themarchioness

I think her behavior should be viewed in the proper context. It's not as if she wants to do everything that she's doing either, but her boss makes it pretty clear that she'd better find a way to get the scoop that he wants and since she's got bills to pay (rent, electricity, etc.), she does what's necessary. Eventually, the ML realizes this about her as well -- that she's not that type of person that he perceived her to be, initially. As viewers, though, we should have that more global perspective whereas the ML doesn't have the benefit of knowing about her financial issues or the pressure that she's receiving from her boss.

Depends on which version you're watching. If you're watching web/subbed episodes (YouTube/Viki/etc.) it's 40 episodes. The TV(?)/raw episodes have 46. There is no difference between the two versions; they're just cut differently (for example, some of the raw episodes were only 25-35 minutes long which resulted in them having a higher number of episodes).

It's got a little bit of everything - the romance between the OTP, the game, the friendships, the team building. But the romance is threaded throughout, so very much present. I found the drama well-balanced in its narrative and just adored it.

Yes, it is a romance with a happy ending.

Yes, Zhou Ran and Zhang Yue Wei both being interested in Yubing is a change to the story that they made for the drama; it does not exist in the book.

When the Pioneers team qualified for the world championships, they didn't have the money to actual travel to Canada and attend. Li Gan, who was the team's alternate, told the others that he'd found a sponsor to fund their trip but in reality he mortgaged his house to come up with the money. Sun Ze Yi learned the truth of this matter and, as the leader of the team, pulled out to let Li Gan go in his place.

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rock-sugar-and-pear-stew/

The schedule in China is Sunday-Friday, 2 episodes and Saturday, 1 episode. If you're watching on Viki, however, since they didn't premiere until a day later (on 3/20 instead of 3/19), that schedule is shifted by a day - meaning the one episode airs on Sunday while the other days get two episodes. It also means on any given day, Viki will be "behind" raw episodes by 2.

No, the OTP remain together in the end.

Yes, I am also watching through an iQiyi app with subs.

There's nothing wrong with YouTube. iQiyi is simply uploading their official channel on a delayed schedule, which is their normal practice for a lot of their dramas. This drama is also being released through their app, which follows their regular airing schedule (and has subs).

As for why some Chinese dramas don't air soon after they are completed, reasons are multi-factorial but revolve a lot around the approval process and guidelines that the government puts in place.

He did see her (a blurry vision of her when he finally came to after having passed out), but I think it's a red herring - where we (and he) are supposed to think one of them (FMW or YQL) did it, but in the end, it'll end up being neither. I just can't see it being FMW. As betrayed as she might have felt, I don't think she'd hurt Jing Ci in that way (and that's the belief he's clinging onto as well). YQL doesn't really have reason to harm him either given that he was helping her marry the person she loved.

Spoiler of spoiler, I vaguely recall reading somewhere (maybe further below?) that in the end, it'll be revealed that it was Jing Ci's adopted father who did it and FMW was protecting Jing Ci from realizing the truth of that matter. I'm pretty sure the adopted father is also the one who's been slow poisoning him and keeping him in poor health, as a method of control. Just my guesses. :)

There's so much backstory packed into the first couple of episodes that I don't think the impact of revelations were properly felt. But, basically, FMW felt betrayed by what she felt was Jing Ci's willingness to let her be married off to another. She doesn't know that it's not something he wanted and was actively working to find a way around. Just as she's reeling from that sense of betrayal, she discovers the truth of how she was supposed to have been killed as a baby.

Having said all that, I'm at episode 18 and the actual truth of that incident has yet to be revealed. Everyone assumes it was FMW, but I think in the end it will prove not to be her (I don't think it'll be YQL either). Jing Ci doesn't want to believe it's FMW, and is for the most part giving her a pass because he understand how upset she was over the betrothal and feels bad about how she was stolen as a baby. And, of course, because he loves her. :)

Anyway that's my understanding of how things are...

Not a coincidence, but not really gossip-worthy either. Guo Zi Qian belongs to Hans Zhang's studio, so naturally she gets a lot of roles in dramas that Hans Zhang is a part of (particularly if his studio is involved in the production). Zhang Ya Mei is also signed to his studio, so you'll see some overlap there as well.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the fics. :)
(Tip: Despite my having stated previously that I was done, check back in a few days. I'll be posting another....)

Youku's website says 28.

I believe the schedule is 5 raw episodes every Wednesday for VIPs, 2 raw episodes every Wednesday & Thursday for non-VIPs, and 2 subbed episodes every Saturday & Sunday. (Note: Often, people rip the VIP episodes and make them available online. But if you were watching officially the episode would be available as indicated.)

The special has never been subbed, as far as I know, but if you follow my link below and read the recap, you'll be able to watch and understand without any problems. Promise. :)

As far as I know there is no subbed version anywhere, that’s why I provided the recap. If you read it, you’ll be able to follow the videos no problem.

https://youtu.be/yI2AJLYRM0o