whoissilmoy

I think the drama was weak in the area of the breakup. HT always meant to tell her about his plans for XingChen. In the novel, he knew he needed to merge XingChen and was going to eventually discuss it with her. It says so specifically in the novel, I remember reading that line. In the drama, I'm not sure if HT was ever going to merge but I think eventually he would have to, but he wanted to see how far XingChen can go. He needed JX to become a suitable granddaughter in law. His grandfather actually gave him an ultimatum in two years otherwise, he'd have to marry whoever he picks. But I agree that the drama amplified HT's misery too much. In the novel, it simply said HT was heartbroken and then when he had to fly home after JX rejected him again, it said even the stewardess were afraid to approach him. But the drama didn't really deviate from the novel. JX in the novel was extremely productive after the breakup.

That's the paradox of the story to me. How a perfect man like HT can love a flawed person. It's actually what fascinated me when I read the novel, why HT do you like JX? She is a person who goes home, it must make her feel safe when she feels insecure. But I don't really see her running away from her startup. My goodness, what she went through for the startup. But once the merger happened, she been working 24x7, why not take some time off after all that happened. It actually did a lot of good for her to go to Germany for a few months and not dwell on what happened, and she was quite productive during that time off.

Well, I think that there are different perspectives and interpretations of Ep 31 because movies are a form of art too, and everyone sees it through their own lenses. JX is supposed to be an emotional and impulsive character, although some may say she quit her job impulsively but honestly, I applaud her due to the unbearable circumstances or some may say she should let go of sexual harassment case, but she is one who stands up for herself. HT is a rational, calm, and restrained character. This is why conflicts arise between them and makes an interesting story and if you like that kind of dynamic. Because HT is rational, it's easier for viewer to follow his point of view. What JX did breaking into his safe is wrong, but what drove her to do it is a web of messy complex human emotions. This conflict ultimately helped them to understand each other better. Their relationship was only a few months old when it all happened. HT always intended to tell her his plans for XingChen. HT knows he hurt her, but he is ruthless and willing to lose her for sake of Dongyang. His idea of how he should show his love for her was different than her idea, even though he did plenty through his actions, but she has a need to hear it, and HT is not one to say I love you because to him love is a lifetime. He didn't realize it would break his heart to lose her. In ep. 31, I think HT started out calm and was going to explain things to her, but he was being eerily calm almost like he doesn't care, and that provoked her and so she provoked him, and it just blew up. JX is not stupid. She understood everything and tried to play his game but failed because he's already three steps ahead of her. Later, in Germany, she told the professor what HT has done for XingChen with resources of Dongyang. It was more of an emotional reaction that got the better of her. The more rational he was, the more it scared her because she started to learn more of what he had been planning all along. It really frightened her to see this side of him and that she can become a pawn to him. A drama needs to have conflict and people's mistakes, misunderstandings, miscommunications, personalities, etc. creates conflicts for storytelling.

Before the conflict, JX didn't have confidence in her relationship with HT and allowed people like ZD to get to her but after they reconcile, we see ZD can no longer influence her.

I realize that he's an amateur. He's never had lessons. I doubt he has time.
When I watch him try to dance or sing, I know he's an amateur who rarely sing and dance, but I see how expressive he is when he moves or in his voice.

That's XK's voice singing in Cantonese? He may be an amateur singer, but he sings very well, and his singing is so expressive. Xu Kai is the embodiment of expressions.

JX did not run away. After the merger, she no longer has a startup to run. She decided to take some time off and pursue other opportunities. The drama follows the novel very closely.
HT never grovel or beg, heartbroken yes. He simply asked her to forgive him for hurting her. She even gave him back the forgiveness card because it was not needed this time, that means she didn't feel he needed to ask for forgiveness. When she said, "I forgave you long time ago", I interpreted that to mean she never blamed him. She was just too emotional at the time. Whatever happened she didn't hold it against him. She just couldn't restart their relationship because she felt his power is overwhelming to her. That's why she said we need to start over, not as investor or boss relationship, but just as Han Ting and Ji Xing.

HT's love for JX is inexplicable. He loves everything about her, flaws and all, and gently guides her. She is someone he takes great pleasure in simply loving her for who she is and wants to be the rock in her life that she can find refuge in. The two are so different yet they fulfil each other. HT is this powerful and perfect man who can love a flaw person. She has qualities that fulfils him and makes him feel happy and complete, which is why he loves her so much. HT can see through insincere people like Zeng Di and rejects her, but he saw in JX a pure and lovely heart, the only girl worthy of his time and love. He told his grandfather that JX has qualities he doesn't have.

For sure, the drama is missing something about JX state of mind during the breakup period that could help the viewer understand her better. However, in the novel, at the end of chp. 62, it specifically described HT as heartbroken, "he saw Ji Xing's profile picture, suddenly, without warning, a strange pain tore through his heart, like the cracking of ice under a cold wind." The novel didn't discuss how HT deal with his emotions privately, but the drama really blew it up big time. In the novel, it immediately pivots to JX pursuing her next job. The breakup did have a negative impact on her. She became more quiet and less confident and more matured. Everyone deals with pain and grief differently. Ji Xing is a person who gets all her emotions out immediately then moves on, but she has self-defense mechanisms to protect herself. It's very common thing that happens, you make excuses to convince yourself. Han Ting actually never moved on from the breakup. At first, he didn't follow her then later he had to go to USA on business knowing that she's there, he will bump into her and ask to reconcile. In the drama, HT went to Germany on business not knowing JX was there. In the novel, HT bumped into JX at a required meeting one month after the merger and offered her a job, but she declined. Then the newly appointed CEO of Hanhai-XingChen offered her a job. I tend to think HT recommended her even though the novel didn't say so. When I was reading the novel, I found it strange that HT can be so cool when he clearly wanted to reconcile. The novel is generous when it comes to JX's thoughts and feelings, not so much what HT is thinking or feeling. The difference is the drama showed a more desperate HT willing to track her down right away but the novel, HT is able to restrain himself even though he is very heartbroken and wants to reconcile. In both the novel and drama, JX was able to move on and decline HT's advances and was extremely productive. The first chance HT got with JX in USA, he made a bold and aggressive move forced himself into her room and on her, but she refused him. He said this is the last time I ask for reconciliation and left. On his flight back to China, HT "looking so gloomy that even the flight attendants didn't dare to greet him", another rare admission in the novel how miserable HT really is, while the novel describes in great detail "JX returned to China fully loaded after three months" meaning she is fully trained and she rolls up her sleeves and really get to work and becomes productive and competent in running her operation. The novel shows how adept she has become in managing people too. But since she is now working for Hanhai-XingChen, she will continue to bump into HT in the elevators, and one thing leads to another, and they have chance to talk things out and she is finally willing to talk to him about their relationship except she got kidnapped before they could talk. In the novel, it also described a miserable HT when he finds JX is flirting or having dinner with Qin Li, "He lifted his chin and unconsciously loosened his tie. His jaw was tense as he stared blankly at the air, not speaking for a long time."
I was disappointed the drama did not show more interactions between HT and JX during the breakup period, and that HT was shown to be so desperate to find JX right away. I think in the novel, HT did not run after JX right away to give her time. But HT heartbroken, chasing JX once he bumped into her again, and looking to reconcile, while JX moved on, refuses him, and is absorbed in training and work was pretty much how it went down in the novel.

Just wonder how the Olympics might affect viewership

she has beautiful vocals, so pure and lots of feeling in her singing

Have you seen 22 yr old XK in swim trunks?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z-RnA8D0cg

what? TSY went missing for a month during the shooting? I'm sure there was a very good reason.

Her crying sound is eerily real. It doesn't sound like acting but real crying that comes from depths of one's soul crying out. I give her best crying award.

JOL S2 has nearly 5B views since May 16. The next highest is The Legend of Shen Li has over 3.2B views since Mar 18. There is one or two more dramas with 3B views. ABAY has nearly 2B views since Jul 2.

What does XK have to do with this? You mean HT. Seven Tan is not small person, she's 5'4" which is average height for Chinese woman. It's just that XK is 6'2" dwarfs her. She's filming a costume drama with Neo Hou who is only 5'10" and doesn't look as "small" next to him.

7/17 1B 7/18 1.1B 7/19 1.2B 7/21 1.3B 7/24 1.5B 7/28 1.7B 7/29 1.8B 8/1 1.9B

it means they have chemistry when you mix the two together

Congrats to both Seven Tan and Xu Kai. There is synergy between these two. 1+1>2.

I find that his face is incredibly expressive, and he can look different to me too. Xu Kai can appear different because he is so expressive.

Ep 14 bts stone skipping
https://x.com/i/status/1818832111056699618