Xiang Liu and Xiao Yao’s Story and Romance

 AH :

Sound of the Desert gave me unreasonable hope about these things. 

Lol, I could see how. I love Sound of the Desert, I rewatch it a lot. I feel like over the years censorship especially for shows that are more popular has gotten tighter. There doesn't seem to be a lot of regulation with mini dramas though. 

 AH :

Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang <3

Haven't seen that one yet. I should check that out. I watched Butterflied Lovers though and it was great. There was so much in there that shocked me ?

 Sirry Usly:

Where do you guys think s2 will start off/open? Also, when do you guys think we will see XL again in s2? 

Seems from the trailer released before, there's this scene where XY asks XL who he thinks she should marry then if not Feng Long. Idk if this was in the novel, too.

Some of the scenes in the novel I know are XL receiving XY's crystal ball gift, him taking her away from her wedding, and they stayed together for a while before she returned. This is where XL asked XY who she wants to spend the rest of her life with, which she wasn't able to answer or rather refused to answer. There were a few scenes of XL inserted into some of the chapters. Not a lot of his scenes but most are iconic scenes. When XL saved her when she was getting away from those who want to kill her, when she shot her arrow into XL's chest coz XL killed someone here, intending to kill him but can't. And then when XL saved her again when she was dying after poisoning herself. This would be their last scene together.

Am not sure if the drama will include some scenes not in the novel.

With what I heard on cutting many of the fights (and war) scenes, I have a feeling the focus would be on the romance and their love stories as probably was in S-1. I also heard that they added more scenes after the formal ending of the shooting drama just for S-2. Hope those would add more excitement and meaning to the show without sacrificing the novel's main lines.

I never wanted an alternate ending as much as I want one for this drama

I've GOT to start reading this book.

Also.  Must get my mind OUT of the gutter while reading this book.

 Kokuto:

I've GOT to start reading this book.

Yes!

 Kokuto:

Also.  Must get my mind OUT of the gutter while reading this book.

There's so much heartache, let yourself enjoy the rest. That's one part the novel definitely does better than the drama. Skip around in the gutter and have fun. 

 AH :

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You might feel differently about the ending after reading the novel in its entirety. The ending sounds bad when it's summarized, but the ending is well written. XL is the author's favourite character and it shows. XL is my favourite character, and there is very little in the novel I would change if I could. 

I read that article on soulmates your posted on the main topic.  It was very interesting, and clarifies so many things I picked up on, but didn't realize fell under this concept.  I've always thought XL was the most perceptive of the characters.

Zhiji may also describe XL's relationship to the Invisible Gong Gong and perhaps even his rebel army.    At least the part about the bonds between man of service and patron -- it's beyond simple loyalty, which is partly why I had such a hard time with it.  Zhiji helps explain it, especially in regards to XL with his demon esteem issues. But this makes me even madder that we aren't getting to actually SEE that in the series, cause it shows so much about XL and his motivations.

I said much earlier, that the deal XY accepted from XL when they first met, made her XL's "man," and was more similar to a vassal or becoming his 'soldier' or man at arms.  After reading this article, it's clear that XL fits one description from the very beginning of zhiji.  He IS a man who knows the worth of others.  He recognizes XY's abilities and can see a connection forming from their experiences.  He is both patron and man of service, and he's found two that he thinks are worthy enough to die for.  The sad part is that XY lacks that perception, that sense of knowing XL's worth.  Of course, we don't know if Invisible Gong Gong has the same issues, because he's not in the damn drama!  grrrrrrr.