Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

 Elise:

I loved that ocean scene after the lovers bug was planted into XL. I even made gifs of it (I never do that lol). He looked so happy and his smile...

Look at him smiling and eyeing her~

And she noticed it...

??

I'm stealing those! SO much beauty!!

 Elise:

He wanted a future with her. I think he was planning that when he agreed to have the love bug planted in him. Knowing this information, my heart breaks for Xiang Liu and the way he looks at her.

This makes it all so painful. I literally just wrote a whole essay citing that casting description on the other thread ?

 Elise:

I loved that ocean scene after the lovers bug was planted into XL. I even made gifs of it (I never do that lol). He looked so happy and his smile...

Look at him smiling and eyeing her~

And she noticed it...

??

 Dramadoggy2021:

I love those scenes …!!! 

All his lonely life he finally found someone to share the beautiful underground sea with …sigh

This is also a favorite scene of mine.  This is what could have been.  He IS happy.  He's happy to be in love and he's happy to feel her joy through the PLB at seeing his real home.  He can't keep LOVE from shining from his eyes.  It's a melting of the Polar Ice Cap.

Also, stealing these gif. THANK YOU!

 blabla100:

Having her know about XL's feelings and devotion I think it would have changed the outcome for sure. I know some people belive she always knew and to be honest that was the feeling I got while reading the novel as well, but now, after I read  how she reacted when she found out about XL's death I am not so sure. To quote "why do I have to hurt so much for someone who didn't care at all" or something along these lines.

For XL and XY to be together, they would both have to openly admit their feelings and both want to pursue a romantic relationship. For XL, that would mean abandoning Gong Gong and the Sheng Nong remnant army or choosing to live on after their obliteration. For XY, that would mean abandoning ZX, her grandfather, and TSJ. XY having a certain level of certainty about XL's feelings would only be part of the equation. 

I believe that XY was aware of XL's feelings to a certain extent for most of the story. But she wasn't certain of his feelings (especially at certain points when he really gave her reason to question how much he cared about her) and didn't know how deep or how consistent his feelings were. And she was in denial. Even when she found out the truth about the Lovers' Bugs, she couldn't admit what it meant.

As for XY's reaction to XL's death, the things that XY and XL say usually should be questioned. So often they do not mean what they say. 

In the same chapter where she says that XL was someone who didn't care at all, she also says that she's fine and she was prepared for XL's death... but also that she wasn't prepared and she's hurting so much. 

---

Chapter 50:

Xiao Yao’s face was ashen white but she kept muttering the same lie over and over. “I’m fine! I was already prepared…..when I first met him I knew this day would come! I always knew!”

...

Xiao Yao took a deep breath and used her power to turn on the mirror. But after swiping repeatedly nothing appeared.

Xiao Yao grew frantic “It can’t be! It can’t be!…..” She anxiously used her power to look into the mirror. But no matter how many times she looked there were no memories of Xiang Liu.

Even the only thing he left to her was gone!

Xiao Yao could not believe it and she angrily kept trying the mirror. “How could this be? How could this be?……”

Suddenly she remembered, when she was unconscious Xiang Liu discovered the secret of the mirror and ordered her to erase it. When she woke up he never mentioned it again and she thought he forgot, but it turned out that when she wasn’t aware he had completely erased it all!

Xiao Yao stroked the mirror and said through tears. “Xiang Liu, in your eyes, am I really that meaningless? So you won’t even leave me a small memory!”

“Nine Headed Demon, I hate you!” Xiao Yao violently threw the mirror as her tears tumbled down her cheek.

In Qing Shui Town, she was Wen Xiao Liu, he was Xiang Liu. They were always at odds, but when he got injured he would hide in her room to heal. She didn’t know when she started telling him about her painful past that she had never told anyone before.

In Xuan Yuan Castle, he was the dissolute playboy Fang Feng Bei, he was gentle and considerate, fun loving yet diligently and patiently taught her ten plus years of archery.

When she was asleep under the ocean for 37 years, they spent every night together. That was probably when Xiang Liu was the most tender and caring towards her. She was of no use to him to exploit and they have no reason to be on opposite sides of each other, so during that time it was just one person taking the other person through life together in the ocean. One person sometimes saying a few words here and there, the other laying forever in silence.

At her wedding ceremony in Chi Sui, he came to steal the bride from the wedding and made her go with him as payment for the promise she made. He also asked for 37 years of army provisions from Jing. All he gave up was his alter ego identity, but her reputation was thoroughly destroyed.

After that he was the General to Gong Gong’s army and she was Zhuan Xu’s little sister, every time saw each other even their words were like swords slashing at one another.

The last time they saw each other, because of Feng Long’s death, on the very Hu Lu Lake where they once played together she now wanted to kill him and he used Jing’s death to rile her up to get revenge for Jing. That night he nearly took all of her blood just to make a pill for healing. She hated him for being so cold-blooded and vowed never to see him again!

If she knew that it would be the last time they would ever see each other in this life time, she would have said something else. No matter how cold and harsh he was to her, she would never ever have wanted to say what she said to him.

Xiao Yao’s entire face was awash with tears and she lifted her head to stare at the sky.

Xiang Liu, why? Why? Why do you treat me this way? Why won’t you even let me keep one memory of you…..so our hundreds of years together, it was always just a transaction to you?

Xiang Liu died so boldly and left nothing behind, no parting words and even his body dissolved into poison. No one was there to answer Xiao Yao’s plaintive question.

...

Xiao Yao’s tears began to fall again and the drops landed on Jing’s hand. Jing said nothing and continued to hold Xiao Yao in his arms.

Xiao Yao murmured, “Even though I always reminded myself that he was Zhuan Xu’s enemy, but I…..I was not prepared for this! I really wish it was all a lie…..he’s so sneaky, he must’ve found a way to stay alive!”

Jing said nothing because he knew Xiao Yao didn’t need his response.

“It’s because he’s so sneaky that he doesn’t want to stay alive! One time he told me “Actually, to a General, the best ending is dying on the battlefield.” So he chose for himself the best ending!”

“But what a bullshit best ending! He’s the stupidest idiot in this world! He stayed loyal and true to Gong Gong and all his soldier comrades but did he do himself right?”

“I’m the idiot actually. He never cared, so why do I have to be so hurt? I don’t want to be feeling so much hurt…”

"The man wanted to shake Xiao Yao off but she was like a squid clinging onto him and refusing to let go. The man got annoyed “If you don’t let go then I’m going to stop being polite!”

“Go ahead! If I hurt then you’re not going to feel good either!”

The richly dressed man sighed and took off his mask before turning around. With the starry sky behind him his face gradually changed to reveal his true visage.

Xiao Yao stared at him before breaking into a beaming smile, the happiness lighting up her eyes.

Xiang Liu wearily asked “Miss Xi Ling, what do you want?”

“I…..I…..” Xiao Yao actually didn’t know what she wanted so she got tongue-tied. She finally said “Help me break the voodoo bug spell and you can pick your price!"

......... 

" Xiao Yao was silent before asking “Did you come to Zhi Yi just to see Jing? When are you leaving?”

“If you didn’t stop me then I would have left already.”

Xiao Yao suddenly realized that she was still holding on tightly to Xiang Liu’s arm and she quickly let go.

“Where’s Jing? Still in the gambling den?”

Xiang Liu smirked and looked down the long corridor “He’s been behind you this whole time.”

Jing walked forward and took Xiao Yao’s hand in his hand.

Xiao Yao wanted to warn Xiang Liu to be careful and leave as soon as possible but now she couldn’t say those words so remained silent."

Jing really îs a bit of a stalker, if you ask me. 

@blbla100 @elise…that scene written wasn’t in season 1…in season 2?

well how it wrote the gleam in her eyes happiness and that she wanted to dive to follow XL shows how she was attracted to XL…

wait the mom ah Heng isn’t dead ..will appear season 2?  Was chi chen sides with chenron army? if that is her biological father almost makes sense she can be with XL since same sides ..but sigh too bad …

 Dramadoggy2021:

@blbla100 @elise…that scene written wasn’t in season 1…in season 2?

well how it wrote the gleam in her eyes happiness and that she wanted to dive to follow XL shows how she was attracted to XL…

wait the mom ah Heng isn’t dead ..will appear season 2?  Was chi chen sides with chenron army? if that is her biological father almost makes sense she can be with XL since same sides ..but sigh too bad …

Yes, the scene happens in the second half of the novel. it'll happen in season 2 maybe. Xiao Yao's mom Ah Heng isn't dead. idk if they're going to show her in season 2. In the novel, Jing, XY, and her dad the King of Haoling go to where Ah Heng is. After they talk to her, she disappears (finally dies). 

Chi Chen? (His name is Qi Yo in the novel) Yes, he's her bio father and he sided with Chenrong. I wish someone wrote a fanfic of XY competing for the throne and becoming queen like Daenerys Targaryen from GOT ??.? lol I know, I know it's wayyy out of character but she has the blood of both sides and it would've been interesting.

It's too bad they couldn't be together... a lot of people share our sentiment. This reddit thread has so many good comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/15k5912/lost_you_forever_3rd_lead_syndrome/?sort=top

"I read the novel & knew the ending, knew what couple I should ship to enjoy the happiness as a conscientious person. But, I can’t help it, just can’t, all bc of the acting of tan jianci, now I am just so addicted to xiangliu regardless what’s waiting ahead.

Heart wants what it wants. What am I gonna do! Helpless & hopeless. Totally pissed off." ?

 Elise:

"I read the novel & knew the ending, knew what couple I should ship to enjoy the happiness as a conscientious person. But, I can’t help it, just can’t, all bc of the acting of tan jianci, now I am just so addicted to xiangliu regardless what’s waiting ahead.

I had no idea there was a novel, a questionable ending, and a Chinese dude called TJC. 

Now that I know these things, screw the novel, the questionable ending, and just make good use of the Chinese dude called TJC.

Thanks. LOL