@solarlunareclipse Wow, what?! Well, I thought, I was the only getting XL reincarnation/resurrection vibes. To be fair, there are possibilities in novel of its happening, which somewhat feels very concrete. I hope its true. IMO, it would be even better, if he reincarnate without any previous or past memories. XL suffered too much in past life. So atleast in present, he deserves to live in freedom, care & love which he couldn't have cause of his dire circumstances in past life. 

Becoming Tu Shan Jing

I previously presented the theory that Ye Shi Qi may have intentionally set himself up to be recognized by Jing Ye so he could go back to being Tu Shan Jing: https://mydramalist.com/discussions/lost-you-forever/110123-xl-and-xy-story-and-romance-warning-spoilers?pid=3066433&page=611#p3066433

There may be evidence in the drama supporting this theory. Relevant links can be found below:

  1. Ye Shi Qi telling Xiao Liu he’ll deal with Xiang Liu going forward - https://youtu.be/mwBn2wiUOac?si=gYjGCe3Y5029HxR_&t=1120
  2. Ye Shi Qi’s suspicious side-eye reaction to hearing that Rejuvenation Hall will be taken back by Yu Xin - https://youtu.be/mwBn2wiUOac?si=XiB5jO83Ayr07C7p&t=1350
  3. Tu Shan family emblem in big banners in front of Yu Mansion - https://youtu.be/mwBn2wiUOac?si=jrgPLERpr4cIwHC2&t=1382; Compare this to Tu Shan family emblem on Fang Feng Yi Ying’s carriage - https://youtu.be/FHhx3GlJKQA?si=BItzGSoT03jh8PEU&t=968
  4. Ye Shi Qi looking in Jing Ye’s direction and holding eye contact before she “recognizes” him - https://youtu.be/mwBn2wiUOac?si=eKcqHq5Pnce5STy-&t=1453

How was Ye Shi Qi planning on dealing with Xiang Liu?
Why did Jing Ye suddenly show up in town and ask Yu Xin to take back the shops by the river?
How did Ye Shi Qi miss the giant banners with the Tu Shan family emblem outside of Yu Mansion?
Why did Ye Shi Qi look in Jing Ye’s direction and hold eye contact until she saw him?

In the drama or novel, Shi Qi and  Xiang Liu has any similarities between them?

 Taspia:

In the drama or novel, Shi Qi and  Xiang Liu has any similarities between them?

Oh dear, comparing XL and Jing is like comparing a snowflake to a lump of coal. 

 Taspia:

In the drama or novel, Shi Qi and  Xiang Liu has any similarities between them?

TSJ/YSQ
XL/FFB
He was captured, held hostage, and tortured for two/three years by TSH. When TSH publicly humiliated him and left him for dead, his injuries should have killed him, but he was lucky enough to be taken in by WXL, who saved his life and helped heal him. She also taught him about practicing medicine.He was captured, enslaved and forced to fight for his life against other demons in the slave death match arena for an unknown period of time. When he escaped, he was horribly injured and nearly killed by a whirlpool, but he was lucky enough to be rescued by Gong Gong, who saved his life and helped heal him + taught XL his healing technique. 
After being saved by WXL, he chose to stay with WXL (the person who saved his life) and became strongly attached. Eventually YSQ/TSJ became XY's fiance and finally her husband / companion - presumably for the rest of his life.Approximately 200 years after being saved by Gong Gong, XL returned to Gong Gong (the person who saved his life). Over time, XL became fiercely loyal to Gong Gong and formed such a close bond with him that Gong Gong adopted XL as his son. XL ended up fighting with Gong Gong and his remnant army for the next 400+ years / for the rest of his life.
Was TSJ first. Then he had the opportunity to live as just YSQ for a while (about six years). Then he went back to being TSJ again, but sometimes reverts to being wholly or partly YSQ.

When TSJ is YSQ, he can escape (at least temporarily) from TSJ's burdens and obligations.

YSQ has no status and is happy to serve as WXL's assistant / servant. YSQ doesn't have to deal with TSH's hate and harmful intent. YSQ is not engaged to FFYY. YSQ doesn't have to worry about serving the Tushan Clan's interests or becoming the Tushan Clan leader.
Was XL first. Then he had the opportunity to live as just FFB for a while (about 100 years). Then he went back to being XL again, but sometimes reverts to being wholly or partly FFB.

When XL is FFB, he can escape (at least temporarily) from XL's burdens and obligations.

FFB appears to be a relatively normal deity. Noble, but a concubine-born second son from a smaller family with good archery skills but no expectations and a general reputation as a ne'er-do-well. He doesn't have to deal with people being afraid of him or treating him strangely as the legendary and fearsome nine-headed demon general with nine lives. FFB is not a soldier committed to fighting with / leading an army that has a hopeless cause in a centuries-long war. FFB was briefly an enemy of CX (because the FF family supported the 5th prince before the fight for the throne was resolved), but that was a temporary arrangement that he didn't appear to be committed to and he was never an enemy of XY's whole family and kingdom. So FFB could openly spend time with XY as her companion.

XY prefers YSQ (in the sense that he is the unbound and unburdened version of TSJ) over TSJ and there are times when he is TSJ that she wishes he could go back to being YSQ. In chapter 8, TSJ (who was engaged to FFYY) promised to break the engagement and return YSQ to WXL within 15 years. In chapter 32, XY was not able to say that she was willing to marry TSJ (who was married to FFYY at the time) but was able to say that she was willing to marry YSQ.

XY prefers FFB (in the sense that he is the unbound and unburdened version of XL --- to be clear, I am NOT trying to say that she loves FFB more than XL) over XL and there are many occasions where XY wishes that he could forever be FFB or whishes that she could have met XL earlier - before he got tied up with Gong Gong and the remnant army. 
YSQ is better able to be the life-long companion that XY wants (one who, in theory, can put her first), but as a descendant of the nine-tailed fox and leader (or future leader) of the Tushan Clan, TSJ has status, wealth, power and influence that YSQ does not have. TSJ sometimes uses that status, wealth, power and influence to help WXL/XY and others at her request (e.g., helping XL get medicine for his troops, helping WXL escape QS town and helping CX gain the Xuan Yuan throne).FFB is better able to openly be XY's doting companion, but as an extremely powerful sea demon with nine lives (and as the host of XY's Lovers' Bug), XL has certain abilities that FFB does not have. XL uses those abilities to help save XY's life (e.g., in chapter 22, in chapter 43, and chapter 48) with the added benefit of making her a daughter of the sea with certain abilities, including breathing under water. 
Was able to sense when XY's life was in danger in chapter 21 thanks to the special ability that he inherited as a descendant of the nine-tailed fox to sense impending calamaties. Was able to sense when XY's life was in danger in chapter 21 thanks to the Lovers' Bug connection. 
Fell in love with XY when she was living as WXL in a man's body / before seeing her true form. Fell in love with XY when she was living as WXL in a man's body / before seeing her true form.
Sometimes he was the person who provided WXL/XY with companionship to help alleviate her loneliness and heartache, sometimes he was the person who caused her heartache. Sometimes he was the person who provided WXL/XY with companionship to help alleviate her loneliness and heartache, sometimes he was the person who caused her heartache.
Was not willing / able to abandon his loyalties and obligations in order to make himself available to be a husband candidate for XY in the first half of the novel, but also wasn't willing to watch XY condemn herself to misery by marrying Feng Long in chapter 32. So he made a deal with XL to stop the marriage from happening. Was not willing / able to abandon his loyalties and obligations in order to make himself available to be a husband candidate for XY, but also wasn't willing to watch XY condemn herself to misery by marrying Feng Long in chapter 32. So he made a deal with TSJ to stop the marriage from happening.
Made deals / did business with XL and the Shengnong remnant army both before and after meeting XY. Made deals / did business with TSJ and the Tushan Clan both before and after meeting XY.
Was good friends with Li Jie Chang, who becomes the leader of the Li Jie clan - the clan that (according to legend) was descended from a two-headed dog demon and ran the gambling den where male patrons were required to wear dog masks and where the slave death matches occurred. Was good friends with Li Jie Chang's uncle, the one-armed veteran that fought with the Shengnong army who later ran a restaurant that specialized in donkey-meat dishes, and Li Jie Chang was familiar with him too.

Was also a frequent patron of the Li Jie clan's gambling den / spectator at the slave death matches. 
Was indirectly killed by CX.Was indirectly killed by CX.
After being saved by XL, he showed up at Jade Mountain at the last minute to save XY from condemning herself to becomming the next Royal Mother. After making a deal with TSJ, he showed up at XY's wedding with Feng Long at the last minute to save XY from condemning herself to becomming Feng Long's wife.

Also showed up at Jade Mountain to save XY from condemning herself to death from her own poison.
Gave XY a fish demon gem that allowed her to breathe underwater.Gave XY transfusions of his blood, which gave her the ability to breathe under water. 
Spent some time living with FFYY (his fiancee) and FFB (his fiancee's brother). Spent some time living with FFYY (his sister) and TSJ (his sister's fiance). 
As the Tushan Clan leader and descendant of the original nine-tailed fox, he is considered to be the king of the fox tribe.

Other fox demons (like Sir Bi) are instinctively deferential to him.

He has nine white fox tails that he normally never shows.  
With his nine lives and high power, he is considered to be the king of the sea / the supreme power in the ocean.

Other sea creatures (e.g., merpeople) do his bidding.  

In his true demon form (which he normally never shows), he has nine white sea demon heads.


I would also add that on at least two occasions TSJ, XL and XY form parts of a trio that parallels another trio. 

(1) XY, the demon who kept her company until he died, and the nine-tailed fox who took her away.

In XY's childhood, she lost control of the Face Forming Flower's transformation ability and was forced to run away from society. For 20 years she lived in the mountains where she was very lonely. So much so that she caught a monkey and talked to it / refused to let it go to the point where it killed itself. Then she met a snake demon that could understand her and even though it tried to kill her she was so desperately lonely that she kept antagonizing it (even stole its egg) and talking to it. In the end, the snake demon was killed and a nine-tailed fox demon took XY away from the world. 

As an adult, XY used the Face Forming Flower to hide her true form and lived as a man with the name WXL. For 20 years she lived in QS town where she collected companions in an attempt to temporarily alleviate her loneliness. Then she met a sea demon (XL) who could understand her. A sea demon that she couldn't help but antagonize out of loneliness despite the danger he posed. And they became companions for a time. But in the end, the sea demon was killed and XY and a relative of the nine-tailed fox (TSJ) left the world behind. 

Adult XY parallels young XY, XL (a sea demon) parallels the snake demon, and TSJ parallels his nine-tailed fox relative. 


(2) A man, a mermaid and a merman. 

After encountering the mercouple in chapter 26, XY contemplates the parallels between themercouple and her + XL. This is also when XY discovers that XL's blood had transformed her into a daughter of the sea who can breathe under water and hear the merpeople's song like XL. 

In chapter 31, XY sends XL an ice crystal globe that contains the figure of a mermaid (which represents XY) and the figure of a merman (which represents XL). The mermaid is extending her hand to the merman, who is facing away from her. 

XL later adds a third figure to the ice crystal globe: the figure of a man who takes the mermaid's extended hand, since the merman cannot / will not turn around and take it himself. IMO, the third figure represents TSJ.

At the end of the novel, TSJ's life is saved by a mercouple (i.e. a mermaid and a merman) acting under XL's instructions. XL sends TSJ to be with XY / to take her hand in his place.

So, it seems to me, there are three trios here that parallel each other. 

First, TSJ, XY and XL. TSJ is a demon/deity who cannot hear the merpeople's song or breathe under water without assistance. Thanks to XL's blood, XY is a daughter of the sea who can hear the merpeople's song and who can breathe underwater without assistance. And of course XL is the king of the sea who can definitely hear the merpeople's song and breathe under water without assistance. 

Second, the three figures in the ice crystal ball globe: a man, a mermaid and a merman. 

Third, TSJ and the mercouple (i.e., a mermaid and a merman) that saved him per XL's instructions. 

 Wanning94:
XL suffered too much in past life. So atleast in present, he deserves to live in freedom, care & love which he couldn't have cause of his dire circumstances in past life.

Agree that XL deserves a happily ever after. So does XY. She had a difficult life. I hope she isn't condemned to an eternity of duck neck and chicken feet.

 Taspia:
In the drama or novel, Shi Qi and  Xiang Liu has any similarities between them?

They are both paragons. Xiang Liu is the paragon of selflessness, while Shi Qi/Tu Shan Jing is the paragon of selfishness.

Xiang Liu thanked his savior by pledging absolute loyalty and dedicating his entire life to helping his savior fight for a cause he knew was idiotic.

Tu Shan Jing thanked his savior by trapping her in a 15-year promise while testing the waters with his fiancée. He stalked her relentlessly to ruin her chances with more suitable men, made her his side piece, and tried to convince her to be his second wife using his grandmother, Fang Feng Yi Ying, and Li Rong Chang as mouthpieces. He ruined her reputation by paying another man to rob her wedding and allowed her to completely obliterate her reputation by letting her seduce his brother to help him solve his family problems.

At least he gave her a purple fish stone, which, given his wealth and resources, would be roughly equivalent to ordering a mass-produced cubic zirconia engagement ring from Temu, but we'll take what we can get.

 AH :
Gave XY a fish demon gem that allowed her to breathe underwater.
 AH :
Gave XY transfusions of his blood, which gave her the ability to breathe under water.

Fun fact is that XL also gave XY a fish core/gem/stone (鱼丹). It was used as a material in her bow and arrows. The text doesn't mention the color of XL's fish core, but Xing Chen said it was rare.

璟走到小夭身旁,解释道:“其实,那就是深海鱼怪的内丹,鱼怪的内丹色泽鲜艳,人们根据它们最主要的颜色叫做鱼丹红、鱼丹紫……鱼丹红是最常见的鱼丹,可纯净到像这块这样一丝杂色都没有的,却极其罕见。鱼丹可以做首饰、佩饰,还可以入药。如果是品级好的鱼丹,炼制成宝器,含在嘴中,可以延长人在水下的时间。”
Jing walked over to Xiao Yao and explained, "Actually, that is the inner core of a deep-sea fish monster. The cores of fish monsters are brightly colored, and people name them based on their predominant color, such as 'red fish core' or 'purple fish core.' Fish core red is the most common, but one as pure as this, without a trace of impurities, is extremely rare. Fish cores can be made into jewelry and accessories, and they can also be used in medicine. If the core is of high quality, it can be refined into a treasure. When held in the mouth, it can extend the time a person can stay underwater."

-- Vol 1 Ch 14 (Chapter 14)

星沉点头:“你运气不是一般二般的好,你都不知道那副弓箭的材料有多稀罕,鲛人骨、海妖丹、玳瑁血、海底竹、星星砂、能凝聚月华的极品月光石……”
Xing Chen nodded and said, "Your luck is extraordinarily good. You have no idea how rare the materials for that set of bow and arrows are—mermaid bone, sea monster core, tortoise blood, bamboo from the sea floor, star sand, and the finest moonstone that can distill moonlight..."

-- Vol 2 Ch 7 (Chapter 24)

So how difficult was it for Jing to acquire the purple fish core? Let's see what Tong Hua writes about this:

小夭想了想,不太确信地问:“这是鱼丹紫?”
Xiao Yao thought about it and asked unsurely, "Is this a purple fish core?”

“本来想给你找颗红色的,可这东西虽不算珍贵,却真是可遇不可求,只找到了一颗紫色的。原想雕个什么,但我想,你要这东西肯定是想含着下水玩,不管什么模样,都不如圆润的一颗珠子含着舒服。你若想要什么样式,我再帮你雕。”
"I wanted to find you a red one, but although it's not precious, it's really hard to find. I only found a purple one. I wanted to carve something, but I thought you wanted to hold it in your mouth and play with it. No matter what shape it is, it won't be as comfortable as a round bead. If you want any style, I can carve it for you."

小夭问:“找这东西不容易吧?”
Xiao Yao asked: "Isn't it difficult to find this thing?"

“不麻烦。”
"No trouble."

小夭说:“不麻烦?连富可敌国的涂山氏也只找到了一颗紫色的。以后给女孩子送东西,一定要三分的麻烦说成五分,五分的麻烦说成十分,才能见诚意。”
Xiao Yao said, "No trouble? Even the Tu Shan clan, who has wealth equal to an entire nation, only found a purple one. When you give gifts to girls in the future, you must say that if it's three points of trouble, it's five points, and if it's five points of trouble, it's ten points, so that you can show your sincerity."

璟不吭声。
Jing said nothing.

-- Vol 1 Ch 16 (Chapter 16)

Jing saying nothing speaks volumes. He had likely already exaggerated the effort he put into acquiring the purple fish core. Did he even try to find a red fish core, which he had previously said was the most common type? He probably just jumped straight to ordering a mass-produced purple core off of Temu :)

 solarlunareclipse:
So how difficult was it for Jing to acquire the purple fish core? Let's see what Tong Hua writes about this:

小夭想了想,不太确信地问:“这是鱼丹紫?”
Xiao Yao thought about it and asked unsurely, "Is this a purple fish core?”

“本来想给你找颗红色的,可这东西虽不算珍贵,却真是可遇不可求,只找到了一颗紫色的。原想雕个什么,但我想,你要这东西肯定是想含着下水玩,不管什么模样,都不如圆润的一颗珠子含着舒服。你若想要什么样式,我再帮你雕。”
"I wanted to find you a red one, but although it's not precious, it's really hard to find. I only found a purple one. I wanted to carve something, but I thought you wanted to hold it in your mouth and play with it. No matter what shape it is, it won't be as comfortable as a round bead. If you want any style, I can carve it for you."

小夭问:“找这东西不容易吧?”
Xiao Yao asked: "Isn't it difficult to find this thing?"

“不麻烦。”
"No trouble."

小夭说:“不麻烦?连富可敌国的涂山氏也只找到了一颗紫色的。以后给女孩子送东西,一定要三分的麻烦说成五分,五分的麻烦说成十分,才能见诚意。”
Xiao Yao said, "No trouble? Even the Tu Shan clan, who has wealth equal to an entire nation, only found a purple one. When you give gifts to girls in the future, you must say that if it's three points of trouble, it's five points, and if it's five points of trouble, it's ten points, so that you can show your sincerity."

璟不吭声。
Jing said nothing.

-- Vol 1 Ch 16 (Chapter 16)

Jing saying nothing speaks volumes. He had likely already exaggerated the effort he put into acquiring the purple fish core. Did he even try to find a red fish core, which he had previously said was the most common type? He probably just jumped straight to ordering a mass-produced purple core off of Temu :)


Fish 丹 have two noteable features: (1) their colour(s); and (2) their clairty / purity / quality.

It is true that TSJ told XY that, out of all the colour varities, red 丹 are the most common. However, the colour(s) of 丹 are not particularly important beyond suiting a person's aesthetic preferences. 

Instead, the most important feature of a 丹 is its clarity and quality. 丹 of the highest quality (i.e., with only one pure colour) are very rare, and only a high quality 丹 can be refined for use to help a person breathe under water for an extended period of time.

It was clear that XY was interested in having a 丹 like TSH's, but she wasn't interested in the 丹 he obtained because it was red. She was interested in a 丹 like his because his was of the highest quality (it had just one pure colour) and could therefore be used to allow a person to breathe and stay underwater for an extended period of time. 

丹 that are very pure / high quality are very rare, so the chances of finding one (even for a person with significant resources at their disposal) are slim. The chances of finding one that is both pure / high quality and a particular colour would be even slimmer. The fact that TSH managed to encounter a fish demon with a 丹 that was very high quality was largely down to luck. Although of course he did have to exercise some effort and skill to then wrangle and kill the fish demon in order to obtain its 丹. And, not surprisingly, the high quality 丹 that he happened to get was the most common colour (red).

Even with the resources that TSJ had at his disposal, he couldn't find a 丹 of the required quality that was also red like the one that TSH happened to obtain. But he did manage to obtain a 丹 of the required quality that was purple (a rarer colour than red). And then he tested it himself more than once (with the longest test lasting for a day and two nights) before gifting it to XY. 

XY seemed to be particularly touched by the fact that TSJ personally tested the 丹, as that showed more personal care and effort than utilizing the Tushan clan's resources to obtain the 丹. My impression was that TSJ only told XY about the time he spent testing the 丹 so she had the context to understand both why he was confident that the 丹 would indeed allow her to breathe under water and why he was suggesting that she only use it for a maximum period of 10 hours at a time.

When TSJ gifted the purple 丹 to XY, he downplayed it's value (indicating that it was not precious, despite the fact that high-quality 丹 of any colour are extremely rare) and also downplayed the amount of trouble he put into obtaining it (stating that it was not a problem). 

When XY asked TSJ if obtaining the 丹 was difficult, he told her it was not a problem. She responded in a typical XY way that created distance between them (it feels like a defense mechanism for her that stems from her insecurities / that she uses when she feels unhappy with TSJ and is inclined to test or needle him) by telling him that when he gave gifts to girls in the future, he should exaggerate how difficult it was to obtain the gift in order to show the girl his sincerity. My impression was that TSJ said nothing in response to this comment becuase the implications (XY creating distance between them by suggesting that he would give gifts to other girls and that he should exaggerate the amount of effort he put into obtaining the gifts for those other girls in order to score more points with them) made him sad / uncomfortable. Especially since he only ever wanted to give gifts to XY to make her happy. 

My impression was that when TSJ was similarly silent in response to WXL asking him which of his maids he thought was prettier (back in QS town shortly after his TSJ identity was exposed), it was because he only had eyes for WXL and WXL creating distance between them (as she was unhappy with TSJ at that point) by intentionally suggesting that he would have eyes for anyone else made him sad / uncomfortable. 


Kanunu8
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篌一手握着缰绳,一手朝着身的某处一拳击下,手探进了腹中,掏出一个鸽子蛋般大的宝石,就着海水洗干净血污,跃上了船。

那块宝石莹剔透,在阳光下璀璨的光芒
Hou held the reins in one hand and punched the fish with the other. He reached into the fish's belly and took out a blood-red gem as big as a pigeon egg. He washed the blood off with seawater and jumped onto the boat.

The blood-red gem was crystal clear and emitted a brilliant light in the sun.

Hou held onto the fish and used his other hand to strike its belly and pulled out a red ruby stone the size of an egg. He rinsed it in the ocean and then jumped on the boat.

The red ruby was crystal clear and glittered in the sun.


...小夭问丰隆:“那是什么宝石?”

丰隆笑道:“这船上有涂山家的人在,我可不敢谈宝石。”

他扬声把立在船尾的璟叫来,“璟,小夭向知道篌猎取的是什么宝石。”
...Xiaoyao asked Fenglong, "What kind of gem is that?"

Fenglong smiled and said, "There are people from the Tushan family on this boat. I dare not talk about gems."

He raised his voice and called Jing, who was standing at the stern, "Jing, Xiaoyao wants to know what kind of gem the fish elixir red that Hou hunted is."

...Xiao Yao asked Feng Long “What kind of stone is that?”

Feng Long smiled. “There is another Tu Shan son here, I’m not the one to talk about precious gems.” He called Jing over. “Xiao Yao wants to know what kind of gem is the fish ruby.”
璟走到小夭身旁,解释道:“其实,那就是深海怪的内怪的内丹色泽鲜艳,人们根据它们最主要的颜色叫做紫……是最常见的,可纯净到像这块这样一丝杂色都没有的,却极其罕见。可以做首饰、佩饰,还可以入药。如果是品级好,炼制成宝器,含在嘴中,可以延长人在水下的时间。

本来璟说话时,小夭就走神了,可听到最后一句,突然有了兴趣,“什么算品级好?刚才的那块算是吗?”

“颜色越纯净品级就越好,刚才的那块算是最好的了。”
Jing walked to Xiaoyao and explained, "Actually, that is the inner elixir of a deep-sea fish monster. The inner elixir of a fish monster is bright in color. People call it red fish elixir, purple fish elixir, etc. based on their main colors... Red Fish elixir is the most common fish elixir, but it is extremely rare to find one as pure as this one without any other colors. Fish elixir can be made into jewelry, accessories, and medicine. If it is a good-quality fish elixir, it can be refined into a treasure and held in the mouth to extend the time a person can stay underwater."

Originally, Xiaoyao was distracted when Jing was talking, but when she heard the last sentence, she suddenly became interested. "What is considered a good quality? Does the piece just now count as one?"

"The purer the color, the better the quality. The one just now is the best fish elixir."

Jing walked over to Xiao Yao “Actually it’s the inner power source of the demon fish of the deep seas. It comes in different colors but the red fish ruby is the most common, though one as crystal clear as that is very rare. It can be used as a jewel or accessory, or into medicine, or top quality one can even be made into a magical object that can help a person breathe underwater if it’s placed in the mouth.

When Jing was talking, Xiao Yao was zoning out until the last thing he said and she got interested. “What’s considered top quality? Was that piece?”

“The more clear the color, the higher the quality. That piece was one of the best fish rubies.”


丰隆对小夭说:“这种东西可遇不可求,你若想要,我回去问问爷爷。”

小夭忙道:“我就是看着好看,随口问问。”
Fenglong said to Xiaoyao: "This kind of thing is hard to come by. If you want it, I'll go back and ask Grandpa."

Xiaoyao said hurriedly: "I just thought it looked good, so I asked casually."

Feng Long said to Xiao Yao, “This cannot be sought and can only be found by chance. If you want one, I’ll go ask my grandfather.”

Xiao Yao quickly said, “I just found it pretty and was asking for fun.”

璟把一个小盒子递给小夭,小夭打开,里面是一根银白的链子,链子上坠着一颗紫色宝石晶莹剔透,散璀璨的光芒

小夭想了想,不太确信地问:“这是紫?”
Jing handed a small box to Xiaoyao, who opened it. Inside was a silver-white chain with a purple gem hanging on it. It was crystal clear and emitted a brilliant light.

Xiaoyao thought about it and asked unsurely, "Is this a purple fish elixir?"

Jing handed a box to Xiao Yao and she opened it to find inside was a necklace with a purple gem hanging on a pendant. It was crystal clear and glittering.

Xiao Yao was in disbelief. “A fish amethyst?”

“本来想给你找颗色的,可这东西虽不算珍贵,却真实可遇不可求,只找到了一颗紫色的。原想雕个什么,但我想,你要这东西肯定是想含着下水玩,不管什么模样,都不如圆润的一颗珠子含着舒服。你若想要什么样式,我再帮你雕。”

小夭问:“找这东西不容易吧?

不麻烦。

小夭说:“不麻烦?连富可敌国的涂山氏也只找到了一颗紫色的。以后给女孩子送东西,一定要三分的麻烦说成五分,五分的麻烦说成十分,才能见诚意。”

璟不吭声。
"I wanted to find you a red one, but although this thing is not precious, it is rare and hard to find, so I only found a purple one. I wanted to carve something, but I thought that you must want to hold it in your mouth and play with it in the water. No matter what shape it is, it is not as comfortable as a round bead. If you want a certain style, I will help you carve it."

Xiao Yao asked: "Is it not easy to find this thing?"

"It's not a problem."

Xiao Yao said: "It's not a problem? Even the Tushan family, who is rich enough to rival a country, only found a purple one. In the future, when giving gifts to girls, you must say that three points of trouble are five points, and five points of trouble are ten points, so as to show your sincerity."

Jing said nothing.

“I wanted to find you a red fish ruby but it really is hard to find and needs to be by chance. Only a fish amethyst was found and initially I wanted to engrave it but then thought you probably want to put it in your mouth so you can swim longer in the water. This shape is round so it’s comfortable to hold in your mouth. If you want a design I’ll have it carved for you.”

Xiao Yao asked, “This was hard to find, right?

Not difficult.

Not difficult? Even the Tu Shan clan with wealth to rival a kingdom could only find a purple one. In the future when you give something to a girl, be more sincere about it.”

Jing said nothing.


“真的含着珠子就能在水里自由呼吸?”

“嗯,我试过了。”

小夭正拿着珠子,凑在唇边欲含不含,听到这话,忙把珠子收到手里,可拿在手里,也觉得那珠子变得滚烫。

璟也有些局促,不过他怕小夭贪玩出事,低声叮嘱道, “最长的一次,我在水里游了一日两夜,不过我有灵力,安全起见,你最好不要超过十个时辰。”

小夭低低嗯了一声。璟喜静不喜动,为了测试珠子,居然在水里游了一日两夜
"Can you really breathe freely in the water if you hold the bead in your mouth?"

"Yes, I tried it."

Xiao Yao was holding the bead, close to her lips, wanting to hold it in her mouth. When she heard this, she hurriedly took the bead in her hand, but she felt that the bead became hot in her hand.

Jing was also a little embarrassed, but he was afraid that Xiao Yao would get into trouble because of playing too much, so he whispered to her, "The longest time I swam in the water was one day and two nights, but I have spiritual power, so for safety reasons, you'd better not swim for more than ten hours."

Xiao Yao hummed softly. Jing likes to be quiet and doesn't like to move. In order to test the bead, he actually swam in the water for one day and two nights.

“So if I put it in my mouth I can swim underwater?”

“Yes, I tested it already.”

Xiao Yao was almost ready to put the gem in her mouth but when she heard this she quickly put her hand down and felt the gem was hot in her hands.

Jing was worried that Xiao Yao loved to play so much she got in trouble. “The longest time I swam was for one day, two nights. But I have powers so just to be safe don’t do it for longer than ten hours.”

Xiao Yao murmured a yes. Jing liked quiet over activity but to test the gem he swam for one day and two nights in the water.

Plor20 and Solarlunarreclipse thanks especially AH explaining so beautifully.

I haven't read the book 'Lost You  Forever ',I just watched the drama on YouTube. Where Cang Xuan and Xingyue are sitting by the pond,when Xingyue touched the  water with her feet.Cang Xuan looked at Xingyue's feet and immediate looked away .But when Xingyue says her and XiaoYao nail polish is the same colour, then Cang Xuan looked at Xingyue's toe nail polish and smile lightly.after watching this scene I thought that Tusan Jing has something in common with Xing Liu that's why XiaoYao loves Tusan Jing.

@Taspia

"Xingyue touched the  water with her feet.Cang Xuan looked at Xingyue's feet and immediate looked away .But when Xingyue says her and XiaoYao nail polish is the same colour, then Cang Xuan looked at Xingyue's toe nail polish and smile lightly.after watching this scene I thought that Tusan Jing has something in common with Xing Liu that's why XiaoYao loves Tusan Jing."

This scene didn't happen in the novel. IIRC, the drama also had XingYue sing to CX the ballad that XY sang the previous night. I am not really sure what message they tried to send with this added scene, maybe a hint that XingYue is to CX the same way Jing is to XY,  a fake projection of XY and XL. I personally believe XY sang that ballad thinking of XL, not of Jing, giving that TH specifically noted that XY was so drunk that her mind was altered, something that never happened to her before while drunk. 

Going to have to give AH a new title ... Table Master!!

Some great comparisons.  Haven't been posting much, but am trying to keep on the reading, at least.  Thank you to everyone for all the posts.

 Taspia:

In the drama or novel, Shi Qi and  Xiang Liu has any similarities between them?

I'm far too lazy and busy atm to write a detailed response. What I'll say is that whatever similarities there are between XL and Jing are superficial. At their core, they are completely different. For me, Jing is a foil for XL - they are caught in similar dilemmas and choices, but the way they choose to respond/their actions or behaviour speaks to the differences in their characters. And actions speak the loudest and are the most accurate illustration of your characters. 


 plor20:

Oh dear, comparing XL and Jing is like comparing a snowflake to a lump of coal. 

You are far too generous to describe Jing as a lump of coal, Plor :-). But yes, they are as different as night and day. One shines brightly, the other is...well, whatever the heck he is :-)

 Kokuto:

Going to have to give AH a new title ... Table Master!!

Some great comparisons.  Haven't been posting much, but am trying to keep on the reading, at least.  Thank you to everyone for all the posts.

lol, thank you Kokuto. I do like a good table. ^^


 Taspia:
Plor20 and Solarlunarreclipse thanks especially AH explaining so beautifully.

You're welcome. I'm glad it sounds like the table was useful. 

I recently found some articles discussing video extras of the four male leads writing letters to Xiao Yao (Article 1, Article 2). The first article includes this collage of stills from the videos.

I was able to find the videos of Xiang Liu's letter and Tu Shan Jing's letter. Does anyone know where I can find the videos for Feng Long's letter and Cang Xuan's letter? 

Not sure if Xiang Liu's letter was previously posted on this forum, but I found a transcription and ran it through ChatGPT.


小夭

展信佳:

海上又升起明月,尽管没有我们共赏的那次好看,今天我终于集齐了铸造弓箭所需的物件,海妖狡猾,鲛人凶残,但海妖丹,鲛人骨组合到一起,却能成就一把真正的好弓,你若是想用好这一把好弓,需要勤勉练习箭术,方可有力自保,届时我会托人将弓交给你,因为不想让你觉得亏欠,因为我知道你什么都想还,若真的被你还完了,你我之间怕是真的再无牵连,小 夭,我会让你有力自保,有人可依,有处可去,即使此力伤我,此人非我,此处无我,但若你能代替我好好体会这人间,足矣。

——相柳


Xiao Yao,

I hope this letter finds you well.

The moon has risen again over the sea. Although it’s not as beautiful as the time we watched it together, today I finally gathered all the materials needed to forge the bow and arrows. The sea demons are cunning, and the mermen are fierce, but the combination of sea demon elixir and merman bones can create a truly fine bow. If you want to make good use of this fine bow, you need to diligently practice archery so that you can protect yourself. When the time comes, I will have someone deliver the bow to you. I don’t want you to feel indebted, because I know you always want to repay everything. If you truly repaid it all, I fear there would be no connection left between us.

Xiao Yao, I will ensure you have the strength to protect yourself, someone to rely on, and a place to go. Even if this strength hurts me, this person is not me, and this place has no me, but if you can experience this world on my behalf, it will be enough.

— Xiang Liu

Cang Xuan's Letter to Xiao Yao

https://www.douyin.com/video/7273422003971968311


小夭:

见字如晤,展信舒颜。

很久没有,见到你像儿时那样笑,若你对我责怪、疏离,我都愿意承担,我说绝不弄丢你,却让你流浪百年吃尽苦楚,我说一定找到你,却见面不识,但即便如此,你依旧守护着我们儿时的约定,坚定地站在我身边。

小夭,当凤凰花瓣再次高高飞起的时候,我只觉得世间美好之物都不如你,所以看着你干净无暇的眼睛我下定决心——必须获取力量保护你,保护所有我爱的人。

小夭,我会守护你的笑靥。

——玱玹


Xiao Yao,

Seeing this letter is like seeing me in person, so I hope opening it will bring a smile to your face.

It has been a long time since I have seen you smile like you did when we were children. If you blame me or distance yourself from me, I am willing to bear it. I promised I would never lose you, yet I let you wander for a hundred years, enduring endless suffering. I promised I would find you, yet I did not recognize you when we met. Even so, you have still kept our childhood promise and stood firmly by my side.

Xiao Yao, when the phoenix petals soar high again, I feel that all the beautiful things in the world are not as precious as you. Looking into your pure and flawless eyes, I made up my mind—I must gain the strength to protect you and all those I love.

Xiao Yao, I will guard your smile.

— Cang Xuan