Definitely worth watching

The plot may not be unique, but it was an engaging and fun story. The cast did well overall. The romance between the leads was sweet and believable. There were no misunderstandings that weren't quickly resolved. I really liked that the behaviors of the characters were pretty normal/realistic, nothing outrageously over-the-top like in many dramas. The leads stuck together to work through the problems. When the inevitable break-up for your good moment happened, even that got resolved quickly by talking things out and making sensible plans together. Overall it was a refreshing and enjoyable story.

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Not that horrible of an ending

Though there are many people dissatisfied with the story, I enjoyed it. The acting and chemistry between the mains was there desite the censoring. As I watch the ending, I think it's clear the ending is showing a reincarnated life. The drunken sage told her jiuyun has to regather his soul to return, he just didn't mention that it would take many of her lifetimes if he was strong enough to do so. The next scenes show the rebuilding of Li, and her taking the lantern back after giving it her spirit energy. It then jumps to a seemingly same old Li except for some important changes, such as the young princess has memories of Jiuyan, she still has her changed face, her cousin is her sister, and her buddy Cui is back as her maid! No sign of her original form. With the title, along with her crying over losing memories of him, makes me feel this is scenes from a reincarnation a thousand years later, showing that eventually he does return and they are all reunited. The old painting was a surprise from the drunken sage of course. Jiuyun once told her he used it as a place to gather his spirit energy when weak, so once he gathered enough of his soul together, he went into his painting, slowly growing strong enough to return to her. I aso think both he and his buddy knew it would take many lifetimes before he could return, hence the little sparkles of energy flowing into her head before he disappeared was him ensuring she would remember him in the lifetime he was able to return.

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Watch for the cast

The overall story was fun and interesting. The cast did a wonderful job especially with portraying their animal characteristics without being over the top or distractingly silly. The main couple and side characters were all very cute and likeable. Even though it was obviously a lower budget show, without much cgi or flashy props/sets, the cast somehow made it convincing. The biggest flaw is the writing. It is supposed to be a rom-com. For those who can't stand the fish peck, don't worry, there were only two in the entire show... the writer made it obvious that true love does not need physical intimacy, only emotional intimacy is important as NONE of the couples kiss or hug or even hold hands, except the main couple a few times in the last episodes. They even went as far as to have one couple be entirely unable to ever have physical intimacy, due to his animal side being a fatally toxic viper. Really curious how that line didn't die out since any contact kills. ?
As far as the main couple goes, it is sadly true that the FL only has feeling for the ML's beast identity after finding out he's also the hot bodyguard. They literally have her acting physically repulsed at his touch and appearance until then, despite the many touching things he does for her. Weird message for a writer that seems to be stressing emotional intimacy.
I truely don't mind slow-burn shows with little skinship, but in a silly rom-com, with the main theme being about true love, there really should be some sweet moments between the ML in his beast form and the FL before she finds out, if they want the love on her side to seem real. Even a few instances where she didn't physically recoil, but actually touched or held his hand in beast form without thinking, would have been enough to show it really didn't bother her. Without it, all the show's romances just felt sad, mostly believable thanks to the great acting, but sad and hollow in the end.

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Vague ending

I really liked the story and the way the romance slowly developed. The last few episodes were really the only drawback. I get she wanted him to follow his dreams too. What makes little sense is the leaving him at the airport and separating from him in such a confusing and silly way. I get they are young and many chinese dramas make a big thing about sacrificing for the ones you love, but it was unnecessary in this story. The big sacrifice would really only need to be dating long distance for two years. Instead she gives a speech about dreams, gives him back the ring, doesn't break things off, but sneaks away at the airport taking his ticket and boarding pass. A talk saying "hey it's only two years, we can facetime and visit each other while we both do what we need to, then talk about getting married when we've finished" would have sufficed. Finish off with some scenes showing them talking on the phone or him visiting her in japan, then wedding in two years, etc. That would makr the most sense based on the characters actions and behaviors throughout the drama, not this weird and ambiguous ending.

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Parts about the past frustrating

Overall I enjoyed this drama. The acting was excellent, the pacing and plot well done. My only cmplaint was that because they wanted to portray past events as unchangeable, the FL acts dumb in the past when she's trying to change it. She doesn't tell anyone around her what's going on. She doesn't speak up at the press conference, at the company, nor when she talks to the ML's dad on the phone. Just saying "I've got the proof!" would have changed the past. Heck even if she didn't before, she could have told his dad to meet her at the hospital to get the proof. Voila dad is saved, or just call an ambulance on the way to the park to meet him, or when he's dying on the ground perform cpr instead of leaving!!

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Awful

Love the premise, but the female lead was awful. Honestly very insulting to poor-middle class people. Everything about the female lead was made to be so terrible. She has a bowl cut, eats with her mouth hanging open, is slovenly, practically dislocates her jaw making the most unattractive faces, and yells much of her dialogue. It seems like an intentional point from the director, poor people are unattractive all around. The popularity of the original manga and attractiveness of the main males is the only reason I can see this getting positive reviews from people.

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