to convince himself that Qiu Yu is his wife. Either he can’t believe a general would marry him, or he’s too busy sulking about being the seventh prince instead of the first or second. All along maybe he's just wondering how many siblings had to mysteriously disappear before it was his turn at the throne.
Maybe Qiu Yu’s apathy is less about romance and more about survival. With a scheming stepmother and a sister who wants her dead, she spends most of her time reciting excuses (probably ripped from the “Tragic Heroine’s Bible”) for why she’s still entertaining the 2nd prince—even after his betrayal in a past life. The drama tries to paint this as noble, but it mostly feels exhausting.
By the end, Qiu Yu’s expression is permanently stuck in “let’s get this over with” mode. Unfortunately, so was mine. The drama had the bones of an intriguing palace saga, but the lack of spark, urgency, and emotional investment left me disengaged. If indifference were a love language, this couple would be soulmates.
Wu Ming Jing as Qiu Yu looks like she’s emotionally clocked out. Whether her romantic partner is Brian Chang or a decorative pine tree, she barely spares either a glance. And considering they’re supposed to be the central couple, it gives major “I’m just here for the paycheck” energy. Meanwhile, Brian Chang’s Li Jian spends most of the runtime trying to convince himself that Qiu Yu is his wife. Either he can’t believe a general would marry him, or he’s too busy sulking about being the seventh prince instead of the first or second. All along maybe he's just wondering how many siblings had to mysteriously disappear before it was his turn at the throne.
Maybe Qiu Yu’s apathy is less about romance and more about survival. With a scheming stepmother and a sister who wants her dead, she spends most of her time reciting excuses (probably ripped from the “Tragic Heroine’s Bible”) for why she’s still entertaining the 2nd prince—even after his betrayal in a past life. The drama tries to paint this as noble, but it mostly feels exhausting.
By the end, Qiu Yu’s expression is permanently stuck in “let’s get this over with” mode. Unfortunately, so was mine. The drama had the bones of an intriguing palace saga, but the lack of spark, urgency, and emotional investment left me disengaged. If indifference were a love language, this couple would be soulmates.
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