Reviews

A Life-and-Death Struggle

Soldiers lie in the forest, camouflaged by dry leaves. A vow between brothers—"I’ve got your back." Yet, another man—Lin Jin Qi’s aide—sees something more, something lying beyond the immediate danger, having spoken with Jia Lam. It is Nanke who guards Lin Jin Qi’s back; he shouts a warning about a treacherous threat approaching from behind just as the episode ends.But before that, back at the Lin estate, several key characters are hovering between life and death. Someone who had been in good health suddenly falls ill and dies quickly, suffering from body rashes and moaning in pain. Jia Lam presses the doctor for answers regarding the nature of the illness. He identifies it as erysipelas. However, Jia Lam remains skeptical and seeks the truth—a search that leads to the episode's climax: the death of a maid and the profound (though likely feigned) weeping of Miss Du Cuique, crying out, "Lin Dang, Lin Dang..." (One might ask: why was Lin Dang the fatal victim here?) It was because Jia Lam was getting closer to answers in her investigation. Du Cuique, wearing a deceptively sweet expression, spotted Jia Lam’s silhouette passing by the window curtains. She realizes she is facing a rival worthy of her mettle. Jia Lam discusses the matter with Nanke, specifically the mention of Lin Jin Qi’s bath time—a detail Du Cuique had brought up. She recalls how he had pretended to bathe by splashing hot water into the tub without actually getting in. But how did she know the schedule? Jia Lam explains her theory to Nanke: this is no ordinary illness, but a case of poisoning via the bathwater—an element that is rarely guarded, unlike the food. (She hands him the letter she wrote to her parents, letting them know she is safe and well.) But before that, she retched in agony upon seeing Lan Dan die.In a moment of hopelessness, the three maids—friends supporting one another through this tragedy—interlace their hands. One of them says, "We are merely maids; there is nothing we can do to change this." That is when Jia Lam, fire in her eyes, declares, "We *can* do something—so that everyone, from the groups we care about, can realize their dreams; they all still have so much life ahead of them." Lin Jin Qi is due to arrive tomorrow; they wait with renewed hope. But can YuChan hold on for another day? And what of Lin Jin Qi’s mother? She embraces her youngest daughter, who is ill; with a feverish gaze, the mother rests her head on the pillow, looking at her child.Lin Jin Qi speaks to the lieutenant—a simple, sincere man—who had once confronted him with accusations of a crime; they are now amidst a leafy hideout. Lin Jin Qi’s voice rings out above the commotion: "You are a brother I will count on for the rest of my life." He says this to the soldier who did not back down when the unthinkable mission they were to carry out in the forest was revealed. (Providentially—or perhaps prophetically—he said this not to Du Zheng, but to this brave, loyal, ordinary man). Yet, Du Zheng displays conflicting, contradictory expressions throughout this episode, appearing as though he wants to flee the situation. He claims he lacks a weapon; LJQ replies, "Here is a weapon." He says he lacks the proper attire and must go back to fetch it; LJQ replies, "Here is the attire." "Watch my back," Lin Jin Qi tells Du Zheng. Again, that look from Du Zheng. And fellow soldiers patting him on the back. (But do all these loyal figures realize they might be dealing with an enemy disguised as a lamb?)The battle in the forest involves three groups. Our heroic group aims to rescue the commander—the Marquis—who is facing relentless assassination attempts. In slow motion, they seem to fly as they leap over one another with swords and spears amidst the forest trees. Lin Jin Qi soars the highest, rising above the rest. And now, at the end of the episode, when a true friend shouts, "Lin Jin Qi, watch your back!"—how will our hero get out of this? Let's find out in Episode 18.

Read More

Hot 🥵 🔥 but kinda emotional too

Starting the scene with DeanMoth kiss 🫣wow but Dean you had one job to stay awake and bro🤣😭the first half had me giggling and hiding myself 🙊Dean really messed up with his plans but at the end of the day I still felt bad for him 🥲💔 the loneliness is eating him alive......like his said ex's blaming him for everything while still being friends with him is kinda diabolical to me if you are hurt how can you still be friends with that person and hang out with them daily??😒them saying he doesn't deserve to be cared or it's stupid to even think about being serious with him was hurtful. As I said this story is keeping me on edge with every EP 🥲🥹I can't seem to figure them out.....the moment I start thinking now it's time I understand them a little more they switch. The complexity of these characters are so interesting to watch that the duration of every ep is frustrating 🥲give me more than 1 hour of each episode.Anyways really excited to see how the story unfolds and curious about their backstories and past experiences which made them like the way they are.

Read More

Dealing with the Du siblings

Very satisfying to see both Du siblings go down in the same episode and fail at whatever they were up to. 😊 And really... WHY did they hate the Lin family so much? Maybe Du Zheng saving Jinqi was staged as well just to get him and his sister a way into the Lin family?And one of the most interesting things I have noticed is that every villain that is caught and possibly linked to that big scheme, when asked questions of "why", prefers dying over telling anything. What makes them choose to die for that plan? I still suspect Old Master Zhao to be behind it all, but maybe there's more. 🫣Jinqi and Lanxiang were so cute... Her telling him he's drinking from her cup and receiving a mischievous smile and "So?" as an answer... Him following her and trying to catch her every time she staggers, yet not really daring... 🤭Their conversation was so natural, and they talked without that distance created by one being a master and the other one his servant. They were more like friends, equals in some ways. And she said he's a good person, which only means she as the last descendant of the Shen family doesn't hold a grudge against him. 😌

Read More

how ironic that Dean is made out to be this…

how ironic that Dean is made out to be this big manipulative player, but he is the only character i like (Ten is adorable but a meeh character so far) & the guys he calls his friends - dude with friend's like those, who needs enemies?!? Dean might be a player, but he isn't hiding this fact, he makes it known... anyone that gets into bed with him, knows that he offers nothing but a good time, there's no talk about a future & he doesn't hide this fact!!! but he the bad guy, cause the other guys catch feelings??? the whole scene with that Max f*cker & his "friends" was whack & made me so sad for him. he is all alone & Moth showing up didn't help the situation - he is another one that doesn't know what he wants from himself, let alone from Dean or even Pun for that matter. dude knows that Pun is holding a candle for him & instead of blowing it out, making it clear that he will never return his feelings & will only ever see him as a good friend, he keeps circling back whenever he needs an ego massage - kinda tiresome. & personally i think Dean deserver better, even though idk what his personal baggage is & why he is (in his own way) put up walls & keeping people out.

Read More