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Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

AH
 liddi:
LYF is releasing 5 sets of official collection gift boxes - one for each main character. From what I see, it should only be shipped out in Jan 2025.

Assuming I did not read wrongly, the gift box should contain the following:

100+ HD stills
300+ art settings
Behind-the-scenes interview collection
Exclusive storyboard collection

Xiang Liu's gift box also contains the following:

Xiang Liu card album
Small bonus cards x15
Xiang Liu Impression bracelet
Big-bellied doll + ice crystal ball lenticular card

Thanks for sharing this liddi!

Super interesting to see this version of the ice crystal ball scene.

It looks like they've changed it so that the updated version of the ice crystal ball (the one that XL added to) is a bit more closely aligned with the novel version of that updated scene.

Now, instead of having one mermaid and two mermen (as we saw in the drama), the scene has one mermaid, one merman, and one humanoid figure (like the novel). The merman figure is off to the side (somewhat like he was in the novel) but still facing / looking at the mermaid instead of facing away from her and looking out of the ice crystal ball (different from the novel). 

As in the novel, the figure closer to the mermaid is now humanoid and holding the mermaid's outstretched hand. And the added figure has blue robes. I view the blue robes as a visual indication that we are supposed to understand that XL added this figure to represent TSJ. In my fic, I specified that the added humanoid figure's robes were blue for that exact reason. In the drama and this image, all of the figures (both the merpeople and the humanoid figure) have black hair. 

Whereas the novel doesn't specify the colour of the added figure's robes or hair. It only mentions that the mermaid's hair is 青 and seaweed-like. Since the merman's hair is not described, I picture his hair as also being 青 and seaweed-like. Although the merman is supposed to represent Xiang Liu, I don't think that necessarily means that the merman's upper body would look just like Xiang Liu (including having his signature white hair). I think it makes sense for the merman to have a merperson's normal hair. And since the added humanoid figure's hair colour is not described, I picture him as having default black hair that is not seaweed-like. 

In the drama, the ice crystal ball looked like this when the second merman figure was added by XL:

And like this when it only included the original mermaid and merman that XY created:

In the novel, the original scene is described like this:

Kanunu8Chat GPTKoala
小夭又用各种稀罕的灵草毒药混杂，做出了两个鲛人。她把女鲛人嵌放在贝壳上，把男鲛人放在了远离贝壳的一角。
Xiao Yao mixed various rare spiritual herbs and poisons to create two merfolk. She placed the mermaid on the shell and positioned the merman in a corner, far from the shell.
Xiao Yao then used all sorts of exotic herbs and poisons to create two merpeople. She put the mermaid on the clam shell and she put the merman in the corner away from the clam shell.
透明的冰晶，里面包裹着一汪碧蓝的海。在幽幽海水中，有五彩的小鱼，有红色的珊瑚，还有一枚洁白的大贝壳，如最皎洁的花朵一般绽放着，一个美面的女鲛人侧身坐在贝壳上，海藻般的青丝披垂，美丽的鱼尾一半在洁白的贝壳上，一半浮在海水中，她一只手抚着心口，一只手伸展向前方，像是要抓住什么，又像是在召唤什么。在她手伸出的方向，一个男鲛人浮在海浪中，看似距离贝壳不远，可他冷淡漠然地眺望着冰晶外，让人觉得他其实在另一世界，并不在那幽静安宁的海洋中。
The transparent crystal ball contained a pool of deep blue sea. In the tranquil waters, there were colorful small fish, red coral, and a pristine white seashell, blooming like the most radiant flower. A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the shell, with seaweed-like [green/blue*] hair cascading down, and her lovely fish tail resting partially on the white shell and partially floating in the water. One hand was pressed against her chest while the other was extended forward, as if reaching for something or calling something. In the direction of her outstretched hand, a merman floated amidst the waves. Although he seemed to be close to the shell, his indifferent and distant gaze made it feel as if he were in another world, not truly part of the serene and peaceful ocean.

The clear exquisite ice crystal, inside was the deep blue sea, and in the water was colorful little fishes swimming and beautiful red coral. There was an all-white giant clam shell like a blooming flower and inside a beautiful mermaid sat on the clam shell. Her hair flowed like seaweed and her beautiful tail was half on the clam shell and half in the water. She had one hand on her heart and the other hand reached out towards the distance like she wanted to grab onto something or like she was calling someone to her. In the direction where her hand stretched there was a merman floating in the water. He appeared close to the clam shell but he was coldly staring outside the ice crystal ball so that it felt like he was actually in another world and not in the world of the peaceful isolated ocean with the mermaid.

蓝色的海底，幽静安谧，女鲛人坐在美丽的贝壳家中，伸着手，似在召唤，又似在索要，那男鲛人却冷漠地凝望着海外的世界。

At the blue seabed, serene and tranquil, the mermaid sat in the beautiful shell, extending her hand as if calling or asking for something. Meanwhile, the merman coldly gazed at the world beyond the sea.

The blue ocean depths, the isolated peacefulness, the mermaid sitting on her beautiful clam shell home reaching out her hand to beckon, to plead, to summon. But the merman just coldly looked out at the world outside the ice crystal ball.


* From Chat GPT:

  • 海藻般 (hǎi zǎo bān) = "seaweed-like". This simile compares the texture or appearance of the hair to seaweed. It suggests that the hair is flowing and perhaps has a fluid or wavy quality, similar to how seaweed moves in the water.

  • 青 (qīng) can mean "green" or "blue," but in this context, it refers to the color of the hair, which is likely a deep blue or greenish shade, resembling the color of seaweed.



And the updated scene that included the figure that XL added is described like this:

Kanunu8Chat GPTKoala
相柳仔细雕好后，上下打量一番，觉得还算满意。他把大肚笑娃娃头朝下，倒放在了膝上，打开底座，露出中空的肚子，又拿出一枚冰晶球。  

After carefully finishing his carving, Xiangliu examined it from top to bottom and felt satisfied. He placed the smiling, big-bellied figurine upside down on his lap, with its head facing downward. He then opened the base, revealing the hollow inside, and took out a crystal ball.

After Xiang Liu carefully and precisely finished carving the doll, he intently inspected it and was pleased. He turned the doll head down on his knee and opened the bottom to take out a crystal ball.


晶莹剔透的冰晶球里包裹着一汪碧蓝的海。幽幽海水中，有绚丽的彩色小鱼，有红色的珊瑚，还有一枚洁白的大贝壳，像最皎洁的花朵一般绽放着。一个美丽的女鲛人侧身坐在贝壳上，海藻般的青丝披垂，美丽的鱼尾一半搭在洁白的贝壳上，一半浮在海水中。她身旁站着一个男子，握着女鲛人伸出的手，含笑凝视着女鲛人。角落里，一个男鲛人浮在海浪中，看似距离贝壳不远，可他疏离的姿态让人觉得他其实在另一个世界，并不在那幽静安宁的海洋中。

The crystal ball was clear and transparent, and inside it was a pool of deep blue sea. Within the tranquil water, there were vibrant, colorful fish, red coral, and a pristine, white seashell, blooming like the most radiant flower. A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the shell, her long, seaweed-like [green/blue] hair draping down, with her lovely fish tail partially resting on the white shell and partially floating in the water. Beside her stood a man, holding the mermaid’s outstretched hand, gazing at her with a gentle smile. In the corner, a merman floated amidst the waves. Although he appeared to be close to the shell, his distant posture made it seem as though he was in another world, not truly part of that serene and peaceful ocean.

A clear crystal ball wrapped around an ocean tableau inside. The glittering waves had colorful fishes swimming, red coral, and a large white clamshell open like a resplendent flower. A beautiful mermaid rested sideways on the clamshell, her hair flowing like seaweed and her entrancing fish tail resting half against the white surface and half in the water. A man stood next to her, holding the mermaid’s extended hand and smiling as he gazed down at the mermaid. In the corner of the tableau a merman floated in the ocean, he appeared close to the clamshell but his distant pose made him seem like he was actually in another world and not in the same calm and serene ocean.

相柳静静凝视了一会儿，以指为刃，在冰晶球上急速地写下了两行小字。此际，恰一缕皎洁的月光穿过树丫，照在冰晶球上，将男鲛人旁的两行小字映了出来：有力自保、有人相依、有处可去，愿你一世安乐无忧！

Xiangliu quietly gazed at it for a while, then used his finger like a blade to swiftly inscribe two small lines of text on the crystal ball. At that moment, a ray of bright moonlight passed through the branches of a tree and shone upon the crystal ball, illuminating the two lines of text beside the merman: "May you have the strength to protect yourself, someone to rely on, and a place to call home. I wish you a lifetime of peace and happiness without worry!"

Xiang Liu stared at the crystal ball for some time longer before his fingernail extended into a sharp knife and he swiftly inscribed two lines of words on the ball in very small letters. Just then the moon shone through the trees and landed on the crystal ball and the two lines of words next to the merman were legible: The ability to take care of yourself, someone to rely on, a place to go – wishing you a lifetime of worry free happiness!


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Kokuto

GO EAST is definitely airing tonight, starting at 7pm China Time.  SIX episodes.  O_O

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Kokuto
 AH :
Super interesting to see this version of the ice crystal ball scene.

Thank you for all the details about the crystal ball and the pics!

I don't think XL put the Jing merman in the crystal ball and then took him out.  I think it was just a film transition conceit.  In the film, I just don't think XL added the third figure.  I guess we need to take a look at the leaked script to see if they describe it.

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liddi
 AH :
Super interesting to see this version of the ice crystal ball scene.
 Kokuto:
I don't think XL put the Jing merman in the crystal ball and then took him out.  I think it was just a film transition conceit.  In the film, I just don't think XL added the third figure.  I guess we need to take a look at the leaked script to see if they describe it.

The leaked script describes the scene thus, which is quite similar to the novel.

Xiang Liu sat alone on the tree a little distance away from the base, gazing at the crystal globe in his hand. This was the crystal globe Xiao Yao gave him, except now it had been altered by him, and was different from before: In the sea, there were gorgeous, colourful small fishes, red corals, and a pure white large seashell. A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the seashell, part of her beautiful tail on the pure white seashell, the other part floating on the sea. A man stood next to her, holding her outstretched hand, smiling as he gazed at the mermaid. In the corner, a merman floated on the waves. He appeared to be close to the seashell, but his distant demeanor gave the impression that he was actually in another world, and not in that quiet, peaceful ocean.

Using his finger as a blade, Xiang Liu wrote two lines of fine words on the crystal globe with his spiritual power: the ability to protect yourself, someone to rely on, somewhere to go. Wishing you a lifetime of carefree peace and happiness.

Xiang Liu opened a wooden box and took out a big-bellied laughing doll, its eyes closed in sleep. He then gathered spiritual power in both palms and used it to seal the crystal globe within the belly of the doll.

-- Leaked script S02E28 scene 11


 The way I see it, the drama had continuity issues with the "now you see him, now you don't" merman at the corner of the globe. Also the one with the mermaid should have been a man, not a merman. However, bearing in mind that the drama had two seashells instead of one,  the two seashells facing each other with the mermaid sitting on the smaller seashell, there is no space to have a man standing in the seashell with her and taking her hand. So I guess their alternative was to make it appear as if Xiang Liu added the merman at the corner, rather than adding a man to be in the same seashell with her.

edited Quote
AH
 Kokuto:
Thank you for all the details about the crystal ball and the pics!

You're welcome!

 Kokuto:
I don't think XL put the Jing merman in the crystal ball and then took him out.  I think it was just a film transition conceit.  In the film, I just don't think XL added the third figure.

When XY created the ice crystal ball in the drama, the second merman was definitely not there. So when it is added in later on, it must have been added by XL. 

I agree that when the second merman appears and then seams to disappear, that's not meant to suggest that XL added and then removed the second merman and instead is probably just an accidental continuity error. 

 Kokuto:
In the film, I just don't think XL added the third figure.  I guess we need to take a look at the leaked script to see if they describe it.

It looks like the script contemplated XL altering the ice crystal ball in the drama (in the same way that he altered it in the novel) before hiding it in the big-bellied doll. 

The differences we got in the drama (in terms of the position of the original merman, the colour of the mermaid's hair, the addition of the second shell, the addition of a second merman instead of a man, and the subsequent disappearance of that second merman before the ice crystal ball was hidden inside the big-bellied doll) don't seem to have come from the script. 

 liddi:
The following are the scenes from the leaked script that cover the preparation of the crystal globe, Xiao Yao waiting for Xiang Liu by the sea, right up to just before the wedding ceremony to Feng Long



Leaked script Ep5 scenes 21-22   (Vol 2 Ch14 / Chapter 31)

[This is vastly different from the novel, where Xiao Yao prepared the crystal globe and had it sealed at the North Pole 4 years earlier, after Cang Xuan ascended the throne. Here, she only started making the crystal globe after Feng Long asked to set their marriage in motion]

Her impending marriage in sight, Xiao Yao struggled on how to make the last poison for Xiang Liu and sighed out loud  that she did not know what she should make this last time. She recalled the last time she spoke of her engagement to him outside the gambling den:

[Flashback]
FFB: It would be difficult not to know of Chishui clan leader and Gao Xin princess' engagement even if one doesn't wish to! Oh, I forgot to offer my congratulations. (insincerely) Congratulations!
XY: Is there nothing else you wish to say to me apart from congratulations?
FFB: What do you wish to hear?

They looked at each other, their gazes probing, but neither would take the first step. Xiao Yao averted her eyes in disappointment, then shook her head and laughed.

XY: I have two things to discuss with you.
FFB: Say it.
XY: The first is making poisons for you. I can still do it now, but... I won't do it anymore after I am married.

Fangfeng Bei's smile froze, then continued to smile.

[End flashback]

Her maid noted that since it is the last time, it should be something special.

She requested all kinds of rare, expensive ingredients, and for Yu Jiang and Chishui Xian's assistance, to which Cang Xuan readily agreed, much to the old Xuan Yuan king's disapproval, saying that Cang Xuan's reputation for being frugal and self-restrained would have gone down the drain with her extravagance.

*******

Meanwhile, the Gao Xin king instructed Ru Shou to escort Xiao Yao back to Gao Xin for the wedding, but hinted that he should take his time to bring her home [indicating that he wanted to delay the wedding as much as possible ]



Leaked script Ep6   (Vol 2 Ch14 / Chapter 31)

As Yu Jiang and Chishui Xian worked to solidify the crystal globe, the surrounding temperature dropped and snowflakes unexpectedly formed and fluttered. Xiao Yao lifted her head to see the snowflakes, and reached out to touch them, sadness on her face as she thought this was the last time she would be making poisons for Xiang Liu.
The crystal globe finally completed, Xiao Yao arranged for it to be sent speedily to Qingshui Town.
She met Jing and noted his shock upon hearing of her upcoming wedding. Miao Pu explained that although her wedding was around the corner, both Cang Xuan and the Gao Xin king kept the news tightly under wraps, so the Chishui clan dared not make an open announcement about it. Xiao Yao's maid felt that the two kings were not particularly enthusiastic about her wedding, refusing to announce it to the world, as if waiting for Xiao Yao to change her mind.


*******

At dusk, Xiang Liu stood by the banks of Gourd Lake in the lightly drizzling rain, holding a box in his hand with a faraway expression. It seemed as if Xiao Yao's voice could be heard in the rustling sounds of the wind, rushing waters and familiar scenery.

[Flashback: Xiao Liu challenging Xiang Liu to a swimming competition]

Xiang Liu withdrew his gaze and opened the box, taking out the ice crystal globe.
In an instant, the cold air and drizzling rain that came into contact with the ice crystal globe crystalised into snowflakes that danced around Xiang Liu.
Xiang Liu immediately realised the lengths to which Xiao Yao went to create it. His eyes held mixed emotions, and he was visibly moved.
Within the crystal globe was a base of blue sea, with colourful small fishes and red corals in it. On the surface of the sea was a great white seashell, and a beautiful mermaid sat on it, one hand on her heart, and the other hand outstretched towards the merman in the water, floating on the waves.

[Flashback to the time they saw the mating mercouple]

Xiang Liu lifted his hand and reached out as if to hold the mermaid's hand, but lingered without moving closer. Snowflakes fluttered down between him and the crystal globe, and his eyes were filled with sorrow.


***********

Xiao Yao, dressed in white, sat hugging her knees on a rock outside Dragon Bone prison at dusk. The glow of sunset filled the sky as the ocean waves lapped on the rocks.
Xiao Yao fixed her gaze on the distant waves. She suddenly stood up and looked eagerly at the surface of the ocean, but could see nothing except water. Her eyes slowly filled with dejection and hurt, and she sat blankly back down.

************

[Several days later]

The sky was getting darker, with the last rays of light left at the horizon.
Waves rolled in, but Xiao Yao still maintained the same position, hugging her knees as she sat on top of the rock outside Dragon Bone prison.
A Nian skipped right up behind her.

AN (curiously): Sister, you have been sitting here for quite a few days already. What exactly are you thinking of?
XY: I don't know.
AN: You don't know?
XY: I am just waiting.

A Nian looked around suspiciously.

AN: What are you waiting for?
XY: I don't know.
AN (amused): You are still waiting even though you don't know?
XY (quietly): Perhaps I am just waiting for fate.

A Nian sat down by her side, and looked at her strangely.

AN: Fate? What do you mean by fate?
XY: I don't know.

A Nian pursed her lips and stared at Xiao Yao angrily.

AN: Sister, you didn't bother to answer my questions properly at all. Every answer is an "I don't know"!
XY: I really have no idea. People know nothing in this life! We don't know when we are born, when we will die, whether lovers will eventually get married, loving couples would be able to grow old together. we don't even know what will happen tomorrow.

A Nian finally understood what she meant. She thought of Cang Xuan and looked sadly at the horizon.

AN (murmuring): I don't know... (sighs) Back then, I thought that as Gao Xin princess, I could have whatever I wanted. I did not know that Cang Xuan gege would leave Gao Xin, did not know he would become king of Xuan Yuan, let alone that he would make someone else his queen. The person I am today has no idea either whether I could be with Cang Xuan gege in the future.

Xiao Yao patted A Nian comfortingly, and she looked back at her.

AN: What do you hope to be able to wait for?
XY: Royal Father asked me to wait for 7 days. If nothing happened within the 7 days, it is fate; if something did happen, it is also fate.
AN (comprehending): When you are unable to change anything, and do not know how to change it, it seems that all you can do is wait.

A Nian sadly rested her head on Xiao Yao's shoulders.
With the surging of the tide, the two sisters looked out to the horizon as the last rays of sunset sank under the ocean.

***************

On the day of the wedding, Xiao Yao was on board the Gao Xin wedding barge.

Meanwhile, Fangfeng Bei sat at the bow of a small boat on the river canal of Zhi Yi city. The boat passed by the location where Xiang Liu came to the city the last time and met Wen Xiao Liu.

[Flashback to Wen Xiao Liu waving to the boat from the shore
WXL: Boatman! Boatman! ]

Fangfeng Bei's eyes were cold and the illusion disappeared. The boat continued to move forward but the illusion of Wen Xiao Liu reappeared once more.

[Flashback:
WXL: I take things as they come, the four corners of the world is my home, no matter where I go. ]

Fangfeng Bei's cold eyes betrayed a trace of emotion. Lowering his gaze, an ice crystal globe appeared in his hand.
He stared at the crystal globe intently as if bewitched, and reached out to touch the mermaid within, their fingertips touching through the ice crystal.
His eyes softened but his words were cold.

FFB: I taught you the ability to protect yourself, yet now you want to take things lying down and just get by. Have you asked if I agreed? 
 liddi:
This covers the night before the final battle, the epilogue in the novel, and Xiao Yao waking up from a nightmare about Xiang Liu.



Leaked script Ep20 scenes 10-13

[As war raged on at the outskirts of Qingshui town, only one mountain peak remained under the Shen Nong army, its surroundings captured by Xuan Yuan, with no possibility of escape. Under orders from Xuan Yuan Cang Xuan, Great General Ru Shou spared no effort to ensure a quick, decisive victory by laying siege on the Shen Nong resistance army, giving orders to destroy all enemy resources, razing everything to the ground, even setting fire to the mountains, leaving the Shen Nong army with nowhere to hide. As more and more battles were fought, the noose tightened, until at last the two armies collided.]

*********************

Fires raging all over the mountains trapped the Shen Nong army within, an ominous blood-red glow in the sky.
Hong Jiang and Xiang Liu faced the soldiers who stood in formation. While the soldiers appeared gaunt and exhausted due to lack of proper rest and shortage of supplies, their expressions remained inordinately resolute, as each person awaited the arrival of that final moment.

HJ (heavily): By dawn tomorrow, the Xuan Yuan army would have breached the concealment formation of our base.

The Shen Nong soldiers looked at Hong Jiang in silence.

HJ: There is no need to keep watch and patrol tonight. Brothers, sleep well. When our forces collide tomorrow, let us fight to the death!
Soldiers (resolutely): Fight to the death!
HJ (red-rimmed eyes): Go and get a good rest!
Soldiers: Yes!

With that, the soldiers dispersed.
Hong Jiang looked at Xiang Liu, his eyes filled with gratitude and guilt, as if he had something to say. Before he could say anything, Xiang Liu intercepted his words.

XL: Adoptive Father, you go and rest! I will keep watch tonight.

Hong Jiang patted his shoulder with a heavy heart, controlling his emotions.

HJ (hidden meaning): Thank you.

Xiang Liu nodded, and Hong Jiang left.

***************************

Everywhere was silent, as if there was not a single soul in the entire camp. Only the sky glowed red from the fire all around.

Xiang Liu sat alone on the tree a little distance away from the base, gazing at the crystal globe in his hand. This was the crystal globe Xiao Yao gave him, except now it had been altered by him, and was different from before: In the sea, there were gorgeous, colourful small fishes, red corals, and a pure white large seashell. A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the seashell, part of her beautiful tail on the pure white seashell, the other part floating on the sea. A man stood next to her, holding her outstretched hand, smiling as he gazed at the mermaid. In the corner, a merman floated on the waves. He appeared to be close to the seashell, but his distant demeanor gave the impression that he was actually in another world, and not in that quiet, peaceful ocean.

Using his finger as a blade, Xiang Liu wrote two lines of fine words on the crystal globe with his spiritual power: the ability to protect yourself, someone to rely on, somewhere to go. Wishing you a lifetime of carefree peace and happiness.

Xiang Liu opened a wooden box and took out a big-bellied laughing doll, its eyes closed in sleep. He then gathered spiritual power in both palms and used it to seal the crystal globe within the belly of the doll.
Xiang Liu's eyes were tender, quietly gazing at the sleeping big-bellied doll.

[Flashback]
XL: Is kissing me more frightening than death?
XY (speaking hesitantly): My brother, that is Cang Xuan. One night while we were talking, he laughed at me for being a girl who still dreams after all.
XL (coldly commanded): Continue.
XY (fake laugh): Although... the possibility is remote... I am still afraid that if I was not careful, you might enter my dreams. You... are definitely not suitable to enter a girl's dreams. That is possibly far more terrifying than death indeed.
[End flashback]

Xiang Liu flicked the head of the sleeping big-bellied doll as punishment.

XL (warningly): Since you won't let me enter your dreams, you must be sure to have peace of mind and have sweet dreams every night for your whole life! Or else...

His words trailed off, because there was no more "or else" to be had.
Xiang Liu gazed up at the moonlight.
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liddi
 AH :

* From Chat GPT:

海藻般 (hǎi zǎo bān) = "seaweed-like". This simile compares the texture or appearance of the hair to seaweed. It suggests that the hair is flowing and perhaps has a fluid or wavy quality, similar to how seaweed moves in the water.

青 (qīng) can mean "green" or "blue," but in this context, it refers to the color of the hair, which is likely a deep blue or greenish shade, resembling the color of seaweed.

Although 青 can mean "green" or "blue", the term "青丝 "actually does not mean blue or green, but is used to describe black hair.

So what the text says is this:

 一个美丽的女鲛人侧身坐在贝壳上，海藻般的青丝披垂，美丽的鱼尾一半搭在洁白的贝壳上，一半浮在海水中。
A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the seashell, her seaweed-like black hair cascading down. Part of her beautiful tail rested on the white seashell while the other half was floating in the water of the sea.

-- Epilogue 

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Kokuto
 AH :
When XY created the ice crystal ball in the drama, the second merman was definitely not there. So when it is added in later on, it must have been added by XL.

OMG.  Wouldn't it have been hilarious if XY had added a second merman, as an inside joke to XL about stalker Jing?  LMAO!!

"Let's get married and live in your sea shell, XL! And we can leave stalker Jing outside of the shell."  lol

edited Quote
liddi
 Kokuto:
HUGS!

I'm very far behind too.  Just do what feels right.  You know we've all had problems keeping up with the thread, so don't feel like you have to respond.  :)  The topic will always be here.

Thank you so much! Hopefully I get around to it some time in the not too distant future.


 Kokuto:
That merchandise looks AMAZING!  It's totally on my want list. lol

I know right? I'm debating and debating because I just bought Mao Qiu among other merch not too long ago, but am very very tempted again by the gift box. Unsurprisingly, the Xiang Liu version is enjoying the most sales. Need to have another talk with my wallet... 

Still no sign of any official ice crystal globe, which is surprising, because I would think that that would be a popular item.


 Kokuto:
And YES! Looking forward to Go East!  I think it will air at 7pm China Time.  It looks like fun.

Yup yup. Can't wait to meet the adorable and not-dumb Yuan Mo!

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AH
 liddi:

Although 青 can mean "green" or "blue", the term "青丝 "actually does not mean blue or green, but is used to describe black hair.

So what the text says is this:

 一个美丽的女鲛人侧身坐在贝壳上，海藻般的青丝披垂，美丽的鱼尾一半搭在洁白的贝壳上，一半浮在海水中。
A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on the seashell, her seaweed-like black hair cascading down. Part of her beautiful tail rested on the white seashell while the other half was floating in the water of the sea.

-- Epilogue 

I put in a few more queries and Chat GPT seems to agree. While it's possible (given the context) that "青丝" could be referring to green hair (especially hair that is dark green like certain types of seaweed), it is more likely that "青丝" is referring to hair that is black. 

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The term "青" (qīng) in Chinese is a versatile character with several meanings and uses, depending on context. Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Basic Meaning and Uses

  • Color:

    • 青 typically refers to a color that can be translated as "blue," "green," or "cyan," depending on context. It denotes a range of colors between blue and green. For example:
      • 青色 (qīngsè): "Cyan" or "blue-green"
      • 青天 (qīngtiān): "Clear sky" or "blue sky"

  • Nature:

    • 青 can also describe things related to youth or nature, such as young plants or freshness.
      • 青菜 (qīngcài): "Vegetable" (literally "green vegetable")
      • 青少年 (qīngshàonián): "Youth" (literally "young person")

2. Cultural and Historical Significance

  • Traditional Uses:

    • In classical Chinese texts, "青" often appears in poetry and literature to describe the color of things like mountains, rivers, or plants.
    • It can be used to evoke a sense of tranquility, nature, and purity.

  • Cultural Symbolism:

    • 青 has symbolic meanings in various aspects of Chinese culture. For instance:
      • 青龙 (qīnglóng): "Azure Dragon," one of the Four Symbols in Chinese constellations.
      • 青花瓷 (qīnghuā cí): "Blue-and-white porcelain," a famous type of Chinese ceramics.

3. Variations and Related Terms

  • 青 (Qīng) vs. 蓝 (Lán):
    • 青 often refers to a color that is more of a blend between blue and green, while 蓝 (lán) refers specifically to blue.
  • 青 (Qīng) vs. 绿 (Lǜ):
    • 绿 (lǜ) means "green" and is used more precisely for green colors, while 青 can cover both blue and green shades.

4. Character Composition

  • Component Analysis:
    • The character 青 is composed of the radicals 青 (qīng) itself and sometimes appears in different compound characters. It is a pictogram originally depicting a specific color and evolved into a more abstract representation.

Summary

In summary, "青" is a versatile term in Chinese that primarily denotes colors ranging from blue to green. Its use extends into cultural symbolism, traditional practices, and various contexts related to nature, youth, and ceramics. The exact meaning of "青" can vary depending on its application and surrounding words.

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The character "丝" (sī) is a commonly used Chinese character with specific meanings related to threads, silk, and fine, delicate materials. Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Basic Meaning and Uses

  • Thread or Silk:

    • 丝 primarily refers to "silk" or "thread," representing something thin, delicate, and fibrous.
    • Example:
      • 丝绸 (sīchóu): "Silk fabric"
      • 蚕丝 (cánsī): "Silk thread" (from silkworms)

  • Thin, Fine Material:

    • By extension, 丝 can refer to anything that is fine, thin, or thread-like.
    • Example:
      • 细丝 (xìsī): "Fine thread"
      • 一丝不苟 (yīsī bùgǒu): "Meticulous" (literally, "not even a thread is overlooked")

2. Cultural and Historical Significance

  • Historical Context:

    • 丝 is closely associated with China's long history of silk production. The character represents one of the most significant commodities in ancient Chinese trade, especially along the Silk Road.
    • Silk has been a symbol of wealth, status, and cultural refinement throughout Chinese history.

  • Cultural Symbolism:

    • 丝 also carries symbolic meanings in Chinese culture, often representing delicacy, continuity, and connection (as threads connect things together).

3. Variations and Related Terms

  • Derived Words:

    • 丝 appears in many compound words and phrases:
      • 丝线 (sīxiàn): "Thread"
      • 丝毫 (sīháo): "The slightest" (often used in negative phrases, like "not the slightest bit")

  • Related Characters:

    • 纟: The radical form of 丝, which appears in many characters related to threads, textiles, and weaving. For example:
      • 缩 (suō): "Shrink"
      • 线 (xiàn): "Line" or "thread"

4. Character Composition

  • Radical:

    • 丝 is sometimes used as a radical in other characters related to fibers, threads, or textiles.

  • Simplified and Traditional Forms:

    • 丝 is the same in both simplified and traditional Chinese, making it universally recognizable.

Summary

The character "丝" (sī) is primarily associated with "silk" or "thread," signifying thin, delicate, and fibrous materials. It carries significant cultural and historical importance in China, especially in relation to the ancient silk trade. The character is also commonly used to describe anything fine or thread-like, and it appears in many compound words related to textiles and fibers.

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The term "青丝" (qīngsī) is a poetic and descriptive phrase in Chinese that typically refers to "black hair" or "dark hair". The literal translation is "green threads," but the term is most often used metaphorically to describe hair. 

Here's a detailed explanation:

1. Components of the Term

  • 青 (qīng):
    • As previously explained, 青 is a versatile character that can refer to a range of colors including blue, green, or even black. In the context of "青丝," it usually conveys the idea of a dark or deep color, often interpreted as black or dark blue.
  • 丝 (sī):
    • 丝 means "threads" or "silk," and in this phrase, it refers to the fine, delicate strands of hair.

2. Meaning and Usage

  • Describing Hair:
    • "青丝" is a literary or poetic term that describes black or dark-colored hair. It emphasizes the smoothness, fineness, and beauty of the hair, often likening it to silk threads.
    • Example:
      • 满头青丝 (mǎn tóu qīng sī): "A head full of black hair"
  • Cultural Connotation:
    • The term is often used in classical Chinese poetry, literature, and romantic descriptions to convey youth, beauty, and elegance.
    • It also carries an undertone of admiration, often used to describe a beautiful woman with long, flowing, black hair.

3. Symbolism in Literature

  • Youth and Vitality:
    • "青丝" often symbolizes youth and vitality, as black hair is typically associated with the prime of life before it turns gray (an inevitable symbol of aging).
  • Elegance and Beauty:
    • The term conveys an image of elegance, as black or dark hair has traditionally been considered a standard of beauty in many East Asian cultures.

4. Related Terms

  • 青丝白发 (qīng sī bái fà):
    • This phrase contrasts "青丝" (black hair) with "白发" (white hair), symbolizing the passage of time and the transition from youth to old age.
  • 青丝如墨 (qīng sī rú mò):
    • This expression means "hair as black as ink," further emphasizing the deep, dark color of the hair.

Summary

"青丝" (qīngsī) is a poetic term referring to black or dark hair, emphasizing its fine, smooth, and silky qualities. It carries cultural connotations of youth, beauty, and elegance, making it a popular phrase in Chinese literature and poetry. The term is often used to evoke an image of a beautiful person in their prime, with long, flowing black hair that resembles delicate silk threads.

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Yes, the character "青" (qīng) on its own can carry connotations of youth and vitality, though these associations are somewhat context-dependent and often arise from its symbolic meanings rather than a direct interpretation.

1. Basic Meanings of "青"

  • Color:
    • "青" is a versatile character that can refer to colors ranging from blue, green, to black, depending on the context. It often signifies something that is fresh, vibrant, or in its prime.
  • Nature and Growth:
    • "青" is commonly associated with the natural world, such as the color of young plants, grass, or the sky. This connection to nature inherently ties the character to ideas of growth, renewal, and life.

2. Connotations of Youth and Vitality

  • Youth and Early Stages:

    • In classical Chinese, "青" can refer to something in its early stages or prime, much like young plants or early morning light. This association with the beginning of life or growth gives "青" connotations of youth and vitality.
    • For example, "青春" (qīngchūn) directly translates to "youth," combining "青" (qīng) with "春" (chūn), which means "spring." Together, they convey the idea of the springtime of life, full of energy and potential.

  • Vitality and Freshness:

    • Because "青" is associated with vibrant colors in nature, it is also linked to vitality and freshness. For instance, "青绿" (qīnglǜ), meaning "greenish-blue" or "verdant," evokes the image of lush, healthy foliage.

3. Symbolic and Cultural Associations

  • Symbol of Life:

    • In traditional Chinese culture, "青" is often used symbolically to represent life and growth. It is the color of young leaves, new growth, and the early morning sky—all of which symbolize renewal, energy, and the cycle of life.

  • Cultural Expressions:

    • Phrases like "青出于蓝" (qīng chū yú lán), meaning "the student surpasses the master," use "青" to represent the idea of something emerging and growing stronger, further emphasizing its connection to development and potential.

4. Context-Dependent Connotations

  • Context of Usage:
    • While "青" alone can suggest youth and vitality, these connotations are often brought out more clearly in specific phrases or in combination with other characters, such as "青丝" (black hair) or "青春" (youth).

Summary

"青" does carry connotations of youth and vitality, particularly through its associations with growth, freshness, and the natural world. These connotations are more pronounced when "青" is used in context, such as in compound words or phrases that evoke ideas of early life stages, renewal, and energy. However, the character's meaning can vary widely depending on its use, ranging from literal color descriptions to symbolic representations of life's vibrancy.

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The phrase "海藻般的青丝披垂" can be broken down into its individual components to understand the imagery it conveys. 

Breakdown of the Components

  1. 海藻般的 (hǎizǎo bān de):

    • 海藻 (hǎizǎo): Seaweed
    • 般的 (bān de): Like; as (used to indicate a comparison or resemblance)
    • 海藻般的 literally means "like seaweed," setting up a comparison between the subject (hair) and the qualities of seaweed, particularly in terms of appearance or texture.

  2. 青丝 (qīngsī):

    • 青 (qīng): A versatile color term that can mean blue, green, or black.
    • 丝 (sī): Threads, here referring to strands of hair.
    • 青丝 is a poetic term commonly used to describe black or very dark hair, likened to fine threads or silk.

  3. 披垂 (pīchuí):

    • 披 (pī): To drape or hang loosely.
    • 垂 (chuí): To hang down.
    • 披垂 describes hair that is hanging loosely and flowing down, emphasizing its length and smoothness.

Description Conveyed by the Phrase

"海藻般的青丝披垂" describes hair that is flowing down loosely, like strands of seaweed. The imagery suggests that the hair has a natural, fluid movement, much like how seaweed moves gracefully underwater. The phrase conjures an image of long, fine hair that is smooth, dark, and somewhat mysterious or otherworldly.

Interpretation of Hair Color: 

  1. Dark Green Interpretation:
  • Seaweed Comparison: The phrase directly compares the mermaid's hair to seaweed, which is typically green. If we focus on this comparison, it suggests that her hair might be green, perhaps a deep, dark green similar to certain types of seaweed.
  • Contextual Imagination: In a fantasy setting, where mermaids are often depicted with otherworldly or aquatic features, dark green hair could enhance the mystical, underwater nature of the character. The green could symbolize a connection to the ocean, blending with the marine environment.

2. Black Interpretation:

  • Poetic Use of "青丝": In Chinese poetry and literature, "青丝" is a well-known metaphor for black hair, particularly when it is glossy and smooth. The term "青" often stands for black when describing hair, making it likely that the phrase could be describing the mermaid's hair as black.
  • Cultural Connotations: Black hair is a traditional symbol of beauty and youth in Chinese culture. The seaweed comparison may be more about the texture and fluidity of the hair rather than its color, with "青丝" indicating the blackness of the hair.

Summary

"海藻般的青丝披垂" is a richly descriptive phrase that captures the beauty and fluidity of the mermaid's hair. It might indicate that her hair is dark green, especially when focusing on the seaweed comparison, fitting an otherworldly, aquatic image. Alternatively, it could be describing her hair as black, drawing on the traditional poetic use of "青丝" to convey the idea of dark, lustrous hair. 

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Funnily enough I tried to do a google image search for "青丝" expecting to get a bunch of pictures of women with long silky black hair like this to include in this post:

But instead I got mixed results that even included the following two images:

Which seem to suggest that "青丝" maybe, possibly could be used in a fantasy context to describe a mermaid with hair that was seaweed green instead of hair that was black or maybe even hair that was mostly black but with seaweed green highlights or undertones. 

These are the dark green seaweed tones I'm thinking of, for context:

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The phrase that Chat GPT noted about contrasting black hair vs. white hair (青丝白发) also caught my attention, given how that is a recurring motif in LYF. 

I went back and checked a few examples I could think of from the text. 

Where I looked, it seems like FFB's hair is only described as 黑 and never as 青. And when he becomes XL his hair becomes 白.

Whereas TSJ's hair and XY's hair is desribed as 青. And at different points in the story someone else sees (literally or just picturing it) their hair become "frost touched" (i.e., turn grey or white). 

Not sure what to make of that. 


Kanunu8Chat GPT
璟站了起来，微笑着和西陵族长见礼，西陵族长和淳都愣了，璟的两鬓竟已有了几丝白发，淳还是少年心性，失声问道：“璟哥哥，你怎么了？”

Jing stood up, smiling as he greeted the patriarch of the Xiling clan. Both the patriarch and Chun were stunned; Jing had several strands of white hair at his temples. Chun, still youthful at heart, exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Jing, what happened to you?"

小夭已一年多没见过璟，看到他这样子，小夭保持着微笑，静静地站在西陵族长身后。还记得归墟海中，他扯落发冠时，她的心悸情动，也记得耳鬓厮磨时，她指间绕着他的发，一头青丝、满心情思。一切就好似昨日，却已是青丝染霜，情思断裂。
Xiao Yao hadn’t seen Jing for more than a year. When she saw him like this, she kept a smile on her face and quietly stood behind the Xiling Clan leader. She still remembered the moment in the Guixu Sea when he pulled off his hairpin, causing her heart to flutter with emotion. She also recalled the times when they were close, her fingers twirling his hair—a head full of dark/black hair, filled with tender feelings. It all seemed like it happened just yesterday, but now that dark/black hair has been touched by frost, and those tender feelings have been severed.

梦到了璟，小夭从没见过他的儿子，梦里的小孩看不到脸，伏在璟怀里，甜甜地叫爹爹，璟在温柔地笑。

小夭奔跑着逃离，一眨眼，从青丘逃到了清水镇，小夭跳进了河里，用力地划水，她游进了蓝色的大海，无边无际，自由畅快。可是，她真的好累！这忙忙天地，她究竟该去往何处？防风邶出现在海上，他坐在白色的海贝上，笑看着她，一头漆黑的头发飘拂在海风中，小夭朝他游过去，可突然之间，他的头发一点点变白，他变作了相柳，冷漠地看着她，白色的贝壳，白色的相柳，就如漂浮在海上的冰山。

黑发的他，白色的他，忽近忽远……小夭猛然转身，向着陆地游去，一边划水，一边泪如雨下……

She dreamed of Jing. Xiao Yao had never seen his son before; in the dream, the child’s face was not visible, but he was nestled in Jing’s arms, sweetly calling him "Daddy," and Jing was smiling gently. 

Xiao Yao ran away, and in the blink of an eye, she had escaped from Qingqiu to Qingshui Town. She jumped into the river, paddling hard, and swam into the boundless, blue sea, feeling free and unburdened. But she was so tired! In this busy world, where should she go? Feng Fang Bei appeared on the sea, sitting on a white seashell, watching her with a smile. His jet-black hair fluttered in the sea breeze. Xiao Yao swam towards him, but suddenly, his hair began to turn white, and he transformed into Xiang Liu, looking at her coldly. The white shell, the white Xiang Liu, were like icebergs floating on the sea.

The black-haired him, the white-haired him, seemed to shift between near and far… Xiao Yao suddenly turned and swam towards the land, tears streaming down her face as she paddled…

一个美丽的女鲛人侧身坐在贝壳上，海藻般的青丝披垂...
A beautiful mermaid sat sideways on a shell, her seaweed-like dark/black hair flowing down...
他的头发恢复了白色，随意披垂着，如流云泻地。他身后是一株槭树，霜叶火红欲燃，越发衬得他皎若雪、洁如云，都无纤翳。

His hair had returned to white, flowing freely like drifting clouds. Behind him stood a maple tree, its frost-covered leaves a fiery red, enhancing his appearance that was as pure as snow and as clean as clouds, without a single flaw.

小夭没有抬头，却清晰地感受到，另一颗心渐渐走近了她，和她的心在一起跳动：“相柳！”她仰起头，看到了相柳。他穿着一袭黑袍，外面又披了一件黑色的兜帽大氅，全身上下捂得严严实实，好似畏寒的普通人。可此时，大氅的兜帽有些松了，露出几缕白发。
Xiao Yao did not raise her head, but she clearly felt another heart gradually approaching her, beating in sync with hers. "Xiang Liu!" She looked up and saw Xiang Liu. He was wearing a black robe with a black hooded cloak over it, his entire body wrapped up tightly as if he were an ordinary person afraid of the cold. However, at this moment, the hood of the cloak was slightly loosened, revealing a few strands of white hair.
低垂着眼眸的小夭是多么像她啊！黄帝好似看到眼前的小夭守着一个寂寞的屋子迅速老去，青丝染上了飞霜，花般的容颜枯槁，朝云殿内苍老寂寥的身影和眼前的小夭重合，黄帝竟不忍再看，猛然闭上了眼睛。

How much Xiao Yao, with her lowered eyes, resembled her! The Yellow Emperor seemed to see the Xiao Yao before him quickly growing old in a lonely house, her dark/black hair touched by frost, her flower-like beauty withered. The aging, desolate figure in the Morning Cloud Palace overlapped with the Xiao Yao before him. The Yellow Emperor could not bear to look any longer and suddenly closed his eyes.

edited Quote
AH
 Kokuto:

OMG.  Wouldn't it have been hilarious if XY had added a second merman, as an inside joke to XL about stalker Jing?  LMAO!!

"Let's get married and live in your sea shell, XL! And we can leave stalker Jing outside of the shell."  lol

Lol, I'm glad you can find the humour in it. 

My grumpy side just really dislikes tha idea of including a TSJ figure that is a merman for any reason. 

The two merpeople figures emphasize XY and XL's sameness. Thanks to XL's blood, they are both children of the ocean who can comfortably live in the ocean and view the ocean as a paradise even though it is a nightmare for others. And that is not the case for TSJ. Having TSJ's figure be a man instead of a merman in the novel really emphasizes that he doesn't share in that sameness that is just for XL and XY. Switching his figure to a merman in the drama makes it seem like he actually does share in that sameness and that it is not something that is unique for just XL and XY to share. 

Quote
Snowcup

Wow, the pace of this thread is remarkable, and there’s so much data to process.

I reviewed the scenes again with the crystal ball, and I found only two close-up views in the drama. These close-ups should fill the entire frame when the viewer is naturally expected to focus on the crystal ball's contents. In the other shots, the contents of the ball are secondary to the main action occurring in the scene, like during XL’s inscription. In these instances, the hazy contents aren't the focal point of the frame, and the viewer isn't expected to zoom in. Aside from the single close-up shot with the added merman, the only other full-frame view of the crystal ball was during FFB’s boat ride to the wedding, where the globe displayed a mermaid reaching out to a merman that XY had prepared.

It’s interesting to note that in the scripts (thank you for sharing!), the contents were described similarly to the novel, with an added man next to the mermaid. It’s also notable that XY was dressed in white in the script, mirroring the novel, but appears in a red gown in the drama – that XL would later match in his attire. It’s unclear which version of the script was shared, but it seems to be an earlier draft. This suggests that the change in the crystal ball’s contents and the red wedding gowns were intentional decisions made after the initial script. This indicates that TH deliberately altered the visual imagery as her method to reveal the hidden lines of the story.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that TH intended for XL to add another merman to represent Jing, as the transition to Jing in the water might suggest. The added merman appears to be an example of the ambiguous imagery and narrative misdirection that TH uses to conceal an image while still hinting at underlying themes. In this way, the façade is maintained and leaves the interpretation to the viewer or the reader in the novel. Often when something feels slightly off – like Jing as a merman – TH has another intention in mind.

Quote
solarlunareclipse
 solarlunareclipse:
I thought I had read a post about Tong Hua saying that the title of the third volume "Unending Yearning" (思无涯) refers to Cang Xuan yearning for Xiao Yao, perhaps with the implication that Xiao Yao may not eternally yearn for Xiang Liu--presumably because they might reunite in the future.

But I can't find that post :(. Does this sound familiar to anyone or am I hallucinating?

Not exactly as I remember, but I found the interview!

相思二字里总是有些不圆满，或者想见不能见，或者相爱却无法相守。这个故事里的人物在人生的某个阶段都有这种思而不得，涂山璟、相柳、小夭、馨悦、阿念，都各有各的相思苦，但最终这一曲长相思是唱给了男主玱玹。
The word "longing" always carries a sense of incompleteness—either a desire to meet but being unable to, or loving but not being able to stay together. The characters in this story all experience this kind of longing at some point in their lives. Tushan Jing, Xiang Liu, Xiao Yao, Xin Yue, and A Nian each endure their own bitter longing, but in the end, this song of eternal longing is sung for the male lead, Cang Xuan.

[link to entire interview]

 Snowcup:
Since the extended scene started with a full moon, it's likely a lunar eclipse portending the upcoming battle.

A lunar eclipse on the eve of the battle would be very appropriate and quite poetic. Thanks for explaining!

 Snowcup:
Since this is filmed content, it's reasonable to assume only the close-up shots of the crystal ball would be valid. The visual imagery must be visible during a typical viewing, otherwise that wouldn't be fair to the audience. It's possible this is a continuity issue in that the production staff used the same crystal ball for the entire scene and later edited in the close-up shot with the extra merman as a segue for the scene with Jing in the water, which I thought was misleading. 
 liddi:
The way I see it, the drama had continuity issues with the "now you see him, now you don't" merman at the corner of the globe.
 AH :
I agree that when the second merman appears and then seams to disappear, that's not meant to suggest that XL added and then removed the second merman and instead is probably just an accidental continuity error. 

I concur with the consensus that it's a continuity error.

 liddi:
The leaked script describes the scene thus, which is quite similar to the novel.

Thanks for verifying the contents of the leaked script. It's very interesting that what was filmed deviated from the leaked script, and the official merchandise was more in line with the leaked script. We know that some deviations from the script were intentional, and I think it's likely this deviation was intentional. If the second shell, the first merman seemingly swimming and reaching out to the mermaid, and the second merman are indeed intentional, there's a lot to analyze in terms of what the changes are trying to communicate. Off the top of my head, my interpretation would be:

  • The two shells emphasize the two separate worlds. It could also mean Xiao Yao wanted Xiang Liu to join her world as Fangfeng Bei.
  • The first merman swimming and reaching towards the mermaid communicates Xiao Yao's wish for Xiang Liu to answer her confession and take her hand.
  • The second merman  communicates Xiang Liu's desire to give Xiao Yao someone to rely on that is on the same wavelength as her, not an inferior human substitute...and this raises questions of who this someone could be.
 Snowcup:
In the drama's crystal ball, we have essentially two mermans in the close-up. In the novel's version, we have a merman and a man. For the drama, TH removed the man next to the mermaid and added another merman instead, but why? XL inscribed the ball with his blessings, "The ability to protect yourself, someone to rely on, a place to go ...  and inserted it into the big-bellied laughing baby doll as a gift for XY. 

Haha yeah, someone, not necessarily Jing.

 Snowcup:
I reviewed the scenes again with the crystal ball, and I found only two close-up views in the drama. These close-ups should fill the entire frame when the viewer is naturally expected to focus on the crystal ball's contents. In the other shots, the contents of the ball are secondary to the main action occurring in the scene, like during XL’s inscription. In these instances, the hazy contents aren't the focal point of the frame, and the viewer isn't expected to zoom in. Aside from the single close-up shot with the added merman, the only other full-frame view of the crystal ball was during FFB’s boat ride to the wedding, where the globe displayed a mermaid reaching out to a merman that XY had prepared.

It’s interesting to note that in the scripts (thank you for sharing!), the contents were described similarly to the novel, with an added man next to the mermaid. It’s also notable that XY was dressed in white in the script, mirroring the novel, but appears in a red gown in the drama – that XL would later match in his attire. It’s unclear which version of the script was shared, but it seems to be an earlier draft. This suggests that the change in the crystal ball’s contents and the red wedding gowns were intentional decisions made after the initial script. This indicates that TH deliberately altered the visual imagery as her method to reveal the hidden lines of the story.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that TH intended for XL to add another merman to represent Jing, as the transition to Jing in the water might suggest. The added merman appears to be an example of the ambiguous imagery and narrative misdirection that TH uses to conceal an image while still hinting at underlying themes. In this way, the façade is maintained and leaves the interpretation to the viewer or the reader in the novel. Often when something feels slightly off – like Jing as a merman – TH has another intention in mind.

I agree with this analysis. ^^^ 

I think the changes to the crystal ball are most likely intentional, and not made erroneously or for practical reasons. I also agree that TH is likely trying to employ misdirection with the scene of Jing floating in the water. We know how tricky she likes to be in the novel. It stands to reason that she would employ the same sleights of hand in the drama.

 liddi:
On the one hand, Tong Hua clearly stated that the drama attempts to reveal the hidden lines of the novel. On the other hand, she also said that some of the changes in the drama was a result of her renewed understanding of her characters. I believe that there is a 3rd element at play here - which @plor20 described very eloquently - and these are extenuating external factors, particularly censorship.

I believe a fourth element at play here is budget. You previously posted this excerpt from a Tong Hua interview:

Many of your works have been adapted into dramas. What do you think these dramas should retain? 
My greatest hope is that the characters and their emotions are retained. Novels are two-dimensional while dramas are three dimensional. As such, when a novel is adapted into a drama, changes are inevitable. Some changes are due to funding requirements. One can be unrestrained with the descriptions in the novels, but such scenes cannot be filmed in reality. Such changes are understandable. However, I personally hope to retain the integrity of the character and their emotions. Although the plot or scenes may change, if the character's integrity can be upheld throughout, then the adaptation is a good one in my eyes. 

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Kokuto

Using Google Translate, and from the official weibo, I think iQiYi doing a livestream today at 18:30.  Tan Jian Ci, Zhou Yi Ran, and Du Chun.  


https://live.iqiyi.com/s/9xq7135i6fOvhpvazass.html

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solarlunareclipse

To celebrate the drama reaching a certain popularity level, the drama production team released a picture of Xiang Liu helping Xiao Yao with archery--a scene that never occurred during the drama. Xiang Liu is wearing his Red Thread of Fate outfit, the same outfit he wore when:

  1. He came injured to Xiao Liu's room and she drew seven eyes on his head
  2. YaoLiu planted the Poisonous Lovers' Bugs
  3. He tried to get Xiao Yao to kiss him for air
  4. He visited Chi Chen former residence and A Heng and Chi Chen recognized him as their son-in-law by briefly transforming the painting of themselves into a painting of Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao holding hands.

I'm not exactly sure about the significance of Xiao Yao's outfit or when she wore it in the drama.

This picture is reminiscent of the illustration found in the new version of the novel, where Xiang Liu is shooting arrows with Xiao Yao. However, in the novel, only Fang Feng Bei shoots arrows with Xiao Yao. Notice that in the illustration below, Xiang Liu's hair is tied back. However, in the novel, Xiang Liu wears a headband and doesn't tie his hair. Thus, the person shooting arrows with Xiao Yao shares some of Bei's qualities.

I've suggested before that this illustration was meant to hint at Xiang Liu's resurrection. It's interesting that drama production team employed such a similar tactic to hint at Xiang Liu's resurrection.

The drama production team released a series of videos, where they ask each of the characters what they are thinking and the character answers:

我想与你一起相思入梦。
I want to enter a dream of longing with you.

Each video contains three scenes from the drama. Does anyone know which scenes these videos are referencing? I'm especially interested in the scenes from Xiang Liu, Xiao Yao, and Jing's videos.

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Snowcup

I might know XL’s scenes. 

  1. S2: XL senses XY’s heartache and realizes that she and CX are nearby in Qingshui Town during the pre-battle skirmishes. XY accompanies CX, who wants to boost his buddy FL’s morale. FL brings them to stay at Yu Mansion, Jing’s former residence. This scene is another example of how the lovers bugs can function like an apple airtag, providing specific location information. The Gu is a tracking device.
  2. S2: With mixed emotions, XL watches XY leave in a carriage after their month-long stay together in Qingshui Town and after he purposely pushes her towards Jing. While TJC is good at emoting, the extended pause here felt a bit forced. Plus, S2 appears to have glammed up XL in some scenes. Consistency is key and less is more.   
  3. S1: XL/FFB continues XY’s archery lessons shortly after she and CX move to the Central Plains. It’s the first time XY and XL see each other after she learns he’s FFB. He transforms a picked daisy into a bird as a target for XY’s arrow. From this point, XL/FFB reveals his sharper edges along with his apparent discontent with XY’s lingering attention to Jing.

That was fun. They should consider making a LYF trivia game as part of the official merchandise.

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