vlees

Haha, no worries, the most important is that I could finally see it 😂 Piece of art!

YES!

I was waiting! Thank you!

It's a pity they didn't add it in the final version, that would be such a beautiful scene to see. My conclusion stays the same and her loving XL doesn't mean she doesn't love TSJ or CX.

I just feel like it's wrong to think she loved only one of them. Or that any of those types of love is inferior to another.

XY & XL = soulmate type of love, very deep but the circumstances and their similarities are things that make them star-crossed. Their time together is very limited but life-long impacting. What brings fuel to this relationship is also that a lot of things were never said out loud and the long list of "what ifs". Unfulfilled love is the most romantic.

XY & TSJ = healing type of love, based on differences between them, they can learn from each other and grow together. Adding the fact they want the same type of life, as commoners, far away from money & power makes them a good match for long-lasting relationship. It brings peace and comfort. There is a physical affection, just different kind than the one with XL.

XY & CX = love that got no chance to bloom. After reading some posts here I realized that there was a chance for their romance but it was doomed the moment they split up and CX didn't come back for her. The traumatic events she faced in those years they were apart changed her irreversibly. So her love for him could not become romantic. They missed each other on their life paths.

I’m aware that you don’t like TSJ and I absolutely respect that but what clearly shows is that it’s hard for you to be objective when it comes to his character.

I’m not a hard-shipper of any of them, let’s say I like fact digging, character analysis and looking for cues, checking facts.

Quoting, Season 2, EP6, 30:50
XL: Are you willing to marry Chishui Fenglong?
XY: No, I’m not.
XL: Are you willing to marry Tushan Jing?
XY: (confusion)
XL: Are you willing to marry Ye Shiqi?
XY: Yes, I am.
XL: Who do you want to spend your life with?
XY: (disturbed, in pain, not saying anything tho)

Facts:
She clearly doesn’t want to marry CFL.
She HESITATED and didn’t say „no” when asked about TSJ.
She clearly said YES for the marriage with Ye Shiqi (what only shows that she differs TSJ from YSQ, as the second one is considered as the genuine one, without the role of Tushan chef, marriage and /not his/ kid)
She was confused and wasn’t able to mention one person in particular when asked about whom she wants to spend her life with (my guess here is that she would like to spend her life equally with all three of them: CX/XL/TSJ OR she would like to spend her life with XL but she’s deeply aware that’s not possible; but I’m more with the 1st option)

Conclusion: you can love many people but at the end of the day, it’s your choice who will you open your heart to which counts and determines the path in life.

That reminds me of her conversation with Tian’er when XY asked her about regrets in life. That was also the moment XY realized she was stopping herself from happiness because she was avoiding being fully involved in relationships. Then she chooses to open her heart for TSJ.

PS Bad TSJ is spying on XY but how would you call XL literally giving her hypnosis session just to get some answers from her she didn’t want to give him willingly? They all have their let’s say not healthy choices, let’s be fair (but I still love them).

The feeling of uncertainty is the whole catch of this story, without it we would be easily bored and there would be no discussions.

I don’t feel like it’s just a cute story between XY and TSJ. It’s a story about XY and 3 important men in her life.

3 different beginnings, 3 types of love, 3 different paths and 3 different endings.

Loving only one person in your whole life is a very romantic but also extremely unrealistic scenario. Same for perfect matches and perfect relationships - they’re non-existent.

Initial attraction and having a spark may be just a beginning but it doesn’t keep the relationships in good shape for the whole life. It’s the communication, working things out together, mutual respect which makes a good company for life.

I absolutely love this story for its realistic portrayal of romantic relationships. Despite it being held in completely fictional world.

Yup! It’s like missing the whole point of his character, he’s as complex as CX and XL but in a different way.

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. They have a very different love languages but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love him equally strong. She’s internalizing her emotions, especially those connected to love and longing and that made her depressed.

I think she was also depressed because of XL in some way, but more on the subconscious level.
The feelings of uncertainty and „what ifs” when it comes to their relationship were devastating. She has a deep feelings for her with no place to be released.

She loves all 3 of them!

I think people just prefer ZLH in more… hmm… red flag roles 😅
He was also so good in My Journey To You but nothing can beat his popularity in SOKP as our toxic man 😏

I think the problem is she would like to spend her life with all three of them (for different but equally strong reasons) and that’s the impossible choice.

Jing is the only one she chooses consciously as he’s also the only one who can give what she’s been longing for her whole life - feelings of safety and stability, being unconditionally loved without fear of being abandoned.

When you think about it, calling him „coward” is so far from the truth. He’s the only one who’s not afraid of love and showing affection, he doesn’t care what other people think about him acting like a clingy fool.

He’s afraid of being rejected, of course, but it didn’t stop him from expressing his feelings. At the same time, I wouldn’t say he’s obsessed. The moment he thought it was the end for him and XY he chose to not interfere into her life. First time he did so was when he colluded with XL to cancel the wedding. He even admitted that he regretted he acted that selfish, until he found out she actually still has feelings for him.

There is a fine line between love and obsession, the difference is that TSJ is fully aware and respectful towards XY what unfortunately becomes a tough task for CX (I feel so bad for our sad yandere boy).

Being open and honest with his feelings is his kind of bravery. I think that’s also the reason Grandpa immediately found him so likable. TSJ wasn’t even that afraid to offend the emperor with absent minded play.

He’s the most courageous when it comes to love. I would say the other person with such bravery is A’Nian, they just have quite different personalities.

Love between XY and XL is full of „ifs”. They’re both brave with their actions but both refuse to admit their feelings to each other, not letting the other person choose their own path 😢 I know it’s what love made them do but it still hurts.

I agree with you 100%

I would add that she lost purpose and felt lonely, what’s been always her biggest fear. That’s why she was so depressed.

His smile becomes more and more scary with each episode.

Oh, I love this parallel, I didn’t notice it before! Thanks for pointing it out.

Grandpa understands XY very well and wants her to be happy and is experienced enough to spot who’s able to give it to her.

Grandpa choosing to live a life like this is also showing that they just get each other well with XY understanding the beauty of a simple life. He’s such a wise person and good grandpa.

Yes, finally she got some nice character development. I was so happy to hear her admit that.

But he’s a father to her anyway, the fact that he isn’t the „real one” doesn’t change the love between them. That’s so tragic 😢

Becuase of his responsibilities.

He chose his path when he made a promise years ago to fight on the side of Chenrong and is responsible for his soldiers.

Unfortunately, that also makes them enemies since XY is the daughter of Princess General of Xiyan. Choosing XY would mean the end of Chenrong army and death of those soldiers.

In his case there is very thin (or non-existent?) line between being protective and being controlling.

She has an enormous attachment issues and she even admitted it in one of last episodes. She prefers to push people away or forget about them before they can even do it to her.

It’s a self preservation thing caused by traumatic experiences because everyone in life was leaving her. So she always expects people to have a change of heart and leaving her again.

Oh that’s so beautiful. Thank you for sharing ❤️