A Sizzling Fire Doused with Cold Water
My ratings are generous, but my review might not be. If there are hundreds of things that I loved about this show, then some glaring issues made me question it as well. Following are the reasons why I liked it a lot yet left unsatisfied.Why will you like the show?
1) Unique Setup
This show is not like other c-dramas. The synopsis might make you feel that it's a cliche, but not really. The whole setup is unique. Majority of the show is set in Bangkok (man city), some parts of Canada and the rest in Nanjing. It has a rebellious world building, something that's usually missing in Cdramas. The boxing, racing, mechanic/garage axis gives it a flair different from usual modern cdramas shot in Beijing and Shanghai.
2) Same yet Different Characters
The main characters might read like classic shoujo manga. Cutesy mischievous teenage girl, capable hot rebellious boy. But somehow, the execution of these characters was pretty refreshing thanks to Esther and He Yu. Now, that doesn't mean that I love the extra childish antics of Esther. But I understand that it was the demand of the script and the director. Both these characters were refreshing to watch because these actors did a great job, so did their styling team and direction.
3) Insane Romance
The single reason why I would recommend people to watch it is for its romance. The chemistry is sizzling and refreshing. Despite censorship, the team did a fabulous job of conveying a hot romance with a star-crossed lover theme. These two are meant to be together, period. And the moment they decide to understand, accept and act upon these emotions, its an absolute treat for viewers. You will experience dragons let alone butterflies in your stomach.
4) HE FREAKING YU
I was shocked to realize that he's the same guy who acted in My Fated Boy. Talk about being a chameleon. You can tell he really got into shape and worked very hard on himself for this role. Most importantly, he is intoxicatingly charming. If he is on the screen, you will not be able to focus on anything but him. Its not just that he is extremely handsome, but he is acutely aware of how to use his charms. He is spectacular actor. And the biggest takeaway for every viewer of this show will be discovering him cos I know I will keep a look out for his future projects.
Why will you dislike the show?
1) Disaster Second Half
If the first half of the show was the finest premium Swiss chocolate, the second half was the synthetic stuff found in a local shop. There was a point when I was wondering if I was watching the same show. It's not that I wasn't prepared for the shift as it was written in the synopsis, its the execution of it all. You will feel frustrated about things that don't make sense. It diminished the star appeal of the show.
2) Ridiculous script & story
The overall story is fine, two siblings who are not blood related falling in love....accepting this change and realizing the full depth of their relationship. The first half does great justice to that. But there were so many writing/creative choices made by the makers in the show that will make you extremely angry. The so called tribulation that they go through for years in the second half was not sensible in anyway. It was just a stupid creative choice. The characters started behaving unlike them, the fl was shown with zero self esteem, the ml was not given a chance to redeem himself, its all just too much by the end. You would start missing the Bangkok arc.
All in all, its a good romantic show which the fans of the genre should definitely give a shot. But do not expect a perfect show. Enjoy it for what it is and for their romance. It has a great rewatch value with many memorable scenes and performances.
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Sparkly Hot series, all wrapped in a science-fiction pastiche style . Adictive
I rarely watch miniseries. But here, the director presents something truly fresh — instead of using familiar clichés that have already run out. It’s a consciously playful pastiche that charms precisely because of it, offering a true kaleidoscope of styles: each pastiche is explored over two episodes, enhancing the sense of variety and rhythm. The pacing is dynamic, a whirlwind of ideas presented quickly, without lingering on details— likely dictated by technical and budgetary constraints. In the end, the result is thoroughly satisfying, blending emotional depth, and this pastiche style.ACTING:
The leading lady perfectly complements the male character, creating incredible chemistry. The supporting roles are played decently, but special mention must go to the lead actor Cui Yu Xin— he performs the role subtly, without overacting. He embodies both emotional depth and passion, doing all the “heavy lifting” on that front.
ANALYSE:
From the passionate scenes at the beginning to the almost calming, restrained finale, the author traces what seems like the very trajectory of love. At first, the romantic bond is driven by lust, raw desire, and subtle power struggles, where possession and domination overshadow genuine intimacy. But as the narrative develops, love gradually turns into something — based on acceptance, mutual recognition, and respect. Thus, the work shows that true emotional satisfaction is not in excess or sensory intoxication, but in simpler and more balanced relationships.
Beyond surface-level fantasies, the series offers several precise critical observations. It exposes the cynicism of the pharmaceutical industry through a character who produces dangerous “vaccines” while simultaneously hiding real medicines to protect power and profit. At the same time, Yin’s claim of moral and emotional superiority is dismantled: considered “normal,” they repeatedly display domination and a striking lack of empathy. In contrast, the Ren — considered emotionally deficient — are shown as capable of genuine love, loyalty, and selflessness. The brother’s act, tainted by enforced submission, and his subsequent suicide emphasize the bleak conclusion: emotional emptiness is not with the Ren, but with the Yin, who remain unable to face vulnerability or love. But there are some who will succeed in the end.
VISUALS:
Visually, the series resembles a joyful mix of Dune, Inception, Game of Thrones, a pinch of Western, Contagion, horor Films — as if each source of influence gets its own two episodes 😆 suspect that part of this chaos was generated by AI, including in the post-production
MUSIC:
Like the series, which evokes a chaos of multiple films, the music is the same: effective, dynamic, a kaleidoscope of styles — from Erik Satie and Beethoven to Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ re-adapted, and even excerpts from Twilight, horor film From Beyond, Castle Freak …
OVERALL
Overall, the relatively low censorship allows the series to take bold experiments, doing what mainstream projects rarely dare to do. Unlike A-list films, where actors are often more concerned with perfect looks, staged shots, or advertising than with performance, this series feels daring and alive.
Cui Yu Xin delivers one of the strongest roles of the year in Chinese C-DRAMA (2026) — for me, it was an excellent discovery.
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Mini series (4 x 8") with 2 future stars
PLOT: The ML, in debt but just waiting for death, finds himself trapped in his apartment by a young yakuza (who doesn't quite have the makings of one). In just a few days, they get to know each other and save one another.+++ A slice-of-life mini-series, which avoids the pitfalls of mini-series that try to tell a whole story in a few rushed episodes with lots of plot holes.
+++ Two touching, moving, and talented actors. I'll try to follow their careers.
+++ Talented direction as well, because with a limited budget, two sets, two actors, a few props... everything is said. Kudos!
=> Interesting and superbly acted short film.
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Mini (4 X 8") avec 2 futurs grands acteurs
PLOT: Le ML, endetté mais qui n'attend que la mort, se retrouve coincé ds 1 appartement par un jeune yakuza (mais qui n'en a pas l'étoffe). Ils vont en qq jours, apprendre à se connaitre et se sauver.
+++ Mini slice-of-life, qui n'a donc pas les défauts des mini séries qui veulent raconter tte une histoire en qq épisodes rushed avec plein de plot holes.
+++ 2 acteurs touchants, émouvants, talentueux. Je vais essayer de suivre leur carrière.
+++ Réalis° talentueuse également, car, avec 1 budget limité, 2 décors, 2 acteurs, qq accessoires, ... tout est dit. Kudos !
=> Court métrage intéressant et super bien joué.
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Don't believe the BAD ratings, the drama is worth watching!
Legend of the Female General(2025) is a romance drama set in historical time with Ryan Cheng (as Xiao Jue / Xiao Huai Jin) and Zhou Ye (as He Yan / He Ru Fei / General Fei Hong) in the leading couple’s role. The cast did a great job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple has a fantastic chemistry, whether they are fiercely fighting enemies, playfully teasing each other, planning their next step to outsmart the antagonist, or expressing their steadfast mutual love and admiration. This drama delivers a beautiful love story within great settings, costumes, excellently well choreograph action scenes, and actors that, for the most part, did an exceptional job executing their characters. Overall, this drama is gripping and entertaining, enjoy it!This drama can be found on viki.com.
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A story worth telling
I really enjoyed this drama. The main leads acting was really good, especially the female lead. While the pace of the drama and the romance was really slow, I did not mind it because the characters and their story were being developped. The slow pace actually kept me invested because we kept seeing small glimpse of the character's inner thoughts and their full past. However, I do wish that Sang Yan's character had been more developed and explored because there were a lot of questions for me like "why does he like her so much?". I also wish we had explored the impact of the FL trauma on their inimate life. However, this is me nitpicking really, because other than that the story was really good. Even the second couple, they were quite thoroughly explored (perhaps even too much which in turn took screen time away from the main leads). Another thing that I enjoyed was that since we're looking at adults, everyone was quite mature in their thinking and acting. The minsunderstandings that happened were cleared up pretty quickly and no unnecessary and immature grudges were held (which is somehing that happens too often in other dramas). I also appreciated the duality of the leads. Yi Fan looks reserved and like a "pushover" but is actually quite strong and speaks up when she has to. Sang Yan looks cocky but is actually quite sensitive, soft and at times insecure. Overall, this is a drama I would recommend if you're okay with a slow-burn story and exploring darker themes.Was this review helpful to you?
More Than Horror: A Quiet, Devastating Masterpiece
The Light Shop is easily one of the best shows I have watched in a long time. I went into it with no real knowledge of the premise, choosing it purely based on genre and expecting a straightforward horror drama. What I got instead was something far deeper, more emotional, and unexpectedly profound.While the show carries elements of horror, it is ultimately a deeply human story about loss, grief, and the fragile line between life and death. I genuinely have no real complaints about this drama. Every actor delivered an outstanding performance, and each one brought their character to life in a way that felt raw and painfully real. Watching them felt like being taken on an emotional journey that never let up.
The story itself is a masterpiece. Each character has their own narrative, their own pain, and their own path that led them to the light shop. These stories slowly unfold and reveal how every decision, moment, and loss shaped where they ended up. Each one was heartbreaking in its own way, and what struck me most was how easy it was to see pieces of myself in them. Their fears, regrets, and longing felt achingly familiar.
There is a particular sense of helplessness that runs through the drama, a feeling that something has been cut short and can never truly be undone. Life is no longer the same, and there is no going back. That quiet devastation is what makes the show so powerful. You do not just watch their pain, you feel it. The emotional weight lingers long after the episode ends.
More than anything, The Light Shop made me deeply introspective. It reminded me how short life is and how thin the line between life and death truly is. In the end, this is a story you sit with, one that stays with you and gently reshapes how you think about time, loss, and what it means to keep going.
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Why is the FL acting like a 5 years old??
I was very upset with how this show turned out. I was looking forward to se others Lin Yi projects, cause he is such a good actor, and in this one, his story, his character, his clothing, everything was so promising. BUT, as it happends in many kdramas, the FL was there and it was NOT good. Its unwatchable, its impossible to watch a grown as woman act like a child, talk like a child, it is even weird that the ML feel atracted to that. Its literally a child there, he should not feel atracted, its totally unreal that a grown ass man would feel atracted to that. I felt so weird watching it, so I dropped. Very uppseting, Lin Yi was really good.Was this review helpful to you?
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Its really She was the man (2006) coded.
I watched this last year and this drama reminds me of J Drama Hana Kimi (2007) and American Movie She was the man (2006). It feels like nostalgic drama to my youth. Sun Qian Xun and Wang Jiamao embraced their character smoothy.I always love "woman disguised as a man" premise and lighthearted narrative style, it stands out in the short drama genre. The Sun Qian Xun as FL disguises herself as a man to attend classes in place of her brother, unexpectedly becoming the school's most popular girl and attracting the attention of the school bully, ML. (This is so She was the man coded).
I like how Sun Qian Xun boys looks not too beautiful like flower next door type yet strikingly cool and believable as a man. I like the moment ML realized he actually was gay by liking FL in boys costume. FL completely deceives ML, yet he remains devoted to her.
The cons are last 10 minutes are a bit too convoluted. After being rejected, ML plans to publicly confess his feelings. And when the disguised was being discovered they used fake amnesia plot. And when couple progression was slighty better the sudden ML disappearance annoyed me. SFL was weak in attacking FL but constantly bouncing around.
The final punishment was just a demerit summary: I think the drama was generally average, with some blunders and minor laughs, but I didn't like the later parts. The romance was so-so and the chemistry between Wang Jiamao and Sun Qianxun seems like artificial, they look better as comrade more than lovers for my view.
Although the plot is simple, its still decent to watch.
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A series where the actors took ALL the risks!
WARNING: This series is not for all viewers due to its very explicit sex scenes. [It's not porn, no sex is seen in this drama, but the sex scenes seem real]. It is intended for a mature audience, capable of understanding the raw sexual content and recognizing that the central theme is the evolution of the relationship between our two protagonists, from fleeting attraction to a solid, stable, and trusting relationship.PLOT: In a group of childhood friends, there are the "older" ones (Sorn, Thai, and Champ) who eventually form a company, and the younger ones, including Jun, a rebellious and stubborn youngster. At 18, Jun stumbled upon Sorn masturbating and ended up sharing the moment. Years later, Jun becomes an intern at the company, with Sorn as his mentor (brusque and annoyed by the "kids"). But Jun, in a rather toxic relationship, is repeatedly rescued from trouble by Sorn, who becomes his "sex mentor."
+++ There are sex scenes in each episode, which fuels the hateful comments. For me, these scenes are necessary in the narrative, because sex is the expression of the bond between the two protagonists, their way of communicating, seducing each other, and measuring their power over the other one. Some commenters call Sorn a pervert. I completely disagree. Jun is an adult and consenting, even initiating. For me, Jun's feigned innocence, which plays on his power over Sorn, is morally more perverse than Sorn's raw, expressed, direct desire. Jun is never fooled by the "sex mentor" excuse. He's the one in control (by deliberately putting himself in danger, stirring up Sorn's jealousy, etc.).
+++ Boat is so hot. This actor exudes charisma, tension, and energy that leaps off the screen. I hope to see him again soon in longer (and more comfortable :) series.
+++ Oat is Jun, mischievous, carefree, self-assured (on the surface), and nonchalant like a young adult in the throes of discovery. However, both at work and in his personal life, he tends to behave like a spoiled and capricious schoolboy, bolstered by the support of his "older brothers." This isn't believable for someone who's 22 or 23...
+++ Fast-paced direction, with no dull moments.
+++ Good OSTs that complement the atmosphere of the scenes.
### The series relies solely on the Boat/Oat interactions; everything else (or almost everything) is just filler (work/supporting actors/other characters): the employees who eat, gossip, flirt, ... but don't work / the Thai-Champ relationship and the sismance are bland, tasteless, flavorless, and uninteresting / Phiangrak, who isn't even a shadow of a love rival / the families / ...
Only two secondary characters manage to exist on screen: Korn and Thanu.
### The repetition of sex scenes, unnecessary once the relationship has become stable, ultimately ruins the effect. One wonders if the producers didn't demand a quota (one scene per episode) to satisfy the fans?
=> An unusual, disturbing, unsettling series, difficult to rate because the very mediocre rubs shoulders with the exceptional. For mature audiences only!
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Série où les acteurs ont pris TOUS les risques !
WARNING: Cette série n'est pas pour tous les viewers, en raison des scènes de sexe très explicites. Elle est destinée à une audience mature, capable de prendre du recul par rapport aux images brutes de sexe, de comprendre que le fil de cette série, c'est l'évolution de la relation entre nos 2 protagonistes, de l'attirance fugitive à une relation solide, stable, de confiance.
PLOT : Ds 1 gpe d'amis depuis l'enfance, il y a les "grands" (Sorn, Thai et Champ) qui finiront par créer une Cie et les + jeunes, dont Jun, turbulent et têtu. A 18 ans, Jun est tombé sur Sorn en plein séance de masturbation et il a fini par partager ce moment. Des années + tard, Jun devient stagiaire dans la Cie, avec Sorn comme mentor (brusque, agacé par les "gamins"). Mais Jun, ds 1 relat° assez toxique, est sauvé à chaque fois des pbs par Sorn, qui devient son "mentor de sexe".
+++ Il y a des scènes de sexe ds chq épisode ce qui attise les commentaires haineux. Pour moi, ces scènes sont nécessaires dans la narration, car le sexe est l'expression du lien entre les 2 protagonistes, leur façon de communiquer, de se séduire, de mesurer son pouvoir sur l'autre. Certains commentateurs traitent Sorn de pervers. Je ne suis pas du tout d'accord. Jun est adulte et consentant, voire demandeur. Pour moi, la fausse innocence de Jun, qui joue de son pouvoir sur Sorn, est moralement plus perverse que le désir brutal, exprimé, direct,... de Sorn. Jun n'est jamais dupe de l'excuse "sex mentor". C'est lui qui mène le jeu (en se mettant exprès en danger, en attisant la jalousie de Sorn, etc.)
+++ Boat est trop hot. Cet acteur dégage un charisme, une tension, une énergie qui crève l'écran. J'espère le revoir bientôt dans des séries plus longues (et confortables :)
+++ Oat EST Jun, malicieux, insouciant, sûr de lui (en façade), désinvolte comme peut l'être un jeune adulte en pleine découverte. Cpdt, tant au niveau travail que ds sa vie personnelle, il a tendance à se comporter en écolier gâté et capricieux, fort du soutien de son "frère aîné". Ce n'est pas crédible pour qq1 de 22-23 ans ...
+++ Réalis° rythmée, sans temps mort
+++ Bons OSTs qui accompagnent l'ambiance des scènes.
### série tient uniquement sur les interactions Boat/Oat, tout le reste (ou presque) n'est que du remplissage (travail / acteurs support / autres personnages) : les salariés qui mangent, gossip, draguent, ... mais ne travaillent pas / la relation Thai-Champ et celles des filles, est fade, insipide, sans saveur et sans intérêt / Phiangrak qui n'est même pas l'ombre d'1 love rival / les familles / ...
Seuls 2 personnages secondaires parviennent à exister à l'écran : Korn et Thanu.
### La répétition des scènes de sexe, inutile qd la relat° est devenue stable, finit par gâcher l'effet. C'est à se demander si la production n'avait pas exigé un quota (1 scène par épisode) pour satisfaire les fans ???
=> Une série inhabituelle, perturbante, dérangeante, difficile à noter car le très médiocre côtoie l'exceptionnel. Seulement pour une audience mature !!
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Great beginning of 2026 with this wonderful C Drama
This is a wonderful very creative C Drama. The storyline is very entertaining and enjoyable. The casting is superb with all the talented actors leads and supporting. Chen Xing Xu is one of my favorite actors he is not only extremely handsome and talented but he also has a huge screen presence. He is absolutely perfect for his role as Qin Xiao Yi. I also love the very talented Lu Yu Xiao and her character as Hu Xiu. The FL/ML has wonderful chemistry throughout the show. Finally an intelligent show without the usual whiney, baby talking FL that is so typical in many C Dramas. Thank you casting agents for sparing us. Overall it's a fantastic production that definitely deserves the highest mark. Thank you production team for this wonderful series. A must rewatch!Was this review helpful to you?
Extremely dumb FL
I could not stand the dumbness of FL lead. She was so annoying and she tried so hard to look and act cute that it looks fake. And she is so stupid and her arc was nothing even close to a sassy or cunning villain/antiheroine lead turn female heroine at all. I couldn't watch the serious anymore because of her being unbelievable naive and brainless. Its like 2000s FLs who has nothing but to wait someone to save her and don't use any brain cell at all. Storywise the plot was okey; ML was good but again FL does not deserve him not even a littlebit.Was this review helpful to you?
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GUYS THIS IS THE BEST BL TO ME
I didn't actually know poohpavel at all and I didn't know there's Thailand BL cause it's my first time, I went to watch it because I saw the cover look horror and I thought it is gonna be a survival series but turns out it's BL, AND THE ACTORS ARE POOHPAVEL/PAVELPOOH! I love them sm and I didn't know they both are kinda famous too! it's my first time watching bl so I am so excited for next episode each Saturday for me, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH, YOU ALL SHOULD WATCH IT DON'T HESITATE! THIS SHOW INSPIRE ME TO WATCH MORE THAI BL, SUPER RECOMMEND.Was this review helpful to you?
A waste of an incredible cast!
Such a waste of an incredible cast. It’s truly disappointing. The story lacks coherence and fails to deliver a clear narrative. While the core idea—national team players being portrayed as a group of cops—is intriguing and full of potential, the execution is poor. The plot feels messy, unfocused, and ultimately undermines what could have been a strong and engaging show.Park Bo-gum is undeniably a talented actor, as clearly demonstrated in When Life Gives You Tangerines. However, in this series, his character lacks depth and consistency, making it evident that this is not a shortcoming of his acting, but rather a result of weak direction that limits and diminishes his performance.
Overall, a very disappointing experience.
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Loyalty, Friendship, Love
I spoilt myself with how the ending turned out and with all the comments that pacing was weird after episode 34. I geared myself up for that but I actually really liked how it all turned out in the end.I loved the main group of characters, everyone of them (maybe sans Li Tong Guang because he just felt like the fall guy for bad things). Yang Ying was the best of all. Her growth still gives me goosebumps when I think about it. How she's gone from this annoying, weak, crybaby to this strong eagle. And the drama did not gloss over her growth, it was incremental from each painful loss or journey she took and the impact they all had on her. Qian Zhou to Yu Shi Shan to Chu Yue, everyone was amazing, their paths, their loyalty, their character builds.
For the two main leads and their romance, it was gradual, from respect and curiosity to falling for the person who truly understands who they are and what they are fighting for. The way they talked things out, the way Yuan Zhou listened and respected her for the woman she was and what she wanted.
I loved that the core was less the ML and FL but the cause.
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PLOY IN MY HEART ?ིฅི♡
This mini-drama made me feel sorts of emotions srsly. Mystery, Thriller, Comedy, Romance, Drama!! It started with an unhinged storyline and it's like *don't let them know your next move* esp in the first 2 eps. It was beautifully absurd and weird and it rlly got my humor and attention.I love how the story surrounds a cult (smthng rlly unique) and then the characters are all so lovable. I enjoyed Ploy and Phu at the beginning, and Wutkrai's small screentimes at first rlly gets you to keep watching. Wutkrai's mere existence in the show is literally a treat, the style, aura, and comedic timing is there 😍 Also finally a strong, capable, not annoying fl 🙌
WutPloy encounters are so fun and heart-fluttering. It's like the old school bickering when you like someone. I liked it even more when a subtle love triangle was forming after they got out from the cult. I was also rooting for Phu despite his villain era at the end, and his character was one with the deepest emotional issue so that was smthng good to have in a short drama. Not familiar with Phu's actor and some fans seem not to like his acting but as someone unfamiliar of him i think he pulled out the character just well.
So again the villain era and cult rebranding at the end was an interesting direction to take the story. Speaking of cult, the DADDY MOMMY titles are so freaking unhinge and funny 555. The original FATHER's actor (more like MOTHER) is a familiar face from many dramas/movies so that added to the comedic value of it.
Down to the loveline again!!! Nani and Parn need to work on smthng tgt again cause they have natural chemistry, preferably romcom like this one (🤞). When I tell you I smile like crazy in front of my phone watching them, I mean it 🥰 Esp when Wutkrai was tailing Ploy to protect her man if i didn't know your agenda I'd think you're actually just rizzing/courting her and it's done in a funny comedic way so it's not cringe or awkward! The whole time i was like 'if that isn't love then i don't know what that is' and thankfully they like eo ㅠㅠ❤️
Overall, in a span of only 4 episodes, this drama had so much to offer and make you feel. One moment you're unbelievably laughing, one moment you're emotional, and one moment you're internally screaming because the leads are so suited with eo. So much substance for just a short amount of time. I rlly recommend this one. It's the only drama from the whole anthology that I watched. I initially wanted to check out Sky's too but i was leaning more to this one and it didn't disappoint.
ps. more straight romcoms for Nani 🔥
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