Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

 nathsketch:

When I used to take a peek at their lair, I saw that they’re all gushing about a certain Thai version that’s being translated to English over there. There’s also an interview with the Thai translator and they treat that interview like the ultimate indisputable truth, much like the “Interview Where Tong Hua Cleared Up Many Confusions”. Yes, you know which one, that one. 

And what indisputable truth is this? Did this Thai translator announce that the story is a happy ending, XY and Jing are true wuv and she only ever loved Jing? :-). They've stopped pushing that TH's interview (for the time being). I don't see how that interview confirmed a happy ending or that XY never loved XL.

 blabla100:

I don't feel it's worth it to invest so many hours for a plot I don't find entertaining,

 blabla100:

but honestly I find the politics în lyf quite boring and the parts with Jing and XY are simply a pain to me to read.

The plot in LYF is only the simple side. Coupled with the very amateurish political schemings that are as complex as a 25-piece puzzle  (can you even call it scheming?) and that part of the novel really can't stand on its own, IMO. Despite being the "male lead", CX's journey isn't exactly what people spend time discussing. 

Jing and Xiao just felt forced and unnatural to me. Particularly in the first half of the book. I can't get on board a romance where I feel as if one person is trying to persuade themselves to be in love with the other. Unfortunately, the author didn't manage to convince me that this changed by the end of the novel. Girl just came to accept that this was the best that she could do. 

 blabla100:

To XY as well, TH only gave her 2 options, she could have either went after XL and end up killing herself, either keeping away and getting the not a tragedy ending she got

 blabla100:

I don't believe XY living a love story with XL and survive him was ever an option to TH, they were doomed from the start.

I wonder if this was because of Once Promised. Perhaps XY and XL being together would be too similar to AH and Chi You in TH's mind. She could have had them being together, XL died and XY took of, but opted not to. 

 blabla100:

Same, I said it before, but my all time favorite author is Dostoievski, which IMO he was not only a fantastic writer, but also a great psychologist, someone who deeply understood the human nature.

Which one of Dostoevsky works would you recommend first? I started Crime and Punishment but never finished it. During my angsty 20s I read my fair share of literature with philosophical musings in my attempt to find the answer to life. Lol!  Camus, Hesse - who have cited him as an influence. I figured if I liked their works, I will probably enjoy his as well. He has a great amount of influence on some of the most well known novelists of the 20th century.

 ZYHLJ:

I don't plan to read 步步惊心 because I have a strange problem, that is, I can't appreciate the hairstyle of men in the Qing Dynasty囧... Although I have seen this hairstyle countless times on TV, I still feel that it’s ugly, so it’s also hard to imagine when reading the novel...

I read the novel after watching the series. Is there anyone out there who actually likes the Qing Dynasty hairstyle? Even the best-looking actors out there struggle to make this hairdo work. Reading it should make it slightly better since you won't have it right there in your face.

 ZYHLJ:

(maybe this has something to do with her being from the northwest, no derogatory).

Is there some kind of stereotype surrounding this? In my home country, different regions also have certain stereotypes associated with them as well.

 ZYHLJ:

Modern people are more rational in their treatment of emotions. She likes to give characters suffering, probably because those sufferings and desperate situations can test love to the greatest extent and reflect the depth of love, but such extreme feelings will appear distorted in a modern context.

Well! I've known some people who were obviously born in the wrong century :-). These sorts of things are great to read about, but if you have to deal with them in real life it's darn exhausting. It's not the situation, but how you deal with the situation. And these people have minimal ability to deal with their emotions - just drama after drama after drama. 

I'm curious what Filter will be about. TH's previous modern drama scripts have not been good.

 ZYHLJ:

Liu Fuling is a very typical kind of man who is gentle and kind but not cowardly. He is indifferent to status and fame, and values relationships more. In fact, I think he may be the kind of companion Xiao Yao really wants to find, not TSJ, TSJ only looks like a model husband on the surface

This was my memory of LFL as well. He's the real deal, unlike Jing who appeared to be a "junzi", but his behaviour is anything but.

 HeadInTheClouds:

Is there anyone out there who actually likes the Qing Dynasty hairstyle? Even the best-looking actors out there struggle to make this hairdo work.

But every once in a while someone comes along and, IMO, somehow does manage to make it work for them.

 AH :

But every once in a while someone comes along and, IMO, somehow does manage to make it work for them.

Prime examples of beauty carrying the styling :-). Funny 'cause Wang Anyu received some not so positive comments that he wasn't suited to ancient styling in The Last Immortal. 

I never did finish these two dramas 

I think Tan Jian Ci could pull it off.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Xsh2mz-0Hl8?si=22Uy9AzGx5ESS2uA

 Kokuto:

I think Tan Jian Ci could pull it off.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Xsh2mz-0Hl8?si=22Uy9AzGx5ESS2uA

Didn't TJC participate in some sort of reality acting show where he played 14th Prince from BBJX? He probably wouldn't have shaved his head for that, though.